The Assistant

Chapter Ten

"And with that, ladies and gentlemen, I would like us all to take this as the one night we put everything behind us and celebrate!" After what felt like the longest speech Aurora had sat through her hands stung from clapping so much, the hall was packed and decorated beautifully with gold and black trimmings everywhere. The lights were dim, only a few shining bright. It was a surprise to Aurora to see Hiroto and Mason stand up and give a speech. Of course, other bosses Aurora didn't know had their turn as well, more or less saying the same thing repeatedly. "Man, who knew being a big CEO assistant was this rewarding?" One of them said, "Right, I mean, other than being a slave, this rules." laughter was heard around our table, and the seating arrangement was not random; they had a rank to sit with; luckily, Aurora found herself sitting next to Michael and a bunch of unfamiliar people.

Aurora sat content sipping fancy. Champaign was lucky not to be one of the people to get up and deliver a speech. Michael had told her that even some assistants were going up there saying something tacky about the business. The only vexing part was all the news reporters and photographers that could come out of nowhere to take pictures, but of course, it was only allowed by permission. The entire fact of it made Aurora nervous, but they weren't too focused on the company employees and their partners for anything; the models were getting flashed left and right. Aurora felt proud in the sense that the company made it this far and she had a role to play; smiling to herself, she listened closely, hearing all the murmurs of everyone at their table. It was no surprise Rachael Bellows, their most famous female model, was Jared Wilson's date, the famous male model; there were rumors about them dating.

"Don't you think Rachael is so hot?" Michael tapped on her shoulder. "Not, I mean, her face is probably twenty-four percent skin and seventy-nine percent make-up." Aurora and Michael laughed gossiping about the models and the awful choice of dresses people came in. "Aurora, what a cute dress." Aurora knew that gut-wrenching voice anywhere. "Thank you, Becky; that's a very revealing dress." Aurora smiled at her just before looking over at Michael. "At least I stand out." She had a point; she did stand out to many of the guests and plenty of CEOs who came, but all for the bad and right reasons. Aurora watched as Hiroto gave his last speech; he was talking about how far he came in this company and the many more achievements he would want to accomplish in the business. Aurora Rally admires Hiroto, not because he is a successful boss, but because he does care about every one of his employees and the company. Aurora felt her heart warm and beat faster thinking of him; the quick eye contact he would make with her made her smile curve longer and longer. It was feelings; she has feelings for him.

"Don't stare too long," Becky interrupted her thoughts. "You aren't that special; you're just his secretary, nothing more. He had other assistants before; remember that?" Aurora felt that cut in her cheat; the thought of him treating his other assistants the way he did her was true. Who even was she to him? Her smile dropped, her breathing became a little slower, and the world around her became dim. Why was she feeling this way all of a sudden? Was it the realization that she did start developing feelings and that he made her feel so safe? She had no right to be jealous or even feel this way; it's her boss, she couldn't mean; it's not like she didn't know he had another assistant before her; it was the fact that he was so affectionate to her that made her feel like he was just nice and that it would only be that and nothing else; the trip was nothing more than business. "Oh honey, don't pull that face; it just is the way it is. Better luck next time, though, with someone who is trying to get with you and not work with you." Becky gave her a sly smile before flipping her hair dramatically. Aurora knew Becky was always trying to mess with her, but this time it sank in. Hiroto had finished up his speech, bowing before his eyes met her, giving her a wink before walking off the stage.