Chapter 89: Newbie (1)

In the morning Sarah woke up feeling kisses all over her face.

"You should set up an alarm for yourself" Aiden spoke between kisses.

Sarah frowned. "Why?" She opened her eyes and smiled. "This is so much better."

"Yes, yes... but you need to worry about my battery life." Aiden vaguely said.

"What?"

Aiden got on top of her and whispered in her ear. "You need to refill my batteries to ensure I work properly." He used his knee to spread out her legs.

Sarah rolled her eyes and giggled thinking how he likes to come up with strange codewords. 'What battery refill? He just wants to… Oh, maybe codewords are not a bad idea.' She remembered that it's Monday. It's her first day at work! "What is the time?"

Aiden's lips were dangerously close to her collarbone when he mumbled. "Almost eight."

Sarah panicked, and pushed him away. "I need to get ready, my NEO* starts at nine!"

Aiden was in disbelief. "What about my batteries?!"

"Wake me up earlier next time" She teased him as she disappeared into the bathroom.

...

Sarah looked sharp in a brown pencil skirt that ended just above her knees, silk white short sleeved shirt and high heel sandals. She pulled her hair in a high ponytail and put a light makeup on. The skirt hugged her curves and tucked in shirt showed her narrow waist. Two undone buttons on top showed a peek of cleavage made by her full chest.

When Aiden saw her, he went to change his t-shirt for a white shirt, and he undid top two buttons for himself.

He looked very handsome, but Sarah did not approve that two top buttons undone revealed part of his chest. She went to fasten his buttons, but he stopped her. With a straight face he observed her shirt. "We need to match. If you have two undone, so will I."

She looked at disbelief how childish he is. But there was no time to argue. And it was not worth it.

They compromised to keep only top button undone each.

They walked to the office. Sarah was excited to walk on the streets next to him, blending in with all the people who are going to work or grabbing breakfast. As they approached White corp. HQ building, Sarah let go of Aiden's hand.

Aiden gave her a look of disapproval.

Sarah hesitated while choosing her words. "I will appreciate if we don't disclose our relationship at work, at least not for now."

Aiden looked at her without a word, but the disapproval was still obvious.

Sarah decided to explain. "I don't want people to think that I got the job because we are dating."

Aiden's expression relaxed and he confirmed compliance. "Whatever you wish." But he didn't like it. First, she was hiding their relationship from her family, now from coworkers. Aiden felt that if they could reverse roles, he would put Sarah on a tall pedestal and proudly announce to everyone that she is his girlfriend, yet she is hiding him. He knows that she has her reasons, but part of him feels hurt.

...

When they reached, she went to the NEO which was scheduled to go from nine to noon. Aiden said he will pick her up after that so they can go to lunch. After lunch he will take her up to the office and show her around.

NEO was in a large conference room. Sarah counted about fifty people who attended. Few speakers took turns, explaining benefits, their options for health insurance, retirement funds, company policies, etc. They had a break after about one hour. One young lady approached Sarah.

"It feels good to join a big company, yes?" She had a heavy French accent. "I see you are new, just like me. Let's be friends. I'm Bridgette." Bridgette extended her hand for a handshake.

Sarah shook her hand. "Hi, I'm Sarah. Nice to meet you."

"Sarah, what do you think of this company?" Bridgette seemed like she is looking forward to collecting some insider's information.

"I don't think anything yet. I just got here."

Bridgette looked disappointed with Sarah's response. "Didn't you have an interview?"

"Yes, I did."

"My interview was three days long. I met over ten people. It was very tiring."

"But you got the job. That means you did well." Sarah threw in a praise hoping that this chatty lady will not start asking about her interview.

"Yes, you can look at it that way." Bridgette giggled. "What department are you in?"

Sarah thought about it for some time. "I'm not sure."

"How can you be not sure? I know that I'm in department for content management, localization team."

"I'm really bad with names." Sarah awkwardly smiled. 'I will need to ask how to respond to these kinds of questions.

"Do you know who your manager is?" Bridgette continued.

Sarah was not sure if she should say that person above her is CEO, so again she was vague. "I'm not sure about that either. I heard there was some reorganization just at the time of my interview, and I don't know who my manager is."

Bridgette didn't suspect that Sarah is dodging her question. "Oh, you will see after this. I heard that managers will come to pick up new employees and show them around."

"I think my team lead will pick me up."

Bridgette nodded in understanding.

Sarah breathed sigh of relief when they announced that break is over and to come back. She can tell that Bridgette is only friendly, but Sarah does not know how to answer her rain of questions.

After the break, Bridgette moved to sit next to Sarah, and she talked a lot, making speakers look at them sternly once in a while.

Close to noon, all of them got their employee badges, and meeting was over. As they exited, Bridgette was talking. Sarah found that Bridgette is quite chatty person. "I hear that CEO is young, very handsome and single. Did you see him?"

"I'm not sure." Sarah vaguely answered. She saw Aiden walking towards her.

Bridgette saw where Sarah is looking. "Oh, do you know who that is?" Bridgette gestured toward Aiden. "Very handsome! This company is like a treasure pit!" Bridgette exclaimed.

"That is my... team lead." Sarah awkwardly responded.

"You are very lucky. I should transfer to your department!" Bridgette grinned.

Aiden was now in the earshot and looked at Sarah, amused. She lightly shook her head, exasperated.

"How was it?" Aiden asked Sarah.

"It was OK." Sarah responded and looked at Bridgette whose eyes were glued to Aiden. She was almost drooling. Sarah frowned. "Isn't your manager here?"

Bridgette looked around suddenly, as if she was startled out of a daze. "Yes, there she is... well I have to go. Sarah, we must meet for lunch sometimes soon!" She started walking toward her manager, and then turned around. "And don't forget to bring him along!"

Sarah felt a headache coming. 'I almost forgot how women react to him.'