And I still come back to you
Part four: The perfect assistant and the peacemaker
Nick Pepper considered himself an excellent assistant. Since he worked for Alexis Meade her boss had never lost a call, an appointment, a note, a letter, and her morning bagel always materialized on her desk. Nick would have arrived soon when he wanted, he had only to continue in that way. Once he had talked about his ambition with Daniel Meade, and the editor-in-chief had assured him that with the right acquaintances (mostly female) and the right ties he would be realized soon. He had bought new ties, a lot. But as regards women, in that days he had only the " fight" with Amanda during the paintball's battle, and a lunatic receptionist wasn't the best for his carrier – good only for burst on the neck and breast (By that time the report about the sad destiny of Cliff's new shirt had done the rounds in the entire Meade Publications).
Taking advance of that the men bathroom was empty, he hesitated for a little more to look better himself in the mirror, trying to make out how much his birthmark shown up, if he looked tanned enough, if the tie – that was essential – suited him well..
"The tie suits you perfectly, if you are asking yourself that."
Nick Pepper turned, and he faced a great big boy with a great smile. And with a very red neck.
"Do we know?" he asked him, aware to have seen him yet somewhere.
"Oh no. I'm Cliff St. James, I'm making a photo shoot for the next issue. You are Nick Pepper, Alexis's Meade assistant, aren't you?"
"Yes.. I am." Cliff kept on staring him. What wanted that great big boy with the red neck from him? "Problems?" Nick asked.
"Yes. I mean, no. I mean, not for us. I mean, not directly for us."
"What?" Nick didn't understand. "What.. are you hitting on me?" Nick recoiled.
"Please? Oh no.. how do you believe a gay could flirt?"
"I have no idea, and I'm sure I don't want to know much more about." Nick went stiff, he had started to sweat. "If you aren't flirting with me, what do you want?"
"Right. I suppose you have heard what's happened this morning in the studio."
"Uh.. wait" Nick's eyes came back on the huge red on Cliff's neck. "Are you the one that Amanda has soaked with coffee?"
"I confirm. This is why I need you."
Nick had started to renounce to understand something "And this would interest me because.."
"Because you go out with Amanda. Or you did. Or you will, I don't know.. You can help me."
Cliff didn't stop staring at you like he was the most important person in the world. Sure he wasn't flirting with him?
"You're a bit confused." Nick answered "I didn't go out with her, I don't, and probably I'll never go. And in any case I don't understand how this could concern you."
"If she isn't important for you, why were you trying to send her a bunch of flowers? Ah, in the future , try with roses, red roses.. Someone has told me that pale carmine is her favorite color."
Nick frowned. "How do you know that? Wait, don't say anything. I understand.. is she your fat hag?"
"Not really. My red neck should show you what kind of relationship, I have with her.. By the way , I'm Marc's boyfriend. It's about him and Amanda."
"I don't care."
"Will you help me to make peace between them?"
"Actually, I didn't know they had fought"
"Will you help me?"
"Will you give me another tips?"
"You'll be able to ask directly to whom better knows her."
Nick stared again at Cliff. Maybe he could really earn something from that story. Just he wasn't so happy that the great big boy had got before him that after all he liked the lunatic receptionist.
"Ok. What should I do?"
Nick Pepper considered himself an excellent assistant. And not only for his boss.