Drinks 'n Dares

The Furniture Fiends

Chapter Twelve – The Furniture Fiends

Claire's POV

Don't panic. Don't panic.

"Are you still there Claire?"

I clutched the phone tighter with sweating hands. "Yeah." I said hoarsely. I cleared my throat. "I'm still here Aunty Betty."

"Just checking. We want to sort a few things out with Jon before your father gets a hold of him." She simpered. "And don't sound so worried. We just want to spend the day with him, not eat him for lunch."

I closed my eyes in horror. My mum and aunty Betty spending the day out on in the city with Jon. A whole day.

"So when do you think you'll get here?" I asked desperately. I was going to need to talk to Jon. Soon.

"Oh probably around ten or so." She said blithely. "We'll meet him at your place if that's okay?" She didn't wait for a response. "And I'll try to leave Grandma at home this time." She muttered darkly. "Anyhow, see you then Claire. Ciao!"

"Ciao." I muttered weakly. But she had already rung off.

_____________________________________

To say I was nervous as I entered Jon's office would be an understatement. I mean, Jon had been to my workplace but that wasn't much. It was just a floor filled with boring cubicles and the cubicles filled with boring people. Jon worked in a real office building. It was ten stories at least and from the outside it was an intimidatingly shiny fortress made of glass. I'd ridden the elevator up to the ninth floor where I was told Jon and the other assistants to the CEO worked. The impersonal though glamorous office had left me wishing Harvey was here. Carla had told me he worked here in the design department but I didn't know where that was.

And for goodness sake, the ninth floor had its own breakfast bar. With mini bagels and everything!

Jon's office was pointed out to me by a cool looking receptionist. Apparently her job was to be an assistant to the other assistants. I wondered how that worked.

"Here goes nothing." I muttered, standing in front of the shiny glass door. It was completely opaque with a neat sign that read 'Assistant CEO – Jonathan Winters.'Okay, I might have joked with Jon about feeling insignificant but now I really was. I rapped hard on the glass, once, twice.

"Come in." came Jon's deep voice.

Still a little hesitant I opened the door slowly. Stepping into the room I noticed two things at once. One: Jon's office was bigger than my living room. Two: Scary Stephanie was sitting on his desk.

"Claire." Jon looked surprised. "I didn't know you were coming." He seemed about to add more but then glanced at his sister. "Claire I believe you've already met Stephanie. Though she may not have been particularly polite." He shot her a look and she obediently but nonetheless coldly walked towards me.

She held out a thin manicured hand and I shook it. "Stephanie Winters, pleasure to meet you."

"Need you be so formal Steph?" Jon sighed.

She didn't look at him, didn't break eye contact with me. "Would you like me to hug you?" he asked in monotone.

"No. No. I'm fine. I'm, I'm – Claire. I'm Claire." I mumbled as I fumbled for the words. "Claire Jackson."

She smiled thinly and then turned to her brother. "I have to go Jon. I have that meeting with Mr Backston." He nodded at her and she left the room. Then he stood up and made his way around his desk (larger than my bed) towards me.