Well, it's a Real Short Story.

Chapter Three

"Katherine!"

She closed her eyes as she rolled them in annoyance, taking a breath and exhaling deeply. She could not stand the man; if he called her one more time, she would have to suffocate him for the sake of her sanity. Was she not allowed a moment to breathe from his incessant orders?

"Katherine!"

She was going to wrap her hands around his neck and choke him. Her boss opened his mouth to bellow her name through the halls of his house once again, only this time he only made it as far as the KA before an irritated Katherine cut him off. "I am coming, you irritating insufferable impatient man," she shouted as she made her way towards his office.

What Katherine did not know was that her boss heard her. Not only did he capture her indignant remarks, but some of his staff also caught them. Upon entering his office, she noted the agitated look plastered on his face. She bit her bottom lip nervously and waited for him to speak.

"How many times did I call you, Katherine?" He did not even allow her to answer, "I should not have to shout for you. It took two minutes for you to come in here from your office; I expect better from you." The girl was still biting down on her bottom lip, completely unbothered. She learned not to take any of the things he said personally early on. He was always grumpy, for one reason or another, "I call, you come; are we clear?"

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, "Crystal," the sarcasm in her voice was not lost to Ethan, he narrowed his eyes in warning, "It won't happen again."

"I would appreciate it if you kept the sass to a minimum today," he said sharply; she pouted slightly in response; She knew her contempt did nothing to amuse him. He motioned for her to sit down at his desk, and she complied, "I have seen your ability to coordinate events; I am impressed. I want you to plan my niece's birthday party. it is three months away." Every time she organized his meetings, they were enjoyable. She included everyone and heard their ideas at every meeting he held, and she always made sure to feed them.

He suspected his employees favored her over him.

She always wanted to hear their opinions and what they thought would help them with their jobs. She did all she could to meet the staff's needs. It was her opinion that happy workers are efficient workers. Ethan saw that whatever she was doing worked.

But Ethan recently noticed that she was eating meals with the staff, he disapproved.

"Katherine, you are my right hand; as such, you cannot establish friendships with my staff. You are an extension of who I am," as he spoke, he could see the confusion in her eyes. "Katherine, you may not continue to eat meals with the staff."

"I may not?" She thought that he was kidding. He could not forbid her from eating with the people she worked with, "they are my coworkers." She rolled her eyes, "Ethan, you cannot tell me what to do in my free time- that's just ridiculous- quite frankly, you're doing too much."

"Katherine, it's not a request."

"Chiuuuuup," she sat across from him and sucked her teeth in annoyance. "it's 2025, and you've made time to tell me who I can and cannot eat with? Now I'm sure you have better things you could be doing, 'cause, I certainly do."

"Katherine, don't play with me."

It was times like this he remembered she was still a teenager. She was big on talking back to him more than anyone she interacted with because she felt that he was always domineering. She knew he was her boss, but that did not mean he had the right to order her around all the time.

Ethan worked hard not to show his indignation. She really sat in his face and sucked her porcelain teeth at him. He was her boss- her boss! Did she have a case of amnesia that caused her to overlook that fact? That is what he had to convince himself of as he reprimanded her.

"Kathrine, do this," his voice filled her head. She lost focus as he spoke, "Katherine, do that..." it was always the same with Ethan, "Don't do this and don't do that." It all sounded the same after a while, so she learned to tune him out.

...

She was so disobedient, not even an hour ago had he forbidden her from eating with his servants and now there she was sitting in their kitchen enjoying her meal. Ethan did not have a problem with her making conversation with his workers; however, they need to see her as their boss and not their friend. It was apparent to him that some of them took offense at her being much younger than them, and above them. They would have no respect for her if they saw her making friends among them. Much to his agitation Ethan had to go and drag her from the south wing.

Katherine sat with one of his house cleaners at the kitchen island laughing at something when he walked through the entryway. The chatter stopped as soon as he entered the room and all of them except for Katherine stood up, "Mr. Woods." They all greeted him and waited for him to speak. Though this was his house he rarely visited the South wing, he wanted to respect their privacy. Had they done something wrong, were they laughing too loud?

"Good afternoon, I take it you all are well?" They let out a quick yes sir in response to his question. "Come, Katherine." She could not believe the nerve of this man he had come all the way over here to embarrass her she pouted her discontent clear on her face. He gave her a warning look and she got down from her seat and went to him. They both left the room and as they walked far from the others he said, "let this be your last warning." Had she heard him growl?

Was it her imagination?

When Ethan was certain no one could see them, he picked up his pace causing his assistant to struggle to keep stride.

She secretly wished she could trip him.

That would certainly bring him back to earth. 

Revised.