The Golden Rule 2: The One That Got Away

Forgotten Truth

" All heads of department, " Marco Sebastian confirmed not bothering to look up from the documents that he was signing.

" Uhhh, sir...umm..." came his three-week old secretary's incoherent response.

Clenching his jaw, Marco raised his head to glare at the meek twenty five year old brunette standing uncomfortably before him.

" Being able to speak clearly is essential in your job, Miss Palmer. " he said in an irritated voice. " So if this is something that you cannot do, you might want to consider vacating this post. "

The young lady quickly straightened her back and started jotting down on her notepad. This annoyed Marco even more because he had no idea what she could be taking note of.

He'd only asked her to do one thing since he called her into his office less than five minutes ago. And that was to reconfirm his meeting tomorrow with the Heads of Departments in the company's German office.

So what the fuck was she jotting notes about? Maybe the number of times that she stuttered in front of bim?

" Have you finished the presentation for tomorrow's meeting? " Marco asked eyeing his secretary quizzically.

She froze and gingerly lifted her eyes to meet his. " P-presentation s-ssir? "

Marco cursed loudly which made her jump in surprise.

Fucking unbelievable. How could he be given such an idiot for a secretary? What was HR thinking?

" I am leaving for Germany tomorrow, Miss Palmer. Are you seriously telling me that you haven't worked on the presentation for tomorrow's meeting?! " He bellowed in an incredulous voice.

" I-I...uhhh, I-I wasn't...I-I wasn't-" she stammered which just fueled Marco's irritation.

" Speak clearly for fuck's sake! " He snapped.

The young woman looked like she was going to cry.

" Are you just going to stand there?! " Marco demanded after a minute of silence from her end.

He saw her fidget with her hands as she looked at the table and spoke in a voice that he could hardly hear.

" I w-wasn't aware that there was a presentation, " she said quietly.

Marco stared at her for a moment, unable to believe how HR could give him someone incompetent to substitute for Mrs. Perkins while she recovered from her gallbladder surgery.

" Get out of my office, " he barked angrily.

The young woman's eyes widened when she heard what he said. She quickly shuffled to her feet and left the office as quickly as she could.

Shaking his head in frustration, Marco picked up the phone and dialed the HR Manager's extension.

" Mr. Sebastian, " Judith Felix answered as she picked up the call.

" I am going to be away for a business trip, " He went right on saying. " And when I come back,  I better not see Miss Palmer in my office. "

" Did something happen? " Miss Felix wanted to find out.

" That's the thing, Miss Felix, " He replied in a flat voice. " Nothing is happening. She has not done anything. She doesn't know the first thing about this job. I expect a more competent substitute when I get back. "

" But she came highly recommended, " Miss Felix argued. " I would have thought she would do a good job. "

" She didn't, " Marco said curtly.