Chapter Three

GYPSY'S POV

Mr. Forestry levels me a cool look that's enough to freeze hell. “I think you mean, Mr. Russo. Now if you're done checking me out, let's get down to business.”

What? Okay, does he not remember me or what? I was expecting him to go boom and be like 'get the fuck out of my office you bitch!’

He doesn't remember me. I do an internal jump and force myself not to scream with excitement.

“Are you ready to work for me, Miss Mathews?” Mr. Forestry asks, giving me an assessing look.

“Very much, Sir.”

“What makes you think you deserve this job?”

The question takes me off guard. I thought I was hired. Aren't we past this stage?

“Mr. Russo, I really need this job. It's...”

“I don't remember us putting up 'dummies for hire', Miss Mathews. I asked you why you think you deserve this job. I didn't ask you to beg for it like a desperate bitch.”

I flinch at the bite in his tone. Jeez, what's his problem? Is he only pretending not to remember me? Or is he always such an asshole.

Of course. No wonder he's had eight secretaries in two years.

“I... I'm... I'm very hardworking.” I stutter. He scoffs. I draw in a deep breath and continue. “I'm very passionate about work. And when I have a job, I make sure to put my all into executing my best. I really do need this job.”

Seriously, Gypsy? You just had to sound more desperate when you know he hates desperate.

My stomach knots as I wait for him to say something. He only stares at me, his handsome face unreadable. But his green eyes are intense, too intense, and penetrating.

Flinching, I look away, fearing he's going to unearth my dark secrets with that searing look. I start to feel queasy, and I rub my palms down my skirt to clear away the moisture.

A loud bang snaps me out of my daze. I look back at Mr. Forestry to find him glaring at me.

“Should I add hearing impairment to your list of disabilities?”

“Ah?”

“I said go and get me a fucking coffee like you'll be doing every morning.” He snaps.

I'm in! I'm in!

I chant inside my head as I shoot to my feet. “Right. Right away, Mr. Russo.”

I hear a hiss behind me as I scurry out of the office. I'm so excited that he didn't fire me that I nearly bump into Lena outside.

She shows me where the coffee machine is. I go to fetch some for Mr. Forestry.

It takes me a while to make the coffee because I don't know which flavour he likes best. Eventually I settle on making black coffee.

It definitely suits his black soul.

After, pouring some, I get to Mr. Forestry's door. I knock gently, then dragging in a deep breath, I turn the doorknob and enter.

“Is this how much you're going to waste my time every time I ask you to get me coffee?"

He's busy typing on his laptop and doesn't spare me a look as he speaks. I sigh and proceed to place the plate in front of him.

“I'm sorry, Mr. For... I mean Sir. I had to brew it myself since no one had done that.”

He only grimaces at my excuse before grabbing the handle of the cup. Without even looking at the cup or blowing on it's content, he brings it to his mouth to take a sip.

“Motherfucker.” He curses, setting the cup back down. His hard eyes find mine. “Miss Mathews, what the heck is this?”

My heart quickens. “Uh, coffee?”

“No sugar? No milk? How do you expect me to drink this shit?" He demands.

Oh. So he loves flavours that don't match his soul?

“Sorry, Mr. For... Russo. I didn't know which flavour you pref...”

“Of course you wouldn't. You're too dumb to have remembered to even ask me about my choice.” He barks. “Now go and get me some real coffee.”

Rage rams through me at the needless insults but I bite my tongue as I pick up the plate and the cup. Wouldn't be very ideal to give my boss a piece of my mind.

But why the heck does he have to be such a prick? Does he remember that I'm the girl who slapped him? Is this his way of revenge?

Why the heck would he hire me in the first place if he does remember me?

As I walk out of his office, I know this is gonna be a long day.

******

After getting 'real' coffee for my arrogant prick of a boss, I go to Lena so she can keep me up to date about the company's day to day activities and my functions as Mr. Forestry's secretary.

She takes me on a tour around, especially to the floors I'll often be running errands to and from. The workers give me curious glances and a few say hi.

Finally, we return to my desk which is stationed just outside Mr. Forestry's office.

“Are you ready to work, Gypsy?”

“Came ready.” I answer confidently.

Lena briefs me on how to reply to the various kinds of emails.

Just when she's about to walk off, she turns to me. “Oh Gypsy." She says and I look at her. “You better brace yourself. Without a secretary around, it's not been easy for me to keep track of my job and a secretary's.”

Her statement makes me swallow as she walks into her office just opposite mine. That's when I look back at the desktop, and my eyes widen.

189 emails?

*******

I yawn.

Oh Lord, my neck and back ache like a bitch. It took me more than three hours to reply to all the emails, a good two hours past my lunch time.

And I didn't even eat anything in the morning. I gotta go grab something to eat before I pass out. My body has never handled hunger well.

Getting up, my eyes fall on Mr. Forestry's door. Strangely, he didn't even go out during lunch time which means he skipped. Isn't he hungry?

Not that I care.

I make my way into the elevator and punch in the ground floor. The lift stops, somewhere around the 30th floor, parting open.

“Hi.”

I glance at the person who entered to find a tall, good looking guy entering. The glasses sitting on his nose gives him a boyish look. I remember him from the brief tour Lena took me on.

“Hi.” I reply.

“So you're the boss's new secretary." He states, obviously not needing an answer. “Hope he hasn't made you decide to leave already?”

“I'm definitely tougher than that.” I say.

“You definitely look like it.” He says with a smile. A comfortable silence settles as we continue to walk. “Hey, going somewhere?”

“Yep. Going to get some lunch.”

“Great. Can I go with you?”

*****

Joel, the elevator guy, is an extremely funny man. Throughout our lunch, he made me laugh a lot.

“...I worked at McDonald's then. Fuck, what else could I do? It was Ariana fucking Grande, man. I acted like a complete idiot. I mean, that's the girl I've been crushing on since I was like eight.”

He smiles ruefully. “Total lie. She was probably still sucking on her mother's titties.”

I bark out a laughter and slap my palm on my mouth when I realize people are looking.

“Seriously, Joel. Stop. You're making me seem like a lunatic and my belly hurts.” I say amid my dying laughter.

A proud smile fits on his lips as we walk on. “I really hope we can do this again, Gypsy.”

Just as I'm about to reply, a voice booms from across the room.

“Having fun, I see.”

The fibers in my body go on vacation in Iceland. I'd recognize that voice even in my sleep. Slowly, I turn to find my boss stepping out of the elevator. He looks calm but the look in his eyes is hard.

The loudness in the room has died. It's as if Mr. Forestry commands it with his very presence.

Okay, now I'm definitely getting fired.

“Sir...” I trail off.

“For someone who vowed her competence, you sure are making quite an impression on your first day. Having fun during work hours.” His voice is emotionless as he speaks.

He looks at Joel. “And you, you better get out of my sight.”

“Right away, Sir.” Joel throws me an apologetic look and moves pass Enzo.

“Mr. Russo, I wanted to finish sorting out the emails before going for my break. That's why...”

“What did I tell you about excuses, Miss Mathews?” He cuts me off and I bite my tongue. “Just get back to your desk if you want to stick around long enough to actually earn a salary.”

He begins to storm away when he suddenly stops and looks back at me. “And Miss Mathews, would you pull down your skirt? What do you think this place is? A whore house?”

The insult stings, bites and slaps me all at once. My mouth drops open, unable to believe that he'd actually said that.

He just called me a whore. In front of everyone.

I watch him walk away, gritting my teeth as tears burn my eyes.