Lady in Red

Two days. In just two days, Reece Dean had become the most famous talk in Boston. He was announced the hottest man of the year. He was announced the most richest who had taken over global wide companies. Girls died to work for him. Men envied. Inside the office was a chaos. The news of the new personal assistant chosen had not been declared yet and this gave many girls in the office a thought of acceptance.

Jay Dean's last day was yesterday and this meant a whole new chapter of a story to Catherine. Jay Dean's entry in this corporate was smooth and collected. He never put pressure on people when it came to work but the case was different this time. Everything was on Reece now that meant pressure on all the employees. It was new to everyone. Normally, with Jay around people were just chilling. Yes, they were working but mainly chilling and this was a news to Reece. He wanted professional people around him, people who worked hard, and people who cared. This was a news to all the employees but nothing new to Catherine White. She was all about it.

"There's a meeting in the higher block today in five minutes. Everyone be there on time," Jessica said. Jessica once worked for Jay Dean's wife in the cooperate but after his wife left to manage another company, Jessica for the front office lady job. She managed all the guests and handled them well. But Catherine never really liked her. Jessica was full of discreet spice. She was so full of herself from the inside but so calm from the outside. She wasn't fooling Catherine. And Of course, she thinks she might be the lucky one today.

Catherine walked into the bathroom with her head down. Once inside, she turned on the faucet of the sink and splashed her face with cool water. She looked into the mirror and observed her reflection. Either she was going to get a lot of hates today or lot of love. She just didn't know. Catherine looked at her watched and realized that it was now her time to go. She didn't know what this meeting was about but she didn't want to be late.

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The office room had a big oval table made of glass and around it had twenty chairs laid out. Each one of them had a cushion to it. Catherine walked in first and then people began to pile in, taking their seats. Everyone waited impatiently for Reece to walk in. All eyes were on him, drinking him in when he walked in moments later; However, Catherine didn't meet eye to eye with him.

"God, look at him. He's godly," someone whispered. Everyone agreed as they nodded and sighed.

"Welcome. Thank you for coming. How's everyone doing today?" Reece asked in a business like tone.

"Good!" Everyone said, in unison.

"Very good," Jennifer called out, twirling a string of brown, well-maintained piece of hair in between her fingers. Reece Looked at her and smiled that didn't reach his eyes. Catherine held back a little giggle.

"Good. As you all know, my father has has put a lot of responsibilities on me. I went through all the files in the cabinet and noticed that we, as a company, have grossed over 1 billion dollars. People are wanting to work for us from all different countries, cities, and states. I'm proud of all of you," Reece said, smiling. Everyone began to clap.

"I heard President Modi was trying to get in touch with you, Mr. Dean!"

"I know. I have gotten in contact with him."

"Are we opening up a new company in India, sir?" Jessica asked, her mouth ajar.

"Not yet, but I have spoken about it to Prime Minister, Modi and he thinks it's a great idea. We can help all the poor get a job. How about affordable condos in Mumbai? What do you all think?" Reece looked at Catherine for approval and smiled as she discreetly nodded.

"What about other cities and towns?"

"I will open small companies and shelters where people will accommodate too," Reece agreed, writing something down on a piece of paper.

"Who will run the company there?" Someone else asked. Reece looked up.

"I will figure it out. Have you guys typed and faxed the paper work I told you to do in different areas?"

"Yes, sir. All down to go," Jason, an employee spoke up.

"Excellent! We have a lot to do today. Marcus, and Monroe, I need you two to bring me the file for Boston miniseries. Martha, get me the invoice for yesterday's safe box for noon today. The rest of you, I need you all to get back to work. International businesses should all look upon us. I need no mistakes. Understood?" he ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

"Meeting adjourned. You may all go now." Everyone began to stand to proceed out but stopped when Jessica suddenly called it out.

"Have you picked your personal assistant yet, sir?" She asked. This caught all the girls attention. Reece Dean chuckled as his gaze fell on Catherine's.

"Yes, ladies."

"Oh!" The girls squealed.

"Who?" Jennifer asked, stepping up first. Catherine bit the inside of her cheeks as she realized that after this, everyone is going to hate her. But she couldn't help but to smile a little as Reece chuckled again at Jennifer's sudden burst of excitement.

"Catherine White," he says. Oh, here does nothing! The girls gasp as they all turn to Catherine. It's not her fault she was professional enough to get his attention. Jennifer scowled at her as she turned to Mr. Dean.

"Sir…" she chocked.

"Get back to work, everyone," Reece said, breaking the silence, "Ms.White, stay behind." Everyone walked out, some disappointed, as Catherine stayed behind. Her heart began to race as the glass door shut, trapping her with the godly boss of hers. Reece walked closer to her, his locked locked on hers.

"I think you should have picked Jennifer, sir. She is going to hate me forever," Catherine laughed, uncomfortably. Jesus! Out of anything, this is what she chose to say?

"Ms.White, you have a delighted sense of humor. She would be my last pick if anything. Do you not trust in yourself?" Reece said, walking closer to her. Catherine took a small, discreet, step back.

"Of course, sir. Sorry," Catherine apologized, looking down.

"Sit," he orders. Catherine looks up at him, nods, and sits down ten feet away from him but facing straight at him on the other end of the table. Reece sits down, facing her.

"What was it like working with my father?" Reece finally says, breaking the silence. This catches Catherine's attention as smile finds a way through her.

"It was amazing. Your father actually helped me out. I remember I was new to the city and in need of a job. I had no where to go or be at and I had just finished school. I came in touch with your father that one day; however, in a whole new different situation," Catherine laughs, openly. Reece chuckles.

"Enlighten me, Ms. White."

"I…I was all over the place that time. I remember walking down the street from my friend's house one day when I saw your father. He was in trouble. The media had followed him and people were just crazy, running after him to meet him. He was running too. I saw him and then I thought, hey! maybe he had done something wrong and people were chasing after him? Something sparked in me and I saw this empty garage and I called out to him. He quickly came running to me and I pushed us both inside, locking it. People lost him. I didn't know who he was at that time," Catherine laughs again. Reece puts all his undivided attention on her as he leans frontwards against the table, observing her.

"And then what?"

"I accuse him, hehe. I thought he had stolen something. Or done something. So I start giving him lectures on life and the outcome of bad deeds without evening giving him a chance to talk."

"Go on."

"So then when I'm done and all, he finally talks. He tells me who he is in the midst of laughters and why people were chasing after him and I was so red. I apologize and then tell him what my motive was to come down here in Boston all the way from New york. Of course, then, your father starts to have a liking of me and offers me a job for such an exclusive advice on life." Catherine smiles at the memory of how it changed her entire life.

"My father must really like you then. He doesn't just pick people out of the streets," he says, giving her a crooked grin. Catherine couldn't help but to blush.

"I guess I just got lucky, sir."

"You are lucky."

"Thank you."

"Well, so you know. I have officially stolen you away from my dad so now you are all mine to do whatever I please," Reece said, in a more serious tone. Holy cow!

Catherine's face grew hot as she fought the hardest not to blush. But fate had failed to be on her side as a deeper shade of red felt visible on her face. If words could kill just like the looks then Catherine died a thousand deaths just now.

"As a personal assistant. Work for me just like you worked for my dad in a professional matter?" Reece clarified, chuckling. Catherine wanted the ground to just swallow her up already.

"Ye-yes, sir. Right," she stuttered. Catherine tried to look everywhere but at him. Her feet, the corners of her chair, the table, the frames beside her, everything seemed to have been pleasing to look at but she just couldn't keep an eye contact at her boss.

He was too good to be true. His looks killed. His chuckles and smirks were a challenge. His attitude and postures of his body were brutally challenging, demanding, and striking.

"I have different rules and regulations than what my father had when these companies were his. I don't like to go hard on my people but I don't like to go easy either. I expect my personal assistant to be my right arm at all times. Be there whenever I need her, get me whatever I want whenever I want, and only oblige. I hate rule breakers. I make the rules, I break them. Are you with me so far, Ms. White?" Reece says, with a slight smirk. Catherine's mouth is ajar.

"Ye-yes, sir."

"Good." Reece, without taking his eyes off of her, reaches down, picks up a file, and tosses it in front of her. Catherine looks at it then at him.

"Sign it," he orders. Catherine picks up the papers and observes it. It has everything he said a minute ago. Failure to oblige to any rules will be immediately viewed by the CEO for a further due punishment. Catherine read through it with her heart pounding at every sentence. She felt like she was giving her life away to someone. What would all this mean? Catherine looked up and finally managed to make an eye contact with him. She immediately saw the devil in his eyes as he folded his arms against his chest with a devilish smirk plastered on his face.

What could this mean?

Catherine saw the devil in him already but she also saw the saint in him. He could give her a second chance or fire her if one mistake was made. But why give him a chance too? This job meant a lot to her and her career. When Catherine dug in, she realized that there was something devilish hidden in his eyes. It was visible. Did he want her to back away from all this? Was this a challenge? Catherine couldn't pinpoint anything but she sure as hell didn't want to disappoint him when he had risked everyone only to chose her as his personal assistant. Catherine picked up the pen and that's when Reece's smirk disappeared. He seemed more serious and Catherine noticed.

"Read carefully, sweetheart," he says, smiling. His smile didn't touch his eyes and she noticed that too. So, this was a challenge. To see if she was up for a tough challenge on weather she succeeds or not? Catherine hoped so. She picks up the pen next to her and brings it closer to the paper. She looks up at him again only to see him observing her every move, dangerously. Catherine manages to smile and signs the papers.

Reece Dean smiles, dangerously, as the pen drops. Think of it as a life being sold to the devil, Ms. White.