From Frying Pan to Strange Fire

In exactly 30 minutes Grace arrived at the head office of Xylonica group of companies. Following the directions Trevor had given to her, she moved to the 58th floor and approached the lady behind the receiving desk, who she believed to be the secretary.

“Can I help you?” The lady asked, eyeing Grace.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Yes. Good morning. I’m here to see Mr Baliante.” Grace explained and the secretary looked her over in a way Grace considered demeaning and condescending.

“What for?” The Secretary asked after a while of staring. “What do you want to see him for?” She repeated with a challenging tone.

Grace didn’t know if she woke up on the wrong side of luck or if someone had placed a curse on her day because what was with all these confrontations? First it was Richard and his mother and now it was this woman who supposedly was Trevor’s secretary.

“He’s expecting me. Please tell him I’m here.” Greece responded, keeping her annoyance in check.

“Yeah, they all say the same thing. Desperate young girls who should be working hard to make their parents and society proud all come here and say the same thing. Why? Because they are looking for an already made man. None of them succeeded. What makes you think you will succeed?” The woman probed, eyeing Grace with distaste.

“I beg your pardon-”

“Dont beg my pardon. Answer the question.” The woman cut into her words.

“Listen Madam, I didn’t come here to be insulted by you. I already told you the reason I’m here. I expect Mr Baliante should have told you I was coming and if not, then do your job and call him to confirm instead of being rude and asking me irrelevant questions.” Grace said, unable to keep it in anymore. She had seen and met rude people, but this one was very shocking to her as she didn’t expect to encounter such an unprofessional person in a big establishment like this. And worse, she was supposed to be the CEOs secretary.

“Are you trying to teach me my job?” The woman stood up from her seat, annoyance plastered on her face. “Do you know how long I have been working here?” The Secretary asked, her nose flaring in annoyance.

“I don’t question-”

“Get out!” The woman cut her off.

“What?!” Grace couldn’t believe her ears.

“Out, I said!” The Secretary repeated, louder this time.

Having had enough, Grace turned around to walk away but she halted her action when she saw Trevor coming toward them with another man beside him.

“What is going on here?” Trevor asked, slowing down as he approached the women.

“Sir, this lady just walked in here claiming she has an appointment with you and needs to see you urgently. I tried to ask her a few questions to ascertain her identity, but instead of answering me, she was being rude.” The Secretary wasted no time to explain, an explanation that made Grace widen her eyes in disbelief. Before she could object, Trevor beat her to it.

“Anna, I believe I already told you I was expecting her.”

“Sir, you said you were expecting a pretty lady by the name Grace Everton. I didn’t know she was the one because she didn’t introduce herself and she isn’t even that pretty.” Anna stated with a frown and this time it was Trevor’s turn to widen his eyes.

He knew how Anna treated and kept his unwanted, pesky, female visitors away and he approved of it, the reason why she was still working with him. What he didn’t understand was why she treated Grace the same way despite knowing he was expecting her. And he couldn’t believe she just said Grace was that pretty.

Trevor wore an apologetic smile, shifting his attention to Grace. “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. Please come with me.” He gestured for her to follow him into his office and offered her a seat when they stepped in. “Give me a few minutes to finish up and we can leave.” He added and she nodded with a forced smile.

Grace sat on the plush sofa while he went ahead to sit behind the desk, dishing out instructions to the man that came with him.

Moving her eyes around the expansive and exquisitively furnished office space, Grace was impressed. For the CEO of the largest corporation in the country, she expected nothing less. However, she wasn’t so sure he was the CEO anymore seeing how he called Roman his boss and was always ready to do his bidding. This made her remember what Mrs Elvin said to her earlier that day – Mr. Baliante was not the problem. The one who married Joan was.

Grace shifted her gaze to Trevor and caught him staring at her while still dishing out orders to the other man in the office. She looked away when he adamantly refused to do so and wondered why he was looking at her.

He soon dismissed the man and stood up, grabbing his jacket.

“Miss Everton, are you working night shift today?” He asked, approaching her.

“No sir. I took the day off.” Grace answered, standing up when she saw him coming toward her.

“Hmm… you must really love your friend. She’s lucky to have such a friend as you.” Trevor noted, stopping right before her.

“It’s mutual I consider myself lucky to have her as a friend. She will not hesitate to do what I’m doing if I was the one in trouble.”

“You think she’s in trouble?”

“Isn’t she?” Grace asked back.

“Rest assured she isn’t. She is in safe hands.” Trevor assured but Grace was not ready to believe it.

“I highly doubt that, Mr Baliante, considering how she was snatched and forced to marry someone she doesn’t know or want.” Grace revealed and Trevor let out a sigh.

“I am aware that my boss’s method was unconventional but believe me when I say it’s all with good intentions and for good reasons. If we wanted to hurt her, do you think you would be allowed anywhere near the house let alone bring her things over?”

Grace refused to believe it, but she said nothing to counter his word.

“You don’t seem to believe me. I must have a very bad reputation.”

“I didn’t say that.” Grace defended herself.

“You didn’t have to. Your face and body language already did. Nevertheless, I am not offended.” He widened his smile, but not too wide to look crazy to her. “Shall we? Your friend must be dying to see you already.”