Seven
Veil sauntered back to her office in a dampened mood. She could tell that this wouldn’t be the last time he’d talk to her in such a way. While she tried to sort her mood, her office telephone rang. She answered the call almost immediately.
“Hello, RM Groups on the…” Before she could conclude her sentence, Ander’s cold voice interrupted her.
“My office in five minutes.” Saying that he hung up.
Veil could only smile, as she tried her hardest to smile. She started for his office in hurried strides, and in exactly five minutes she was there.
“Mr. Rodriguez, you called.”
“Make corrections to these documents. I want them on my desk before 2:00 PM Ander replied nonchalantly.
Veiled stared with disbelief at the stack of neatly arranged files heaped on the side of his desk, wondering if he was serious or just taunting her.
“You ain’t still here, are you?” He queried, snapping Veil out of her daze.
“Uhh! No, I’ll just go now.” She carried the stack of files and headed out of his office.
Dumping the load on her desk, Veil sank herself to work. She had just a few hours to edit, type and then print a bunch of papers. As if she had a choice.
Throughout the entire morning and during Lunchtime, Veil was pinned to her seat, working her head out. Even when she was starving, she couldn’t leave her seat.
At exactly 1:45 PM, Veil was done. She carried the neat pile of the documents which she had made corrections to and reprinted, to Ander’s Office.
“Mr. Rodriguez! the files are ready.” She said, suppressing a yawn.
“Dispose of them!” Came Ander’s reply.
“Huh?” Veil asked.
“Those are already concluded documents from the last ten years ago. They are no longer useful.” Ander replied in his usual nonchalance.
Veil stared at the man in front of her, wondering if he had s heart at all. She couldn’t believe he had made her seat for over eight hours, working on a file that no longer had a use. The back of her eyes twitched, threatening tears, but, she blinked back the urge to cry.
She carried the files back to her office and disposed of them.
At the close of work, Veil cleared her desk, picked up her bag, and prepared to leave, but Simon stopped her.
“You can only leave after Mr. Rodriguez.”
At this moment, Veil felt like crying. She had barely had a thing to eat all day and here she was having to wait for someone who was deliberately punishing her.
“Okay!” She replied curtly and then took the elevator back to her office.
At 8:30 PM, she was almost giving up in her office when Ander gave the order that she could leave.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.
The next day, Veil didn’t fail to have an ample breakfast before leaving for the office as early as 5:00 AM.
Just as she alighted from the taxi, Ander’s car pulled over.
Seeing his car, she exhaled her relief. She had been worried that he had already reached the office. She hurried towards his car, making her presence known.
“Good morning Mr. Rodriguez.” She forced a smile at him. Ander turned in her direction and seeing her, a glint of surprise flashed across his eyes, but then he looked away from her, ignoring her greetings.
As they entered the building together, with numerous men in suits trailing in front and behind Ander, Veil who was walking beside him struggled to catch up with his long strides.
“My schedule for…” Ander started, but before he could conclude, Veil was already listing.
“For the morning, you’d be meeting with VM cooperation at eight o’clock, and immediately after that, you’d be meeting with the executives at nine thirty AM, shortly after that, a meeting with Jk directors follows…”
“For VM cooperation, you’d be discussing the new project and for JK directors, you’d be signing the closure for the recently completed agricultural project in Africa,” Simon explained.
“That’s all for the day, I believe,” Ander asked.
“No, Mr. Rodriguez. There’s lunch with Ms. Jenna George.”
“Cancel it.” He replied without hesitation.
Veil couldn’t help but wonder who this person was to receive such treatment.
“Yes!” She answered.
As they arrived in the hallway of the eighteenth floor, the men in suits formationed from the beginning of the hallway to the door of Ander’s office.
Simon opened the door for Ander, then he followed behind whereas Veil rushed out to make Ander a cup of coffee. By the time she returned shortly after, Simon was about to leave.
She put down the cup of coffee on the desk in front of him and then excused herself. As she turned to leave, Simon said something to her and she smiled. Ander stared at Veil until the double doors of his office closed.
Noon
Ander had just concluded his last meeting for the day. He strode out of the board room after infusing panic on everyone there. Veil and Simon followed behind him. While one was agitated, the other was serious as they walked toward Anders’ office.
“Sir, would you want me to do anything for you?” Veil asked a serious-looking Ander.
“No!” Ander answered curtly.
“Let’s have lunch together Ms. Hart, I heard you’re Spanish. I know the best Spanish restaurant in the…”
“She isn’t available for that, Simon.” Anders’ tone was stern, jolting Simon. “As long as I’m staying back at the office, my assistant has to stay back as well.”
Veil was both stunned and angry, but she couldn’t bring herself to vent. While Simon was confused, but he simply nodded.
“I’ll see you around.” Simon smiled at Veil before walking away.
At the close of work, Simon offered Veil a ride as she stood awaiting her ride.
“No, thank you, Simon. I already booked a ride.” She rejected politely.
“Alright then, goodbye Ms. Hart,” Simon said and then drove off.
On the third floor of the building behind her, a certain someone wasn’t pleased seeing Simon and Veil talking.