6

His guest sat there staring at me. I had never seen the blonde, bearded man before and why they were discussing ridding me of my job baffled me. 

My eyes moved to Chad's. A deep frown was etched on his face and I widened my eyes. I knew better than anybody to interrupt a meeting he was having.

I tried to formulate an excuse in my head but my mouth would not cooperate with my mind and instead I went down on my knees, "No. Please don't do this to me. I have begged to keep my job so many times but this time, I won't consider the consequences." 

Chad's visitor turned to look at Chad in confusion and Chad only buried his face in his palm and shook his head pitifully. "Not only did you barge in and interrupt my discussion, you were also eavesdropping?" He stated, maintaining the position.

He turned to look in my direction. "Everytime I think you can't do anything worse, you prove me wrong and go even lower." He said the words without taking his eyes off of me for a second.

"Get up." He ordered. "Why are you here?" He asked.

I opened my mouth to answer him but he stopped me with a raise of his index finger. "Get out, now." 

I didn't argue it out with him. I knew I had lost this round and to think I had started to see us starting something that was not even there. With Chad backing me up the previous day, I had hoped he would turn a soft hand on me and maybe he had but I had just ruined it.

Yesterday's slap from Rebecca followed me in my head  as I made my way to my desk. A frown appeared on my face against my will and as I sat there, I wondered out loud. "What exactly is with Chad's job?" 

I thought hard about it. It wasn't exactly as if he was the only one with a company. Even if it took forever, if I tried so hard, I would eventually find myself a new job.

"Fuck it, I'm not going to be that door mat, Chad you hear me?" I whispered in anger. "Fire me for all I care. I have done my fucking best." I hissed at myself. Maybe it was about time I gave him a piece of my mind. He did deserve to hear me vomit all I had to tell him, at least before I left. 

Neither him nor his girlfriend had bothered to apologize about Rebecca's actions. Not her walking into me nor her hitting me. She wasn't my boss and had no rights to hit me when I had done no wrong. Not even my boss had that right. Fuck her.

"Nikki what the fuck are you doing?" I stood to my feet aggressively. It didn't cross my mind until now that I could do whatever I wanted to Rebecca and officially get away with it. A wicked smile formed on my face. Heavens be on her side, we didn't manage to cross paths anytime soon.

I took my seat and waited patiently for Chad to call for me. If he had made his mind up then there was no problem. I was still thinking about my plans when I heard a call for me. It was Chad.

I took a few deep breaths in then out and buckled up. It was time to go face the inevitable.

I stood to my feet and gently took my steps to his office. On my arrival, I knocked on the door as soft as I could and turned the knob and then walked in.

I smiled sheepishly at him and locked the door gently behind me. His elbows were rested on his desk and his fingertips touching. "Have your seat." He directed me with a gesture of his hand.

In obedience, I took his supposed offer.

"So," he began. "This was supposed to come from me but as wrongly done, you eavesdropped. But, that doesn't stop me from informing you still.

"I know you think I've done wrong." I cut him off, this was finally my chance to do the right thing. He was not going to let me go without knowing who the real me was. I was not letting that happen.

"But really Mr Bush, what good is firing me going to do to you? I mean, come to think of it, as clumsy as I have been, as offensive as I have been, I have been just as efficient with my work. You are letting go of me today and you might find a secretary better but you'll never find one as good as I am, I can promise you because I'm the only one there is like myself and that, Mr Bush, is something worth cherishing." I finished my words without pause and breathing heavily, I stopped to rest.

I looked at his face to study his expression but instead of a blank look, he had a wide eyed stare at me and he look astonished. All my months of working with Chad, I had never for once talked in such manner. I was only ever his puppet. He lacked appreciation of that and it sucked so bad.

"Well, I..." He began, "maybe you should save all those emotions for when I actually decide to fire you?" He raised one eyebrow at me.

"What?" I blinked.

"I am getting a new secretary because," he paused to pull open his drawer and brought out a white file and placed it in front of me. "Because I am promoting you."

"Pr- promoting me?" I stuttered, jaw dropped. 

He nodded. "Nikki, I'm promoting you to a higher post. Effective tomorrow,  you will be my official personal assistant. Details of what comes with the promotion are entailed in this file, go over them." He said.

"How long have you  been planning this? This is definitely not a one day decision." I could not properly make out the words as I was clearly taken aback. This was far from what I had expected especially after my dramatic display. 

I was stupid.

"That does not matter. I have always needed a personal assistant and since you have worked here long enough to know so much, I thought it was a wise decision than getting a totally new person to take up that position." He stated.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I thought..."

"Once again you have proven too forward." He casually put his statement. "You can take your leave now." He discarded. He was clearly disappointed by my actions and so was I.

With a sigh, I stood to my feet knowing very well an apology would be a great waste of time.

"Nikki?" Chad's voice stopped me in my tracks as soon as I turned to leave.

"Hmm?" I muttered, turning around on my heels.

"About yesterday, I'm sorry. Rebecca should not have hit you. It was wrong of her and I take responsibility for her actions." He sighed. No wonder he was being overly nice and not putting me in my place. 

I could not believe my ears, Chad fucking Bush was apologising to me, of all people. What could have come over him?

"Have you made any decisions about your forehead? It isn't so obvious today." He pointed out.

It is the power of make up, thank you.

"Yes I have sir, thanks for the concern, it is appreciated." I offered him a smile and waited for him to say more before I finally left.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot. I will send in the new secretary, he was highly recommend by the man you'd seen earlier and he would be coming to you soon so you can lead him in the right manner to do things." He informed me.

"Yes sir."

"Nikki?"

"Yes sir?"

"I said the right manner." He pointed out.

I nodded with a gulp. I didn't have an idea what the right manner was but I was not going to be telling that to him.

"You can go now, the new secretary should be here anytime soon." He said and I nodded in understanding. 

"Alright sir." I said and turned to leave, the white file secured in my grip.

I got into my office and turned left and right to see if anyone was watching. When I was certain the coast was clear, I jumped on my feet and did the wildest victory dance ever.

It took a while to calm but I finally decided it was time to go over my new promotion details. I only hoped it included a raise because money was a big problem in most areas of my life at the moment.

I slipped out a chocolate bar from my drawer and set the white file on the desk. The moment I turned to access it, my office phone rang. It was Chad again.

"Mr Bush?" I called worriedly into the phone. Didn't we see each other a few seconds ago?

"The new secretary is here, I will send him in." He informed me and I adjusted myself as well as I could.

"No problem sir." With that, I hung up and waited patiently for whoever it was to come in.

A slight knock came on my door and as politely as I could sound, I gently called,  "come in!"

The door knob turned and in walked Tom. "Hello baby, surprise, surprise."

"Tom? What are you doing here?"