Chapter 8

• I wait for the blonde and soon she gives the door a few knocks and enters my office. She hands me the contract, I check that it has been amended to my conditions and then sign it. I give it back to her with a smile and she leaves.
• I spend the whole afternoon making banners for the company and logos, as the boss requested. I confess it was difficult, because he is quite demanding, but in the end he approved my arts and I was happy.
• At the end of the day, I leave in a hurry to go to college, because I can't be late. Luckily I finished the work on time and hopefully I'll get to college before the first class starts
• The week went by faster than I imagined. At least it was that good.
• At work, with Cam, it was crazy. I had to send several emails to the business people he referred to set up an emergency meeting. This gave me a major headache as the responses came in every five minutes and I had to go back to my boss and sometimes make adjustments to the meeting time. Cam wants to build a new building and he wants everything to be perfect, of course.
• I'm going to have to interview a lot of people in his place too. Cam is going on a business trip next week, but I won't have to accompany him this time as I'll be taking care of a lot of things for him here. I thought it was weird that he trusts me like this, since he barely knows me, but it's my job and I'm getting paid extra for it, so I shouldn't complain. I'm happy that he's recognising my work.
• Before I leave the company on Friday, Cam comes into my office.
• - Hi Caroline. - He looks at me like that and once again I find myself fantasising about what a cat my boss is, he makes me all flustered. I shake my head and push those thoughts away, I can't let him win this game, I'm not that easy.
• - I am boarding tomorrow morning, I hope you do everything as I told you to. I will be back next Saturday and hope to bring good news. Have a good week at work and don't let me down.
• - I won't, boss.
• He smiles at me and touches my face with his thumb. I feel his heavy breathing and his seductive eyes land on me. I widen my eyes and he deposits a soft kiss on my hand, leaving the room quickly and leaving me to my thoughts.
• How crazy was that? My boss wants to make me crazier and more lost? I'm screwed if I fall in love with him.
• The weekend arrives and I'm at the company taking care of everything. I can't let the boss down. It's a good thing I don't have college today. I'll concentrate on work and I know I'll manage.
• Before lunch, I interview several people, fill out a series of forms and make notes of the day. Before I save a file on the computer, I get an email from Cam.
• [Good afternoon, Caroline. How are things going there? It's been an hour since you updated me. I'm waiting].
• I can imagine he's stressed and impatient. I've never seen a man with so much love for his work. I roll my eyes and send him the notes for the day.
• I go to the cafeteria and eat a little to rest my mind, at least for a moment. I already know that during this year I will be stressed out a lot. But I wanted the job, so... Now I'll go all the way.
• As I return to my room, Michele calls me.
• - Caroline? You have to fill out these forms.
• I smile, not funny, and immediately start filling out the long form. Saturday seemed like it would never end.
• By the end of work I'm so exhausted, but as soon as I get up to leave I hear a voice and footsteps coming towards me, so I stop before leaving the office.
• I look back and see Magnus. He works together with Cam and I don't even know why he didn't go on this trip too. He's dark, with curly hair and a manly body. He smiles at me and starts to say:
• - Hi, are you leaving already?
• - Yes, I am. Today was a long day.
• - Come on, I'll drop you home.
• - You don't have to. I'll manage. I didn't drive today, but I can take a bus.
• - Please take it.
• He looks me up and down intensely, but I still decide to accept, because transport on Saturday is horrible. Besides, he wouldn't do anything to me, we are work colleagues.
• Along the way, he fills me with questions and keeps smiling at me. I try at all costs to avoid it, ashamed, but it is getting difficult.
• Arriving at my house, he smiles even more openly at me. I thank him for the ride and just as I'm about to get out of the car, he pulls me in and kisses me. I push him away and say:
• - Are you crazy? What do you think you're doing?
• He looks at me serious and sorry.
• - Sorry, I thought you were interested.
• - I'm not. Don't ever do that again.
• I get out of the car and, before reaching the door, someone pulls my hand. I turn and see Márcio, of course. He looks different and his eyes are swollen. He looks thinner too. I take his hands away from me and shout at him.
• - Get out of here, Márcio! Are you following me, you sick man? I'll call the police!
• Magnus, thank God, hasn't left yet and comes running towards me.
• - What's wrong? Caroline, are you okay?
• - Yes, I'm fine. Marcio was just leaving, wasn't he?
• - I'm leaving, but you'll pay for this. Oh, yeah.
• - Are you threatening her, you piece of shit ? Who do you think you are?
• - Her boyfriend, you idiot.
• - Ex-boyfriend, Marcio. You still don't get it, do you? You're sick and you keep chasing me around. If I see you one more time, you'll regret it.
• Márcio stares at me and even scares me. He runs off and disappears from sight. I had a burst of courage, but now, suddenly, I begin to tremble and sob with fear.
• - Are you all right?
• Magnus asks me, worried about me.
• - Not yet, but I will be. Everything is fine. See you on Monday, thank you.
• - I'll walk you to the door. And on Monday I'll come back for you, okay? Forgive me for the kiss, I thought you wanted it. I'll never touch you again if you don't want me to.
• He leads me to the door and waits for me to come in before leaving.
• I thank the heavens a thousand times that I accepted that ride and that Magnus didn't leave right after I left. If he had been angry with me, God knows what would have happened when Marcio showed up.