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E R I C A

I switch on the lights of my office floor and it beams into life.
The glass walls and windows start glistening with the shimmer of the golden light. And like everyday, the morning of this office begins.

I take my seat in my spacious office, and switch on my laptop, intercom, and phone.
The project in my hand is almost complete and all I need is the approval from my boss.

I take a sip of my not so strong coffee, and my system wakes up instantly.
My phone and laptop start beeping with notifications.

"Pick me up, from the airport at 10."

"Yes Boss!", I mutter to myself taking a look at the time.

8:20 am.

Good! I have a lot of time.

I checked my schedule book, to see what all is in store for me today.

  - 10 am- Pick up MR. ASHTON
  - 10:15am- His coffee time.
  - 11 am- Gather his suit from the laundry
  - 11:45 am- Pick him from his penthouse.
  - 12:00 pm- Meeting with Peterson corporation.
  - 2 pm- Receive his lunch at the office.
  - 4 pm- Internal affairs discussion with office corporates.
  - 5:45pm- His coffee time.
  - 6pm- Discuss his speech for heir ceremony.
  - 7pm- Address to all the employees.
  - 7:45pm- His coffee time.
  - 8 pm- Meeting with Mr. Richardson.
  - 9 pm- Meeting with Ms. Lyla Carson.
  - 10 pm- Receive his dinner at the office.
  - 11 pm- Drop him at his pentpenthouse.

And luckily that would mark the end of my day.

Such a workaholic he is! That was my first impression of my boss.

Actually my boss' son.
ERIC ASHTON, the only hier of my former boss JAMES ASHTON.

Sir James, was a easy to go man, with little or rather no attitude. You would be the worst person before him, and he will treat you best.
In spite of his old age, he worked tirelessly for his company. And me at the age of twenty four would sometimes wondered how he does it.
He was kind, and calm and I have been working for him for two years now.

I remembered how he called me day before yesterday.

"Erica! Child I want a favour from you..", he said after I settled down before him.
"Yes James! Say it out."
He cleared his throat and began, "Dear! As you know, today is my last day at work. My son is going to take up from Monday. And I want you to be his PA, and secretary.
The reason is you are one of my most trusted people. And you have been working here for two years now. I'll move to Italy with my wife. And there will be no one but you to help Eric here.
You have seen me work, so you can assist him in taking over."

Working with Sir James was different and overwhelming. And his behavior was like a father's to his daughter.
However, I don't expect the same from his son.

And when he tells me the next thing, my nervousness sends me to an edge, "Child he's a different man. Completely different from me. He will intimidate you. And he is very closed up. He makes it difficult for people around you but I think you'll manage."

I gave him a fake smile, "Yes sir! I can.."

"Good! So now your boss is not James Ashton but Eric Ashton!", This was just a simple sentence, but I felt anxious hearing this.

From then on, I tried my best to induce a welcoming feeling for my new boss. But I have this strange feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Even I am closed off. I don't speak much. Nerd. Introvert. Are the names I have always been called by. I intimidate people, they say. But I swear I never intend to.

From what I can make out now, my new boss is a lot like me.

Sir James said he told his son, a bit about me, and gave him my E-mail and phone number, so I can coordinate my work with him.

This was the schedule planned by him.

I got up and went to my boss' cabin.
Yesterday it was sunday, yet I came here and rearranged his cabin, with the aim to create some working environment for him.
The information collected from Sir James says he is highly particular about order, things, cleanliness of his work place.

Giving the last touch to things, I called Mason.

"Is the car ready!?"
"Yes miss."
"Okay I am coming down. Let's go.", And I disconnected.

Once at the airport, I checked the time to be 9:55am.
With Mason beside me, I waited.

The jet landed, and the stewardess came down with the luggage.
My phone ringed indicating it's 10, and I looked down to switch it off.

Just as I lifted me head, I saw a man, standing at just a one hand distance from me.
Had I not known well, I would have stumbled backward and embarrassed myself.

Mason ran to get the luggage.

"Good morning Sir! This is Erica Miller. Your personal assistant and secretary. I welcome you to th...."
He stopped me with his hand, "I know."

And I was standing there gaping my mouth to say something, when he got in the car behind me.

Rude though!

I cleared my throat and got in the car.

Mason was driving, and I was sitting with my boss, who was busy in his tablet.

The time was 10:10am when we reached the office.

By the time, everyone was assembled near the entrance with a beautiful bouquet to welcome him.

I walked ahead of him to escort him to the people and introduce him to the employees.
And as I stood near the people who were smiling widely at the sight of their new boss, I said, "Sir This....".

I couldn't complete as he walked past the crowd ignoring them and the bouquet leaving the people dazed.

What the hell....

With his long strides he reached the elevator, and got in.

Ignoring the shock, I ran to him and got in the elevator just in time.

The elevator pinged as we reached the seventh floor.

I escorted him to the cabin, that was across mine.
"Sir your cab....!", I couldn't complete again, as he got in the cabin, shutting the door on my face.

Is he drunk!?

10:12am.

I ran to the kitchen and made his coffee, in jet speed, and then ran back to his cabin.

I knocked twice and then entered.

He was standing near the shelf reading the Peterson corporation file.
"Your coffee s...!"

"Ten seconds late.", He announced in his authoritative voice and went behind the table to take his chair.
I realized it was the second thing he said today.

He kept on reading, while sipping.
And I stood near the table in my position.

Sir James would have told me to sit.

After ten minutes, he kept the file on the table, and opened his new laptop.
"Sir the pass code is.....!"
"I know."

What is with him not letting me complete any sentence.

"Sir there's this...!", I started to explain only to get interrupted again.

"Get lost!"

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