Chapter 5 Not Very Rosy In Paradise

"How did it go?" Elisha asked Manny later that afternoon on her way out to lunch.

"Fine," Manny managed a tight smile and said.

He was not just new here, but he was also here on a mission, and he could not afford to say or do things that would jeopardize his chances, like speaking ill of the heiress. Mia might have sent Elisha to test his attitude in her absence, or what he thinks about her.

It was petty, but he could not put it past Mia Rudge, or Mia Kennedy, as she now went by.

"Just fine?" Elisha asked. "Well, you are one strong man, Manny, because we can all see how you have been up and doing since morning," Elisha said.

"I am just doing my job," Manny said and left it at that.

Elisha was clearly pushing for gossip, and Manny would not fall for it. His response took Elisha by surprise and she looked at Manny with amusement.

"A loyal assistant; I see," Elisha said. "We will see how far you last with the ruthless heiress then," Elisha added.

"The what?" Manny was not sure he heard Elisha correctly.

"Oh, it is not news that everyone refers to the boss as the ruthless heiress. The only person who doesn't know this is the bearer herself," Elisha said.

"Oh, I see," Manny said.

Deep down, he knew that Mia deserved such horrifying title, because only today, he had seen how scary she was. Initially, Manny had thought that Mia was being rude and cruel to him, because of their past, but it dawned on him hours later that she was almost like that to her employees, only that his was very intense. This heiress was a sharp contrast to the poor, naïve, and innocent girl Manny had met and tortured in school.

"Damn, she could not even look at me in the eyes," Manny said to himself, "And now here she was controlling thousands of employees and paving way in the world," Manny added jealousy. "Well, I will soon reclaim all this and send her back to the trenches where she belongs," he vowed internally.

Elisha drew closer to Manny conspiratorially and said, "Everyone is not just scared of Miss Mia Kennedy, but they are frightened to their bones. We all cannot wait for Harlem to marry her and steal most of her time, so that she would not have enough time in her hands for the company," Elisha finished. Then she winked and said, "You can't snitch, Manny, or it would be you and the heiress against the entire building, and trust me, she will not save you."

Manny scoffed internally; if only Elisha and everyone else in this company knew the history between him and Mia, the enmity, and his mission here, she would not even think that he would snitch. Nevertheless, he was not interested in befriending Elisha in this manner yet, because all these could just be a tactic for Mia to find out if he was loyal or a loose mouth.

"Gotten," Manny simply said.

"It's lunch time; why don't we head out together? The company restaurant is just on the first floor," Elisha invited.

Mia's warning sounded loudly in Manny's head, and even though his stomach was rumbling, he knew that he could not risk it.

"No, thanks, I will pass," Manny turned it down politely.

"But why not?" Elisha asked, surprised. "The heiress is enjoying the afternoon with her best friend, Eloise. I am sure she will be too carried away to even need you," Elisha said.

Eloise, Mia's best friend had whom Manny was meeting for the first time, breezed into the company in expensive clothes and accessories, and ever since she entered Mia's office, Mia hadn't called for him. All Manny had heard occasionally were loud giggles which he was sure were from Eloise.

Mia Kennedy was too evil and cruel to giggle that way.

"Still, I will pass," Manny said politely again, but also firmly.

"Alright then," Elisha said, giving up. "See you later, handsome Manny," Elisha added and sashayed away.

Manny could not believe that she just flirted with him. Even though Elisha was beautiful and attractive, he was not in interested in Elisha at all. Anyway, after Elisha left, Manny began to feel pressed. He hadn't visited the restroom since he resumed work this morning, and right now, he felt as though his bladder was going burst.

Manny turned and saw Harlem waltzing towards him like a mini-god in an expensive set of leather suits. He reeked of money and class, and for a second, Manny wished he was Harlem, and not a struggling Manny trying to claim his family's wealth back.

"I am here to see the love of my life. I believe you are her new PA?" Harlem asked, his voice sounding husky.

Manny could see why Mia was in love with him, aside from his money and social standing, of course.

"She is in her office," Manny said.

One of the first rules he was given was to never stop Harlem from going to Mia's office, no matter what Mia was doing.

Manny struggled to keep his urine in minutes after Harlem went in to meet Mia and Eloise, and he decided that if he didn't go and ease himself, he would pee on his pant, which would even be worse. Manny decided to take the risk and rush off to the bathroom. He knew he should be going to the staff restroom downstairs, but he was too pressed to do that now, so he decided to use one of the executive restrooms on Mia's floor.

Manny froze when he heard moaning sounds.

"Who are those making out in the restroom?" Manny asked himself.

He knew he shouldn't be concerned, but the curiosity in him would not let him look away, so Manny hid at a corner and waited. He could not even believe that he could hold his urine this much longer.

"You are the sweetest woman on earth," a familiar voice said as they prepared to sneak out.

"I know," a feminine voice responded.

Manny's voice hung in his throat when they came out sneakily and he saw no other persons but Harlem and Eloise; the two closest people in Mia Kennedy's life.