The Alpha’s Dynasty

Maya

“I’m here for the Future of Insurance Conference,” I told the receptionist at Blue Landmark Hotel.

“From which company?” One of them asked, scanning a paper with names.

“Milner,” I reply, glancing around the lobby.

“Sign here,” she instructed, handing me a blue pen and pushing the paper towards me. “Aren’t you a little bit late?”

I glanced at my watch. “No, it’s ten minutes to eleven. I should’ve come earlier but I had some things to take care of.”

One of my students had to go for a writing competition so I had to give her some last minute tutoring.

“The conference started at ten-thirty.”

“What?”

“Your company’s representatives came here at exactly ten.”

“I’ve been so busy but my assistant told me it was starting at 11,” I said, running towards the lower conference room. Thank God it was on the ground floor.

As ill luck would have it, Zane Carrington, our CEO was giving his speech when I got to the room. I scanned the room for an empty seat and noticed one next to Edward, the Financial Manager of our biggest rival, Landmark Insurance whose owner owned the hotel as well. I tried to ignore the sound of my heels clicking loudly against the floor as I walked in, disrupting everyone. The CEOs seated at the front where there is a platform were watching me and I was sure Mr. Carrington was seething with rage.

Edward did not acknowledge my presence when I sat on the chair next to his. Not that I cared. When Mr. Carrington finished his speech, Harry turned and we made eye contact. He held a blank expression. He turned away immediately and I knew I was in hot soup. The CEO and everyone else was angry at me. I didn’t even want to imagine what they’d do when they found out I had another job.

At lunch time, Edward finally spoke to me. He asked me to sit with him and I agreed which ended up in me getting occasional weird glances from Harry and my Milner colleagues. I regretted agreeing because that was like betraying the company although it was not illegal. Like I imagined, Edward turned out to be quite an interesting character.

“I didn’t think there was anything good at Milner but I’m now convinced I was wrong,” his smile was perfect, teeth aligned perfectly. He was a suitable distraction and maybe if I flirted with him more, I’d be able to forget Harry and Zane.”

I laughed. “Now that you’ve realized, what are you going to do about it?”

He bit his bottom lip, a smile playing on his handsome face. He looked so good and his skin was so smooth. “What would you suggest?”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Let’s eat.”

“I’m serious,” he said.

I opened my purse and scanned the surroundings to make sure none of Milner’s staff was watching. Removing my business card, I pushed it across the table. He held my gaze while picking it up and inserting it into his shirt’s pocket. It was time for a new beginning.

At the end of the conference, I had to face everyone when Sara asked us to converge to sign for our allowances. I was the last to sign and she informed me that Mr. Carrington wanted to have a word with me. My heart was racing as I walked towards the CEO who was about to enter his car.

“Get to my office first thing tomorrow morning,” he said and got in.

As the car drove away, I looked around. Harry had already left. Kim went too far this time and she was going to hear it from me. I felt so much anger and was glad she was not in the vicinity because I would have ended up in jail. She was not yet ready for what I was going to do to her.

I withdrew my hand again, instead of opening the door. I was pretty sure that my time at Milner insurance company was over. The fact that I had been summoned directly to the CEO’s office and not the disciplinary committee or human resources was a very bad sign. I was anxious and could feel my body getting sweaty.

“Get in here.”

I face palmed, remembering that there was a CCTV camera above the CEO’s door. I reached out and opened the door before gently closing it. His assistant was away again. I stepped forward and opened the screen door then stepped in.

“Good morning, sir. I know this is about what happened yesterday but I’m really sorry. My assistant gave me the wrong schedule. I have never been late for an important meeting.”

“The last time you were here, you were late. Tell me, miss Bennett, was that not important?”

“It was, and I’m deeply sorry.”

“It seems to be a habit of yours, going everywhere at your own timing. Do you know what that makes this company look like?”

I nodded. The man looked angry, and rightly so. If I were in his position, I would think the same about me. I had not made the best impression.

“You said you would never be late again,” he said “but it happened.”

“I’m sorry,” was all I could say. Anything else came out as an excuse for my behaviour.

“I wanted to suspend you, but I won’t. You will be my assistant for seven working days, doing all the work he has been doing. The man deserves a leave.”

“An assistant?” I said in shock. Being suspended was better than that. How did he think this was better than suspension? Being an administrative assistant was almost like being someone’s servant. Don’t quote me wrong. There is nothing wrong with that job, but I had worked so hard to climb the ranks and have a better position. That was like being demoted. “I’d rather get that suspension, Mr. Carrington. You can even refuse to pay me for a month.”

“I’m the one who makes the decisions here. So, it’s either that or you leave the company.”

“What?” this man was not serious. I wanted to give him a piece of my mind but I breathed in and calmed myself down.

I did not have a family, neither did I have a man. All I had was my career, and if I lost it, life would have no meaning.

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“It’s okay,” I said.

He nodded, with a smile. “Good, I’ll have your senior handle your roles for now.”

“Did you know that you’re such a big bastard, Mr. Carrington?” I wanted to say, but instead forced a smile.