The Assistant's Dilemma

Ch.8

I finally arrive at the building and it's 8:30. Of course there was traffic when I'm late!

I go to Kim's desk and she looks up at me
"Ms.Rhodes there you here , I wasn't sure if you were coming in today"

"Yes I'm here , late but here" I shrug

"I'll let you know now , Mr.Ford isn't very happy about you not being here on time"

"Seriously?" She nods at my question

"But it's good you at least showed up , have a good day Ms.Rhodes"

"You too Kim"

He's not happy , this isn't good. He's probably gonna fire me and I'm gonna be screwed.

As I walk to the elevator I see Joshua approach too. "Hey Courtney"

"Hi Josh" we walk into the elevator.

"Alright? You look a bit frustrated"

"Well I'm late and apparently my boss is upstairs pretty upset" I say and he nods

"It's okay , shit happens , we make mistakes" I smile at him as he says that

"Right right" I nod

"Don't beat yourself up" he shrugs and smiles as the door opens to let him off at his floor.
"And uhh if you ever need help relaxing , just let me know" he says and walks out.

What the hell he mean by that? Not gonna lie the first thing that came to mind wasn't very appropriate but who knows.

I get to my floor and make my way to Mr.Fords door. I knock on the door "come in"

I take a deep breath and then walk in.

He looks up slowly as I shut the door lightly. He tosses his pen to the side and chuckles.

"Mr.Ford-" he cuts me off

"Sit down" I take a seat
"I'm pretty sure on the application , website and I even told you that 8 Am was the time you are supposed to be in this building"

He puts his hands together as he rest his elbows on the handles of his chair. "Not 8:05 , not 8:10 , not 8:17 and certainly not 8:30 or should I say 8:35" he looks at his watch.

"Listen-" he cuts me off again

"What? Tell me!" He leans forward in his seat "what's the excuse Ms.Rhodes?"

"I just woke up late" I say

"You just woke up late? Why is that?"

"Didn't get much sleep" I say and which isn't totally a lie

"No? Why?"

"I don't know"

"You don't know?! Maybe because you and your little friend were up pretty late after leaving the gas station last night"

What the fuckkkk?

"How do you know that?"

"Well my car needed gas and I just so happen to see you there , talking about watching movies all night and having a couple drinks"

So that was him, I knew I wasn't tripping

"You guys are pretty loud talkers"

"I had like 1 drink I didn't get drunk"

"Well maybe you can't handle 1 drink cause here we are and you're late"

"I'm sorry , I just-" I get cut off again

"Say that again"

"Say what?" I ask

"Apologize" straight face , low tone as he says that.

"I'm sorry....."

"For?"

"For being late" I answer

"Now say it all together for me Ms.Rhodes" he smiles at me

"I'm sorry for being late"

He nods slowly before closing his notebook.
"good girl"

Oh-? Is this man crazy?

"Listen I can't lose this job-" he just can't let me talk

"Shut up , I'm not gonna fire you"

Oh-?! I know he ain't just tell me to shut up. Why was that kinda..... never-mind.

"I like you" he points at me "I enjoy working with you" he nods "but being late is very unacceptable" he shakes his head.

"It won't happen again"

"How am I gonna make sure of that? I'm not gonna fire you? Should I make you get here earlier, give you extra work , or should I punish you Ms.Rhodes?"

I decide to play into this "thing". I lean a bit forward in my seat "and how would you ..... punish me?"

He looks down and chuckles before lookin back up at me as he bites his bottom lip. "Keep fucking around and you'll find out"

Why do I low key wanna find out?

"But I'll take it easy on you , this time. Don't be late again Ms.Rhodes. Understand me?"

I nod "don't be disrespectful, use your words"

"I understand"

"Good , I'll give you the work I need done , it's not a lot of work. I guess I been putting a lot of work of you lately and with the added pressure of you being my fake girlfriend"

You think?

"But I want you to stay here while you do the work"

I hide my smile from him. Eww bitch stoppp.

"Why?"

"Do you wanna leave?" He catches an attitude. Man let me tell you , he's sassyyyy.

"I'm just curious Mr.Ford"

"Because ..... umm you know just in case you have questions"

He's lying his ass off.

"I mean I could just text or email you with the questions I have"

"Courtney just be quiet and get the work done here"

I laugh a bit "okay"

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing" I smile

"Tell me!"

"It's nothing Mr.Ford"

"Can you not call me Mr.Ford , I know it's professional and all but when it's just me and you , you call me by my name"

"Okay ...... Giovanni"

He chuckles and smiles but this one seems genuine not in a jerk way. "Thank you Courtney , I can call you that right?"

"Yeah yeah that's good"

His desk phone rings and he lets out a frustrated sigh before answering it. "Hello , yes"

I open my laptop as he talks on the phone.

He's only on the phone for like 1 minute.
"I have an emergency meeting to go to , downstairs" he grabs some stuff and I look up at him "stay here , don't leave , I won't be gone too long , I hope"

"Okay" I say and he walks out.

I hear the door open behind me and I turn my head "also don't touch anything"