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The printing machine in the office wasn't working today. Something about the internal mechanism being rusted. I thought that was bullshit.
Sighing heavily, I returned to my office. The small space was the embodiement of a voluntary prison. Clean clinical white walls, white paper like sand in the sahara, and an assistant named Kathryn. I had it all.
"Kathy!" I called out, waiting for the neatly pressed blonde to emerge.
Her neat pencil skirt and white blouse seemed too sultry to be work apparel, but I didn't make comment of it.
"Yes sir?" She answered, appearing dutifully with a pencil and pad in hand incase I spontaneously asked her to take a dictation. I never had.
I stared at her for a moment, my mind blanking as I focused on the mole on her left temple. The spot wasn't covered with foundation, and it made me uncomfortable. The small brown fleck seemed misplaced on her uniform paper pale skin.
"Sir?"
Blinking, I focused back on her. Her eyes narrowed in what could almost be concern.
"Fuck off you sick cynical bitch. I'm going out, don't ask where. Don't redirect my calls and don't take notes. Tell anyone and everyone to promptly fuck off. Don't try to find me, don't call the cops and for fucks sake, fix your shirt and wear black. White makes you seem bloated like a beached whale, you useless fucking slag. And no, Kathy, you're never going to get that promotion so stop being a viper to your co-workers."
"Sir? You haven't said anything? Is something wrong?"
The concern wasn't hidden in Kathryn's gaze any longer. She looked like she was the one on the brink of passing out.
"Uh, no." I hurried out, the words feeling forgein on my tongue. "I'm going out. Take my calls okay, and tell Harrison that Michale will come by later to finalize the deal."
Kathryn smiled at me, or I assume she did. I couldn't tell, I had my back turned to her as I grabbed my coat, and a phone far too expensive. "Right away sir."
Before she could shut the door fully, I heard her screaming at the new intern to print something out for her.
But the printing machine in the office wasn't working today.
