Chapter 1 First Day

• Mary
• I was walking hurriedly toward the elevators of a large mirrored building on Madison Avenue. That was Navruz Publications, my father's publishing Company.
• It was my first day on the job and I didn't want to be late. I finally got in the elevator, I got my cell phone, breathing in relieved. It was three minutes to seven o'clock, I was going to be there in time.
• When my parents offered me this job, I got carried away, After all, that's why I graduated in journalism
• . But It wouldn't be easy just because I'm the heiress to the company, my mother insisted that I should learn the importance of hard work, and decided that I shouldn't start with a high position, but like any other recently graduated.
• That's how I ended up as personal assistant to Pyotr Rozanov, the editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Book Review.
• I kept thinking about how i'd give my office a more personal touch. Omar introduced me to the place last week, when I went to do the interview.
• Pyotr Rozanov seemed to be a very private person, he just listened while Omar explained that I should be treated like an ordinary employee. I felt your look at me all the time, but I didn't know what to think about it.
• I focus on my reflection in the elevator mirror as I wait for it to climb the twenty-five floors to my new workplace. I passed my hand through my long, thick strands of black hair that I had fastened in a loose ponytail. I wore a set of social pants and pantsuit, paired with a white shirt and striped scarpins with red details and wanted to be perfect for my first day.
• I smiled at myself in the mirror as soon as the doors opened behind me. I followed in firm steps to my new workplace, attracting a few glances as I passed by. My own office, as they called the desk with a computer and phone I would occupy, was in the front room of Pyotr's office. I noticed the door ajar as soon as I arrived.
• I put my bag on the table and i went to the door, knocking lightly before I open it.
• "You're late," he declared without looking at me before I even said anything.
• "What? I'm not. "I defended myself " it's seven o'clock.”
• "Yes, you are," He raised his eyes from the papers he was reading “It's seven hours and three minutes.”
• "It's almost the same thing. " I rolled my eyes," It was time to take the elevator.”
• "I don't want you to be in the elevator at seven,"my boss kept looking into my eyes with an indifferent look “I want you to be at your table at seven.”
• I faced him indisccan. My dad didn't get me a nice boss, maybe I should have chosen to work for Meredith Stewart.
• "I left a list of things I need you to do on your desk” Pyotr turned his attention to the work in front of you “Start with the coffee, there's a Starbucks across the street.”
• "Coffee? " I crossed my arms "Will you make me leave the building just to get you coffee?”
• "It's part of your job, Marianne," the man again focused his attention on me.
• "I'm willing to work, but become the coffee girl? Serious?” I insisted.
• "Do you think I haven't sought coffee many times in my life, Marianne? "He stood up and walked to me.
• "I can ask my father to buy a coffee maker," I cast a sharp eye toward the man, "I can even choose one if you want.”
• "And I can call your father and tell him it didn't work out," He stared at me triumphantly.
• "You can't fire me ten minutes after I started working, Peter," I complained.
• "My name is Pyotr, Marianne" He took a deep breath.
• Of course, as if I could pronounce it.
• "Then don't call me Marianne! "I've re-tricked.
• He wouldn't really fire me, would he? My mother would skin me alive if I lost my first job in ten minutes.
• "What do you decide? "He kept staring at me," Shall I call your father, Marianne?”
• I faced him angry, I noticed a certain pleasure in the man when pronouncing my name.
• I can get you a cup of coffee. I can do this every day without any problem. My mom's right, I'm kind of lucky to get a job right after I graduate, a lot of them can't.
• "How do you want your coffee, Peter?" I forced a smile, pronouncing 'Peter' with the same tone he used before.
• "A white mocha without whipped cream," he replied after staring at me for a while, "Don't take too long, you have a lot to do.”
• I rolled my eyes and left the room. I'm definitely being punished for something.
• I grabbed my bag and went to get the coffee,
• following the corridors full of prying eyes towards me. I started hitting my feet impatiently while waiting for the elevator, thinking about what would wait for me from now on.
• Pyotr Rozanov, however, doesn't seem to be so bad. I meaning, Sometimes that Russian accent proves difficult to understand and he knows to be annoying, but he is still better than Stan Smith.
• Stan is the editor-in-chief of Politics magazine at Navruz Publications, he worked on the thirteenth floor and was a real pain in the ass.
• The last time I came back from college vacation, my dad decided I'd follow that week's development. I managed to get fired by Stan the first day without even being hired. If I had to work for him, it was possible that I'd give up my career.
• "You know, that noise is very annoying” The blonde receptionist who was sitting at the table in front of the elevator commented.
• "I'm sorry," I stopped.
• "My name is Halley Dawson," she stood up and came toward me, reaching out “I am the receptionist on the floor.”
• I watched her for a moment, she was lower than me, wore a red social dress, black Scarpins and had well-treated smooth blonde hair.
• " Mary Navruz” I shook her hand, offering a quick smile “The Russian's grumpy assistant.”
• " Navruz? " The girl has wide her eyes. I don't remember seeing her last week “How...”
• "Omar and Elena Navruz," I confirmed their suspicions, "They are my parents.”
• "What are you doing here?” She asked shocked.
• Behind me the elevator door opened.
• "Working” I frowned.
• Didn't I just explain that I'm Pyotr's new assistant?
• "Why? "She insisted as I entered the elevator in a distracted way.
• "What else could I do after I graduated? "I shrugged.
• The elevator door closed with the girl outside staring at me in horror. Do people really think that because my parents are rich, I don't have to work hard to do anything? I understand my mother's point of view, she's right after all.
• I got the coffee for my boss and bought a cheesecake for myself, going back to the office in a few minutes. I waved as I passed Halley, getting a smile in return and marched straight to the office.
• "Here's your coffee Mr Rozanov," I said in an ironic tone, "White Mocha.”
• "And what is that? "He pointed to the little box in my hand.
• "That's my reward," I smiled, blinking an eye at him before Turning to begin my work.
• " Marianne? "He called.
• "Mary... I hate being called Marianne" I moaned turning to him.
• "I asked without whipped cream" he pointed the paper cup open.
• Damn it, Mary, why do you always forget those details?
• "It's not hard to take away," I approached the table," you're not going to make me go back there and change, are you?”
• "Bringing me a coffee shouldn't be a difficult task," I saw a glow in your eyes.
• He's having fun torturing me!
• "I forgot to ask then not to put the whipped cream, that's all” I justified myself “Besides, whipped cream is delicious, why don't you try it?”
• Pyotr merely raised an eyebrow, as if I were being ridiculous, still looking into my eyes.
• "Okay, if you really want it, I'll take it off" I declared putting my cheesecake on the table, opening the package and removing the spoon from there.
• He didn't unstick his eyes from me when I leaned on the table, removing all the whipped cream with the spoon and putting it on top of the cake, trying to look intimidating while maintaining eye contact.
• "Happy? "I asked emphatically, licking the spoon.
• "Very much," the man smiled before I straightened myself.
• If he didn't bother me so much in the first hour of work, I might even consider him sexy with that social outfit, neat hair and recently groomed beard. But I was too angry for it at the time.
• "I hope next time you remember to order without the whipped cream, Marianne.
• "I'll be at my desk if you need me," I murmured feeling like turning the cup of coffee over your head.
• Despite our clash for the coffee, the rest of the day was peaceful. Pyotr explained to me what I was supposed to do, and it was a lot. He had been without a personal assistant for some time and was trying to organize everything himself, which left everything a complete mess.
• When I went home at the end of the day, I felt exhausted. I got out of the cab just wanting to take a shower and lie down. I had moved back in with my parents since I graduated, even though I planned to move soon. I crossed the hall, following the sound of a animated conversation between the two, meeting them in the kitchen, discussing some release.
• I loved that place, the straight-line black cabinets contrasted with the light room, giving the place an air of sophistication that only one of New York's best interior designers could afford.
• And he got a lot for the design of that house.
• "How was the day, Mary? " Omar smiled when he saw me.
• "Horrible" I moaned, throwing myself into a chair “That guy is crazy!”
• " Want to hear something really crazy? Your mother made dinner tonight” He stared at me with a fun glow in his eyes.
• Sometimes it was strange to see my father so comfortable. On a day-to-day high, he was extravagant in his extremely formal clothes. But today he was wearing a white shirt with the first buttons open, and I could see the red tie full of patterns that he wore earlier thrown on the table.
• "Besides working like crazy I will not have anything to eat? "I have complained, getting a frowning look from my mother “You must tell me why you are you punishing me.”
• "Don't be overblown," my mother rolled her eyes “I'm making a roast meat, it's not a sophisticated thing.”
• "It doesn't change the fact that they put me to work with a madman," I muttered.
• "I've been a personal assistant for a long time Marianne," my mother declared, "It'll be good for you.”
• "I doubt your boss was crazy," I hit back.
• "Your father looked like an incarnate demon," she cast a look at me with sympathy, “and yet we got it right and created a great company together.”
• "That wasn't very flattering," my father protested.
• "Sometimes I forget you were his assistant," I sighed, “but I still can't imagine him that way.”
• "Thank you!”
• "Everyone ran away when they realized he was in a bad mood," my mother ignored him, "But with our coexistence, I learned to deal with it.”
• "Now everyone runs away when they see you," I pointed out.
• "That's not true!” She exclaimed.
• "Of course it is," Omar provoked, "That's why you only show up at Navruz when we have a problem.”
• "As if you needed my help to solve problems," she smiled.
• My father seemed about to respond when the sound of my cell phone interrupted the conversation. As soon as I read the name on the caller ID I moaned, resting my forehead on the table.
• "I was with him an hour ago," I cried, "What might he want that can't wait until tomorrow?
• "Welcome to the real world, dear," Omar laughed.
• "Meet your boss Mary," my mother got up by following the oven, “if he's calling, it's because it's important.”
• Looks like this is going to be my life from now on.