CHAPTER 3
HELLO MY LOVELY BOSS
As the clock struck 10:00 am, Eva stood in the bustling
halls of LN1 Company, her eyes alight with determination and
nerves fluttering like the wings of a trapped bird. "Good
morning, ma'am," she greeted Leena, the receptionist, her
voice trembling slightly with nerves. Leena replied with a
warm smile, "Hi Eva, could you please go to Mr. Jack's cabin?
It's on the left side of the 4th floor. He will brief you about the
work. By the way, my name is Leena. All the best. Bye." With a nod of gratitude, Eva set off in search of Mr. Jack's
cabin, her heart pounding in her chest like the rhythm of a
drum. She climbed the stairs to the 4th floor, her footsteps
echoing in the empty hallway as she navigated the labyrinth
of corridors. Finally, she reached Jack's cabin, but to her
dismay, he wasn't there. Undeterred, she approached one of
the
staff
members nearby and inquired about his
whereabouts. The staff member assured her that Jack would
be back in five minutes, so Eva decided to wait patiently in the
lobby.
As she waited, Eva couldn't help but overhear snippets
of conversation from her colleagues nearby. They spoke of
Jack with a mixture of admiration and apprehension, noting
his formidable work ethic and unwavering dedication to his
duties. "Why hasn't Jack arrived yet?" one colleague
whispered to another. "He may have an innocent face, but
when it comes to work matters, his heart is as tough as steel.
He never makes excuses, and he expects nothing less from his
subordinates. After all, he climbed the ranks in just a year and
was recently promoted to Chief Financial Officer. Today is his
first day in that role, so the delay is rather unusual." Eva listened intently, her curiosity piqued by their
words. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of man Jack
was, and what it would be like to work under his leadership.
Moments later, Eva's thoughts were interrupted by a hushed
murmur from her colleagues as they caught sight of someone
approaching. She turned to see a handsome young man
striding confidently down the hallway, his phone pressed to
his ear as he engaged in a conversation. It was Jack.
Eva's heart skipped a beat as she watched him, her
cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the memory of their
encounter on the flight. She had hoped he wouldn't recognize
her, but as he passed by, she caught his eye, and he offered
her a polite nod of acknowledgment. With a trembling hand,
Eva pushed open the door to Jack's cabin and stepped inside,
her pulse racing with anticipation.
"Good morning, sir," she greeted him, her voice barely
above a whisper. Jack glanced up from his phone, his
expression unreadable as he took in her presence. "Can I come
in?" Eva asked nervously, shifting from foot to foot. Jack
nodded curtly, gesturing for her to take a seat. "Yes, come in,
Eva," he replied, his tone businesslike. "You're the new
account trainee, correct? I need you to fill out this form and
bring it to me. Then, check the details in this file and create ajournal entry. You have 30 minutes. If you have any questions,
ask the person next to you. Her name is Pinky. Then, inform
me once this file is finalized."
Eva listened to all this for a moment, pondering why
Jack never seemed to notice her or engage in small talk.
Nevertheless, she continued with her work diligently, aiming
to complete it within the 30-minute timeframe. But does Jack
even care? Is he indifferent to me? Isn't there even a hint of
acknowledgment towards me, the person she saw on the
flight? Lost in thought, Eva failed to notice Jack's approach
until he was standing directly behind her, his voice breaking
through her reverie.
"Aren't you listening to what I'm saying?" he asked, his
tone stern. Startled, Eva glanced up at him, her cheeks
flushing with embarrassment. "Yes, sir," she stammered. "I
will complete this file and get back to you. Bye." With that, she
hurriedly gathered her belongings and made her way out of
the cabin, her heart heavy with disappointment.
Later that evening, as Eva walked home from the office,
she found herself lost in thought, her mind still preoccupied
with thoughts of Jack. She barely noticed the passing cars andbustling crowds, her thoughts consumed by the enigma of her
boss's behavior. But as she turned a corner, she was startled
to see a familiar figure standing before her – it was Jack,
leaning against a sleek black car with a casual air of
confidence.
"Hey, Eva," he called out, his voice warm and friendly.
As Eva approached Jack, her heart skipped a beat, and
her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the unexpected
encounter. "Hi, sir," she replied nervously, her voice barely
above a whisper. Jack smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the
corners as he regarded her. "I'm sorry, Eva, for acting like I
don't know you at all in the office," he said, his tone apologetic.
Eva's eyes widened in surprise, her heart racing with
confusion. "Sir, did you remember me?" she asked, her voice
tinged with uncertainty. Jack nodded, his expression somber.
"At work, it's all about business," he explained. "I have to
maintain a professional distance from my subordinates. It's
nothing personal."
Eva felt a wave of relief wash over her at his words, her
doubts and insecurities melting away in the warmth of his
reassurance. "Thank you, sir," she replied, her voice soft with
gratitude. Jack smiled warmly, his eyes twinkling withamusement. "Where are you staying?" he asked, changing the
subject.
Eva hesitated for a moment before replying, her cheeks
flushing with embarrassment. "I'm staying in Apartment 14,"
she admitted, feeling a sense of vulnerability at the admission.
Jack nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "I'm
heading in that direction," he said casually. "I'll drop you off."
Eva's heart skipped a beat at the offer, her cheeks
flushing with embarrassment. "No, thanks," she replied
hastily. "I'll go on my own." But Jack shook his head, his
expression determined. "Nonsense," he said firmly. "I'm going
the same way. I'll drop you off and then head home."
With a sense of gratitude, Eva climbed into the car
beside Jack, her heart racing with excitement as they set off
into the night. As they drove through the bustling streets of
London, Eva couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the
sights and sounds of the city. The neon lights of the shops and
restaurants blurred past her, casting a warm glow over the
darkened streets."So, do you have any friends at the apartment?" Jack
asked, breaking the silence. Eva shook her head, her voice
tinged with sadness. "I'm all alone, nestled in a cozy corner,"
she said. "My dear friend Lilly went yesterday. Classes will
resume after 15 days."
Jack nodded sympathetically. "Alright, how was work at
the office today?" he asked. Eva replied, "No issues at all." Jack
smiled. "Today I took charge as the Chief Financial Officer, so
I might be engaged in other matters tomorrow. If you have
any doubts, feel free to ask Pinky."
He then asked, "Did you have food?" Eva replied, "No."
Jack inquired, "Is food available at the mess?" Eva explained,
"Yes, there is a mess at the apartment, but it closes at 8:00.
Since it's already late, I'll have to get something from the
nearby hotel."
Jack's eyes sparkled with amusement. "You don't know
any hotels around here? If I'm not mistaken, you haven't had
food until now, I suppose. I'm feeling hungry too. Shall we eat
something together?" Eva's face lit up with a smile. "Of
course, thank you."With a smile, Jack steered the car towards a nearby
hotel, their laughter filling the air as they embarked on a new
adventure together. As they sat down to enjoy their meal, Eva
couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement for the journey.
