BILLIONAIRE SCIENTIST & HIS NEW SECRETARY

CHAPTER 1

PART 2

Yes, I fully acknowledge that I'm slack in updating... now busy with school, got an incredible amount of readings to do... so I do thank you for your kind patience!

I'm increasing the rating of the fic. I realise that with Numair and his rather active "social" life, harsh office life, and more serious issues, I better up the rating.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Thank you to all reviewers! I'm seriously only continuing to write this because of you reviewers. so pat on the back.

Thus, I'll only continue on with the story if I can get more than 10 reviews for each part I update.

So please do review IF you want me to continue. This is so that I know whether the fic is worth continuing or not. hee hee. I mean, if the story sux then I'll move on to something else and save some webspace.

Oceanstorm: Good point, will take note of it. Thanks!

DISCLAIMER

Tamora Pierce owns the Tortallan characters. This story is entirely fictious. No, Numair did not invent the things I said... but if he did, you understand why he's a billionaire already...

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"Hmph!" Selda muttered, tossing her copy of High Society onto her desk, striding angrily towards the staff pantry. The office staff quickly moved out of the way as her 5-inch Jimmy choo heels clicked indignantly on the marble floor. They lowered their eyes, not willing to accidentally catch her gaze and incur her wrath. An unfortunate office assistant was holding a stack of files and did not see Selda's angry progress along the floor. Selda pushed past her, causing her to lose her balance and cause the files crashing on the floor.

Selda spun irritatedly on her heels, glared at the OA and snapped "Are you blind? Watch where you are going?"

The OA gritted her teeth while she started to pick up the files.

Selda snorted, tapping her heel impatiently. Her legs were barely encased in a gucci short pencil-shaped skirt and her figure was amply displayed in a tight-fitting shirt. "Well?" Selda demanded. "Aren't you going to apologise? Such an incompetent fool, no manners, can't see straight? How the hell did you get hired here in the first place?"

The OA lurched to her feet angrily, "Why you-"

Suddenly, Selda went on her knees and started picking up the files. "What is going on here?" Farant asked, walking up to them in his tailored suit. He was the manager under the Public Relations Department.

Selda looked up at him, blinking her eyes, as if trying to compose herself, "She bumped into me and when I tried to apologise, she just dumped the files on the ground and told me to pick it up."

The OA gaped in shock, speechless at Selda's lie.

Farant frowned, "What is this? This is completely unacceptable! I cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour in the office." He turned to the OA. "I am very disappointed in you. I hired you despite your lack of experience, because you showed enthusiasm and would fit well into the office. It is utterly shocking that you would show such unprofessional conduct, especially to a senior and treasured employee!"

"But.. but I..." the OA stuttered. Nobody around her dared to speak in her defence, not willing to call Selda's vengeance on their heads.

"Oh, no Farant," Selda interrupted tearfully. "Please don't scold her on my account. She's new here, just give her another chance."

Farant softened when he looked at Selda, "Alright then. You better apologise to Selda for your outrageous behaviour. If I catch you engaging in such conduct again, your services will be terminated."

The OA shook in anger, but was helpless. On one hand, if she apologised, she would be admitting that she did such a thing, on the other hand, if she was to protest, she would seem defensive, even worse, that she was not admitting her mistake. In a battle of "who spoke the truth", Farant would more likely favour Selda to her, the new OA.

"I am sorry, I will make sure that I will not bother you in any way again," the OA barely spit out.

Farant frowned, but Selda quickly said, "That's alright! We're all friends here."

"Oh Selda, you're simply too nice," Farant said. "You shouldn't let others bully you. Make sure you tell me if you are being mistreated... Really, I am shocked that they would do anything to you as a senior employee here."

Selda conjured up a blush, "You are too kind sir!"

"Now now, we are on first name basis here," Farant said kindly, then looked at his watch. "Alright, I'll see you around then."

"Yes... Farant," Selda said coyly as he walked away.

Her whole demeanour underwent a 180 degree change as he disappeared into his office. Selda glared at the OA. "I can't believe he didn't fire you. You have Farant to thank for you still having a job!"

The OA gaped, thinking 'Didn't Selda ask Farant not to fire me!'

Selda got onto her feet and angrily kicked the files, scattering them all over the floor. She then continued her progress to the pantry.

She suddenly smiled, "Hello Evin!"

Evin walked out of the pantry with Daine, he looked at Selda, "Good morning."

"And who is this?" Selda asked pleasantly.

"This is Veralidaine Sarrasri, who is Numair's new secretary, I am just showing her around," Evin said equally pleasantly.

The whole office went silent.

Selda stared at Daine, and laughed rather falsely, "Oh my, I didn't know the position of Numair's secretary has been filled. My, my, she must have many hidden talents because she doesn't look like she's up to the job."

Daine blinked, she didn't quite like that backhanded compliment.

Evin smiled, baring his teeth,"Well, Daine was hired by the top brass. Onua the HR head thought that she was the most appropriate for the job. Everyone recognises Onua's competence and expertise, since she first joined the company many years ago. It would be a question of Onua's expertise if Daine is not able to handle the job admirably. In fact, I scarcely think anyone, even our dear CEO and Numair, would question Onua's qualifications, but would look to other factors if Daine didn't handle the job properly." he laughed. "Oh you know, the previous secretaries, even Numair himself admitted that it was his fault and not of Onua's."

Selda smiled, rather painfully. "Well then, see you around Daine."

Evin took Daine by the arm and led her away from the maze of cubicles and offices. Daine blinked in confusion, "What was that about?"

"Selda there," Evin whispered, walking along the floor. "is the queen bee of the office or to put it more crudely, the office bitch. Very ambitious. Thinks the means justify the ends. It's no secret that most people think that Selda got where she is by office politics than by her competency."

Daine nodded, thinking 'ARGH! I hate this office politics crap!' and asked, "but... we only just met... she seemed... unfriendly..."

"Ha!" Evin said. "Everyone knows that she wants to climb out of the normal secretarial ranks and go to the top 10."

"Top 10?" Daine queried.

Evin stopped in front of what looked like a lift lobby. It was black and elegant. Fresh flowers adorned each side of the lift door. There were four security guards in the lobby who nodded at Evin. "Yep, the big bosses are on the top 10 floors of this building. All us underlings are on the lower floors. It's unfortunate, but true saying in our company that the floor that we are on indicate our level of importance."

Daine looked around for the lift buttons. "Um... is there some button I should press?"

Evin grinned. "Now, take your pass and place it in front of here," Evin indicated a sleek black panel in front of the elevators. Daine meekly did as he instructed. "A green light will flash, ah, yes, there it is, and this panel will slide away to reveal the magic button. Just press it. All areas with restricted access are like this. Very James Bond, ain't it? It's bullet proof too. If the red light flashes, it means that you have no access. I MUST warn you... if you try three times unsuccessfully, the lobby or area will immediately lock down and you will be trapped here until security bails you out. This will also happen if you try to fiddle with the wiring or whatever. This is to prevent sabotage or people from trying to be funny and break in... You can thank Alanna for that little trick. But it definitely reduced the number of people trying to break into security and go see the top bosses."

Daine nodded, suitably impressed at the level of security.

"You don't need to worry horribly about it, since i think your pass gets you almost anywhere," Evin continued, "Anyway, Selda applied for your position, but didn't get it. I think she's aiming to be the next Ms. Salmalin."

Daine blinked, "Oh dear..."

Evin nodded. "Just try to be cautious although you are quite far away from her. She has her fingers in everything. She's office smart. When she came in, she made it such that, a lot of thing can't be done without her. She has exclusive knowledge of quite a lot of things. Making her indispensable and hard for us to throw her out although us underlings want to revolt."

"But... she seemed quite nice to you," Daine said, rather confused.

Evin tapped her gently on her head, "That's because my dear, she knows who she can bully, who she should suck up to and who she should not bully. I'm in HR. We control the hiring, renewing, firing of people. As well as pay. She knows that she shouldn't mess with us. Besides, our promotions have no bearing on her and we have everything to do with any of her promotions."

Daine blinked.

Evin smiled at her, "don't worry too much. I just now warned her off you."

"You did?" Daine gaped.

"oh my dear lambkin! you have much to learn in the ways of the world, tsk tsk!" Evin admonished jokingly, waving her index finger. "I basically implied to her that if she does something to you to make you lose your job, people will wonder why since it was Onua the head of HR who hired you. And Onua is good friends with the big bosses. So Ouna AND the big bosses will pay attention as to why you quit or got fired."

The lift door finally opened and Evin went in, with Daine trailing after. Daine gaped at the interior of the lift. The floor was carpeted and cushioned benches lined the three walls and a flat screen tv was on the left wall, showing the latest stock figures. A big vase of flowers stood in the right corner.

"Come in, come in," Evin ushered. Daine followed him in. He pointed to a familiar looking black panel and said ,"You know the drill."

She waved her card in front of the panel that obediently flashed the green light and slid away. Surprisingly, three different panels of buttons appeared. "This panel is to the offices, this is to the labatories, this is to the residences."

"Residences?" Daine gaped.

"Yup! Our hardworking top bosses have an apartment here to bunk if they work overnight or something. People like our CEO actually stays elsewhere, but for Numair, he lives here." Evin explained. "Normally, most people can only access one panel, but for your case, you can access all three since it's Numair who has full run of the place."

Daine nodded.

Evin pointed at the buttons, "Now, even if you can access the panel, sometimes, you can only press certain buttons. You see here, there is this column of buttons. Next to each button is a small screen. It only lights up with the floor number if you are able to access it."

Daine nodded.

"Since you have access to almost everything, you can see almost all the buttons." Evin said and pressed a button. "This floor is Numair's office. You have to remember all the floors and what they are used for. For security reasons, we don't label each floor's purpose."

Evin took the television remote on the wall next to the LCD screen and flopped on the opposite bench. He patted the place next to him. "Come on, sit down, let's watch a bit of tv while we ascend to the heavens!"

Daine sat next to him and watched him as he changed the channels. "Are you sure you can do that?" Daine asked.

"Sure! Why not? Nobody is here but you and me," Evin said and tossed her the remote. "Here, I'll let you have the remote, an overwhelming generous act of a normal urban male. Be honoured! Some males don't even give their wives the remote."

"Ha ha," Daine replied. She was quite at ease with Evin who was easy going and friendly, although surprisingly insightful and serious at times.

"Do you want a drink?" Evin asked, opening a small cupboard, which, surprisingly held a mini fridge.

"Oh my gosh, " Daine said. "How on earth can the lift take all the weight?"

Evin snorted, "As an employee of Tortall Inc, you should have more faith in our products. This lift was designed and manufactured by our company. Numair made billions in patenting the material used to make the cables and lift. Very strong, but light. There are discussions of using it to make aeroplanes with it."

"You are joking," Daine said.

"No, I'm not. But what do you expect from a Nobel Prize winner?" Evin said.

"Numair is a nobel prize winner!" Daine exclaimed.

Evin raised an eyebrow. "Yes... The youngest ever to be awarded such an honour. He did invent a lot of revolutionary things. Like our dear LCD screen tv. Little people know that he came up with such a concept and now it's being used for tvs and computers. Although other companies manufacture LCD tvs and computers, they have to pay him royalties you know..."

Daine gaped.

"Well, he is filthy rich and is on Forbes' list of most powerful people. Even higher than our dear CEO. Though Jonathan doesn't like to admit it. After all, our company is nothing without the edge-cutting technology and inventions that Numair comes up with." Evin supplied further.

The lift came to a stop and the doors opened silently. "Ah!" Evin said, and with a flourishing bow, "Here we are, this way my lady, onward to see your new office and boss!"

Daine gulped and walked out of the lift.

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I'm writing this and publishing it without looking through it. So you are free to point out errors. thanks!