You Again

chapter 4

~Margot~
(three weeks after behing hired at Santiago Encorperated)

"I'm faxing you the files Mr. Santiago asked for from the UK Branch." Christopher said over the phone. "I've already gone through and analyzed the financial data. I'll fax you that information as well. Mr. Santiago needs you to highlight important information in the files and number the pages before his virtual meeting with the branch manager at noon today."

"Alright, Chris, thank you." I replied, picking up the heafty stack of paper from the fax machine. Chris was a life saver. We met in the lunch room on my first day a couple weeks ago and got to talking about what it was like working in this office. He didn't tell me anything I didn't already know about our boss, but I did learn that Chris had been a PA for a technology company in California before he moved out to New York and became the CFO of Santiago Encorperated. Ever since then I've asked him for pointers just to make sure I'm doing things right.

I sat down at my desk with a sigh, glancing at the clock. I had two hours to get this done and to organize the ever growing stack of files on the floor beside my desk. I was glad I had already went through Theo's schedule for the day, otherwise I'd be even farther behind. I had to finish today, before winter break started. Theo hadn't hired a new PA as soon as Stacy went on her maternity leave, so the work had been piling up for months before he had the mind to hire me.

The phone rang again.

"Margot McKinnon, Mr. Santiago's PA office, how may I help you?"

"Margot, we've got an unauthorized entry heading your way. Says he needs to talk to Mr. Santiago but he doesn't have an appointment. Let me know if you need me to send up security."

"Will do, Lauren." As soon as I put the phone down the man walked in. "Ace?"

"Margot? What are you doing here?"

"I work here, dipshit. What are you doing here?"

"A little someone in that room over there won't answer my calls. Can I go in?" He smirked, leaning against my desk.

"You're gonna have to wait, buddy. He's in a meeting." 

"Mr. Hernandez, what part of 'don't call me on my personal phone' don't you understand?" Theo teased, leaning against the door frame to his office. I guess his meeting is done.

"All of it. I'm afraid I don't understand English." My cousin responded, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Ah." Theo said in fake understanding, "¿Qué tal el español? No me llames a mi teléfono personal."

|What about Spanish? Don't call me on my personal phone.|

"No, yo tampoco entiendo español, en realidad, soy sordo. No puedo entenderte absuloto." Ace replied with a sneaky smile.

|No, I don't understand Spanish, in reality, I'm deaf. I can't understand you at all.|

"Eres un idiota, Ace." I teased.

|You're an idiot, Ace.|

"Eso es porque tu jefe es tonto, cousin." He grinned.

|Your boss is a fool, cousin.|

"No, solo eres un idiota."

|No, you're just an idiot.|

"Ay!"  He exclaimed, placing a hand to his chest in mock hurt. Once the laughter had died down it was clear the mood had shifted. "Where the hell are my parts, Santiago?"

"Would you believe me if I told you they were stolen by the Italian mafia?"

"No." My cousin laughed.

"The freight boats with your parts are at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, Ace. You remember those freak typhoons a couple weeks ago, yes? There's a back order on car parts across the country. Your lucky the freight company is covering costs, otherwise you'd be paying me double."

"See that wasn't so hard, Theo." Ace drawled.

"That's not the hard part." Theo scoffed, "The hard part is seeing your ugly name on my phone and not hanging up."

"When's your lunch break, short stack?" Ace rolled his eyes as he turned to me, ignoring Theo's insult.

"Do you need me for your meeting with the manager of the UK Branch?" I asked Theo, who shook his head, "Then noon."

"Come have lunch with Katie and I, Ambrosial."

"Ooooo, are you gonna actually order your own food this time or is your sister going to have to do it for you?"

"Fuck off." He scowled, walking into the elevator.

"Love you too, see you at lunch!" I called out happily. Ace flipped me off as the doors closed causing me to burst out in laughter.

"I didn't know he was your cousin?" Theo asked, a small smile gracing his face.

"Yeah, unfortunately. You guys seem like friends?"

"We went to high school together, shared same math class. I'm annoyingly smart as he puts it, and he's got average brains."

"You are annoyingly smart."

"So are you."

"It wasn't so long ago you thought I was brain dead." I countered dryly.

"Well, you've proved me wrong. And I don't think your going to fall on the podium during your valedictorian speech anymore either." He smiled, disappearing back into his office and leaving me confused at his relatively nice behavior towards me.

____________________________

I do not speak Spanish
so please kindly
correct any of my
mistakes and I will
fix them, thanks.

~Ez