Open House: For Sale

Teammates

"Any questions?"

"Just a clarification: The position is about an assistant to everything u do?"

"Well, in a way...I mean, u need to know everything I do, my appointments and stuff, if u're gonna schedule my work-related stuff. If I don't tell u that I have a doctor's appointment, how will u know not to put an open house in my schedule that day and time? If I'm at the grocery store, how will u know not to transfer calls to my cell? Well, sure, u might have to pick my dry cleaning one time, but that isn't because I'm paying u to do it, it would be because for some reason I really can't do it myself. I'm not expecting u to be at my beck and call after work, but I require u learning to anticipate my every need. Is that clear?"

"Very"

"So, do u think u can do that?"

"Yeah. Since I can have my own life after work, then sure! Not that I have much going on, but I'd like to continue my lessons..."

"U give dance lessons?"

"I do, yeah. I didn't add it to my resume because I'm not being employed by anyone..."

"Ok, I'm gonna need to know about the days and the hours, so I don't interrupt. We might need to put in some overtime, but I will let u know in advance and I'll try not to interfere with your lessons"

"U're really ok with that?"

"Why wouldn't I be? What u do on your free time isn't of my concern, u could be selling your body for all I know. I just care that u don't have a criminal record or u're not involved in crimes that might have an impact on me..."

"I'm not selling my body, I'm a dancer! I went to Julliard's!" I say, a little more offended than I should

"Well, I hope u know being a dancer and selling your body aren't always mutually exclusive, so think twice before trying to defend yourself like that again" he says with a hint of playfulness, which is expressed by a small smirk on his lips, making me chuckle

"U're right, I heard it too"

"I'm glad. So, to sum up, while we're working, your ass is mine. When we leave work, I don't care what u do, I just need to know when u do it so I don't interrupt, but u care deeply about my day, ok? If anything new comes up, I'll text u and u'll have to reply to me so I know u got it"

"Got it"

"Good, now let's go back to my office, which will be your office too in about 2 minutes, so we can start your training" he says and walks away before I even get to get up

"There's a lot of running around, so I suggest u wear shoes that don't make your feet hurt more than they have to. I don't care if they're flat or sneakers or skiing shoes. I just want them to match your outfit in every way and enable u to walk well" he adds as we walk towards his office

When we're outside of it, I see 2 workers coming out, so I assume that while we were talking in the conference room, they added my desk and stuff. After he signs a paper, they give him another one and they leave, so we get in.

"I'm sorry I didn't ask u about your taste in furniture and stuff, but they had to match mine and I couldn't risk it..."

"I totally get it"

"Keep that and when u get out of the office for any reason u'll ask Tori where we're filing these" he says, giving me the paper the workers gave him

"Oh, for the first week, I'll tell u when your break will be, until u get the essence yourself. Don't worry, I won't abuse my power over u. In any way..."

"Thank u"

"Don't. I can't expect u to do your job well when I'm not doing right by u. U'll be handling my coffee anyway, I can't risk it" he says, playfully again, and I smile, exhaling from my nose

"That's right, I can be fun, I can joke around. Just not when there's serious work to be done. And one last thing: Do u prefer me calling u Ms. Morgan or Penny?"

"I'd rather Penny, to be honest. Unless that was a trick question to see how professional I am, then I'll change my answer to Ms. Morgan, because I get how hierarchy works and I don't want to be disrespectful"

"Don't worry, I know that respect goes beyond that. Penny is fine. And, of course, u can call me Carlos. It's not gonna work if we don't work as a team, and teammates can't be on a different level, right?" he asks, giving me a calming smile, making me smile back

"Right, yeah"

~~~

"Did u get it?"

"I did, yes"

"Are u sure? Because I don't mind showing it to u again"

"No, no, I got it. I have my notes too, so I guess I'm covered"

"Good. U're free to go then"

"What?" I ask surprised

"U can go. This was just an introductory kind of thing..."

"Really?"

"Penny...it's Saturday! We don't work on Saturday. Not at the office, at least..."

"So, u cam here on a Saturday just to teach me stuff?"

"Well, I couldn't do it while I have other things to do, so yeah"

"Couldn't Tori teach me?"

"Tori? Tori doesn't know all that..."

"Isn't see your secretary or something?"

"Nope. She's the floor's receptionist. She just assisted me while I didn't have an assistant, but she doesn't know what we do..."

"But, she answered as your secretary at the phone..."

"Each office has it's own landline. She called u from mine, so when u called back, she new it was a call about me..."

"Oh, I see..."

"Anything else? Work or not related? Anything I might have forgotten to mention and u feel like it'd be important to know?"

"Kinda..."

"Shoot"

"Why did u call me after 3 months?" I ask and he sighs

"I knew this might come up..."

"Well, isn't it odd?"

"It is, u're right. I told u u weren't what I was looking for, but truth is no one knows how to be an assistant. Sure, having some basic knowledge about how we work would be nice, but this stuff is easily teachable if u have secretary experience or if your brain is simply working properly. But what I really need is someone I can trust that will help me get my job done. I tried 3 people, they were completely useless and I realized that I was wrong to just tell u that u're not suitable for that job. I couldn't possibly know that without testing u..."

"That's exactly what I was thinking. God, it feels good to know u're right" I say, playing relieved, and he chuckles

"I know, right? Anyway, the point is I want to apologize. For everything! I got mad for no reason and I projected it in u. I promise I'll try not to do that again"

"I guess I was a little hard on u too..."

"U weren't, no. U had every reason to lush out. I went hard on u because I'm, as I've been called before, a sadistic pig. It was fun playing u like that and I couldn't resist at the opportunity. And then I got mad about what u said, especially because u kept answering well to whatever I asked and I guess I didn't like that u lushed out, even though u were, again, right"

"But why did u get mad?"

"It doesn't matter now, we're past that"

"One thing u need to know about me: I'm very curious and u can't just drop something like that and not tell me the rest. I need to know, Carlos. We can't work right if we have unfinished things between us"

"U're right, yeah. I just don't want to ruin our work relationship before it even starts..."

"Unless u tell me u're in love with me, I think we have nothing to worry about..."

"God, no, nothing like that"

"Then what?" I ask and before he answers, he sighs deeply and comes close, as if he's about to tell me a secret...