Forever and Always

Chapter 2

Thursday came way too quick, and I was a nervous wreck walking into work. Of all the assignments I was given I had one that was unfinished. Black circles formed under my eyes from lack of sleep, the weeks of being overworked were hard not only physically but mentally. I walk into Kyle's office to see him on the phone. I sat down in a chair on the other side of his desk and waited for him to finish. "No worries it's all completed..... You know me and deadlines, I always reach them...... yep, okay I'll talk more at the meeting..... Yep bye" He looked at me with a big smile before taking a seat in his usual chair. "Ah sweetheart, show me what you've got" he clasped his hands together and leaned forward. I started putting the assignments on the desk and explained the finished work on each one in order as he listened closely. Taking the 5th assignment out I put the papers in front of him, "When I contacted Ms. Davis, she approved everything but wouldn't proceed until I faxed over these forms that were signed by you." He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, "why did you wait until the last minute to ask for my signature?" he was annoyed. "I finished this Tuesday and received the email from her today at 8:30 this morning" he nodded and took out a pen to sign the papers. I waited until he was done, and I took the papers back and continued. Getting to the last assignment I tried to control the shaking in my hands. "I have uhm... this was the only assignment I haven't finished" I swallowed.

He grabbed the manila folder from my hand and opened it. Quickly flipping through the pages before getting up and walking toward me. He put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed harshly, I let out a squeak when pain shot through my shoulder but didn't dare say anything. "I don't believe I give you that much work to not be able to finish in a certain time span." He squeezed again before taking a few steps away from me to look out the window. I rubbed my shoulder trying to ease the pain knowing that it'd leave a bruise. "Are you good enough to even work here?" he raised his voice at the end, making me cringe. "I can finish the last assignment today, when do you need it?" "An hour. That's not even the point as I expected everything to be done when you came in this morning" I got up with the paper and nodded. "I'm sorry but I'll have this done within the hour" "DO. NOT. Disappoint me" I walked out without saying anything. Quickly faxing the papers, he signed and sat at my cubicle to finish the last assignment.

He acts like the workload he gives me isn't a lot. Contacting stylists, creating new styles, getting news stories on trends that are hip and new, getting word from certain models, covering events in detail, etc. it's a lot all at once for one person. I usually finish everything and the one time I don't I'm being asked if I'm good enough to work here. Am I good enough? I finished the report with 15 minutes to spare and brought it back to his office. "Took you long enough" he snatched the folder from my hand. "Is there anything else you need done Mr. Michalis" "Just to cover the fashion show that happened in Miami yesterday. I'm flying out to LA for the weekend and will be out Friday as well. Tomorrow I need you to move my schedule around and answer the phone in my office accordingly. As for the weekend you can enjoy it as I have no assignments. I need the Miami report done by the end of the day" I nodded and left. I can't even remember the last time I got a weekend off to myself. I stopped by Alice's desk making her look up from her work, "How does our sleepover sound for Friday?" She smiled brightly. "Yes! Can we do it at yours? My roommate is obnoxious but no worries I'll bring over all the sleepover essentials." I chuckled, "yes of course that's fine." "Great I'll text you later about it" I nodded heading to my desk to work on this report. I skipped my lunch once again to make sure I finish this report by the end of the day and kept an eye on the time so I could make sure to turn it in before we're supposed to go home.

The door to Kyle's office was closed which usually means do not disturb so I knocked and waited for him to answer. He opened it as a coworker walked out past me. "Sweetheart, please" he motioned me to come in and closed the door. He barely ever shuts the door when it's just him and me, so I felt uneasy. "Here's the report" he took it, "Any word from Ms. Davis?" "All taken care of, she received the signatures" "Great," he carelessly threw the Miami report on his desk and came closer to me. He grabbed both my shoulders but squeezed harder on the one he knew hurt me from earlier making me scrunch to get out of his grip which caused him to hold me tighter. "Listen, you have an okay work ethic. I know you're here for experience but if you ever want to leave here you need to start focusing on your work more and finishing it on time if you want a good word out of me. Right now, you're just useless,' he took a step back from me, 'I could replace you tomorrow if I wanted to but I'm giving you a chance. Tomorrow do not embarrass me in my absence and next week I'll be keeping a close eye on you, making sure you're not fooling around. Understand?" I couldn't even believe he was saying this to me. "Understand?!" he said louder. I nodded, "yes, yes sir" "Good get out of here I can't bare to see your face any longer"