Two Weeks In
It was okay to hate the man you worked for.
Maybe hate was a strong word.
But no, hate was what Noel felt whenever he so much as glanced at Rurik Maxim.
How is such a thing possible? You can't hate someone you've never met. Well, Noel have met and got to know his boss within two weeks of working here.
Not only that, but the office life of the marketing team, of the Maxim Company that specialized in everything technical and engineering.
So yes you can guess, Noel worked for the face of the company, Rurik Maxim. Brother to business tycoon, Demi Maxim. The two was a dynamic duo in the world of business, because they not only knew their stuff, they came from a family that build this company up from the ground in Russia before branching out to the US when they became global.
And they've been competing against major companies for years to stay at the top.
Something Noel found interesting.
And he couldn't believe he thought it was just the promiscuous behavior that was the problem of the younger Maxim brother.
The man was downright, a self absorbed entitled spoilt brat who believed the world revolves around his very breath.
He wished it was that simple. He truly honestly wished that was it.
Because he met and handled people who fell into that one sentence category and dealt with them.
But Rurik Maxim was none of those things.
What he is though?
Noel felt eyes bore at the back of his head. Drilling into his skull. Making the back of his neck and ears warm up. Which he still found odd because he knew once he looked in the direction of this intense gaze, he'd find eyes coldly looking at him.
And he does find eyes coldly looking at him. Eyes that were a frosty blue.
Eyes belonging to his boss.
And that face.
Such a shame good looks were wasted on a nasty person.
He looks at the four men who stood behind his boss. His lackeys. Who believed they were above everyone else in the office just because they were from the financial and legal department. They held themselves regal. They had to. Look who they hung around.
He looks back at Rurik again. Waiting for him to speak. While Rurik was waiting for him to as well. Noel knew this. He knew Rurik wanted him to submit first.
It's been this way ever since they met.
But Noel was good at what he did. And that was looking stoic and dumb as hell. And a total eyesore.
Frosty blue eyes narrowed and bore some more holes into him.
He blinks back slowly.
"What do you think your doing? Your supposed to address your superior."
Those words came from lackey number two.
Noel looked at him. Because he was not worth having a name after seeing his personality. Lackey number two just had to be good looking as well. Did all assholes have to be good looking, Noel couldn't help but wonder again. That glare was quite impressive.
He looks back at his boss. And spoke.
"You allow others to speak for you now sir?"
He sees the vein in Rubik's jawline ticking. Because Noel just called him out on what he told Noel yesterday.
"I do not allow others speak for me." Rurik sneered at him before walking away to his office just because Noel suggested a thought.
"My meetings. Cancel them. I will not be back till late." His thick accent coated the words yet they came out clearly. It never fails to remind Noel of a vinyl being played backwards.
He watched Rurik turn to leave. "You have one meeting today sir." He says to that broad back in a dark blue custom made navy suit.
His boss stilled and Noel knew he was pressing his buttons.
He watches him turn around and once again, stared at him like he was dirt beneath his shoe. And the fact that Noel was sitting made the effect more domineering. Well, should have.
Because Noel just blinked up at him slowly.
"Did I not say cancel?"
"What's your excuse?" Asked Noel, and watched those frosty blues getting frostier.
"What you say?" There was a edge to that sentence that told him he was on thin ice.
"You made it clear you do not let others speak for you. Meaning I cannot make up an excuse for you. So what do you want me to say instead, sir?" He asked his boss and he knew he was being a smart ass but he was merely stating what Rurik had told him. And following what he said. So what if it made him sound like a smart ass?
He was smart and he had the proof to back it up.
He watches those frosty eyes look up over the rest of the staff that were pretending to be busy whilst listening in. Then those eyes fell back upon his person, the owner scoffed and turned. Noel watches him walk away. His lackeys following until they all turned around the corner that would take them to the elevators and was out of view.
It was like a collective sigh was breathed throughout the office when the five men were gone.
Noel ignored the eyes on him and continued to read over the documents Rurik told him to this morning. He made the necessary notes to summarize what he would read.
The sounds of heels got louder and stopped when they neared his desk.
He doesn't take his eyes away from the screen as the scent of a fruity perfume that reminded him of cherries drifted under his nose.
"You have a death wish don't you?" Asked Lara.
Noel doesn't reply to the office bombshell. Only she was a redhead. A gorgeous hour glass shaped red head. Who knew she was gorgeous and used that to her advantage.
"Seriously Noel? I suggest you not be so blunt like a dead fish. Everyone basically let's Rurik have his way. That's how we all survived. And stayed invisible." She warned him. "It's best you don't try and get fired." She patted his shoulder before walking off.
Noel stared at her as she did. Her hips swayed. And he could see the attention she easily attracted. Her shapely legs seemed to stretch on for days.
He knew the moment he saw her she has tried to apply for the PA position. And didn't like him because he was in the position she wanted to be and tried to be nice to him because two faced people held grudges and used others.
He was still trying to figure out what exactly she was trying to achieve with him.
He looks back to his computer screen and adjusted the thick black rimmed glasses on his nose.
Feet shuffled over to his desk this time. And a sound of a rolling chair too.
"I'm surprised your not fired yet. Or on the spot at that!" Came a breathless voice from Heidi. The office know it all. But she just reminded Noel of a mouse because she looked small, delicate and wore office branded clothes. Her shoulders always were drawn in as if she was trying to remain below eye level but she was tall. Noel's height. Thin frame. Always wearing a cardigan over a long sleeved shirt or blouse. Brown hair and surprisingly bright green eyes. He's never seen her wear heels. Only pumps. And her hair always in a low ponytail. She didn't wear perfume. But her clothes smelled of sta-soft. The blue one Noel liked. If she wasn't a know it all, Noel suspected no one would know her at all.
Gossip comes to and from her.
"I know your the PA and all Noel but seriously, you won't last long like this." Said Cedric. The cool guy of the office that everyone liked. He was handsome, in that boyish way. Hair always brushed back in a slick way but a few of his black strands would fall on his forehead. Neat eyebrows. Brown eyes. Slim nose. Pink lips and angular jawline that made his bottom lip look fuller. Clean shaved jaw. Subtle but a sharp cologne scent came from him. Dolce and Gabbana brand Noel suspected. He has a gym body. Because it was clear he exercises during the week. His dress code was business smart. Yet casual at the same time. Topped with his laid back personality? No wonder he was an office favourite.
Noel ignored him too.
"I don't know if your brave or stupid standing up to the boss man like that Noel. It's entertaining though." That was William. A tall man with a dad bod, who always wears his shirt tucked in with a receding hair line. Though his hair line was receding, his sharp features and dull blue eyes made him pleasant to look at. His clothes could use a change of style though. If he shaved his hair, Noel believed he'd actually look more attractive but no, the man was trying to save the last bit of hair he had on his head. With high cheekbones and light hazel eyes, William believed he was the dating macho guru.
He doesn't reply to any of them. And William's strong sharp cologne was beginning to become unpleasant.
The three of them looked at each other before they sighed and walked back to their desks.
The office didn't really like Noel. They thought he was rude.
When no, he was just not trying to be friends with anyone. He had a job to do. A deadline to meet. And a Russian baby to keep in line.
There was just no time to make office relations.
He checked the time and saw it was time for lunch. And by the sound of it, the majority of the office was going out to the company cafeteria for lunch.
Noel too, saves the work he was doing, put his computer to sleep before grabbing his phone and wallet, putting them in his pants pockets and lastly puts on his checkered grey blazer that was a tad too big on him and hurried to leave as well.
He waits for everyone to get on the elevator. And waited for the next one that was empty. He wasn't comfortable with these people. Nor people in general.
Instead of heading to the cafeteria like the majority of the staff were, he leaves the building to go to a place where the food was more than decent and actually doesn't give him food poisoning.
Something he has been doing for two weeks now. And loved the fact that whenever Rurik called him during his lunch break, he had to wait until Noel was finished with lunch to return for whatever it was he needed Noel for.
He counted that as a win.
Even if it was childish.
