Chapter 1: 1 - The Encounter
Ellery's POV
"Damn it! Watch where you're going!"
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Kids these days and their phones." The man mumbled to himself shaking his head as he walked away.
Maybe I shouldn't use my phone when I am walking. That'll at least help prevent me from bumping into more people. Or at least look up from it when I walk, but then again, it's nearly impossible to get off my phone. Once I get on it, I won't get off of it unless I am hungry, need to use the restroom, or I have to work. It's the first thing I reach for in the morning when I wake up. Every morning, without fail, I would check social media like one would if it was a newspaper. Everything is just so conveniently placed at the tips of our fingers and it would be a shame to not utilize it.
I recently passed the interview and got a job as a secretary at Mercuer and Corporation. Today would be my first day. It's the first serious job I've had since I got out of school and the pay is fairly decent. I'd hate to be job searching right now in the American economy.
Since traffic can be unpredictable in Uptown—interchangeable with downtown—Charlotte, I couldn't risk driving and being late on my first day. It would be more efficient to walk or take the transit system anyways. The weather was nice for once so it was a perfect opportunity.
"Ow!" I cried out in pain as I hit the ground, landing on my behind. Someone had bumped into me from behind.
As I looked up to apologize to the person, I found myself empty for words. The guy was stunning. He looked about 25 years old. Almost like me, but more beautiful. I'm not full of myself just so you know.
"Uh-uh...oh, I'm so-so sorry."
"You should watch where you're going!" He yelled at me.
"I said I was sorry." He was starting to piss me off.
"Sorry?" He said sarcastically. "Is that all you can say? How about you watch where you're going next time before you spill someone's coffee on them!" Pointing at his outfit with his coffee cup.
I hadn't noticed before but he was an impeccably dressed man. There was no way his clothes came off the clearance rack at Belk. He was probably rich or spoiled by his parents, maybe both. What he was wearing was probably worth about four to five months of my salary. The fear of damaging it started to ebb into my brain.
I scoffed at him in dismay. How dare he say that I bumped into him! Can you believe his audacity?
"Excuse me, but you were the one that bumped into me. I even said I was sorry out of courtesy but it seems you even lack that much anything else." I said audaciously as I stood up from the ground. I brushed the dirt off my dress and picked up my belongings and my now screen cracked phone. F**k. I haven't even started working and I'm already taking money out of my paycheck.
He smirked at me. "That will never happen. Not even in your dreams. Look at me and then look at you. You are nowhere near my level." He said.
"You're a bastard," I said, enunciating every single word clearly.
His eyes turn stone-cold and his facial expressions harden. "You should watch that mouth of yours."
"Like I said, bastard." I turned around and walked away.
I sighed, what a morning. I usually don't get into fights or curse, but he stirred something inside me, and it made me furious. It's just something about that man that triggered the emotions that I usually never show.
I turn on my phone to check the time and it was nearly 10:00! I realized that if I didn't pick up my pace now, I would be late and can't make a bad impression on my first day.
~~~~~
I almost flew through the door of the VP's office but I calmed down and anxiously knocked on the door.
"Come in!" A woman said loudly from the other side of the door.
I opened the door slightly at first, nervous, but as I regained my confidence, I opened the door widely and then stepped inside the office. Ms. Anderson was a very good looking woman, a bit stern perhaps, but beautiful nonetheless. She looked like she was probably in her late thirties, but one shouldn't assume.
"Hello, Ms. Anderson. Do you remember me? My name is Ellery Aires. I am the new Secretary for-"
"Yes, yes, yes I know. You're late." She said.
I looked at the clock on the wall of the office, it said 10:03. I cursed at myself inside my head for being late. It was all that jerk's fault.
"I am extremely sorry. The traffic was really heavy." I lied. Well, part of it is true, I guess."It'll never happen again."
"Well, what is done is done. There is be a monthly meeting in 30 minutes, all the heads of each department are going to be there, including the CEO. After the meeting, you will follow him, Mr. Mercuer, upstairs to your desk."
"Yes, ma'am," I said.
"Madison!" Ms. Anderson yelled.
A moment later a perky blond girl scurried into the office. "You called for me ma'am?"
"Yes, please take Miss Aires here, on a tour around the building and offices. Take her to the Main Meeting Room after 25 minutes. I don't want her to be late, again."
"Yes, ma'am," Madison said.
~~~~~
The building was huge, there were so many offices and the crowd of people coming in and out of the building was just a constant haze. Madison, as I found out, was such a nice person. She was the same age I was and had just gotten her job as Ms. Anderson's secretary a few weeks ago.
At the end of the tour, we made our way to the MMR on the 20th floor. Beside the entrance of the double door to the meeting room, stood Ms. Anderson, waiting.
"Good. You're here on time." She said smiling. "Should we all go in now?"
"Yes, ma'am," I said as I took a step towards the doors.
The room was huge and was filled with over a dozen people, standing in multiple groups chattering away. In the middle of the room stood a large mahogany table gleaming as if it had just been cleaned 10 minutes prior. The room was surrounded by huge glass windows—like most of the offices in the building—that overlooks the city. It was such a magnificent sight.
As I scanned the room, my eyes then landed on something, or rather someone.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone