Lilac’s POV
‘Oh my God. Ryke?!” I gasped. “Wait, no, shit. I mean, Mr. Kolynsky. Shit, I am so, so sorry.” I was scrambling to gather myself and my thoughts.
As I stared into Ryke’s amused but intense forest gaze, I could not believe it. What. The. Fuck. What the hell do you mean I'd kissed and basically grinded all over to near oblivion was Bayview City’s hottest and richest bachelor?
Like I knew the man was definitely one of the upperclass wealthy men, Millie and I had already established that. But of all people, it was Ryke Kolynsky?! What sort of god did I please to have landed myself in such a situation, the situation being his lap?
This man had pulled ungodly sounds out of my lips. His hands, fuck, his mouth had been all over my body, and distinctly, all over my chest. I knew what his… what his… dick… felt like.
And now he was standing in front of me. Heat crept into my cheeks.
“Angel…” Ryke's voice was teasing and he stepped even closer now, fresh coffee breath alerting my senses. “Where did your mind go?”
“N-n-nowhere!” I had to tilt my head up to look at him. That's how close he was.
“Let me guess. You're thinking about how you…” He couldn't possibly know I'd been thinking about his dick… “Threw up all over me.”
Oh.
My eyes screwed shut and I groaned. How could I forget that? “Fuck. Ry- Mr. Kolynsky, I am so sorry. Were you okay? I hope I didn't ruin your clothes…”
“Not anymore than the coffee you poured the other day ruined my suit.”
Wow, there was no coming back from this. He was never going to let these two things go. I flung my eyes open to apologize again, grovel if need be, but my movements were halted when I saw his green eyes twinkle in the light.
He was just teasing me. Of course.
I huffed and looked away, not sure if I was pouting but not really wanting to fix my face. Ryke laughed, something beautiful and melodious that I had no choice but to look at him again.
Our eyes met and a silence fell between us. But one thought lingered in my mind.
Was he going to fire me now?
I recalled Silvercrest’s employee manual and remembered its content clear as day because it had only been this morning since I read it. According to the book, it was a rule that employer and employee relationships were strictly forbidden.
I knew what we'd done was before I got hired, but I couldn't be sure. The possibility of me losing this job before I'd even started, my plans for a ten thousand dollar account balance, both flashed before my eyes and immediately, I would have done anything to resolve the issue before it became too big of a problem.
“I understand what we did that night…” I blushed again, “...that was very unprofessional of me, Mr. Kolynsky, but I swear it won't happen again.”
I don't know what happened, but as soon as those words left my mouth, it was as if cold water had been doused over a fire. Ryke’s nose flared and his expression shifted, mouth tense and brows drawing tight. The sparkle in his eyes extinguished.
“Really. Ever again?” Ryke gritted his jaw. “Wow, Lilac, I really thought we, I mean, I was hoping…” He trailed off.
Hoping what? Ryke pulled away completely, putting some distance between us so it felt like I could breathe away. But the next second, I missed his presence sorely. He didn't seem to have the right words and I couldn't shake the feeling in my bones that there was something I was missing.
But Ryke didn't say anything else, merely leveling me with his now distant and cold gaze. I guess it was back to normal now.
“Sir, I fully understand Silvercrest's employer-employee policies regarding sexual- Uh… romantic relationships. You can rest assured, I'm only interested in maintaining a completely professional relationship.”
As though something just clicked in his head, Ryke stared at me, unblinking. The look of cool nonchalance was completely wiped away, replaced now by confusion. “Policies?”
“Yes? The one written in the employee manual. Miss. Helen shared it with me this morning and I'd have brought up this entire issue, but I swear I didn't remember and—”
Ryke sighed, cutting me off. “It's fine, Miss. Evans.” It was back to Miss. Evans once again. No more Lilac. No more Angel. Something disappointed sank in my chest, missing the way my name sounded on his lips. “It happened before you joined Silvercrest so we can put that all behind us, can't we?”
“Y-yes, sir!” I nodded frantically. So I wasn't going to get fired. Thank the fucking heavens!
“Good. And one more thing. Not a word of this to anyone. Not to any coworkers and certainly not to Helen. Let's just pretend it never happened.”
“What never happened?” I asked, following along and blinking innocently.
Ryke smirked, “Exactly.”
I smiled at him but he didn't reciprocate, instead turning around to move back to his chair and start typing away on his computer. The strange atmosphere that lingered in the chilled office seemed to clear up immediately after this.
“What's on my schedule this morning?” Ryke asked.
Snapping to attention, I took out my phone and pulled up the calendar that was shared with me. “You have a meeting in twenty seven minutes with Delhouse Electricity Providers regarding the finalization of the power supply contract.”
“Move it an hour forward. Something's come up right now.”
I did as Ryke requested and promptly left his office.
***
The meeting was interesting as much as it was a learning experience. I sat at the head of the table beside Ryke and made notes on decisions as well as scheduling further meetings.
“Mr. Rodrigo, I'd like to assume you're joking.” Ryke sniped, cutting off the other man who'd been speaking. “Nowhere in this contract was such a term outlined and you expect us to make plans to accommodate this request in the future. Yes, you must be joking. A clown who thinks this is a circus.”
“M-Mr. Kolynsky, I assure you this is only t-to be expected. It's implied by the language used—”
“Follow standard procedures when writing contracts or don't bother working with us at all. Redraft this and incorporate this particular clause. We'll readjust our compensation offer and look through it again. Meeting dismissed.”
The way he handled these meetings, yeah I could definitely see why everyone thought he was an asshole. But the authority and confidence he exuded, I couldn't help but think it was sexy.
Considering our history, I probably shouldn't have been having such thoughts about him, daydreaming throughout the entire meeting as he pushed and pulled terms and conditions with the other party, but it was just a fact. Ryke was hot and there was nothing I could do about it.
Once we were back in the office again, Ryke called me into his side of it. A stack of sheets sat on his desk. No, stack wasn't the right word. A tower of sheets. I felt sweat break out on my temples.
He wasn't going to do what I was thinking, was he?
“These are the feedbacks we got from an ad campaign run by the marketing team last month. Create an Excel sheet and enter all this information correctly. I want no mistakes whatsoever.”
Ah, hell. He did.
Here's the thing about my interview. I lied on my resume. In the ‘Skills’ section, I listed Microsoft Office proficiency because according to my research, it was one of the requirements for being a personal assistant.
I was desperate, and to be fair, I didn't even think I would ever be here. But now, my dishonesty had come back to nip me in the ass.
I had no idea how to use Microsoft Excel for data entry, but no way in hell was I telling Ryke that.
“Yes, Mr. Kolynsky. And when do you need it by?” I asked, smiling like nothing was wrong as I gently picked up one of the stacks of sheets.
“In two days.”
My smile faltered. Two days? Those were three entire stacks he was giving me, there was no way I could complete them in two days. But I dared not complain. “Okay, sir.”
I came back for the remaining stacks one by one and returned to my side of the office with them. A YouTube video helped me out on how to use the software for data entry and immediately, I got to work.
Really, this task wasn't so hard, but the sheer amount of papers I had to work through was insane. If this was just my first day, what was my future going to be like? Whatever. Anything for that paycheck, I guess.
Even with this mountain of work, Ryke did not relent in delegating other tasks to me throughout the rest of the day.
“Miss. Evans, deliver this to the Human Resources department.”
“Miss. Evans, make three photocopies of this. Black and white, color isn't necessary.”
“Miss. Evans, I need coffee right now.”
“There's a meeting slated for tomorrow, isn't there? Move it till today so my schedule is free then. I have other things to put on there.” This one irked me the most. I had to attend yet another meeting that day and pause the data entry task for four good hours.
Fucking hell.
By the end of the day, I was wrecked. I sat in my chair with my head buried in my hands and I willed myself not to burst into tears. I would have, I was an easy crier, but I couldn't risk Ryke finding me in such a state.
It was six PM and everyone was going home already. Even Ryke had stepped out of his office, phone in hand and suit jacket resting on his arm. His face held a smug smile as his gaze went from me, to the undented stack beside me, back to me again.
And he smiled. The fucker smiled. I thought we were on amicable terms, I'd certainly never experienced any of the things his past assistants used to complain about. But this, this was certainly something very evil to do to someone.
“See you tomorrow, Miss. Evans.”
I smiled sweetly, plotting his death in my heart. “Goodbye, Mr. Kolynsky.”
As soon as he left, I collapsed back on my desk again.
Okay. I had a few things to do before I continued working for at least an hour longer and then I could leave.
Me: Millie!!!
Millie: Sup, babe
Me: My life is a FUCKING lie
Millie: Whoa
Millie: It's not like you to curse so hard. What's the matter??
Me: The man that I met and made out with at the club
Me: You won't believe who it was
Millie: LOL
Millie: Is it Ryke Kolynsky?
Knowing Millie, she definitely mentioned him as a joke because she knew he was my boss. I just had to see her reaction when I let her know that indeed, it was Ryke.
Me: Yes
Millie: Haha, very funny.
Millie: Like Ryke would ever be at such a dingy club made for poor people like us
Me: I'm not joking, Millie
I narrated everything from how I found out to how we decided to agree it never happened for the sake of my job security and Millie's responses ranged from ‘WHAT??’ to ‘OH MY FUCKING GOD’.. Basically, what I'd expected.
Me: Well, now you've finally got your update on Mr. Charming
Millie: This is so crazy
Millie: Genuinely like what are the odds?
Millie: I expect updates on what's going on between you two EVERY HOURS
Me: What're you talking about?
Me: There's nothing between us. I don't think he's attracted to me or interested anymore
Me: He didn't hesitate to ask that we pretend it never happened :(
Millie: Oh sweetie
Me: It's okay, really
Me: I'm content with watching from afar. Like literally every other girl out there
Millie: Except the difference is you get the chance to seduce him ;)))
Me: Haha stop, I don't have the skills for that
We rounded off our conversation, promising to meet soon and talk. Next, I texted my mother and let her know I wouldn't be able to visit. That broke my heart so much and I couldn't help but feel a little bit of resentment towards Ryke.
But ultimately, the money from this job would pay for her surgery bills if I could hang on for a few months, enough to say every paycheck. It was all for the greater good.
So Ryke could throw whatever impossible task he wanted at me. I wasn't going to quit. Not when I'd gotten the chance to be here in the first place.
