Roger

Brandon, the man I was doomed to call father, was a vile piece of a human being. Not only did he embezzle from our company before handing me the reins but that bugger also intended to sue me for the troubles in his life. For his fucking addiction.

He was an abomination to mankind and I hated calling him by his name, let alone use the pious word- father. Every time I saw him, my ears rang up and my mind replayed the past - memories of him beating up my mum. Brandon would go off like an engine, lashing her with words and his fucking belt till his anger and residual alcohol put him to sleep.

When he went to rehab, I assumed my worst days were behind me. It was a hope I carried but I was wrong.

He was back. Not only did he sneak into my office and fuck one of my assistants over my desk, he left a note and a photo to let me know. He was marking his territory again. Of all the girls in the office, I knew he had had eyes set on Georgia. But since she would never fall for his theatrics, he used the one who lived to serve anyone in the company.

I was sure if Brandon had his way, that sex manic wouldn't let go of Mrs. Rose either. Or that feisty steno Arin.

Somehow Brandon knew how my meetings were lined up to walk into my office. Of all places, he knew where I spent my most waking hours.

Work had become my life after my real life crumbled.

My only escape and a point of solace in all this was when I talked to her. Babydoll.

Though she doesn't know who I was, it also took a great deal more from my end to not reveal my identity. I wondered if she knew who I was, would she treat me differently? Or would she fall for my money like all others?

For now, the secret remained safely locked.

My phone rang sharp, crashing against the silence in the room. My attorney's name and image flashed up before I picked up to his cheerful voice.

"Evening, Mr. Murphy."

"Evening, George. What have you decided? Should I go ahead with it?"

"Well if you have decided over it, then I won't stop you. I have looked over the papers. It seems good. Whoever drafted it, seems to know what they are doing"

"It's my stenographer. Arin."

"I think it's time for a promotion then." He chuckled. "Take her up Mr. Murphy."

My eyes rolled inwards, knowing well what that pervert meant. His implication to take Arin for promotion had nothing to do with an actual promotion.

I never would date, let alone sleep with anyone from the company. Mixing business and pleasure wasn't what I professed. Moreover, the feisty one was off my taste. She was a bit...too challenging. Not that was a problem, but with my life doubling down on me, I wanted to stay away from troubles.

"Okay, then George," I crashed on the couch and answered. "I will make them an offer... Thanks for your help,"

"No problem, Mr. Murphy."

Ending the call, I dialed up the person whom I hated more than Brandon.

*

Arin

Next day

"Good morning, Arin." Mrs. Rose's soft voice washed over me. I paced towards my desk, removing my shoes to wear the stilettos before answering her.

She placed a cup of searing coffee on my desk.

"Just the way you like it." Her eyes scanned the haphazard manner in which I was doing things. "You're late," she tapped the table to grab my attention. "I have never seen you be late."

Well...

Roger kept me up all night. Although he doesn't know his identity had unraveled a long time ago, it was his confidence which took me on a rollercoaster ride every time we talked. His command over me with words was a hold I couldn't break off easily.

Somewhere deep down, I didn't want to either.

After last night, I lost sleep whenever the thought of Roger knowing of my identity began cropping up. Tossing and turning on the bed, my pulsating heart ensured I contemplated the scenarios if he came to know.

Will he accept me? Or will he ignore me, stating his strict no-dating-staff policy?

Why was I thinking about dating him?

When Mrs. Rose cleared her throat, I grinned at her for my nth daydreaming episode.

"Sorry, Mrs. Rose. I overslept and my alarm s battery drained out."

She smirked as if she knew I was lying. Being a wise woman, she didn't speak further on the topic, only nudging the coffee towards me.

"We have a lot of meetings for Roger today. All in his office." Her hand waved in the air to depict the magnitude of attention it required in scheduling it.

"Hello, my babies." Georgia entered the cubicle, tossing her perfect locks over her back and sliding into a chair near me.

"Good morning, Georgia. Why on earth are you here this early?" I asked. "Don't you have some errands to run for 'the beast?"

I cautiously whispered the last word.

"Who do you think summoned here, Arin?" Mrs. Rose questioned me. "The beast himself."

My gaze turned towards Roger's office and back. Georgia nodded. She was summoned whenever some guests or clients needed to be impressed. She has this unspoken charm that always made our foreign delegates happy.

"Ohhh.. who is coming Georgia?" I tapped my hands together. "You know?"

Every time there were client meets, the lunch would be held outside. And so would the latter part of the meetings. Which meant - a free afternoon and an early leaving day.

"I frankly have no clue," Georgia said. "Roger didn't tell me this time."

I looked at Mrs. Rose, who crumpled her face. "No clue either, hon. He told me about the meetings but didn't mention who it was or what's the agenda about".

"Nice. I guess some juicy deal's going on then," I said, wiping my face off the remnants of the lingering sleep.

Georgia phone chimed. She stood up, straightening her red dress and walked into Roger's office. A couple of minutes later, a group of delegates swarmed inside.

"Can they even fit inside..." I asked. "Those many?"

"Haven't you seen his room?" Mrs. Rose smiled, tilting her head towards me. "It's big enough to fit twice those many people."

Hmm.

I can't be blamed for not checking the interiors of the room when the exteriors of the man who sat inside were much more enticing.

~

The meeting ran late.

The clients streamed in and out of the meeting room. When the skies turned greyer and the setting sunlight cast shadow, the last of them left the office.

"Finally... done for the day," I sighed, falling back in my chair and packing up my laptop.

"Yes, dear." Mrs. Rose, who had already tidied her place and packed for the day, walked to my desk. "Now you can go rest."

She ran her fingers over my head. As always, it bathed me in her motherly concern.

The happiness of our day coming to an end was short-lived.

"Arin..." Roger's voice played like a surround sound across the area. Grabbing my notepad, I ran.

"We have one last meeting." He began before I could cross the threshold of his office.. "So stay back."

"Any chance of knowing how long will the meeting go for?" I had to know. When I checked my watch, it was already past six. If the meeting ran late, I had to inform my operator and divert my calls.

"Why?" He tapped his fingers on the glass table, eying me. "Do you have somewhere to be?"

Yes, you idiot. I have to be home so that I can answer when you call your Babydoll.

"No. Nowhere to be, Sir." I shrugged, scrambling in my steps to escape his intense lingering gaze.

"Good." He turned his chair around, holding his coffee and facing the window. "Order some dinner."

What was I thinking anyways? That Roger would go easy on me.

Get a grip Arin. This was real life. And in real life, one doesn't get romance or swooning dates. It was all about getting your ass kicked and surviving a low-income paying job.

I walked outside. Mrs. Rose walked in parallel.

"What happened?" she asked, her face crumpled with a concerned look.

"Nothing." I waved my hand around dismissively. "I have to wait till another meeting."

"Ohh, honey. Do you want me to wait alongside?" Her concern plucked at my heartstrings. Mrs. Rose was the reason I survived this job and my ruthless boss.

"No, no. Mrs. Rose. Please go home. I can manage." I let out a fake smile for her assurance.

"Sure?"

I nodded.

"Then try not to kill him," she sighed.

"Don't worry, I won't do it without your help." I helped with her bags, walking her to the lift. "Who else will help dispose of his body?"

Mrs. Rose kissed her fingers and placed it over my head - her way of pacifying me every time Roger was rude to me.

Once she left, I walked back to my desk.

Dialing my operator, I stated my unavailability and my preferred substitutes. The heaviness of knowing I missed a payday sank me into the chair.

With nothing else to do and the office washed over by a wave of deafening silence, I hooked my earphones and began playing video games on my phone.

For long, it was me killing plant-like zombies, growling when I got bit.

Tap Tap.

Someone tapped their long, manicured finger on my desk.

I tossed my phone to the side, clearing my throat. "Hello."

A beautiful woman stood in front, eying her nails and her phone.

"I'm here to meet Roger Murphy." She spoke in a mind-numbing nasal tone. "Is he inside?"

Ahh. So this was his meeting.

"Yes. May I know who is it that I am sending in?"

"Stella...My name will be in the books."

Once again, she put her chopsticks length nails over the appointment book, directing me with her eyes to check. Picking up the call and checking in the appointment book, I dialed Roger.

"Sir, there someone named-"

"Send her in."

After his confirmation, I pulled my head up and let out a fake smile. "You can go in. It's the first door on the left."

She left without saying anything. Too hoity for even a thank you.

With nothing else to do, I waited around. Making paper boats seemed like a good idea after my phone's battery died.

After a while, Roger and Stella walked out of the office.

They were laughing. She had intonated pitch even when she whispered. Roger's hand remained sealed behind her back as if she would fall if he didn't hold her. Stella's hands held her heavy bag.

Sourness crept into my mouth. I looked away, ignoring their approach.

"We are done for the day," Roger said. "You can leave now Arin."

Thanks for the gesture, Almighty Master. Had you not said that I would have waited around for all eternity.

"Have a good night, Sir," was the only reply I could blurt.

After packing my things, I walked back to my apartment.

Too tired to attend to any calls, I fell back on the bed without even bothering to remove my makeup or work clothes. It was only when the stuffiness of my attire irritated me into the night, did I decide to take them off.

Walking back from the washroom, I saw my phone blinking. A message.

***Message***

I couldn't talk to you today. Missed hearing your voice, Babydoll.

Will call tomorrow.

Master

*

I jumped on my bed. Blood rushed to my cheeks, reading it again and again.

Roger Murphy missed me.

Even when his meeting ran late, he cared enough to send a message.

The call center hasn't made our phone number available to any client - for obvious privacy reasons. For a client to send a message, he needed to connect with an operator and convey the message who in turn would text it to us.

Since the time I'd worked here, I'd never received a text.

A question popped into my mind. Does Roger like me? Or a version of me I displayed over the call?

My bed rested my soar and tired body but sleep didn't take hold of me. It was Roger's thoughts which remained suspended in my mind.

The next day in the office, I kept smiling at his message.

Peter - our shy newspaper boy - was the only person to come early to the office. He walked over to my desk after placing stacks of today's newspapers and magazines on Roger's desk.

"Yes, Peter. You want something?" I inquired.

The boy bit into his lower lip, turning it to a shade of purple.

With minimum eye contact, most of which he used to scan the carpeted floor, he spoke. "Don't want anything, Arin. I just wanted to know if you guys will have a big party? Or will you even celebrate it?"

My eyes scanned him. "What are you talking about? Celebrate what, Peter..?"

He placed a newspaper on my table. Bold-worded headline stood out.

'WHISKEY TYCOON MURPHY TO MARRY OSWALD HEIRESS'

///

Awesome Pawsome

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S