The Secretary {Once-ler x Reader}

Feelings? For Him? (Chapter 4)

     "And that's what happened."

     N was at home, helping FN cook dinner while explaining what had happened at work that day.

     "Wow. That has to be the dumbest plan I've ever heard," she said, chopping some vegetables. "Just be glad he didn't sue you for destroying his picture."

     "But that's what I don't get," N replied. "Why did he let me off the hook? He could have charged me for that, fired me, or sent me to jail or something."

     "I have a hunch," FN said, a mischievous grin on her face.

     "What? What is it?"

     "Well, he was saying all that good stuff about you, like how you're trustworthy and stuff, right?"

     "Yeah, but that was to get me to admit what I did."

     "How do you know?" FN asked, giggling. "After all, he's a man."

     "Yeah, I already knew that," N said, confused. "What does that have to do with... Oh. OH. Ew, are you insinuating that he likes me?"

     "Maybe," her friend said teasingly, putting the knife she was using in the sink. "I mean, you can't really know from a couple sentences, but... Well, call it a girl's intuition."

     "You're so strange," N said, rolling her eyes. "But let's just say he does, which he obviously does not. There's no way I'd ever have feelings for such a selfish, greedy man."

     "He's the most powerful person in the region, N. Imagine that much money," FN said, sighing dreamily. "And that attractive face... You'd be the luckiest girl alive."

     "FN. I think the bad air is finally getting to you," said N.

     "What bad air? Oh!" FN exclaimed, wiping her hands on her apron. "Remember that time when you were out of town a couple years back? Well, during that time, The Once-ler wasn't even famous yet. I remember how he would try and sell his thneed and people threw tomatoes at him. Ha ha, let me show you."

     Before N could say anything, her friend left the kitchen and came back a few moments later with a video camera.

     "I just bought my camera that day, and I got this gem on video," she said, showing N the video on the small camera screen.

     On the screen, a man in a fedora was playing the guitar. N gasped when he turned around, singing about thneeds. Her boss used to look like that?

     "Give me that," N said, grabbing the camera and staring at the screen as The Once-ler sang and was rudely interrupted by a tomato to the face. How was this the same man?

     "This is... so weird," N said quietly, giving the camera back after the video was over. "But why did you show this to me?"

     "Well, we were talking about him and I suddenly remembered. Wasn't that hilarious?"

     N gave her a long look, shaking her head. If it was FN's plan to get her to think about The Once-ler, it wasn't going to work. N just couldn't see herself with him, no matter how rich he was. But FN was probably just desperate and pushing her thoughts onto her; after all, she got her money from babysitting. At times, N had to lend FN money since no one would hire her for a permanent job.

     "If you like him so much, why don't you date him?" N muttered, taking off her apron.

     "Oh no, you misunderstood," FN said, laughing. "I just thought you two would be cute together. I mean, come on, that would be adorable. And you've been alone for so long already. I just want my best friend to be happy."

     "Thanks, but I'm perfectly happy keeping my distance no matter how attractive you claim he is."

     "Are you suuuure? Because your diary says otherwise."

     "What?" N asked, turning to face her. "You read my diary? I mean, what diary?"

     "No, but you admitted something!" FN said nudging her with her elbow.

     "Okay, I'm going to use the bathroom. This conversation is over," N said, walking away as her friend called to her, teasing her even more.

     "Are you sure you're not just saying you're not attracted to him. Come on, N!"

     Please. Feelings? For him?

     N may have found him mildly attractive, but there was no future for them. She was his secretary after all.

     -          -          -

     "There's no work experience listed on your resume. So, why should I hire you?"

     N sat calmly in her seat, maintaining eye contact with The Once-ler as she spoke.

     "I used to work as a volunteer secretary at a small business over in Blue City. My friend's parents were involved in business, and I grasped the basics when I was just a teenager. I'm a quick learner, and I can easily adapt to any environment."

     The Once-ler tapped his pencil against his desk and frowned.

     "Okay, let's say you're in my office and someone calls me for an order of thneeds. What would you say?"

     "If you're not there, I would ask them how many they would like. Then, I would write down that number, where they're from, and their phone number and would tell them I'd get back to them," N explained, "After that, I would find you and fill you in."

     "And if I'm busy?"

     "I'll leave a note on your desk and start working on something else?" N said questioningly, unsure of whether or not that was correct.

     "I'll be honest with you, Miss N," Once-ler said, setting down the pencil. "You're probably the most qualified person I've interviewed all day. Someone else said that they'd get my attention by throwing a chair at me... Where would they even get a chair?"

     N bit her lip to keep herself from snickering. Someone really said they'd throw a chair at him?

     "Alright," Once-ler said, standing up and sticking out his hand. "Welcome to the company, N."

     N's eyes widened and she shook his hand.

     "I won't let you down," she said. "When do I start?"

     -         -          -

     N stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. All she could think about was that memory.

     Seriously FN, she thought, turning to her side. There. I'm thinking about him. Are you happy now?