I Hate You

02. "immature"

"So Jeremiah, make sure you get the scripts in by next Thursday. And Jess, this week I need you to finish editing the promo clips. It may seem like a lot of work but I'm sure you can handle it, considering that now you've got your assistant to help you."

"Yes of course, you can count on me." I smile.

"Okay great, this concludes the meeting then."

I head back into my office promptly and begin my work. It was 10:32 and my assistant still hadn't shown up. Somehow I sense a pattern coming along. I honestly don't know how I can possibly work with someone who never shows up on time. Just as this thought comes to mind, I notice my door swing open and there stands, Brandon. Wind swept hair and a helmet in his hand.

"You're late."

"Again, I'm really sorry, my bike had a thing—"

"A thing?" I ask, clearly unimpressed. "I thought you drove a car."

"Well I no, I drive a bike."

"So you just made up that excuse yesterday?"

"Okay in all honesty, I was out late last night with this chick I met and I overslept—but it won't happen again, boss lady." He says putting his helmet down near my door and walking over to the other computer in the office.

"That is inappropriate conversation to be having with me, and I would appreciate if you didn't call me that. Ever." I snap. "Also tardiness is something I cannot tolerate so this is your last chance, otherwise I'll be looking into another assistant." I finish sternly.

"Okay, jeez I'm sorry. Have you never had a night out in your life? Look I won't be late again, I really need this job." He spins in his chair.

"Good, then sort the clips and organize them. We have a lot of work to do." I turn away from him and back to my computer. After a short moment of silence and mouse clicking I decide to speak up on the comment he made earlier. "And yes, for your information I have had a night out. I've had plenty".

The screens were on opposite sides of the room so our chairs were constantly facing away from each other. "Could've fooled me." He murmured.

Since the room was so small I could hear every little sound he made, so I heard what he said to himself. "What's that supposed to mean?" I ask turning around, agitated.

"Nothing." He gets really quiet.

"No, you know what? If you've got a problem with me then you should tell me right now because I will not be working with an irresponsible, immature and unprofessional assistant." I say, my tone sounding slightly more angry than I intended. "I don't got a problem." He says swivelling his chair around towards me. "You do."

"Excuse me?"

"No offence but you seem like the most stuck-up and boring person I've ever met."

"What?" I exclaim. "I'm just doing my job, you don't know me, you have no right to assume anything about me." At this point the guy was really pissing me off and he's only been here less than 30 minutes. "Look whatever, I didn't mean to assume anything I just get this vibe from you that you don't like to have any fun."

"Where do you come off saying that? You don't know me. You are just a complete immature asshole, I'm not even going to waste my time on you." I say, lowering my voice. I'm usually very calm even when people annoy me, but for some reason this one guy has the power to get on my last nerve and I've only known him for less than a day. "Let's just get back to work and not speak to each other." I say angrily, turning away from him and he does the same.

The next few hours were awkwardly silent with a few groans and annoyed sounds here and there until finally, lunch came.

//

"So what does he look like?" Max asked me while taking a bite of her sandwich. We were on the couches in the lounge where we all usually eat lunch. No one else was in the small room but us, so I filled her in on my assistant from hell.

"He's so sloppy, and he clearly has no idea what he's doing. The clips were a complete mess, and every time I asked him to do something he always gave an immature childish response."

Max laughed. "Well maybe you two should get to know each other more, hang out, become friends. Then working together won't be as hard"

"Are you kidding me? I could never hang out with someone like that." I say disgusted.

"Well you're gonna have to, because I hear this project is big, lots of effects and editing to do so you guys will be spending lots of time together." She says while I continue to play with my chicken salad. "I'll just have to get through it."

I really don't want to work with someone like Brandon, but I also like to think that life is all about coexisting with people you can't stand, that's just what happens and you've got to get through it.

"C'mon just tell me which one he is, I wanna meet him." Max giggled as we walked passed the offices in the hallway of our building. "He's the annoying one." I joke, earning an eye roll from Max.

"Where would he be right now?" She asked me seeming very intent on meeting him. "Max, do you really have to do this now?" I whine. "Yes, and seriously Jess, lighten up I just wanna make your life easier."

"Fine." I sigh. "He's probably in the caf, let's go there."

And sure enough, he was.

In our building we had a large cafeteria on the first floor, since our company's floor wasn't the only one in the building, we had to share a lot of the spaces. A lot of the people from other offices ate there too but it wasn't difficult to find Brandon in the crowd of businessmen and lawyers in suits. "Yes he's the one wearing all black and looks like he just came back from a monthly motorcycle photo shoot." I say embarrassed.

"Hey, nice to meet you, I'm Max." She said coming up to him as he was settling in at one of the tables in the caf. "Well hello, I'm Brandon, it's very nice to meet you." He shot her an award winning smirk as he shook her hand. "Before you get any ideas," I butt in. "She has a boyfriend."

"He wasn't asking, now was he?" Max says sternly to me as I cross my arms. I don't know why I was acting so petty, it wasn't like me. "So I've heard great things about you Brandon, welcome to the company." She smiled sitting down next to him at the table. She looked over at me and cued me to sit down as well.

"Uh yeah, thank you." He turns to her. "So Max, that's a really nice name."

I feel really aggravated at this point and I am just about to get up and leave before Max speaks. "Thanks! So listen, I know you're new here and all, and I know Jess really wants you to feel welcome. We're all going out tonight so how would you feel about coming along with us?" I nearly face palmed into my hand.

Brandon looks at me and notices my angry expression. "I would love to come along, thank you for inviting me." He says with a devilish grin. "Wonderful!" Max raises her eyebrows at me, hinting at something but I'm too angry to play along. "I just feel like we all should get to know each other, after all we are co-workers" Max adds.

"Of course," he smirks. "And I wouldn't want to judge someone before getting to know them, right Jess?".