Personal assistant

First day

"Careful with that, it's fragile."

I held out my hands as one of the moving team slammed down my new vase with fresh roses a little too hard for my liking. He winced at his carelessness and straightened the vase on my new desk for me.

"Sorry, Miss."

I smiled at him, and watched over the rest of my office as the men assembled it to plan, just how I wanted it. D'Agostino's things had been moved yesterday, he was more than happy to step down from his role which was a relief, he had been wanting to retire and my boss gave him a generous sum of money to thank him for sticking loyal by her side all these years. Speaking of, she was due by Dragon's lair later, my office was right next to hers but quite the contrast. Sofia preferred dark colours, crimsons and leather. I preferred white, and loved indoor plants with wooden elements. I'd brought some of my own from home, and she'd also invested in some stupidly expensive plants that I'd always dreamed of. That ancient bonsai tree on its' own stand in the corner was a ludicrous five grand, I almost hit her over the head with it when I found out she'd purchased it for me. I came to my senses much quicker and jumped on her instead, giving her the best night of her life that same day. 

I primped the delicate petals on my beautiful bouquet in the crystal vase, admiring them. She'd left them in the office with an endearing note, as if she hadn't done enough already. 

"Hello!"

I turned, bright eyed as a result of my jubilant mood.

"Hello, can I help you?"

The petite, older lady smiled and offered a hand for me to shake, which I took.

"I'm Julia, and you must be Lana, Miss Bardot hired me as your new personal assistant."

My expression must have screamed surprise, as that's exactly how I felt in that moment.

"Is everything ok?" She asked spritely, and I tried to scrape back my gobsmacked look and respond accordingly.

"Yes, she didn't inform me I would be getting one, but it's lovely to meet you."

She chuckled, indicating an understanding of the businesswoman's direct approach when dealing with most things.

"I used to work for D'Agostino quite a while back until I resigned for a higher position in a different company. I remember this venue very well, I'm glad to see the layout hasn't changed, though I love how you decorated this space."

She scanned the room from ceiling to floor, appreciating the way the different tones and textures complimented each other.

"Anyway, I'll leave this with you to fill out whenever you're ready, in the meantime is there anything you would like me to get started on?"

I flicked through the printed text she handed over, questions like 'favourite coffee' and 'call availability' springing out at me. Miss Bardot had officially outdone herself.

"Could you drop these off to Rupert at the Beaumont reception? He mentioned needing them but I'm tied up here until everything's moved in."

She nodded briskly, gathering up the pile of documents I gestured to and placing them in her briefcase. I looked for a pen around my office, which was coming together nicely but still in disarray, and heard a mechanical click from one to my right. A ballpoint was offered to me with a cheery smile, and I took it, grateful and impressed by the lady's attention to detail, it was clear she had many years of experience.

"I will be back later, all my contact details are in the file if you need to get hold of me before I return."

She left the office and I smiled to myself sitting down at my desk and beginning to fill in the pages of information. It was very thorough, ranging from height and dress size, to preferred choice of bottled water. I made sure to save all her contact details into my phone, directing the rest of my belongings to various spots in the room when asked by the delivery men.

For the first time in my life, I glimpsed the world through Sofia's eyes. The control and the order giving wasn't something I was used to, but I found myself picking it up quite naturally. I secretly found this new power thrilling. A knock rapped at my door, and I called for whoever to come in. A cheeky smile dressed in a crisp, navy pinstripe suit stood casually in my doorway, and I raised an eyebrow.

"My my, I'm not sure if this office quite fits the aesthetic of the rest of the club, Miss Willows?"

The humour in her voice was evident, and I stood up from my smart leather chair, ambling casually towards my boss.

"I hope Julia isn't my replacement, Miss Bardot."

She grinned, shaking her head as I looped a finger through her belt and tugged her into my office space, the door swinging shut behind her.

"Oh no, she's here to help you, not me. You're still all mine."

Sofia confirmed and cupped my face with her hands, leaning in to steal a kiss.

"Besides, I don't think she can meet my needs the way you can," the woman sparked the witty response at me, kissing me senseless.

"Oh?" I respond against her mouth, my fingers tangling tight in her thick hair.

"Gross," Sasha quipped, striding forwards from the door and dumping the stationary she brought from home on my desk.

"Fraternising with the staff again, Miss Bardot?" My roommate folded her arms and threw a quizzical expression at my boss, who'd removed her lips from mine to tend to Sasha's interruption.

"Oh just the one," she responded cooly with the same sarcasm, squeezing me close to her side. Sasha shook her head in disapproval, tutting at the ferocious display of passion she'd walked in on. She strode round my office, treating it like a show and tell, touching everything fragile and opening every drawer labelled private and confidential. Sofia allowed her, not an ounce of care at Sasha's nosy actions, instead finding it amusing. I organised the stationary she'd brought into pots and shelves, tidying my desk up neatly and efficiently, the light birchwood top spotless. Sofia sat in my office chair, meddling with the flowers she'd bought me as Sasha continued to poke and prod at her surroundings. Both of them were like-minded in the touchy-feely aspect of their character.

"You know, Sooty would love it here."

"I am not bringing our poor cat to a nightclub, Sash," I snorted, and she laughed too.

"He is a wuss, you're right I'll leave him at home. Can you pick him up some cat food on the way back today?"

I nodded, and waved goodbye to her as she sauntered out, her work lunch break would be over soon.

I went to add it to my to-do list in my phone, and a warm hand closed over mine, clicking a pen open and placing it into my fingers. 

"You have a mini-you now, remember?"

I'd already forgotten, the idea of someone else running errands for me was still completely foreign. Her manicured French tipped finger tapped into my to-do list on the desk, looking at me expectedly. I noted what I needed down for Julia, brand and all. She clocked my estranged manner, and gave me a reassuring caress on my lower back.

"You'll get use to it, I promise," she winked, and made sure I messaged Julia that I had completed my fact file and that the to-do list needed to be checked at the end of every day. 

"You'll be good at this, trust me. I'm always here to help."

She was as sweet as the scent she carried, and I wrapped myself in her strong arms, digressing in this brilliant life and opportunity she'd handed to me.