Re: The Assistant

Chapter 5

I stood in the lobby of his apartment for what felt like hours, just trying to work up the courage to get near the elevator. Every few steps I took required a new pep talk to get me a couple steps closer.

A gust of wind mixed with expensive cologne clouded my senses.

"Did we have something arranged?" His voice trailed as he walked past me towards the elevator doors.

Hm.

"No. I was just hoping to catch you so we could discuss something."

He nods and places a hand over the elevator door, preventing it from coming back out. "Alright but I'm afraid it can't take too long I've got an early morning."

I hurried my steps and joined him in the quiet elevator. He was dressed nice, like he'd just come from somewhere fancy.

Standing side by side our arms gently grazed against each other. Neither of us feeling brave enough to move over just a few inches.

His hair was a bit messy, and he wasn't as accessorized and neat as you'd typically find him to be.

"Did I catch you on a bad night?"

"No."

I took a deep breath and tried to convince myself that I was just imagining that no to sound more pissed off than it actually did.

The elevator opened again when he reached his penthouse, I walked out first, him shortly after. I'd come here with a clear plan, I was going to be assertive and demand to know why I got removed from this position and why was he so adamant on that. However, the longer I waited to speak the more nervous I was growing to say anything at all.

We'd just met each other and we instantly grew this weird relationship with each other where we're complete strangers but also maybe on the line of becoming friends?

I was thinking of other things I could ask to explain why I'd come all the way out here but frankly nothing seemed important enough to take this long drive.

"Uh- so" I nervously cleared my throat, finally remembering my fear of confrontation. "Should we sit?"

He follows my lead to the kitchen counter where I take a seat on the inner stool. He takes the seat next to me, resting his head against his hand, his elbow propped on the granite.

This was an extremely awkward and childlike seating position as our knees fully faced each other, about an inch from touching.

"I just wanted to know a little about this thing you asked of Katz."

"What would you like to know."

This was a lot harder than I'd imagined it to be. He'd held a stern gaze the entire time I spoke, like he was waiting for me to crack into a million pieces at any moment now.

"Just the premise I guess."

He sat back in his seat now, returning his hands to his lap. "I like to have full control of things I'm working on. I thought they briefed you on this kind of stuff."

I guess the 'on the line of becoming friends' thing was pretty much just in my head.

"Yeah you're right." Do not retreat, "I guess I was just expecting you'd tell me, so I could have some understanding."

"I did." He nods, "I told Katz, being that you're his assistant."

Ouch that felt extremely condescending and painful. I bit the inside of my cheek and gave myself a moment to replay what he'd just said in my head a few times over.