Chapter 4. For the Second Time

Mr Ryan knocked gently, and a feminine voice answered from within, "Yes, come in." They got in and found a lady standing with a few files in her hand.

"Hello, Sara," Mr Ryan said. "Good morning, Mr Ryan," Sara responded and looked past Mr Ryan to Arianna, who stood beside Ryan.

"Where is the CEO?" Mr Ryan asked, and Sara told him he had just gone out after instructing her to get him some files. She's been waiting for him for over twenty minutes already.

Ryan nodded and turned to glance at Arianna. "She's Sara; she's the secretary to the CEO. I think you should also wait and get to introduce yourself to him when he gets back," he suggested.

Arianna said okay and glanced at Sara with a friendly smile. She had yet to meet all the employees. But meeting Sara was already one of the many employees she would be working side by side with.

"I'm Arianna," she introduced herself as soon as Mr Ryan left. "Nice meeting you, Arianna," Sara said.

The two women waited for another ten minutes, yet the CEO was not back. Sara said she would leave. She had another assignment to submit to the CEO in an hour. She'd better go back and do her work.

Arianna said okay and waited still. Had the CEO forgotten that he'd asked his secretary to bring him files before stepping out? Anyway, she's new, and as the tradition is, she has to be properly introduced to the CEO before starting work officially.

While waiting, Arianna took a glance at the exquisite office. It's like the office of a nation's president. Furnished and decorated.

Suddenly, something caught her attention. She narrowed her brow and looked intently. The pendant and necklace bore a striking resemblance to hers.

She had left it in her apartment back then, even though she rarely removed it from her neck. The pendant still glittered, just like hers did back then.

She really missed it. That's the only possession she got from her mother. She didn't get to take it with her when she left Z-city four years ago, and to this moment, it still hurts that she couldn't.

How come the CEO has the exact type of necklace? Anyways, some of these jewelry pieces are made of more than one.

Arianna ended up waiting for another thirty minutes. Her legs grew heavy, and she felt like she was going to get a sore foot from her high heels. She decided to go and check on him later.

But Arianna got busy with her work for the rest of the day. When she closed, she was going to leave when Mr Ryan strolled towards her desk.

"Were you able to introduce yourself to the CEO?" He asked, his eyes lingering over Arianna's body. He was gazing at her face, her neck, boops and the lust in his eyes could not be mistaken.

Arianna wasn't comfortable with the way he was gazing at her. "No. I waited, but he didn't come back before I left," she answered.

"Fine. First thing tomorrow morning, make sure you go to his office and do the proper introduction," Mr Ryan instructed.

Arianna said okay; she turned to leave, eager to get out of the sight of this lustful-looking man, when Ryan gripped her by the wrist.

He looked around the large staff room, and all the other employees had gone. Arianna had probably waited this long to complete the task at hand.

Arianna shivered when Ryan held her wrist. She glanced at the gripped hand and straight up towards his face. His eyes were full of lust, and he licked his lower lip seductively.

"I can make you have a great life in this place if you choose to cooperate with me. You and I can get intimate and run things together. If you please me well, I will ensure you get promoted with a lot of incentives…" Ryan was still saying when Arianna pulled her hand off his grip angrily.

"Excuse me, Mr Ryan. I am not that kind of woman who gets to the top by using her body to achieve it. Don't forget to keep professionalism in mind when talking to me next time," she yelled at him.

"And I must remind you that I can also make your life a hell if you refuse to dance to my tune. Don't forget that," Ryan threatened.

Arianna gave him a disgusted look and walked away. Such nonsense. She thought he was a responsible man; she didn't know he was so dirty, ready to get intimate with a junior colleague.

Excited that she got a placement at Hudson's Holdings, she decided to stop by and buy a toy for Eli. Something that he would like.

She took a cab and went to Kiddies World, a supermarket with a section set aside for kids' items.

She got in and bought a big toy car and a cap. That's all she could afford at the moment. She got her card and paid. As she stepped out with the items in hand, she saw a crowd gathered and people talking in whispers.

She hurried her steps towards the crowded scene to see what the hell was going on. An old man was on the floor and was being beaten by a man in a black suit.

Arianna looked around and saw that there were other men in Black suits standing and acting as spectators, not trying to stop their colleague beating an old man.

The man on the floor was spitting out blood, and his face had been battered. Unable to stand still, she walked over to the middle and pushed the man in a black suit away.

Not expecting anyone to push him from behind, the man stumbled, and Arianna helped the old man sit up. She glanced at the man in suit, whose eyes were shooting daggers at her.

"How can you hit an old man like this? Don't you have respect for elders?" She reprimanded him. She heard the murmuring from the crowd become louder and wondered why no one came to rescue the old man.

"Who the fuck are you, and dare you interfere? Do you want to die?" The man in a black suit roared, his eyes as scary as if he would strangle Arianna any moment soon.

Ignoring the man's threats, Arianna warned, "Don't you dare touch him again." Her index finger pointed at him.

The man was taken aback. She's got guts. She dares to warn him? He chuckled aloud; his palm formed a fist. "If I do, what would you do, huh, tell me?"

"I will give you a deafening slap," Arianna replied, glancing at him with resentment. Such an inhumane attitude from a younger man to an older man who could pass as his father.

The crowd suddenly dispersed. The man in a black suit raised his hand, ready to give the old man another punch and see just how this wallflower would be capable of hitting him when he heard "stop"

His hand became suspended in the air. That voice cannot be mistaken. It's the boss, and he gently brought his hand back to his side.

Arianna looked toward the voice and saw a tall, slim figure glaring at her in irritation. A large part of the crowd had dispersed, but a good number of them were standing a little distance away.

'Powerful Personality'? Arianna whispered under her breath. She met the man the previous day, and he was the reason she lost her job. Thank goodness she got a better offer at Hudson's Holdings.

The man stared at Arianna with hostility in his eyes. He looked at her from head to toe and felt even more resentment toward this woman who kept trying to get his attention.

"I'm sorry, boss. This man stole and tried running away. I caught him and taught him a lesson when this woman came over and threatened me..." the man in a black suit was explaining when the 'powerful Personality' raised his hand.

He immediately stopped talking. Arianna squinted and turned to glance at the old man. "You really stole something?" She asked, almost blaming herself for jumping into a matter she really didn't know how it started.

"Yes, I'm sorry, '' the old man mumbled.

Arianna became embarrassed. She swallowed hard and glanced at the man in a black suit and then glanced at the 'powerful Personality' before looking away.

"You are an attention seeker. This is the second time you bring your damn self before my face. Tell me what you want and who sent you to trail me?" The 'powerful Personality' asked, his voice deeply masculine.

"It wasn't intentional. Excuse me," Arianna said and wanted to turn when several bodyguards surrounded her, back and sideways, leaving the front out of it.

She came before the 'powerful Personality' just a few distance between them. "Tell me how much you want for you not to come anywhere near me again?" He asked, his gaze on her with fury.

He stretched his hand, and a bodyguard brought him a bundle of money. He threw it on the ground and declared, "Pick that money and never come before me again.

I know your type of woman. You seek attention and bring yourself before a 'powerful Personality' to gain attention. The next time I see you before me, I will destroy you without an intact corpse," the 'powerful Personality' threatened.

"I don't mean to come before you. And I'm sorry, I am not that type of woman who seeks attention. I don't need your Money" she declared and turned around to go.

The bodyguards blocked her path further, but the 'powerful Personality' nodded, and they let her go.

The old man ran after her, hands clasped. "I'm sorry, Miss. I am usually not like this. I was hungry and decided to steal that apple pie to quench my hunger…" he was apologizing.

"Then beg instead. It's far better to beg than to steal. See what you reduced yourself to?" Arianna advised.

She dug her hand into her bag and brought out the last $ 20 note she has and gave it to him. "take and get whatever the money can afford"

The old man appreciated her, and Arianna went away. Now she's stuck. The last money she had left to take a cab home was what she gave to the old man. How will she reach home now?

She stood for like five minutes when suddenly a BMW drove past her. She saw it reverse and stop in front of her. The driver's door yanked open, and a beautiful lady walked out.

"Arianna!" She called, and before she could say jack, she rushed towards her and hugged her.

"Genesis!" Arianna chimed in, hugging her friend with moist eyes. Her childhood friend. Genesis was her bestie for many years until she left Z-city four years ago.

"I missed you, Aria, love," Genesis said in a shaky voice. "I missed you too, Gene," Arianna replied. They are both fond of calling each other by the short form 'Aria' for Arianna and 'Gene' for Genesis.

The two friends stopped hugging and held each other's hands. Staring with moist eyes. "Where are you heading?" Genesis asked, and Arianna replied, "home"

"Hop in, girlfriend. There's a lot we need to catch up on," Genesis replied. Happily, Arianna hopped in. She was glad she saw Genesis. Now, going home was much easier.