Chapter 2. Kimberly Aurora

"Henry Cavill, damn it!" cursed Kimberly. "If only I didn't watch Netflix series until dawn, maybe it wouldn't be this late." 

This morning, for the umpteenth time, Kimberly had to be late to the office for such a trivial reason. She walked along the AlpaBeta Corporation building corridor to go to her room. 

However, before arriving, Kimberly bumped into a man in the opposite direction so that they both sat on the floor. 

"Gosh! Am I not big enough that you can't look at me?" murmured the man in front of her. Grimacing, Kimberly tried to get up. "Sorry, I was rushing, so I didn't see you. Once again, I apologize," Kimberly replied without turning her head toward the other person. 

She was too busy tidying up the blazer she was wearing. Then she ran away, ignoring the man who hit her and cursed in pain. "Shit! Why are there such impudent employees at AlpaBeta!" 

Kimberly can breathe easily. How could she not? She could take place at work a few minutes before Andrew, the most killer supervisor in the department, walked around the room. Just as she sat down, someone had already rebuked Kimberly's behaviour. 

"This is the second moment you've been late, Kimmy. What have you been doing until you didn't arrive on time?" said Keyra, Kimberly's best friend. 

Holding her breath, Kimberly answered. "The previous few days I've been too busy watching Netflix series until late at night, that's why my sleep schedule is a little messed up." 

Keyra shook her head at Kimberly's say. "Good grief, Kimmy, maybe now you can survive. If tomorrow Mr. Andrew finds you back later, I've made sure you will be punished," replied Keyra. Kimberly shrugged her shoulders. "It can't be helped. My hobby is watching Netflix or Korean dramas. Besides, the movie 'The Witcher' is too great to pass up, Key. You should watch it too. As you know? I feel like I'm Yennifer after seeing the series," Kimberly answered. 

"Then think that Mr. Andrew is Henry Cavill? Handsome boss, but so hard to beat?" Investigate Keyra. Kimberly chuckled. "Why should Mr. Andrew become Geralt of Rivia? You can also, Mr. Nicholas. Our CEO is more suited to be an ice-cold leader." 

"I guess someone should punish once Kimmy in a while, Key." sneered Alex, the male friend who sat opposite Kimberly. Without thinking, Kimberly pinched Alex's arm, which was teasing her. 

The three of them laughed together until someone came who stopped their activities. Personable and charismatic gentleman, but is too rigid with everyone. He is Andrew, a supervisor, but feared by many other workers. With firm steps, the man approached Kimberly's sitting position. 

"Kimmy, starting now, we assigned you to the main building to move over Sandra, who resigns next week," Andrew ordered. Kimberly and her two friends jumped in surprise at Andrew's immediate announcement. Kimberly stared at Andrew's face. 

"B-but, sir. Isn't this too unusual? Besides, why should I get over Sandra?" Kimberly stammered. 

Andrew crossed his arms in front of his chest. "The HRD requested for help to recommend suitable employees to change Sandra. I proposed your name because I think you are quite competent in that arrange," replied Andrew. 

Kimberly looked at Andrew. "Does it have to be now, sir? You know what put Sandra has been in all this time?" asked Kimberly again to make sure. Yes, anybody knows very well. Sandra has been the personal secretary of the CEO of AlpaBeta Corporation. It meant that Kimberly could no longer roam back and forth as she used to before because she had to stand by at her desk and follow their CEO wherever they went. 

Andrew laughed at Kimberly. "I know, Kimmy. That's why I recommended you to replace Sandra," Andrew replied. "So now, pack your things. In thirty minutes we will go to the main building to see the boss," Andrew ordered and left the place. Kimberly was annoyed with Andrew's unilateral agreement with her. Although, she could have taken on a different task. 

However, this arrangement seemed sudden, so Kimberly did not have any preparation beforehand. Seeing their partners who were upset, Keyra and Alex approached and helped Kimberly, who was tidying up the items on her counter one by one. "I will be lonely in my new place," Kimberly said with melancholy. 

But instead of being sad, Alex pinched Kimberly's cheeks. "You are a drama queen, Kimmy. You are too much! Your place is just in front of you. You can even walk for five minutes if you want to visit us," Alex protested, responding to her laughter Keyra. 

"You two are like a cat and a dog when you meet!" Kyra chuckled at the behaviour of her two best friends. 

Right after finishing, she was helping Kimberly tidy up all her parts. Andrew came back and asked Kimberly to accompany him. It was clear on her face that she was lazy to follow the excited Andrew to the main building of the AlpaBeta Corporations. Upon arrival. Sandra was already waiting and allowing them to enter the CEO's office. Entering a white area mixed with brown, Andrew and Kimberly found the owner of the office busy sitting with a pile of files on his desk. The brown-haired man looked so severe that Sandra's call averted his eyes. 

"Mr. Nicholas, sorry to interrupt, my substitute assistant is here with Andrew from the planning division supervisor," said Sandra. Nicholas nodded, but the look in his eyes then changed to a show of surprise. 

"You ---" Nicholas was silent for a moment, observing the woman in the fight of him from head to toe, and then continued his speech. "You bumped into me this dawn, right?" Accused Nicholas. 

Kimberly looked confused to hear the sounds of the man on her face. Then, a few minutes later, she was seen patting herself on the forehead. 

"Gosh, W-was it you ran into this morning?" asked Kimberly, looking nervous. Nicholas was raising one of his eyebrows while facing Kimberly's expression. 

"Absolutely, yes!" Kimberly put on a panicked face. She cursed in her heart, ignoring the man on top of her, who now showed so annoyed. "I'm pitiful, Mr. Nicholas. I was sassy of banging into mister this morning," Instead of forgiving, Nicholas doubts Kimberly's words. "Even after crashing into you, you just left me with no guilt?" 

The sharp face of Nicholas's encounter did Andrew, who was there, get over the conversation. 

"In advance, I apologize, Mr. Nicholas, if my partner did a fatal mistake against you. Regardless of all that, I do sure after this, Kimberly will not act. I can guarantee that," replied Andrew. Nicholas glanced at Andrew's face, then nodded his head. He agreed with what Andrew spoke to him. 

"Well, I can rely on your friend on, Drew. I know very well your performance, I hope she does the same as you." pointed Nicholas right in Kimberly's face. Then Sandra asked Kimberly to follow her steps in the new study. 

"Today, I'm going to teach you a few things you should do. You can write them down, so you don't forget, Kimmy. You also have to remember Mr. Nicholas is a very perfectionist. So make clear everything you do must be perfect without the slightest flaw." It surprised Kimberly to hear Sandra's explanation. 

 *** 

While enjoying lunch at the café next to the office, Kimberly seemed enthusiastic about telling her two friends. Meanwhile, Alex and Keyra could only be stunned by what Kimberly told them about what had happened this morning. She bumps into Nicholas, who is the CEO of their corporation. 

"Are you crazy, Kimberly? It's though fortunate that Mr. Nicholas didn't fire you right away," replied Alex while eating the food in front of him. Now Kimberly is massaging her forehead, which feels dizzy while speaking. My eyes need to be checked. I didn't realize that the man who fell this dawn was Mr Nicholas. And enough, I just left him." 

Kimberly's shoulders slumped. She kept cursing himself for the stupidity she had done. Keyra, who had just laughed at her best friend, now joined in the conversation. "By the way, you still have to be careful with Mr. Nicholas. Everyone knows he doesn't like forgetful people. Those two criteria are in you." Alex chuckled at Keyra's words. 

"But all the CEOs in our company are famous perfectionists. Do you remember Mr. Jacob? He is even stricter than Mr. Nicholas," said Alex later. It's no secret that the AlpaBeta's owners are perfectionist men and workaholics. They spent part of their life working. There is not the slightest time to play games with women. 

"You're right, they both are the definition of an ideal man. Just look at Mr. Jacob Grey. In his life, there is only one young woman, his wife. You must have heard the rumors that they had set him and his wife up since childhood." 

Alex nodded in agreement. Kimberly looked enthusiastic. "Then what is the purpose of you talking about Mr. Jacob, who is already married? We're discussing Mr. Nicholas now!" 

Keyra and Alex laughed again at their friend's opinions. Suddenly, Keyra brought her sitting position closer to Kimberly. The girl then whispered. "So you want us to talk about Mr. Nicholas? Everyone knows Mr. Nicholas is the oldest man in the entire building. No young woman he's ever spoken to except Mrs. Grey, Mr. Jacob's wife." 

Kimberly chuckled at Kara's opinions. "Then do I have to be as beautiful and as good as Mrs. Grey when I wanted to attract Mr. Nicholas's attention? Is that so?" 

Alex, who was eating cake in front of Kimberly, now moved his body closer to his two friends. "You expect too high, Kimmy. Mrs. Grey is too ideal to follow." Alex paused his sentence. "But just so you know, I've also thought, like you, could Mr. Kimberly be gay?" murmured Alex. 

Hearing this news, Kimberly and Keyra cursed at the exact moment. "Don't be crazy. Why does a man as handsome as him have to be gay!" Kimmy protested. "According to the rumors circulating, Mr. Nicholas closed his heart to women. Many say that he turned cold because his ex-fiancé betrayed him." 

Kimberly and Alex nodded, getting into Keyra's story. "How about I try to be Mr. Nicholas's girlfriend?" said Kimberly. Hearing Kimberly's speeches, Keyra and Alex laughed at her. Even Alex stretched out his hand and touched Kimberly's forehead. 

"Are you sick? Don't be crazy, Kimmy. You still young." mocked Alex with a reproachful look on his face. A smile appeared on Kimberly's face. "You should support me. Who knows, Mr. Nicholas will one day fall in love with me," She replied. Alex laughed again at his friend, who was getting increasingly arrogant with his words. 

"Just so you know, Kimmy, if Mr. Nicholas falls in love with you one day, I, Alexius Smith, swear I'll do whatever you ask." Now it was Alex's turn, who was confident to challenge Kimberly. Kimberly look smiled. 

"So you're challenging me? I'm sure Mr. Nicholas will be on his knees before me!" Kimberly's hand reached out in reply to Alex's handshake. Keyra could only shake her head at the behaviour of her two best friends.