At Her Beck And Call

Most of Mandy's colleagues had not witnessed the scene with Harrison the other day, but it felt like the whole company now knew who she was – or had been – to Harrison freaking Michaelson.

Gossip followed her every way she went. She had not been working long enough in the company to make friends. Now, that seemed like an impossible task. No matter how much nonsense they spouted behind her back, she didn't pay them any mind, kept her composure and her straight face at all and any time. And that seemed to make the whispers grow in intensity each time.

Her indifference was, from the looks of it, fueling their gossip.

She guessed she should care as it was her reputation on the line, but she didn't. The moment she heard of Harrison's possible acquisition of David Corp, she knew this was going to happen. She thought that someone, anyone, would draw the line if she ever had to interact with him… But she could have never guessed that Harrison would willingly make a scene.

The job was becoming a little bit of a pain in the neck. That being said, she was much too stubborn to wish to look for another one.

The only one who neither taunted her nor whispered behind her back was her date from the other night, Jonathan, her colleague from the marketing department.

He didn't even make allusions to her ties with the renowned glacier.

During lunch, he now always sat with her, telling her each time she tried to decline that it wouldn't do to let a beautiful woman such as her have lunch alone.

He was pleasant to be around, and he never once made her feel uncomfortable. His gentlemanly ways were endearing, and she started to grow fond of him, if she were to be honest.

"May I ask you a personal question?" He attempted shyly one day, during lunch.

"You may ask, but I may choose not to answer it," she told him with a small indulgent smile.

"Why would you allow them to talk shit behind your back?"

"Why would I bother with their senseless gossip when I know my worth?" She retorted in an amused tone. "Nobody at the company knew who I was – or rather who I used to be – up till ten days ago. I got the job because the hiring manager saw something in me, and that's the only reason why I am staying."

She had not always been this strong. She used to cry when bullied at functions in the past, and that was one of the reasons why she had started avoiding them after some time.

Harrison had never objected to that, but he did make sure she attended at least once to twice a year with him – for business image purposes, he said.

Since then, a lot of things had happened, and she had, thank God, grown a backbone.

She smiled at Jonathan and then asked him simply, "Did I answer your question?"

He nodded at her, a smile of his own stretching his lips.

"May I ask you a question?"

"Your turn, huh?" He chuckled.

"Can't I?" She tilted her head to the side in question.

"Of course you can," was his ready answer.

"How come you're here, sitting with me, for lunch every day?" She wondered out loud. "You are a handsome guy after all, and I am guessing you have your fair share of admirers, so why me?"

He chuckled again, and then told her in a soft tone, "As fate would have it, I fell under your spell at first glance."

She blushed at once but did her best not to avert her eyes.

"Thank you," she told him simply after a while.

"You're most welcome. Also, that blushing of yours is incredibly endearing."

His chuckle made her pout even as her blush deepened.

She could get used to this kind of sweet attention. As opposed to Harrison's cold indifferent ways but ravenous tendencies in bed, Jonathan seemed like he would be an affectionate lover.

She could imagine herself falling for him should she give him a real chance. She could imagine a happy future if she were to go down that path.

It was said that the best way to get over a man was to get under another one. 

But did Jonathan deserve to be a rebound? She couldn't possibly use him so, and thus decided not to go on a date with him, unless she had totally gotten rid of any semblance of feelings towards her glacier of an ex-husband.

Once lunch break was over, she and Jonathan headed over to their respective departments.

As soon as she sat at her desk, ready to get some work done, her immediate superior stopped by her desk.

Her gaze met his and she saw something akin to contempt in the depth of his eyes.

She guessed he believed the rumors and the whispers. She didn't even sigh at that. Instead, she smiled at him and asked him how she could help him.

"The CEO wants to see you," he all but spat out.

She nodded and rose to her feet, not quite understanding what happened for the CEO to require her presence.

And then, she made a quick count of the time frame Harrison had allowed David Corp to go over and sign the documents…

Oh no, she mentally face-palmed even as her steps still carried her to the elevator.

He had already made a scene, and forced her hand to agree to a dinner. And he had ended up at the hospital afterwards.

He did not even bother to send her a thank you.

Truth be told, she knew not to expect any form of gratitude from him. He wasn't one to meet people halfway. He wasn't used to making compromises. He was also much too powerful and ruthless to care about something as trivial as her sending him to the hospital.

Besides, it was but common curtsy. Anybody would have done the same. 

She arrived to the top floor, and the PA who welcomed her in had a sneer on her face that didn't sit well with Mandy. Nevertheless, she didn't show her how much that annoyed her, and only offered a saccharine smile instead.

"The CEO wants to see you at once," she ushered her forward.

Mandy inhaled deeply, and then pushed the door of the office open.