The young woman thanked the driver and got off in front of his building... She still had fear in her buttocks and her heart was still beating wildly. He could have raped her...
Or worse, kill her... She thought, still looking at her trembling hands.
She swallows and looks around like he's still there somewhere staring at her...
Then, feeling herself going crazy, she walked towards the building thinking that she might feel better if she went home...
She took the stairs and went up to her floor. Once in the corridor, she fell on the owner of the place, no doubt she had come to take the payments... The latter when she saw her, looking at her from bottom to top...
- Are you back now? GOOD. Your payment, do you have them?
Kara didn't answer and reached into her purse and pulled out the envelope and took the $300 and handed it to her...
- And you couldn't pay $300...? Pfff... let me laugh. She said turning her back on her.
Kara doesn't say anything. For the moment, she was still in shock of what had just happened so she took the keys to her apartment and went inside...
She went to her bathroom and took off her wig and makeup before getting into the shower...
She couldn't help but see the man again and now that she had calmed down, she had the vague impression of having seen him somewhere before but she couldn't remember... Maybe she had met him as a client before...or maybe even in the agency where she worked.
Or even in the street somewhere... In her old life.
Either way, whether she recognized him or not... She didn't expect to see him again. She was going to take a break or quit this job if necessary. Anyway, she didn't want to deal with him or other men of his kind anymore...
After having supper, Kara ends up falling asleep. When she woke up the next day, she didn't even have time to put on makeup because she was late. She sported a fuzzy bun and changed into her uniform just in time to catch the second bus of the day. Half an hour late, the young woman knew that her old boss would surely fire her this time. She grabbed two quick coffees on the way and soon arrived in front of the agency.
When she noticed the "Welcome" banners, she finally remembered that the agency was welcoming a new CEO.
Shit... she swore to herself. She had completely forgotten.
- And all that, it's the fault of that psycho from last night... She said to herself before coming home almost running...
She quickly took off her coat and signed in the attendance book, then left the hall to go to her office...
She hoped he wasn't here yet. She was in such a rush that she didn't even notice that most of the employees weren't there...
- Kara? Oh my God... The meeting has already started. Our new boss is already here. Come on...Hurry up.
It was Margaret, the receptionist.
And Shit... she swore in her heart as she rushed over to her.
- Has he been there long?
- For an hour... But the meeting has barely started. replied her friend.
They walked together towards the meeting room and right in front of the glass door, the young woman noticed the profile of the man. He was wearing a nice gray suit and had a briefcase in his hand, however, she could not see his face...
In her haste, she dropped her bag. Eagerly, Elle bent down to pick it up and rushed to the door behind Margaret hoping to get in unnoticed...
- And...I hate latecomers.
Kara stiffened. It wasn't the fact that she had just been caught but rather the man's voice...
She swallowed. It was comparable to the voice of the man from yesterday... She turned slowly and the man was still with his back and was writing on the spreadsheet. His appearance... made her shudder... No, it had to be... a mere coincidence or her mind was simply playing a trick on her. She met her old boss's gaze and the latter motioned for her to find a place and without hesitation, she complied...
She endured the gaze of her colleagues for a few seconds, then the man ended up speaking again...
- From today... Mr. Neil is no longer your boss, it's me now...
Kara swallowed despite herself and turned to her right to speak to one of her colleagues, Clara.
- What did I miss? she asked in a whisper.
- Well... His name is Ivan Ivanovich. He's in his thirties and he's handsome as a god... He looks like Zeus and...
She was so lost in her friend's story that she didn't even realize that the man had stopped describing and turned...towards them.
Clara's face suddenly turns livid and she falls silent, staring straight ahead...
No...it really wasn't what she was thinking...
No no no. Clara pinched her and there she had no doubts. All eyes were on her... And even that of her new boss.
Well...She still had that annoying tendency to get noticed from day one.
- In addition to being late, You speak at the same time as me... Well, here is one who is looking to get fired.
Kara swallowed, searching her mind for what to say. She opened her mouth, hoping to find something quickly and suddenly turned to the man.
...
And there, she fell from the clouds...
...
It was him...
The man from last night.
Kara had her eyes widened in horror, and this time it was surely no coincidence. No... She didn't want to believe it was a coincidence.
- YOU...? Let go of her, on the effect of surprise.
- Me? he asked without an ounce of feeling on his face.
If last night Kara had found him scary, today he was even more scary... She even got goosebumps. Who is it...? His new boss? No she couldn't believe it?
- Do you recognize me? Have we met before... somewhere? he asked in his profoundly calm voice.
His question caught the young woman off guard. Yeah, sure, I'm the stripper from last night. Would she have answered in other circumstances and in other times...
- No...Ex...Excuse me Mr...
- Ivanovich
- Ivanovich. The young woman replied in an almost trembling voice.
- What is your name and what is your position in the agency...?
Kara swallowed. She opened her mouth to answer, still recovering from what she had just discovered and above all...trying to bear his cold gaze on her, but nothing came...
- This is my secretary, Mr. Ivanovich. Excuse me for the fact that she bothered you. She'll leave with me, don't worry about her...Replied her former boss.
Kara thanked him from the bottom of her heart and the idea of being unemployed made her very happy.
- No, Mr. Neil. I would need her if she is your secretary. She's the only one who can give me details of the agency's business. And don't worry, if one day she bothers me... I'll make it my business.
His declaration, as innocent as it was, froze the blood of the young woman. Did she recognize him? No... There was no way that would happen. She was wearing a wig, she had a lot of makeup on, contact greens... No...it was impossible.
It was...surely a coincidence.
- Now... Tell me, what's your name?
- Well... well...
- We don't have all day, Miss...
- Kara. Kara Reyes.
- Alright Miss, Reyes. This afternoon after work you will be working overtime to give me a summary of all the entries and exits of the agency for the past 20 years.
The last 20 years? She swallowed. It would surely take all night!
- Good, Mr. Ivanovich.
- Well, let's continue then.
He looked away from her and the young woman realized that she had stopped breathing at the start of the conversation.
- I want a copy of the Curriculum Vitae of each of you. I want to make sure that if you are here today, it is because you have the required qualities. I have to make sure that I work with qualified professionals.
He looked around the room and finished his journey on the young woman. He stayed a few seconds looking at her... Seconds which were comparable to endless hours for the young woman then he grabbed his bag and his phone then declared...
- GOOD. Good day to you all.