Chapter Five
Patricia led her to her floor where rows of finished designer apparels were arranged beautifully ready to be shipped all over the world.
"Mandy, look who we have here?" She said excitedly and another woman, a few years younger than Patricia came out and grinned seeing her.
"Carmella, right? God You're so young and beautiful. I can imagine why you're here right now, " she giggled. "I'm Mandy Jones. I help Patricia here."
Carmella blushed."Hi, I'm here to dress appropriately for the conference, " said Carmella.
Patricia grinned at Mandy,"This is a designer pantsuit that you're wearing, aren't you?" She asked Carmella, taking in her dress.
"Yes, but sir thinks it isn't good enough, " she pouted.
"Oh, we have just the thing for you, dear. Let's dress her up so that JC forgets to bark and growl, " said Mandy and Patricia giggled.
"And then hope he faints seeing her," said Patricia.
"Please, it's not what you think. I'm getting late," protested Carmella. These two were really so impossible, like giggling teenage girls.
They made her wear a deep wine skirt suit with a pin-tucked white top. The suit moulded well with her body accentuating her curves. They gave her matching pumps as she didn't want the pencil heels. They tied her hair in a French twist and they applied some foundation and a matching lipgloss.
"You're looking drop-dead gorgeous," said Patricia admiring her handiwork.
"Thanks," said Carmella, checking the time.
Mandy grinned, "Someone will have a hard time controlling himself, " she said with a wink. Carmella blushed but she didn't have time to look at herself in the mirror. She rushed to her office ready to face a fresh round of insults.
She rushed over to the conference room and checked the setup and coordinated with Gilbert Prescott, JC Group's PR Officer. "I'm so glad to meet you, Carmella, " he said with a smile. He was a close friend of Jaxon from his college days and had wanted to meet the new young PA, whom Jaxon had recently appointed.
"Likewise, " smiled Carmella, liking the friendly nature of Gilbert. They discussed the topics to be discussed at the conference, topics to be avoided. She was young and new to such a scenario, so he taught her how to conduct herself in front of the media. Finally it was time. The media would arrive in ten minutes and a furious Jaxon strode into the conference room.
"Everything ready, Giles, " he growled at Gilbert.
"Easy bro. What's got into you now?" Gilbert said but Jaxon wasn't listening. His eyes went towards Carmella, fixing the projector with a fierce concentration. His face softened as he watched her looking so gorgeous in the outfit that he had designed. It seemed as if he had designed this dress for her specifically. He saw her long creamy, smooth legs exposed from the skirt. Why did she have to tie her hair? He sighed. He liked it open and cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall.
"I can see what's got into you, dude," whispered Gilbert into his ear, bringing him back to his senses. His cheeks coloured slightly and he looked at Gilbert's grinning face. Gilbert wiggled his eyebrows at him and Jaxon's mouth lifted slightly at the corners as he tried to suppress a smile.
Jaxon looked back at Carmella and saw that she was still struggling. Gilbert excused himself to go get some coffee before the meeting started. Jaxon went up to Carmella and she looked up at him, standing so close to her.
"S sir, I was just trying to fix this. It came off, actually. I didn't do anything. I swear," she said with wide eyes and he just stared at her innocent face. He didn't like the lip gloss that she had applied. If he could, he would have licked it off her lips. He pulled out a tissue from a box on the desk and handed it to her.
She took it from his hand. His thumb brushed with her palm and she felt an electric tingle shoot through her. She stared at the tissue, not knowing what to do with it. "Wipe your lip gloss off," he said softly, walking away to talk to the technical staff about the projector.
Carmella looked at his retreating back. What was that? What problems could he have with her lip gloss? Nevertheless, she wiped off the lipgloss, and threw away the tissue. Then she rushed back to her cubicle to get her tablet and files that Gilbert had asked her to be ready with.
Returning back, she saw that the projector was fixed and Gilbert and Jaxon were seated. "Where were you?" Growled a disgusted Jaxon at her.
"I went back to get these, sir," she breathed. Jaxon's face softened and he gestured towards the seat beside him.
"Sit and get ready," he ordered her Gilbert watched them with a grin on his face. Carmella sat beside Jaxon and unlocked her tablet. The door opened and three reporters walked in along with their cameramen.
"No taking any photographs of Mr. Craddock. JC Group will sue your channel if you do so," informed Gilbert sternly.
The whole meeting they discussed Jaxon's Spring Collection which was a hit in the world of couture. Carmella noted down the minutes of the meeting. The whole meeting went on for thirty minutes and finally it was over. The media wanted to take an interview of her too but she politely avoided them just as Gilbert had taught her to.
The reporters went away and Jaxon and Gilbert sipped water, relieved that all went well. She carried her things and went to her cubicle while Jaxon and Gilbert chatted about their personal lives. She was just a PA, and she knew her position. She edited the minutes of the meeting and emailed it to Jaxon.
Untying her hair from the tight French twist, she just massaged her scalp, closing her eyes. "Leave it that way," Jaxon's voice startled her and she opened her eyes in panic. Hurriedly she tied her hair in a ponytail and sat straight.
"I've sent you the minutes of the meeting sir," she said.
"I know. Efficient work today, Carmella, " he said, with a faint smile tugging at his lips. She gaped at him with her mouth hanging open as he walked into his office. Did he smile at her? Did he call her Carmella? It sounded like music to her ears. Did he ask her to leave her hair untied?
Her mind was in a turmoil. She couldn't believe that he had actually praised her for her work. He had also asked her to wipe off her lip gloss earlier. What could she deduce from it all?
Nothing. He's just PMSing, maybe. Otherwise how could you explain such weird mood swings? Giggling to herself, she checked her mail and saw that he had already sent her another load of work to last her till lunch time.
Finally, near lunchtime, she completed her work and sent it to Jaxon. She was now free to eat. She was actually ravenous by now. Ralph strode out of the elevator and stood infront of her cubicle, with his jaws dropped to the floor.
"How did you turn into such a hot sexy creature overnight?" He asked, widening his eyes at her.
She giggled,"Patricia and Mandy's magic hands," she said, swirling around for him.
"Amazing, may I have the honours of eating lunch with you milady?" He asked with a bow.
Carmella giggled more,"Sure, milord," she answered and Ralph laughed. The door of Jaxon's room flew open and he stood there with a dark scowl on his face.
"What's going on here?" He growled at them.
"I was just whisking away your PA for lunch, " said Ralph with a wink as he pulled a scared Carmella away into the elevator before Jaxon could show more displeasure.
"Ralph we shouldn't have lunch together everyday. Sir doesn't approve of it," she said, hesitantly.
"I don't care. I want you to escape his tortures for at least half an hour," he said with a shrug. Carmella sighed, it was useless making him see her point.
They ordered pizza and fried and shared the food. Others joined them too and she enjoyed the light chit chat and the filling lunch. Afterwards it was time to face the music.
She went back to her cubicle but she jumped up from her seat scared when she suddenly heard a loud crash like some glass shattering. The sound came from Jaxon's office. She got up and opened his door, scared of what she would find inside.
Her mouth hung open at the sight. There was glass pieces shattered everywhere. He might have shattered the glass vases inside the office. His left hand was bleeding and he just sat looking outside the bay windows at some distant bird flying.
"S Sir, Oh my God, " she gasped and he slowly turned around to face her. She saw a fleeting emotion, a pain in his eyes before he again shut himself out, with a blank, angry, poker face.
"Get out of my room," he yelled turning away from her.
