Vaughn

5.

"Wait, I think I heard you wrong. Did you say he paid you a grand to simply pick out an outfit for him?" Emma was shocked after I told her how much Shawn paid me the night before. I nodded.

When you have money to blow, it doesn't matter how much you pay for things. It still bothered me for accepting the money from Shawn, however, it wasn't like he gave me a choice. The guy never does. Mr. Nyguen doesn't like being denied what he offers—even with our clients he is hard-headed.

"Is he looking for another assistant?" Emma wiggled her eyebrows.

I shook my head, shooting her down. "Nope, the interns he hired from the program this year he has them working with the junior-editor."

"It isn't like he has a need for a new personal assistant when he has you," Thomas added. I'm supposed to be grateful for continuing to work next to him—I am. Yet, I can't help wonder why he hasn't decided to put someone under my wing. In the last year I have been able to handle every situation he throws my way, mentoring an underclassmen would be a piece of cake.

"But the point of the program is for him to mentor—which he does occasionally," I muttered, throwing a piece of blueberry muffin into my mouth.

"Before you, his personal assistants weren't even making it past the semester—"

Emma cut him off, "yeah because he wants you to devote your whole life to him!" she exclaimed.

"C'mon you are being a bit exaggerated," I responded to Emma, giving her a small eye-roll.

She moved her head to the side, giving me a stare. "Am I?"

Before I could answer her, my phone went off. "Speaking of the devil," Emma mouths as I answered my phone.

"Ms. Vaughn, I need your assistance," he sounded annoyed. I quickly took out my planner from my backpack and turned to this week page. I was not schedule to work today, he was suppose to leave out of town this morning and arrive back at night. What did I forget to pencil down? "There is no need for you to panic," he laughed.

"Panic? Who is panicking?" I tried to keep my cool. It wasn't like me to forget to write down important information, especially if it revolves around Shawn. The break-up didn't even interfere with my job or school—at least I am hoping it didn't.

"You can stop shuffling around your planner, it won't be pencil down." I stopped flipping pages and began to slowly look around the cafe. How did he know what I was doing?

"Are you watching me?" My voice got higher, feeling my cheeks turn red.

"If you are implying if I am stalking you—then no. I don't have the time to do that. I am outside of the cafe by my car." I could feel the sly smirk he does when he is messing with me.

Emma and I always get the table next to the big window which is visible to the outside world. Looking out the window, there he was, on the other side of the road leaning against his Porsche. He was in his usual black business suit and his black shades.

I hanged up the phone and gathered my belongings into my backpack.

"What's going on?" Thomas asked worriedly.

"Nyguen duties," Emma giggled.

For some reason I was angry at him for showing up to the cafe, it was out of his character to do so. If he needed me, he could have texted or called, but to show up to the cafe where I hang out with my friends is a privacy invasion. I like to keep my work up in the upper east side and my personal life around the area I live in. Plus, how did he know I was going to be here.

"I'll see you guys later," I threw my backpack over my shoulder and went out the cafe. I quickly crossed the street before the light turned green.

"Ms. Vaughn, I suggest not to be hanging up on your boss." he said sternly.

"Sorry, you being here caught be off guard. What do you need, Shawn?" I questioned him. We had to move to the sidewalk since we were standing in the way of passing cars.

"My meeting got cancelled and I forgot I had a charity event to attend," He informed me, still agitated by the circumstances. Again, I pulled out my planner from my backpack and went through this months charity events. There wasn't anything scheduled for this week. I would know since I am the one who confirms his attendance.

"Ms. Vaughn..." I heard him say.

"Shawn, I must have forgotten to put it in the calendar. I am always up to date with your schedule and I can't find any notes about it. I am sorry, it will never—" he snatched the planner from my hands, forcing me to look up at him.

"Stop." He frowned. "This charity event wouldn't be on the planner, it is a family event,"

"Oh..." my voice came out small. If he wasn't upset with me before, he sure is now.

"I would have not bothered you on your day off, unless it was an emergency." he runs his fingers through his blonde hair in distress. "I can't get myself out of not attending, so I need you to accompany me,"

"What?" I spit out without thinking. "I mean...business events I understand," and even so, I have only attended two charity events with him. He likes to go to these things on his own and I don't pester him about it. My job is confirm his attendance and remind him about it, but I don't know how I feel about attending a family event.

"Thank you for the consideration, but I don't think I am the right person to accompany you," I said, scratching the back of my ear—a thing I do when I am nervous.

"You are getting too opinionated and I am not liking that," He commented, taking off his shades. "You are my assistant and difficult duties come with the job. If you think this is the task you cannot handle, please voice it out now. So I can find someone who can."

It hurt to hear him say that; the past year I thought I had build my credibility with him. I am an idiot—he did make it clear he sees people as disposable. That includes me. I wanted to cry, mostly out of hurt, but I kept my composure.

"I apologize Mr. Nyguen," I bite down on the inside of my cheek stopping myself from releasing the tears. "I assure you, I can handle any task the job calls for."

"Ms. Vaughn," His voice caused chills to go down my spine. "I am not your enemy, I am molding you to be a prodigy." Was I suppose to take that as a compliment?

"Yeah, thank you. So what do you need of me?" I asked, staring straight into his eyes.

"I will talk to you about as we drive to my place," He opened the door and I got in. As he went around the car to the driver's side, I turned the other way and wiped away the tear rolling down my cheek.