Theo

it's 7:30 in the morning when I get to work. I barely slept last night, and I don't want to be here.

Walking into the building, I am immediately greeted by my assistant, Lane. She's tall with curly brown hair and caramel skin.

She got hired because she had a good resume, and I just desperately needed an assistant. She's worked for me for the last two years.

She's shy, and I'm fairly certain she's scared of me, but she does her job well. She's wearing a simple blue pantsuit, and she looks like she got a good amount of sleep.

Lucky.

I see she has a planner in her hand while she is walking up to me. She reads my face and grimaces.

"Good morning Mr.Black," she says tentatively.

I nod. I hate greetings, they're so weird.

Lane's heels click against the floor, signifying her presence behind me as we walk to the elevator.

We both step into the mirrored space, and I press the 20th-floor button. I look at myself on the mirrored surface and realize how apparent my eye bags are. My hair is messy, and my suit is wrinkled. I look like a mess.

I can't find it in me to care.

I can only think of two things, and neither of them has anything to do with how I look at the moment.

1. I shouldn't have gone to that fucking club last night.

2. I need coffee.

The elevator door slides open, and I step out.

I have an office on every floor since I run the entire building, but the one on the 20th floor is my favorite because it has the best view- especially at night.

"You have analytics to send your father today," Lane says.

I knew that. I always keep up, especially with the things that involved my father, so I nod, insinuating for Lane to go on.

"You have two contracts that need to be overlooked," she continues.

"And, you have the new representation meeting today," she says, and I freeze.

"There's a fucking meeting today?" I seethe.

"Um- yes Mr.Black. There is," she stutters.

"Can you reschedule it?" I ask genuinely.

"I- no. I'm sorry. This is the meeting we have been preparing for, for the last two months." She says quietly.

I can't do a meeting today.

"Is there any way you can get someone to fill in for me?" I ask, desperate.

She shakes her head. "Jordie has to attend the-" I don't let her finish.

"Excuse me?" I ask, and she flinches. "Say that again."

She swallows before speaking again, "Jordie has to -" I stop her again.

"Say that again but slower."

"Jordie-" I stop her for the last time.

"Who told you to call him that?" I ask curiously.

"H-he did."

"Right." I nod. "And since when do you listen to him?"

"Never," she breathes.

"Just making sure," I nod. It's fun going back and forth with her on shit like this but it also pisses me off to hear my assistant call someone by a terrible nickname.

Then, I start walking again. Lane doesn't follow me this time. I pull open the door to my office and walk in.

"Jordan, get off of my desk," I sigh.

Jordan laughs. "C'mon man. It's the only functioning seat you have."

"I have a couch and two chairs," I state as I set my stuff down.

"Well, those are so outdated."

I give him a look, and Jordan rolls his eyes before getting off the desk.

Jordan Smalls is always 5 seconds away from getting fired. Aside from him and his need for therapy. The only problem is that he is my best employee. 

The two of us graduated college together, and Jordan worked for my father, therefore working for me.

Jordan was too loud and too extravagant. Especially this early in the morning.

He knew when to be serious. Especially when he was working. He was the best employee for a reason, but he chose not to be serious most of the time.

I walk to my desk chair and sit down. Jordan looks through some papers that sit on my desk.

"Did you know we have a rep meeting today?" I ask.

Jordan gives me a strange look, "Of course I knew. This is the most important meeting of the year, Theo," He states as if it was obvious.

I don't respond, I open up my computer and look through some work.

"What's gotten into you?" Jordan asks.

"What?"

"How did you forget about the meeting? That's all you've been talking about for the last two months?"

The stupid club. I can't stop thinking about it. Everything I do takes me back to shit I had forced myself to forget.

"How much did you drink last night?" Jordan asks with a laugh.

Rolling my eyes, I flip him off. "I barely drank."

Jordan laughs even harder.

"Where did you disappear to, anyway?" Jordan questions. "You left for, like, half an hour?"

I don't answer.

"Stop telling my employees to call you Jordie," I say, changing the subject.

Jordan has recently decided that the name Jordan is too basic, so he has insisted on being called Jordie.

"I don't force them to. They do it out of choice. I can't control that." he smiles.

"I need coffee," I sigh.

"Clearly," Jordan murmurs.

"Go get me coffee."

"Do I look like your fucking assistant?" He deadpans.

"No, but I scared my assistant," I state.

"Of course you did. That poor sweet girl. You don't pay her enough." Jordan shakes his head.

"Get me coffee."

"Get it yourself."

"I can't. I'm very busy."

"You've been staring at a blank document for the last 5 minutes."

I glare at him.

"If you can concentrate that well without coffee, then you don't need coffee. Plus, you should cut down on caffeine. We don't want you living longer than you have to."

"Get me that damn coffee or expect your next paycheck to be halved," I say, signing a piece of paper.

"I don't get paid enough for this shit either," he grumbles as he walks out.

A tired sigh escapes my lips when Jordie closes the door.

I set my head on the cold wood of the desk. I am too disoriented to do a meeting today. My father would kill me if I don't do this correctly, though, so, as always, I don't have a choice.

This is the most important meeting of the year, and only the most important people are attending it.

I try to get actual work done, but I can't. My mind can't focus on anything; I keep going back to that hallway.

She had looked at me with pure hate.

Maybe I looked at her with that hate too. I felt it. I think. Or maybe I was just mistaking some other strong emotion for hate. 

Jordan comes back with coffee.

"You know, you should seriously start getting the people at the coffee store across the street to start bringing us coffee every morning," Jordan's voice sounds annoyed.

"Right, yes," I say absentmindedly.

Jordan freezes. "Did you just agree with me?"

"No?"

"Yes, you did."

"Oh."

"Seriously what the fuck is wrong with you today?" Jordan asks sternly.

I take the coffee out of his hand, but I don't drink it.

I want to be in bed and asleep. I want to stop thinking. I need a drink. 

Jordan goes back to his own office, and I work on the papers I have to give my father. I work for two hours, getting more tired by the minute.

At some point, I set my head down on my desk and fall asleep. 20 minutes of sleep is all I get before Lane knocks on the office door and tells me my father is calling.

I pick up the phone and bring it to my ear.

"Hello?" I keep my voice monotonous.

"How are the plans for the meeting?" My father doesn't sound too happy.

"Fine."

"Theo, I am giving you this opportunity to prove yourself and that you are capable of leading this company." He yells."This is the most important meeting of the year. Don't mess this up."

This is always how our conversation goes. I could compare it to conversing with a wall, but I've seen walls with a more likable personality than my father so there's that.

I wait for him to finish yelling before hanging up. Just to be polite. 

I down the entire thing of coffee Jordan brought for me. It tastes terrible since it's room temperature now.

The meeting is supposed to last 3 hours with a break in between.

Lane starts following me as I walk to the elevator.

"Mae Young from Emmerson is sending a representative for her spot," Lane informs me, and I nod. I could care less. As long as that person doesn't prolong the meeting.

"Robert Todd from Fairbanks is attending. He hopes to work with you for the law spot," Lane continues.

Of Course, he does. Lawyers- the most annoying breed of people. All of them think they're better than everyone just because they can fucking argue.

Lane lists every other unimportant person. Her voice blurs with the whirs and groans of machines in the background.

I just want to get to the meeting room and get the day over with, but of course, the universe hates me, so, I get pulled aside by a messenger from my father. The messenger tells me my father wants a redo of the analytics.

This day just keeps getting better.

I walk into the meeting room and see everyone's seats filled except for two. Asher and Jordan.

I want to set fire to the building when I see who is sitting next to Asher's seat.

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(completely unedited)

I am so mentally tired rn so the next few chapters will most likely be unedited. If you are still keeping up with this story, I love you more than life itself. 

- Kay