Personal Assistant

“Put your best foot forward and be sure to make this company a great working environment. I’m still in the process of laying off employees so I implore you to act in a certain manner. I know management around here had some loose ends but I can assure you that I’m perfectly fine with cutting loose ends. Return to work. You all are dismissed.” Michael’s words cut like a knife as his voice was cold and sharp.

“Damn, your ex is intense,” Yasmeen muttered and I nodded.

“He was always serious about his work. He takes it to heart and he’s very hardworking even though he had everything handed to him.”

“Miss Sterling, have you already responded to the foreign investors? How is my schedule looking for the day?” His voice snapped me out of my conversation.

“Sir, I didn’t have time to look at it,” I confessed.

“Your position is not permanent so I suggest you get on board quickly. Your desk has been relocated to my office. Get to work.” He snapped and I flinched. Why was he talking to me like that? Some part of me was hurt by it.

I immediately set out to work. Going through documents and handling phone calls.

“Miss Sterling, I need a coffee and for you to pick up my suit at the cleaners,” Michael called from his desk.

“Excuse me? You’ve gotta be joking.”

“I can’t remember telling a joke. I’m pretty sure that was an order.”

I refrained from getting upset but he was pushing my buttons.

With a deep sigh, I turned to face him, “And I’m pretty sure that what you’re saying doesn’t fall within my pay grade. I’m not your slave or your dog. I won’t be getting you coffee and I’m not picking up your suit.”

“I didn’t say you were my slave or my dog. Neither am I treating you like one. I wanted you to be my personal assistant that means you have to assist me.”

“I’m assisting you within this jurisdiction. I’m not running errands or grabbing you a snack. Your hands and feet aren’t broken. I didn’t study so many years to run around the city picking up clothes. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a client on the line.”

The nerve of that man! Michael didn’t say another word after that. He just continued typing away on the computer.

A few hours later, I decided to go for lunch. I grabbed my purse to head down to a restaurant nearby. It was almost 2 o’clock. I had to skip my lunch at 12 to get through the calls and papers.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” I asked.

“No.”

“Okay, I’ll be back in a bit,” I said as I left the room.

I met up with Yasmeen and Clarissa. She would hang with us sometimes. Specifically when her boyfriend wasn’t around. It’s like she wasn’t her own person without him. I guess that’s love.

“So how’s the new boss? What is he like?” Yasmeen asked.

“A pain. Get this, he wanted me to fetch him coffee and collect his suit today.” I sighed.

“What? That’s crazy. That’s not even your job,” Yasmeen rolled her eyes.

“Exactly that’s kind of ridiculous. Did you do it though?” Clarissa asked.

“Nope! Of course I didn’t do it. That’s not my job and Michael literally has people that are waiting on his calls to carry out his orders.”

“You made the right choice. Was he furious?” Yasmeen asked.

“No not really. He just listened to what I had to say and left me alone.”

“Some men are so weird but Josh would never.” Clarissa smiled. Yup! There it was. I get that she’s in love but does she really have to bring up Josh at every given moment. It’s really annoying.

Or maybe I was jealous? Jealous that her relationship was so perfect and smooth and that she has a man that loves her unconditionally. Something that I could never have.

After we had lunch, I was about to leave when I thought about Michael. He hadn’t eaten all day. I knew he was starving and he was also stubborn so I knew he wasn’t going to just leave or even order food.

So I did what I had to do. I bought food for him.

“Are you trying to get on his good side?” Yasmeen chuckled.

“I’m not. He’s just really stubborn sometimes and I know he won’t eat so I’m doing him a favor.”

“That’s really sweet of you considering how much of a dick he can be.”

When I returned to the office, Michael was in the same position typing on the computer. He looked laser focused.

I placed the food on his table. “I know you didn’t go for lunch so I brought you something to eat.”

Michael didn’t respond nor did he look at me. He just continued typing.

“You can eat it Michael. You haven’t eaten all day.”

“Miss Sterling please do what your job requires you to do. Remove your food from my desk and continue with your work for the evening. That is all.”