After My Death, My Husband Who Threw Me Into the Hunting Grounds Went Insane novel Chapter 82

AUDREY

There was only one thing worse than waking up in the morning. It was waking up knowing that I would get to see the face of my boss again.

The sound of my alarm jolted me out of my dream. I stepped out of bed, turning off the alarm clock on the bedside table. Sighing, I tossed the blanket off my body and went to the bathroom for a quick, cold shower.

Afterward, I slipped into my office clothes, applied light makeup, and put on my favorite red checkered scarf. I debated whether I should wear heels or the brand-new leather boots Chelsea had given me in my first month.

But then, my phone beeped. I noticed new voicemails on the notification. It was from my coworkers, the other secretaries in the executive department. I picked up my phone and listened to them one by one.

Karen: Congratulations on your 3rd month, Audrey!

Anna: Congrats, Audrey! We should celebrate! How about we dance later?

Dave: Your employment evaluation will come out today! I'm hoping for positive feedback. Congrats!

Ella: Wow, congratulations, dear Audrey! No probationary employee has ever lasted that long with Mr. Stark!

The last message I received was from Jacey.

Congratulations to both of us! - J

I smiled at her text. 

I still couldn't believe the time had gone so fast, and it was already in my third month.

Honestly, I didn't know if I enjoyed working for Stark. Every day for the last twelve weeks had been painful for me. Since Dave Kline went to South America for a business trip, Stark pretty much had me doing everything. I knew it would eventually be my job anyway, but the man was a control freak with too many rules. 

I sat in on his meetings among the company's executives, taking note of every detail, accompanied in all of his outside businesses, but not riding in his car with him, read his corporate email, and replied to them, making his coffee thrice a day. He'd got mad if it was late. Lastly, he had me do errands not in my job description, like picking up his dry cleaning or sometimes running to the store to purchase a gift for his mistresses.

Unfortunately, he had me dreaming about him every night. In my imagination, he was on my bed, spreading my thighs wide, devouring my body, running his lips on my skin. Then he would pound into me until I couldn't feel my legs anymore. But there were also times that I wanted to slap him for being an asshole.

I came into the office early because I didn't want to see a lion-like the other day. I overslept, and then I came late to the office. I was a bit feverish, and my throat had been scratchy for days. It was a symptom of an oncoming cold. Thankfully, my body could still handle the daily tasks.

 As I was about to put down my things on my desk, Mr. Kline knocked on my door, "Audrey?"

"Yes, Mr. Kline?"

"I need you to check if the conference room is cleared for Mr. Stark's meeting at ten o'clock with Miss Prince," he said, "and also, I need you to contact Miss Jasmine Green and ask her about the new fabric samples. From Rome."

"Right away, Mr. Klein," I replied, then he turned away.

Mr. Stark wasn't in yet when I came into his office. It was seven forty-five, which gave me fifteen minutes before he arrived. I organized the files on his desk, changed his mug while brewing his morning coffee using his personal coffee brewer, and removed his dry cleaning from his private closet.

As I checked the coffee machine, my phone repeatedly buzzed in my pocket.

Several chats came in.

Employee 1: Mr. Beautiful is here!

Employee 2: He's wearing a Brioni suit today!

Employee 3: Ugh, he's yummy!

Employee 4: Mom told me he saw him last night at The Lounge with Maxine Perez

Employee 5: Another supermodel he banged? But guys, you know that woman is a living Barbie doll.

I rolled my eyes and slid the phone back into my pocket.

I immediately poured coffee into his cup and placed it on his desk. At the very moment he stepped into his office, his scent filled the whole room. He was talking on his phone. He walked straight to his desk, looking sexy as ever in his three-piece black suit and sleek Italian leather shoes. They shone so brightly against the office light. 

"Yes, I understand. Thank you." He ended the call, looking up and down at me.

"Good morning Mr. Stark."

"Is there a reason why you are still here?" he asked in a glacial tone, then he continued behind his desk.

I took a deep breath, then let those sharp words come and go. I usually didn't wait for him whenever I organized his desk in the morning. He'd always tell me to leave before he could arrive. He didn't want people walking around his office.

"Yes, I have emailed you all the updates you need and cleared the conference room for your meeting today, and also gave Mr. Kline the spreadsheet you will need in the meeting later."

"No need to recite that, Miss Hopkins. I can read the updates on the email. What exactly do you want to say?"

I cleared my throat. "I just remembered that I have an important appointment this morning, so I'm getting your permission if I could leave, and then I should be back after lunch."

He raised an eyebrow. "The last time you came out early, I ended up saving you."

"This is a different appointment."

"Did you at least call Miss Green?"

"Yes, sir."

"What about Wales? Tanya Claire's manager?"

"She's coming tomorrow at one o'clock," I informed.

"Interesting…"

I held my breath to prevent myself from sighing. I hated it when he couldn't fucking stop intimidating me with his scrutinizing gaze. And after all those months I had worked for him, I never even heard him thanking me for making me his slave.

"Well then, I'll see you after your important appointment. Close the door when you leave."

He sighed. "We called Stark Apparel's HR, and they say you are working directly under him and also a candidate for the executive assistant position."

I blinked. Me? A candidate? What? "I am working directly under Mr. Kline, his right-hand man."

He cleared his throat. "You know what I mean, Miss Hopkins."

"What if I wanted to work with someone else? What if I don't want to be his assistant? Your company has nothing to do with Mr. Stark."

"It does. Mr. Stark invested in this company two years ago and is also one of the reasons why this company is still running, Miss Hopkins. He started selling his premium apparel in my shopping malls, giving me twenty percent of the sales in addition to his investment. I don't want to pay him back by pirating his prospective executive assistant."

I finally let out a sharp breath, unable to speak.

"Besides, when he called me, he made it clear that if hired you or even give you consideration, he would rather sue me."

I felt the blood in my cheeks drain. "You told him that I was here?"

"No, not at all. He called me just a few minutes before you arrived."

My shoulder dropped to the floor.

"It's really a pleasure meeting you, Miss Hopkins. The executive assistant with Mr. Stark will make you a successful individual in the corporate world. I highly suggest that you grab the opportunity."

I forced a smile, shook his hand once more, and left the room nicely. 

I was pissed and confused at the same time. I couldn't believe he blocked me from getting a new job! How did he even know I was coming here? 

Stepping out of the Gilmore building and into the scorching sun of Manhattan, I went into my Uber app and booked my apartment's address because I was still one of the people in New York that didn't have a car. But when I was about to type my address, a familiar silver Aston Martin stopped in front of me.

The driver seat's door slowly opened, and then a pair of Italian leather shoes stepped onto the pavement. Gabriel Stark turned around the passenger seat and held the door open. He took off the shades and then put them inside his suit jacket.

"Not getting on?"

I blinked, shocked. I didn't answer, so I shoved the phone back into my bag and slid into the car. Stark sat back to his respective seat and pulled the door.

"How's your important appointment?" he asked, smirking.

"So you are picking up employees on the streets now after their job interviews?" 

However, it was my first time sitting in his private car. Stark didn't usually drive around the city without Mr. Jones, his driver, so I wondered what's gotten into him now. I was guessing he probably had somewhere to go that wasn't in his schedule. Perhaps, the supermodel everyone was talking about.

He flashed out a sexy smirk, then he opened the glove compartment and picked out a small yellow box with a pink ribbon around it. "I find it amusing that you would do that to me."

I realized I can't put up with your demands anymore, I thought. But I didn't say it. I didn't want to jeopardize my existing job.

"I even wanted to congratulate you myself for passing the evaluation period." Stark carefully tossed the box on my lap. "Congratulations, Miss Hopkins. You are now officially my executive assistant."