He's not my dad

Part 4

I dutifully followed my boss into his office, the man stood ahead of me was known to me. I knew him very well.

His office was completely different to the rest of the floor, it was dark and cluttered. The once white walls were dark red and covered with mahogany frames, in each one was a photo of him with a different celebrity. A large mahogany desk sat at the centre of the room with an old burgundy chesterfield arm chair behind it. The room screamed old money and power. I believed that a persons office was a clear indication of the type of worker they were. My boss was old fashioned and confident, If i hadn't already been acquainted with him i would have known by his office.

He gestured for me to take the seat across from his own, i did as i was told and sat in silence. I was surprised by how nervous i was, it wasn't like this was the first time i was meeting this man. Maybe that was the problem.

"Would you like a drink Taylor" he asked.

Double vodka I said in my head.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that" i joked hoping it would break the tension.

We both laughed and suddenly the tension left me, i wasn't sure why I had been was so nervous. Yes I knew this man but I didn't doubt that he would treat me the same as all his other employees.

Mr Benjamin had been a friend of my fathers for years, part of me now suspects that was the reason behind me getting the job. My father worked in a large accounting firm, he had offered me a job with him but i wanted to be treat like any other employee. Now I think about it I don't remember even applying for a position at groves ltd.

My dad had been upset when I turned down his offer to work with him. I would have had special treatment if i worked with my dad, he promised i wouldn't but he wouldn't have been able to control himself. Being the only female born into the white family for over a century made me the apple of both my dad and grandfathers eye.

"How's your dad, he hasn't been at the club all month" he asked as he rested his hands on his round stomach.

I smiled politely and replied "he's been renovating the summer house, he came back this morning I believe"

"Your first task as my secretary is to schedule golf with your dad" he joked.

"Yes mr Benjamin" i replied with a laugh. I hoped I would be using my brain for more than scheduling golf.

"So now would be a perfect time to tell you what I expect from you as my personal secretary. I expect punctuality and loyalty above all else, I expect you to be organised and take the initiative to do things without being told" mr Benjamin reeled off a list of daily tasks which i noted down in a small book. It was all pretty standard, I could do this job in my sleep.

After an hour of working with my boss and arranging his schedule for the upcoming week i left and went in search of the kitchen to make the his coffee.

I found the small kitchen area hidden inside the printing room, it was full  that no one noticed me enter. The kitchen area was hidden at the back of the room with only an office divider separating it from the printing area.

Out of the corner of  my eye i saw jack walking towards the room, instinctively i hid behind a wall. I don't know why I did it, I've never met the man. Why did I just assume he was bad. I always say to not judge a book by its cover but I'm not living by my own rule.

"Have you seen that blonde, she's got a right set of fun bags. I'd do her" the man who had spoken about me with such disrespect wasn't visible from where i was stood but it was safe to assume it was jack.

So sometimes first impressions are right.

"Mr Benjamin's new personal secretary" the other man asked. I felt uncomfortable but I had to listen. Who could just walk away when people were discussing them.

"Dan she's so hot, I wonder how personal of a secretary she is. " jack said with a laugh.

I could feel myself getting more angry, I was use to being judged for my appearances. I was blonde and curvy so there was no way I could have a brain as well.

The two of them laughed for a few moments until dan started to speak again " Richie invited her to lunch with us, he says she's nice. I doubt it though, I bet she had the personality of a potted plant. You can't look like that and be good to talk to"

"$50 she's in my bed before the month is over" jack said cockily. My jaw fell as i heard his hurtful words. I could feel my face going red.

"$100 she doesn't" dan replied.

I picked up the mug of hot coffee and stepped out as the men were shaking hands. The two men looked at me with wide eyes, they at least had the sense to act embarrassed.

"I'll take that bet, $1000 that I will never be in your bed" and with that i left leaving them in stunned silence.

I gave mr Benjamin his drink then slumped in my chair. Anger pulsed through me, i was sick of everyone's assumptions when it came to me. All my life i had been been judged because of my appearance. Everyone expected me to only be capable of shopping and hosting parties. At 13 i had decided that wasn't enough for me, i wanted to leave school with good grades. It had taken hard work and mentoring but i had left with the highest grades of my class. My father had been so proud of me, he hadn't expected me to want to continue in education after high school. He had always expected me to just be a socialite like my mother. When i graduated college in the top 5% off my class he had cried with happiness. Making my dad proud had made all the hard work worth it. When i got offered my current job he had even signed over the apartment I was living in to me as a gift.  My dad has always been over the top when it came to gifts, I was his only child after all.

I was a harder worker but i knew how to play even better. My free time was never wasted, i knew how to have a good time.

I sat at my desk and thought of the bet my colleagues had been discussing, i felt Insulted. In truth before i had found jack attractive and i wouldn't have said no to having a bit of fun but now i knew what type of man he was he had less than zero chance. There was no way I would give anyone the satisfaction of thinking they were right about me.

By lunch my work was all complete, i had done the filling, booked appointments and even responded to all the bosses emails.  After lunch i was taking notes in a meeting with a baking firm called aunt Clara's. i decided to use my initiative and buy some of their products for them to snack on In the meeting. My dad had always told me how much he appreciated his own secretary putting out snacks for meetings. My task for my lunch was to gather as many of aunt Clara's products  as i could. First i was going for lunch with my colleagues, no doubt that was going to be fun. I didn't think I would be able to stand if dan or jack spoke to me.

It's fair to say I hold a grudge, eventually I may forgive but I never forget.