As morning sunlight danced across Yasmeen's face, she stirred in bed, tumbling to the floor with a soft "Ouch!" She moaned, realizing it was morning. Brielle, already dressed for work, handed her some money with a gentle smile. "Laila, manage this and be good," she said before leaving.
Yasmeen dressed up and headed to the company, her eyes widening as she took in the sleek, modern building. "It's so pretty," she muttered to herself. As she walked in, all eyes turned to her, and she felt a wave of self-consciousness. After showing her card to security, she entered the elevator and stopped at the 5th floor.
"Burnty!" Vera called out, handing her a file before leaving. Yasmeen's nerves settled in as she began working on her laptop, her tech-savvy skills kicking in. "My dad is a tech guru – what do you expect?" she hummed to herself.
As she prepared for her meeting with the CEO, she took the file and headed to Jayden's office. When she pressed the button, his cold voice commanded her to enter. The chair turned, and his eyes twitched in anger as he took in her appearance.
"What are you doing here? What do you want?" he yelled, staring at her in disgust. Yasmeen stood tall, "I'm your new secretary." Jayden's eyes widened, and he smirked.
"You have a meeting with Damon Asher at 10:30. He's interested in partnering with your company," Yasmeen said. "Now, leave and get me a cupcake from Raymond's restaurant." Yasmeen bowed, wondering if this was a typical task for a secretary.
**
Yasmeen trudged back to the office, exhausted from her journey to buy the cupcake. Jayden hadn't provided transport fare, and the distance had taken a toll on her. As she entered his office, he gazed at her, his expression twisted in distaste.
"Chocolate?" he sneered, his voice rising. "I don't eat chocolate!" Jayden hurled a wristwatch at her, and Yasmeen deftly dodged it. She bit back her words, realizing his aversion to chocolate might be linked to her past.
"Get me vanilla cake," he ordered, his tone cold. Yasmeen's stomach churned at the thought of vanilla cake, which she despised. The memory of her breath seizing up whenever she ate it flooded back.
"Get it!" Jayden yelled, and Yasmeen hastily departed. She couldn't help but wonder if Jayden's hatred for chocolate stemmed from his feelings towards her. In college, they had both adored chocolate cake.
As she returned with the vanilla cake, Jayden took it from her and began eating slowly. Yasmeen bowed, her eyes cast downward. "Leave," he ordered curtly, and she swiftly exited his office.
**
The meeting commenced, and Yasmeen stood steadfast, clutching the weighty files. Damon Asher entered with his secretary, and Jayden's gaze turned icy cold, his face a mask of animosity.
As the presentation unfolded, Yasmeen remained standing, her legs trembling beneath her. Despite her efforts to compose herself, her fatigue and the weight of the files began to take their toll.
***
"Bring the first file," Jayden ordered, his voice firm. As Yasmeen moved to comply, her hands trembled slightly, and the files spilled out, landing all over Damon. He sprang up, his face twisted in anger, and delivered a resounding slap across Yasmeen's face.
The sound of the slap echoed through the room, and Yasmeen's eyes flashed with defiance. She felt a surge of adrenaline, and her past experiences with Damon's bullying flooded back. No longer the submissive Yasmeen, but Laila, the new identity she had adopted. With a swift motion, she raised her hand and slapped Damon back – twice.
The room fell silent, with Jayden and the staff looking on in shock. Damon's cheek reddened, and Jayden's lips curled into a faint smile, seemingly entertained by the exchange.
"You have no right to slap my secretary, Mr. Damon," Jayden warned, his voice low and menacing. Damon shot Yasmeen a venomous glance before storming out of the meeting room.
As the door closed, Jayden's gaze turned to Yasmeen. "On your knees," he barked, his voice firm. Yasmeen's eyes widened in understanding – he meant for her to kneel for spilling the files.
She hesitated for a moment, her pride and dignity wounded. But she knew she had to comply if she wanted to keep her job. With a slow, deliberate movement, she dropped to her knees, her hands and legs trembling slightly as she obeyed Jayden's command. "Yes, for throwing my files on the floor," she thought, Jayden's words echoing in her mind. "On your knees, if you like your job," he had said, his voice lingering in her ears.
__
The hour was late, and Yasmeen bit her lip hard, still kneeling on the floor. Her knees ached from the prolonged kneeling, and her pride smarted from Jayden's harsh treatment. Vera entered the room, a hint of sweetness in her voice that seemed out of character. "Hey, Burnty! You can leave now." Yasmeen looked up at Vera, puzzled by her sudden kindness.
As Yasmeen stood up, Jayden appeared with a frown, his eyes narrowing at Vera. "I didn't ask you to let her leave," he said curtly. Vera stood her ground, her voice firm but polite. "It's her first day, Jay. Just let her be." Jayden's glare lingered before he turned and left, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.
Outside, Yasmeen spotted the staff rehearsing in the conference room. The sound of music and laughter filled the air. "What's going on?" she asked curiously. One of the staff members, a young woman with a bright smile, replied, "Tomorrow's the company's anniversary, and we're putting up a presentation to make it fun."
Yasmeen's eyes lit up with excitement. "Wow! I'm interested!" she exclaimed. "In what?" the staff member asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I want to present a dance," Yasmeen said enthusiastically, her passion for dance igniting. "Where can I write my name?"she asked
The staff member took her to the registration area, and Yasmeen's excitement grew as she filled out the form and signed up for the dance performance. After completing the formalities, she headed home with a spring in her step, eager to prepare for the big day and showcase her dancing skills.