Page 474 of Savage Bosses

Ten minutes later, she was pulled into a meeting with Stephen and Caleb. She listened intently and only interjected when she had an idea that would be beneficial. Two hours later, she was back in her office. Deja stood at the threshold of her new office, taking a deep breath before turning to face the bustling workplace.

She tried to focus on learning more about the company she now worked for, pushing thoughts of Stephen's cryptic hostility to the back of her mind. The Farrow Corporation was known for its innovative marketing strategies and cutthroat business practices, both of which Deja admired from an academic standpoint.

“Hey, I'm Jeff,” a friendly voice interrupted her thoughts. A tall man with glasses and a neatly trimmed beard approached her. “I work in the analytics department. You must be Deja, right?”

“Hi, Jeff,” Deja replied, shaking his outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“I will be working with you on the Foeman project. Stephen assigned me and Angie Sawyer, who you will meet later, to work with you and him on the project. Let me show you around,” he offered.

“Thanks, but I’ve gotten a few tours already.”

“You got the boring official tour. I’m going to give a tour of who to look out for and who not to trust.” He said with a smile.

Jeff led her through the open-concept workspace filled with sleek black desks and ergonomic chairs. Despite the modern aesthetics, Deja couldn't help but notice the underlying tension among her colleagues – whispered conversations halted abruptly as they passed by, and furtive glances followed them like shadows.

Jeff explained the company's mission statement, emphasizing their commitment to excellence and innovation in marketing. He showed her the organizational chart, pointing out the different departments and their respective managers. He also took the time to explain everyone running the different departments and who to watch out for, who the gossips were and who to stay away from. “Just a warning. Watch your back with Angie. She’s been trying to get next to Stephen for over a year now and she feels threatened when new female executives come on board.” He smiled as he nudged her shoulder. “Especially someone as beautiful as you,” He smiled. “Heck, I would try to date you if I wasn’t into men.” He leaned. “I’mstrictly dickly.”

Deja smiled at him. “Oh, I like you. I can see we are going to be friends.” They both laughed as they continue to walk. Deja listened intently, nodding, and only asking a few questions.

As they rounded a corner, Deja caught sight of Stephen across the room, speaking with a group of employees. His piercing blue eyes flicked to her momentarily, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips. She felt a chill run throughout her body but forced herself to maintain eye contact until he turned away.

“Stephen's... interesting,” Jeff said quietly, leaning in closer as if divulging a secret. “He's the best boss anyone can ask for, but I can tell he’s got a lot of baggage, you know? Most extremely nice people do.” His tone got really low. “He’s nice, but he isn’t someone you want to cross or get on his bad side,” Jeff warned.

“Really?” Deja asked, feigning surprise. She knew she had to tread carefully in this new environment, especially with a boss like Stephen.

“Yup,” Jeff continued. “But anyway, I'll leave you to get settled in. If you have any questions or need anything, just let me know.”

“Thank you, Jeff,” Deja replied, her voice genuine. She watched him walk away, his lanky frame weaving through the rows of desks until he disappeared down a hallway.

Deja couldn't shake the feeling that Stephen's nasty attitude was only directed towards her. She recalled the intensity of his gaze and the darkness behind it—a storm brewing beneath a deceptively calm surface. He was a man driven by something much deeper than mere business acumen, and she couldn't help but wonder what kind of havoc his unresolved past might wreak on her own future.

Still, she refused to be intimidated. Deja was determined to succeed in this new position, regardless of the obstacles Stephen might place before her. Armed with knowledge about the company and her colleagues, she felt better prepared to face the challenges ahead.

Little did she know that the most daunting challenge of all lay buried within the shadows of Stephen Farrow's heart, waiting to be unleashed.

The following week was a whirlwind of activity. Deja found herself navigating the treacherous waters of office politics, carefully observing her colleagues, and trying to discern which alliances would be beneficial to her success.

As she passed by the coffee station one morning, she overheard two coworkers discussing the recent promotion of a woman in their department. The bitterness in their voices was palpable as they whispered about how this woman had cozy up to Stephen.

Angie Sawyer was the woman they were talking about. Deja filed this information away, knowing that forging connections could make or break her career in this cutthroat environment.

“Hey, Deja,” called out a voice from behind her. She turned to see Jeff approaching with a stack of documents. “I've got some reports that need to be analyzed for our marketing strategies. I know it's not the most glamorous task, but would you mind taking a look?”

“Of course,” Deja replied, eager to prove her worth. “I'll have them back to you as soon as possible.”

“Thanks,” Jeff said gratefully, handing her the papers before disappearing back into the maze of cubicles.

Deja over an hour poring over the documents, meticulously analyzing the data and noting suggestions for improvement. Her heart raced as she thought of presenting her findings to Stephen, knowing that his approval could solidify her position within the company. But at the same time, she couldn't shake off the lingering uneasiness that surrounded her.

Put your big girl panties on.

Deja stood, straightened her suit jacket and took a deep breath before walking to Stephen’s office. She knocked softly and waited for a response.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Farrow uh, Stephen?” Deja ventured, opening the door of his sleek, modern office. Stephen glanced up from his laptop, his blue eyes cold and impassive.

“Ms. Rose, what can I do for you?” he asked curtly, the tension between them almost tangible.

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