Free Spirit

three

The next week of my new job went by smoothly...or as smoothly as possible considering I had to do loads of work on top of tending to nearly every one of Mr. Alexander's needs.

All week, the man had been calling my office phone countless times to order me to do tasks for him. These tasks ranged from picking up papers for him from the room across the hall to going downtown to get him coffee, as if the coffee in the break room wasn't enough. He even made me come into his office just to turn off the light in his attached bathroom.

Although I kept up a smiling face and acted like none of these tasks bothered me, I was seriously annoyed. I wanted to do more actual accounting work that could prepare me for my future, but I was instead forced to act like his personal slave.

On top of all this, long nights at the office we're a daily occurrence. The earliest I left the office had been seven at night, but usually it was more like nine or ten. I was tired all the time now, and it was hard for me to work as hard as I wanted to when I was drowsy.

I was currently guzzling down my third cup of coffee, as today was Friday, and the first time I would be attending a meeting alongside my boss. I was excited to check out the meeting rooms on this floor since I had been too busy to take a look around so far. However, Mr. Alexander has just informed me that the meeting would be held in his office. He also informed me that I would have to grab a few chairs from around the floor so that the other businessmen would have room to sit.

I checked the time, noting that it was 9:46 in the morning. The meeting would be starting at exactly ten, so I decided it was time to get a move on. There was a pile of chairs not far from my office, so I grabbed a few and lugged them down the hallway towards where the meeting would be taking place.

Opening the door to Mr. Alexander's office was a struggle, as was dragging the chairs across the floor and placing them in front of the desk. I had hoped that my boss would offer his assistance, but I was sorely mistaken. He just eyed me carefully, almost too carefully, as I huffed and puffed, arranging the chairs how he wanted them.

Finally finished, I plopped down in one of the chairs, getting myself together for when our guests would arrive.

Just then, Mr. Alexander decided to speak up for the first time since I had entered his room. "I would prefer if you sat on this side of the desk with me, Ms. Russo, as it would make more sense with the climate of this meeting."

"Sorry," I whispered, as I quickly stood up and pulled one of the chairs around the desk and next to his seat. I re-situated the papers I had brought for this meeting, while he just glared at his computer, looking at what appeared to be an email.

"Also, I suggest that you fix your shirt," he continued, keeping his eyes locked on his computer. "It's highly unprofessional in its current state."

I looked down at my shirt to see what he was referring to and gasped. Two of the middle buttons had come undone on my button down, white blouse, most likely having occurred when I was moving the chairs. The black, lacy bra I had decided to wear this morning was clearly visible through the gaping whole in the shirt.

I immediately fixed the buttons with trembling hands as I felt heat rush to my cheeks and ears. I was mortified. My boss had seen my lace bra, and the way he had pointed it out, so nonchalantly and without even looking my way, caused even more embarrassment. How long had my shirt been opened, and when did he even notice?

I breathed in deeply, trying desperately to force the redness in my cheeks to dissipate. "I'm sorry, sir," I mumbled, staring into my lap.

He chuckled a little in response, the first time I had heard any sort of laugh from him since I began working here. I glanced up at him, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he had just returned to reading his emails.