Personal assistant

Hot under the collar

"I, I... I..."

I desperately tried to think of something to say which wouldn't anger her more, but she was raging. A little excessive in my opinion, if she just let me explain she would perhaps calm down.

"Rupert, if you know she's easily distracted, then don't distract her!"

"Sorry, Sofia," He hung his head in apology, standing timidly in the door frame as her fiery eyes turned towards me. They bore into my soul, and I wondered what was so infuriating about this ordeal. 

"I was in the bathroom, I wasn't slacking off, and I apologise for making so much noise, I didn't mean to disrupt you."

My hands were clasped in front of me, and I held my head up steady, refusing to let her intimidate me. Arguing, shouting and disrespect were certainly the opposite of what I found upsetting, if anything, they were kindle to the small flame threatening to burn within my own demeanour. She was far more intimidating when hushed, eyes cool and calculating. How the tides have changed, I mused to myself, noting how that ember I felt inside earlier had been extinguished, replaced with a layer of frosty indignation. 

"You're treading on thin ice, remember? It's taken a long time for someone to even get close to your position. I can easily lengthen that time," she spat venomously, and sat back into her chair abruptly, shooing Rupert away from the door. I looked at Rupert with wide eyes, gobsmacked at how she just spoke to us. He did look very apologetic as he shut the door, and it wasn't his fault, I wasn't angry at him, I was just not expecting her to go off like that. 

I was angry right? So then why am I feeling energised? Am I someone who feeds off drama or am I just aroused by confrontation, what's wrong with me? 

I didn't even look at her after sitting back down at my desk, the added energy from our altercation caused me to work double time. I felt as if I was in hyper-concentration mode, and my mind was laser focused on the task at hand. It only took me twenty minutes, meaning I had forty left, and boy was I going to point that out. I think I was feeling petty because none of my feelings towards her had diminished, I still found her drop-dead gorgeous even after she shouted at me. We were getting along so well, and then she set that back, and I'm gonna let her know it. 

I slammed down the wad of paper onto her desk, and she jumped, dropping the pen she was using. I looked down at her coldly and unleashed my annoyance.

"Here's the work which I wasn't paying enough attention to to get done by six. And yet here I am. With my work finished. At twenty-past four. Plus my little bathroom break." I hissed the last part for effect, and she bit down on the inside of her cheek looking almost regretful, but I wasn't done yet. 

"You say you wouldn't be afraid to let me go, but I'm not at idiot. I pay attention. Just to things you wouldn't expect me to." I wandered about in front of her desk to keep her glued to me. "Like how you front jealous when others are laughing and you aren't." 

I knew I'd hit the nerve I was looking for with that last part. Her eyes flashed towards me and I could tell she was seeing red. Miss Bardot flexed her palm, eyes half-lidded, expression unreadable. I could sense the anger, but it didn't feel ominous, this time there was a thick tension present, electric in the large room. A part of it felt thrilling as I breathed steadily, the only sound to accompany. She was so silent that if a pin dropped, I'd hear it. The powerful woman looked at me like she wanted to consume me, but not in a dangerous way. I needed to loosen this up.

"You're my boss. I'm not supposed to talk to you like that, but you told me respect means everything to you, and you wanted us to work together. It's my first day and you're yelling at me like I've burnt your house to the floor or something, what is going on?"

Her face had softened, the harsh, vexed lines on her forehead had faded, and she appeared remorseful. I continued for her, because to be honest I was feeling quite shaken by the fact I'd just outwardly put my boss in her place, and wanted to forget about the whole thing.

"Can we just forget about it, I'll never speak to you like that again, you have my word. I hope the files are organised ok."

I turned to leave, determined to make it out that door without getting stopped.

"Lana." 

She used my first name. I suddenly felt tingly and rooted to the spot. I didn't want to leave the room. 

I didn't want to leave the room because she was in it. 

"I'm sorry. Like you, I want to just move on, but I want you to know I will never hang your job out on the line like that again. It may be early days, but I know how much this means to you, it's just..."

She sighed, and I slowly turned around to face her, taking my hand off the door.

"I've been left with double the work since I let my last assistant go, and I haven't had more than four hours of sleep a night since then. I was so relieved when I hired you that I would be able to relax a little more and I don't know, I just lost it when I saw you taking a break because I haven't in months. It was still out of order from me, please accept my apology."

"It's ok..." I replied, suddenly feeling like I had ruined whatever it was that sparkled between us by taking her down a notch. Fatigue wasn't presented on her sharp features, it was glossed over by my attraction to her. She truly was stunning, not a hair out of place. I would never have guessed Sofia was exhausted, she held herself with such poise for someone who claimed she was weary, and her skin was such a lustrous toffee colour for someone so drained.

"Do you want me to stay overtime tonight?" I asked politely. "Just so that you can get a head start on all the beauty sleep catch up?"

She smiled gratefully, but I nearly yelled at my foolish word choice on the spot.

"Not that you need beauty sleep... I meant just sleep... erm..." I mumbled, clenching and unclenching my fists by my sides awkwardly. Her smile turned into a chuckle, and I knew I had eradicated any awkwardness from our earlier affliction.

"Go home Lana," she replied contently. "Thanks for all your help. Tomorrow starts at seven, I'll see you then."

I opened the door and of course Rupert nearly fell backwards as I pushed it open, he was listening to our conversation. He continued to commend me on my diffusing skills even as the elevator started to descend. 

"I'll see you tomorrow," I called at him, and beamed ear to ear at the thought of Sasha and Matt reacting to all the gossip from my first day. 

Actually I better not tell Matt she yelled at me, he'd absolutely flip his shit.