Nothing Personal

:: 5 ::

Thank you to CalmYaRosebuds for the AMAZING cover! I am so lucky to have her :) Please go read her story, "It's a Gingerly Thing" It's amazing.

Aubrey's POV

Scared. Anxious. Nervous. This whole thing is completely nerve-wracking. He is nerve-wracking.

Fuck, did I ruin it all? I didn't mean to get "attitude," he offended me. Technically, it was his huge ego that got hurt, not my choice of words. He should change his mindset and stop thinking that everyone who is surrounded by him has to willingly be berated by his rude words.

Rolling my eyes, I breathed in, and calmly smiled, apologizing to the next customer who stepped up to order.

"One second, ma'am. Again, thank you so much for being so patient. This doesn't usually happen." I stepped back, and motioned for Pablo to step away from the blenders and come to me.

"Hey Pablo, can you handle the register? I'll get Tracy to man the blenders. I have to go attend to Mr. High and Mighty over there." I nodded in the direction of Reynolds.

"Ah, I see." Winked Pablo. He was by far one of the best baristas we had. He could go through rush hour without a sweat. I was so thankful to have him aboard.

I let out a short laugh out of disgust. "No, it's most definitely not like that. I haven't known the guy for very long, but what I do know is he's very arrogant, rude, and has an enormous ego. I'll explain later, can you take care of the line of customers?"

Pablo nodded and went off to serve the line, which seemed to have multiplied since I dashed away. I found Tracy texting in the break room. It wasn't a problem, technically her shift didn't start for about 5 minutes.

"Hey Tracy, Do you mind starting your shift a little earlier today? We're pretty packed, and I had Pablo man the cash register. I have to take care of some...personal business that has wrecked havoc in the front of the store."

She looked up, and immediately slid her phone into her apron pocket. My girl, always prepared.

"Of course! I'll work the blenders and counter!" she said enthusiastically. Tracy is such a team-player. Maybe she could be January's Employee of the Month...

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Remembering I had a ticking time-bomb waiting for me out front, I quickly picked up Mr. Reynold's black coffee by the handle and went over to the pastry section. I had a short internal debate over whether to give him the hardest scone we had available, but I decided I wanted him to feel embarrassed by how mean he was once he tasted how good my food is.

I chose the softest one with the most equal amount of icing and made my way over to the table he was sitting at.

Not gonna lie, I'm glad he's on the phone. Hopefully he didn't notice the time it took me to get everything in order.

"First it was attitude from the cashier, now it's terrible waiting times. I must tell you Miss. Handler, this isn't looking to good. My fondness for this place is slipping."

Damn it, he noticed. Of course he noticed, he probably noticed everything. I should've expected nothing less from a business man like him.

I held back everything I wanted to say all about his stupid face, or how he smelled like Downey mixed with clean linen, and how it was so intoxicating, it almost filled the whole shop up...

Snap out of it! Get straight the point with him. The less time you have to spend talking to him, the better.

"Listen Mr. Reynolds, let's make something abundantly clear. While I do really want this job you're offering, I don't come into your establishment and make snide remarks about how your office is too dark, or how your large desk makes me think you're compensating for something, or how unpleasant your Secretary-lady was, or anything like that even though I want to, so I'm not sure what made you think you had the right to waltz right into my workplace and say those degrading things. I take my work very seriously, and it takes an idiot not to see how hard I've worked. I would be an asset to your company, but I think you already know that. I normally don't mouth off like this, but you are not even my employer yet, so I don't see how any of what you did was necessary. I don't plan on working for you if this is how you're going to view and treat me. I will treat you with respect, and I expect to be treated with the exact same." I let out all my breath at once.

The entire time I spoke, Mr. Reynolds just stared at me, and took a single sip of coffee from his cup. I was worried I overstepped my boundaries, or crossed some sort of invisible line, but I said my peace. The ball was in his court now. Amidst the heavy silence, I crossed my arms, unknowingly pushing my boobs up at the same time. For a moment, his eyes flickered down to my chest, but came back up just as quickly.

Finally he spoke up. "I am not going to lie, Aubrey. I had every intention of revoking your verbal acceptance into my company, but after hearing you stand up for yourself like that, I must say, I am very impressed. You are right about how I must be an idiot to not see the incredible work and potential demonstrated here. Your tenacity is the reason that I am offering you this contract here and now." And with that, he pulled a thick contract out of his smooth black briefcase.

He handed the stack of papers over to me, along with a Reynold's & Co dark maroon pen, with a post-it on the front with a number written neatly.

"Here is my number." He said, almost as if it was a casual, everyday thing, that I got my hot bosses number immediately after I saved my own job, which I technically didn't even have. "I realize you may want to look the contract over, and if you have any questions, I would rather hear directly from you as opposed to burdening you with calling my nasty Secretary Hannah, who would no doubt sour your attitude before you even got connected to my line."

I opened my mouth in protest, but he spoke too quickly for me to respond.

"I expect to see that contract on my desk or delivered to me by Friday, Monday the latest. I hope you understand just exactly what you are getting yourself into, Miss. Handler." He stood up, leaving me stunned and silent in my plastic chair. He straitened his arms and re-adjusted his cufflinks, picked up his briefcase and started walking towards the door.

I got up as well and walked towards the door, reaching for the door handle, until he opened his mouth and got my attention.

"Oh, and Miss Handler," he muttered from behind me, in a low voice, almost as if his next words were meant for my ears only. "In case your curious about if I'm compensating for something, I guarantee you, I am not." With those last words he moved in closer to me, close enough that I felt his long length resting on the curve of my lower back. He continued, "And that snide remark you made earlier about my 'unmanly drink?' I assure you, I am every bit a man, probably more than you can handle. Time will tell how true that is."

And then Brent Reynolds, clearly a force to be reckoned with, promptly walked out of my quaint little bakery, and officially walked into my life. He turned around before getting in his sleek black Audi TTS Coupe and winked at me. Honestly, if I wasn't already holding onto the doorframe to help keep me upright, I would no doubt have no control of my legs.

He made me weak, and I didn't like that. I didn't like feeling vulnerable by the hands of another person. I liked to be in control, and know what to expect, and Brent is walking talking chaos.

After speeding away, I finally returned to my favorite table to collect the plates and my contract.

The bastard didn't even eat the scone.

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**6/22/16- 1,365 words, and basically edited

I'm keeping these updates around 1,000+ words. It's so easy to write when you're passionate and excited!!

I wrote this @ 3 am so pls, be nice :)

The song is by the beautiful Jordin Sparks, and it's purpose is to demonstrate how Aubrey is determined and PRIDEFUL.