Chapter 3

• Shit!
• Shit!
• Shit!
• Liam couldn't stop pacing around as he ran his fingers through his hair. He tugged at the strands firmly and released them, only to grip them again. Lindsey sat on her chair,  watching his display in confusion.  She exchanged glances with Ryan who looked just as perplexed as she was and they both turned to look at Liam who was still pacing around restlessly. 
• "What's the matter, Liam? You've been pacing around for the past ten minutes." She couldn't take it anymore but Liam paid her no attention. 
• How couldn't he have known she was the new chairperson? He had never seen her before and she was dressed expensively, so why hadn't he been able to connect the dots? She was rude too and very proud, it could only be the witch everyone had spoken about. The signs had been so clear but he had turned blind eyes to them in his hurry. What was he to do now that he had fucked everything up before it even started? What was his fate now? 
• "Liam!" Lindsey tried again but as expected,  he ignored her, hitting his palm on his forehead instead and muttering the same word he had been muttering ever since he came to her office.
• "Shit!"
• Unable to take it anymore, Lindsey shook her head and stood to her feet, walking directly to Liam and pulling his hand from his head. He turned to look at her with plain horror in his eyes and her heart skipped.  What exactly was wrong to make him this restless? 
• "What is wrong, Liam?" She asked softly, her grey eyes peering into his face intently and for a while,  all Liam could do was stare.
• "I've ruined it all." He said, at last, lowering his eyes to the ground and heaving a deep sigh.
• "What?" Lindsey looked more perplexed.  She cupped his face in her palms and lifted it so he could look at her and when he finally did, her legs suddenly felt weak. She still wasn't used to his intense green eyes staring directly at her.
• "I met her before the meeting but I didn't know it was her. We bumped into each other and she was being really rude so I yelled at her and walked away and now she is my boss. I got on her nerves and she is my boss. She is Anastacia Blaise." He gabbled and Lindsey only listened. "I am already in her black book and I am sure she doesn't like me."
• "The witch doesn't like anyone." Ryan quipped and Liam turned to look at him, making Lindsey lose hold of his face. "Before she went for her one-year training, she used to handle a post here.  She was unbearable to work with. You can ask Lindsey. Honestly, I feel really sorry that you have to work personally for her." Ryan shook his head and Liam gasped. 
• "Ryan is right. She is a very unlikeable person." Lindsey agreed and Liam frowned. 
• "Nevertheless, we shouldn't have met that way. Now I have lost all chance of getting her to like me." Liam sighed. It was true everyone said something bad about her but Liam had hoped his would be different. He really didn't want to judge her till he had met her but would he be able to meet her after what he had done to her at the elevator? He could still remember the look of plain shock on her face when he had talked back at her.
• "You think she will like you?" Ryan scoffed.  "That bitch likes no one but herself. Quit dreaming."
• "Do you think she will fire me?" Liam's eyes widened as he realized the possibility of her doing that. It would definitely be a disaster if she actually did that. He had only gotten this job and was not ready to lose it anytime soon. He was sure he would never get any better job that paid as high as Blaise did and that realization made his heart pound loudly in his chest.  He couldn't lose his job.  How would he take care of his mother and little sister if he lost this job? 
• "Don't be ridiculous, Liam." Lindsey snapped as she retired to her seat. "She can't do such a thing. She can't go about firing people when she is yet to settle down.  Besides,  people will surely talk if she does that. She ain't stupid to ruin her reputation when she is yet to build one. Chill!"
• Liam's stiff shoulders relaxed and he finally felt better after hearing that. Lindsey was right. She couldn't fire him just like that. Mr. Blaise wouldn't even let that happen. 
• With that in mind, he smiled at his friends,  feeling very grateful to have them with him. 
• "Thanks, guys!" He expressed his gratitude and they returned his smile. "I need to head back before I wreck more havoc." He told them and turned to the door.
• "Have fun working with the witch!" He heard Ryan yell and he chuckled.  
• The witch, huh? That did sound fun and adventurous and Liam could feel a buzz of excitement pooling at the bottom of his tummy.
• He arrived at his desk in no time and walked straight to his boss' office, lifting his hand to place a knock on the polished door but freezing immediately. He suddenly couldn't bring himself to. All the confidence he had gathered back at Lindsey's office had strangely disappeared and now he was left with nothing but fear. 
• Inhaling and exhaling, he summoned all the courage he could gather and knocked lightly, pulling the doorknob and taking another deep breath, before walking into the office. 
• There were five one-seater sofas and Mr. Blaise was occupying the lone sofa facing straight ahead, while his daughter sat on one of the four sofas facing each other.  The young man, the one who was engaged to Mr. Blaise's daughter, was nowhere to be found and Liam wondered if he had left already. 
• "Oh, Liam! Great! I was just about to send for you." Mr. Blaise beamed and Liam returned the man's smile, making a conscious effort not to look at his daughter even when he could feel her heavy gaze on him. 
• "I wanted to introduce you to Stacia properly since you will be working directly for her." The old man continued and Liam could feel shivers run down his spine.  From the way he could feel her gaze on him even when he still wasn't looking at her, he was sure she had now recognized him and in no time, she would blow out on his cover.  What would Mr. Blaise do then when he discovers how rude he had been to his daughter?  Would this really be the end for him?
• "So Liam, meet my darling daughter,  Stacia," the old man beamed once more as he stared at his daughter, bringing Liam out of his reverie.  It felt like the man took pride in his daughter and Liam was really not surprised.  The lady was a paragon of beauty and her mere presence spelled class and substance. He would be proud to have someone like her as a friend,  let alone a daughter. Of course,  Mr. Blaise should be proud. 
• "And Stacia, meet Liam, my trusted and hardworking secretary. He will be all yours now " Mr. Blaise finally turned to Liam and Liam held his breath as the lady examined him quietly. He could feel his legs wobble as her eyes swept over his body, from his head to his toes. Liam could tell it was only a moment before she blew up. 
• However, to his surprise, she smiled brightly at him and brought her hand forward for a shake.
• "I look forward to working with you."