Neo's Pov
I know he said I could report to him anytime but I didn't trust him one bit I mean he was the boss he could literally replace me at any time,
I mean literally
so I couldn't really slack off "so you're going to start tomorrow" Pia asked wide eyes
Although it had been one day gap since I left that man's office it felt already too long "yes pia I am, like if you think of it,he said anytime but that doesn't exactly make sense I mean what if I decide to not show for a whole week will he still be waiting for me , what if he's testing me to know if I can actually read in-between the lines" I said pouting a little at pia "yeah good point though but have you thought about school yet" and the answer is yes "yes I did actually I begged Zuma to help me talk to the teachers on my behalf I mean we're close and teachers know that so it'll be helpful" "anddd" "he agreed don't worry he understands the whole situation" I just have high faith that everything will work out well , I sighed rather too loudly "alright if you feel you have to go then no problem" "yeah thanks and you do your path with mom okay" "alright trust me" she said walking out .
The next day
I swear I really couldn't, I woke up every damn hour that passed checking the clock. I got up 4:00 to start preparing, yes I was that nervous but because I also wanted to look good.
I stood in front of the mirror, buttoning and unbuttoning the same shit for the fourth time.
The suit? Too formal, the patterned shirt? Too pia on a Saturday night. I needed something that said "I belong here", without sounding like I was begging for validation, in the end I went with a loose white collarless shirt that felt like a hoodie cause of how big it was, simple,neat, and safe but exposed little of my collarbones, then paired it off with a baggy cargo jeans that had alot of pocket and simple design at least the outfit gave off enough structure to look grown.
I stared at my petite self in the mirror, running a hand through my hair for the hundredth time."you're not trying to impress him" I muttered under my breath,
Total lie, even the leather watch felt like a reach but whatever. I was already late for my anxiety attack
I arrived at exactly 7:47am . Fifteen minutes early like some kind of corporate nerd. I've been outside since 7:20... This is not me,I should be all cuddled up in my duvet .
I didn't want to look to eager so I circled the block twice and here I was staring at the building but why was I so nervous I mean I am his personal assistance I'm above every single damn person here I mean "you are him you are the guy you belong here" I mentally hyped myself before walking in heading straight for his office without meeting the receptionist is who eyed me rather suspiciously well I knew where I was going after all, although it wasn't only her stare that I caught, I got a few from the other people that passed by me maybe cause I dressed differently wasn't wearing a suit or a tie around my neck oh well too bad that isn't going to happen anytime soon.
I paused and exhaled then with my shaking hands I nocked
No answer
I knocked again,still just pure silence
Maybe I should have stopped at that receptionist to tell her I wanted to see him but no way am I going back there my built up pride would totally shatter. I haven't even gone in and I was halfway dead, i stood for a little while then the door opened like by itself nobody was behind it. This door just freaking opened by itself, I stood at the entrance for a while waiting for his permission to come in but he didn't say a word just seated, flipping through a file like I wasn't even standing there.
I held the hem of my shirt and moved in standing in front of him but giving him enough room Incase there was a need to dash out that door.
Okayyy
Time to be bold
"Good morning sir" I said trying really hard not to let my voice squeak "I came early like you said it's...uh..7:50 actually"
Nothing.
He kept reading
My lips twitched a little, I swear if not that you were my boss I would have snapped at you so hard for not answering me, Rude motherf**ker.
I tried again this time walking closer "you look different in daylight" oh my God what did I just say , his his eyes flicked up for exactly half a second. I counted it. Literally counted but they just dropped back to the file like I hadn't just attempted the bravest conversation starter in recorded history
This was humiliating.
"I brought a pen" holding it up like a trophy "a blue one, I heard bosses hate black ink" I said bitting the insides of my mouth
Still nothing
I really hated this , I hated him already maybe I should just sit down or something
I hate him, he doesn't even want to interact how am I supposed to learn when he doesn't teach, dickhead I said all this pouting. A habit of mine that I do even without being conscious of.
I walked to what I suppose is my desk and sat down on the leather chair and just sat there literally doing nothing but staring at him with a scoul.
Minutes passed then he finally closed the file and pushed it aside and finally let words come out of those chiselled lips.
He's voice was low, smooth and just slightly annoyed like I'd already done something wrong.
Breathing maybe
"Take this" he slid a file towards his table across to my direction
"Read everything, memorize the schedule, if I ask for something you give it, if I say nothing you stay silent" he said all of it in the same voice one might use to give instructions to a new microwave.
Nothing
I didn't say anything, didn't move at all or even a reaction at all just a heavy scoul and a pout on my face.
I wasn't planning on doing anything unless he looked at me, I mean cut me some slack I feel like I'm a stranger ,which technical I am but still no introduction, no guidance no information what if I mess up then what I get fired hell no give me some attention already
please!!!
Lucas pov
The alarm went off at 5:00,it didn't need to,I was already awake. I'd always wake up before the city did,before the chaos, before the traffic, before anyone had a chance to disrupt the calm I carved out for myself.
My routine was precise
Black coffee
A cold shower
Pressed shirt,dark grey suit. No tie, never a tie I hate the feeling of being choked. Slim fit trousers. Matching socks.black leather shoes, polished the night before. Watch aligned, cufflinks subtle.
I didn't need to look at myself twice in the mirror,I never left the house unless I looked like a man who couldn't be questioned.
And no one ever did
At the office
I arrived 15 minutes early as usual the building was quiet, The Way I liked it, by 7:46 I was already receiving documents for a meeting scheduled 2 weeks from now control wasn't a preference it was a necessity then came a knock , soft,resistant unmistakably new, wasn't in the mood to answer anyone right now then a second knock came more unsure this time I pressed the button on my desk that open to the door not wanting to be disturbed any further then he entered are you kidding me baggy cargo jeans a crisp colorless white shirt sneakers that didn't match the pants but somehow worked.
no tie, no desperate after shave, no fake plastered grin interesting.
He didn't look or act like the other applicants that were before him didn't dress to please didn't shrink either though he looked one question from passing out.
I kept eyes on the file in front of me "good morning sir, I...I came early like you said it's just 7:50 actually" the boy was nervous not the trembling kind, the overtalker kind, the type who fidgets too much and second guesses everything.
"You look different in daylight" what does that mean,my eyes flicked up before I could stop them this was definitely due to annoyance "I brought a pen,a blue one I heard bosses hates black ink"
Says who, God he talked too much
He thinks his charming his probably used to getting away with things and people
but then, I glanced up again he had sat back too Straight, he had a strong scoul on his face that I had noticed long ago looking like a child caught sneaking sweets then he pouted just slightly not a full pout just a shift of the lips the faintest twitch of frustration.
I didn't speak just allowed the tension speak between us this one was bold, not the confident bold there was a difference confidence with controlled boldness was reckless and reckless got people hurt
still.....
he hadn't left yet that said something.
"take this" I didn't give the boy time to process "read everything. memorize the schedule if I ask for something you give it, if I say nothing you stay silent" my tone was flat neutral.microwavable I could have been reading out a tech manual for how to breathe and yet
nothing...there was no sound just silence no yes sir no movement not even a blink. I paused then finally glanced up
Neo was sitting there like a statue with attitude. eyes narrowed lips pressed in a tight scoul like he had just been told to clean toilets with a toothbrush, arms crossed mood ruined you wanted to be bold didn't you.
Lucas studied him watching how he tried to act unaffected but still sat there didn't leave didn't argue didn't touch the file just sat there demanding something without saying it this wasn't defense, not really it was a quiet protest a craving for something direction, recognition, attention maybe.
so you want attention he didn't say anything just leaned back in a chair letting the silence grow sharp, most assistants would have panicked, started flipping through the file just to look busy but this one he just sat there with his ridiculous mix of frustration and hope in his eyes like he wanted me to look at him and see him really see him,
well it worked
He stood up slowly and walked to my desk and carried the file avoiding anything that was my eyes if he was going to be my assistant or survive in my kind of world around deadlines, board meetings and the kind of people who are around me or the choices I made or the things I did in secrets he'd need thicker skin than that.
Still...
My eyes flickered up one more time he had finally started working on the file jaws clinched movements stuff concentration was all that was written on his face as though his life depended on just this one file
I finished scanning my emails and looked back at the file neo had submitted he had organized this neater than I had expected I flipped through it and he's work was flawless not too bad for a minor actually
"Not bad"
Neo looked up surprised
"Did you just compliment me"
I just stared at him without a word
"You can take it as whatever you want"
"Oh I will" he said looking at me as though he was holding something in then he smiled so widely it frightened me.