Chapter 106 An assistant director
"She's back!" Benita nearly tackled me to the floor the moment I stepped into the office a week later. Dashiell was serious about not letting me work until he was certain I was healthy enough to do that. Yeah, I had to lie in bed for the entire week before he let me work, something I had been gritting my teeth over. It didn't help matters that Brion supported him for once, droning about my security and how much I needed to rest. It felt like they both collaborated on the matter, but I knew that couldn't be true. With their temperament, the only thing they would agree to was a duel to determine the strongest among them.
"I missed you!" She added, hugging me so tight, and almost forced the life out of my body. "Girl! Don't do this to me again!" She placed her head on my chest, acting like a baby. Of course, that was what she was, a baby.
"I'm back now, aren't I?" I smiled at her. Though we had times we disagreed on something and moments when her childish ways got to me, I couldn't think of any other friend aside from her.
"I know." She released me from the hug and took a step back, smiling. "You don't have to worry about the things you need to do. I have your work sorted out for you, except for picking out the designs. I had them print out the three you made, so you could choose the one that will go with the event opening and the one for the Christmas gala," she said, getting right into business. "Thank you so much, Nita. You are a darling." I blew a kiss at her as I walked around my table to my chair. I sat down on it with a sigh, running my fingers through my hair as my gaze wandered around. I didn't need to ask to know Benita was the one who took care of the office. It didn't even look like a place they hadn't been occupied for three weeks.
"Don't sweat it." She walked over to my desk, pointing out the files as she told me what they were about, how she helped me sort things out, and the major documents that needed my signature. After that, she excused herself to go check on the new workers, promising to return after she did her work.
"Oh, I almost forgot." She stopped by the door. "There will be a meeting by noon. Mr Dashiell asked me to tell you about it. It's for the leading shareholders in the company and -"
"I'm not a shareholder," I interrupted, frowning at her. Brion was the one who bought shares in the firm, not me.
"I don't understand why he asked me to tell you about it. I'm just relaying the message to you. See you later!" Grinning, she left the office, closing the door gently behind her.
With Nita gone, I sorted through the documents on my table, taking out the ones she highlighted while leaving the others for when they were due. With the amount of work on my desk, you would
I thought I was the CEO or even the head director.
I just didn't get how they would give someone like me that amount of work, yet I didn't complain.
After going through my work and choosing the best design, I delved into another set of work, creating a new design in the small workshop I had Dashiell build for me in the office. He made it in such a way you wouldn't know there was another office inside my office.
I went to work, creating a rough draft of the design I had in mind. After three weeks of only lying on the bed and thinking, I got enough of a chance to think of a new design, the one I call my debut. I planned to make this a solo project, one I will work on, and market on my own, and not under Dashiell's company.
Even though getting the workers under me to complete the work would have made it faster, I wanted to do this alone, to know I hadn't lost touch.
I worked until noon, when I was interrupted by a call from Dashiell, asking me to come over to the boardroom for the meeting, one I didn't plan on attending, and I told him so.
"You have to be here, Nova. There's a reason for that. I know you are not a shareholder, but I want you -"
"I'm busy."
"Please. I won't take much of your time. The meeting isn't that long. It's a short one and will -"
"But I'm not part of your shareholders. I don't even think -"
"Please?"
"Fine!" I placed my brush down, glaring at my work desk. "Just so you know, I'm walking out of there if you take more than a minute to get to your damned point."
"Aye, aye, captain!" Disconnecting, I removed the apron I wore over my work clothes and walked into the restroom to wash my hands. I had to repack my hair to make it presentable, before I left my office, grumbling. I couldn't even tell why I agreed to this. It seemed the more time I spent with Dashiell, the more difficult it was for me to refuse him.
I took the lift to the fifth floor, still mumbling. With my handbag in my grip, I tried not to think of why he wanted me in the meeting in the first place, opting to think of something else until I reached my destination, striding purposefully towards the venue, with my head held high.
I stepped into the boardroom, my heels clicking on the polished floor. The room was filled with influential men, their faces familiar from business magazines. My gaze scanned around the room, seeking for him, and when I saw him, I nodded at him. I smiled subtly and took the only available seat next to the head of the table. Brion winked but didn't say a word as he watched me, his gaze questioning, even though his lips didn't.
The moment I sat down, the room fell silent, all eyes on me. I could sense their disapproval, their unspoken question: What is she doing here?
Just from a glance at me, it wasn't difficult to know I didn't belong with them. While they were dressed in posh dresses, obviously aware of the meeting, I was putting on a simple blue dress, one I got three years ago, but didn't want to discard just yet.
Just as I wondered if I'd made a mistake, the door swung open and Dashiell walked in. His confident stride and commanding presence screamed for attention. He took his seat at the head of the
table, his eyes scanning the room. The moment it landed on me, he smiled, his eyes crinkling mischievously as my gaze settled on him, letting me know he had something up his sleeves. "Good morning, gentlemen," he began. "I'd like to start by introducing our new assistant director, Miss Nova."
My head snapped up at that and my eyes widened, my heart racing. What? What the hell is he playing at now? I glared, wondering if my ears were heard right.
Was this the reason he asked me to come over? For this?