Sansa opened the door into reception and was greeted by a smiling Margaery, who excitedly bounded up to meet her. Though a little taller than Margaery, they were similar in appearance, both slim with long hair and light eyes, and currently with matching beams on their lips. She knew she would be good friends with her in the days to come.

"Hey, Sansa! How are you? I have been so excited for you to start working, you know? There are no other girls around my age in the office, and I need a girlfriend to gossip with!" She paused for a second to laugh. "You're working on the top floor, so I'll give you a quick tour to show you around and introduce you to everyone, then I'll show you upstairs, ok?" Margaery chatted to her non-stop a quick walk around the ground floor, which was only a couple of offices. They walked past Bronn on the quick walk around, and again Sansa didn't miss the smile Margaery gave him, or the look he gifted her with in return. Grinning to herself, she turned her attention back to the tour. "The first floor is just really me that you'll need to know. You know Bronn already, of course. He's on the eighteenth floor. I'm sure you'll get along. He's pretty easy to talk to. Then you're on the twentieth floor, with Sandor. You'll be his secretary. Don't mind him if he's a little grumpy. That's just the way he is. You'll get used to it after a little while." Margaery warned as they entered the elevator. Sansa nodded. She could deal with a little grumpiness after living with her five siblings for sixteen years. Her companion pressed the button for the top floor, and within thirty seconds they were there.

She looked around as she stepped into the top floor's open lobby space, filled with one large desk outside a huge mahogany door, which she assumed was her boss' office. The floors were stone, the two side walls for the most part were huge windows. On the wall opposite her, separating her secretarial space from the office, plain stone bricks were used to add some form of detail to the otherwise sparse area, which matched the wall with the elevator door. It was completely masculine, she noted with an audible sigh of disappointment. It was bare of decor of any kind, and she knew she would have to add some personality to the room as soon as she got the chance.

"This is your desk, and that's Sandor's office just behind it. He will arrive soon. I think the first thing you'll be doing is just getting to know the computers and everything. When you answer the phone, say 'Clegane Steel, how can I help?'. It's a judgement call if you think Sandor will want to take the call. If you can sort it out yourself, do. If Sandor's not in, or he says he doesn't want to talk to anyone, say you'll take a message. Usually it will be important clients trying to arrange meetings, ok? His diary is on the computer. If you need anything, I'm speed dial two on the phone, so give me a call or an email and I'll help out. I'll tell you when Sandor arrives so you're able to prepare for him." Margaery gave her an encouraging smile and a quick, friendly hug before pressing the button for the ground floor again. Sansa only had time to call a 'thank you' before the doors closed, leaving her completely alone.

"Ok, then..." Sansa said, wringing her hands together nervously as she walked towards her desk, trying to absorb the whirlwind of information she had been given. She sat at the desk in a leather chair that was obviously built for someone a lot larger than herself. It was clear the furniture was new. Perhaps Sandor Clegane had never had a secretary before, she wondered. Getting her mind in a work mode, she switched on the computer, opened a few apps to figure out what was what, and spent the next half hour trying to understand what she was supposed to do. She had tabs open for the calendar she had found containing her boss' appointments and meetings. A ping alerted her to a new email. Margaery had said Sandor was on his way up, with a cheerful smiley face by the side. She took a deep breath as she awaited her new boss' arrival.

I was only a couple of minutes before the doors opened, and Sansa prepared a beaming smile onto her glossed lips. A moment passed as the elevator unveiled a hugely tall man dressed all in black. A hint of recognition passed her mind before she realized.
Oh, Gods.

Her smiled disappeared instantly as she covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. A fierce blush covered her cheeks. No, no, no, no. This couldn't be happening. The man from the lobby the other day whom she had completely embarrassed herself in front of with her appalling manners. She had convinced herself she would never see him again. She had told herself that he was just a client or a delivery man or a freelance employee. Anything but Sandor Clegane himself. He could not be the owner of the company. He could not be her boss. She repeated them over and over again in her mind, though she knew it was a lie. A muffled whimper of fear and embarrassment escaped her covered mouth as he gained feet at a time with each step. Her hands were shaking, she noticed absently as she forced herself to stand up and greet him, the only thing she could think to do.

He looked irritated at her though she had not yet said a word. His looming stance that had intimidated her only two days ago had somehow intensified. He looked positively terrifying, even more so now that she knew his status. He was superior to her in every way, it seemed. He didn't appear to want to start the introductions, so she took it upon herself, though reluctantly, to try and redeem herself from her dreadful first impression.

"Ser, Mr Clegane." She stammered out, her voice near a whisper as she fixed her eyes to his chin, too afraid to dare meet his eye. "I'm Sansa Stark, your new secretary." She lowered her eyes to the floor when she had finished her shaky introduction, and she wiped her hands on her skirt to stop them shaking.

"I'm no Ser." He grunted out. Was that all he had to say, she wondered. She opened her mouth for a moment, but no sound came out. Gods, what should she say? Nervously, she took a strand of her loose, straight hair and entwined it through her fingers, an irritating telltale habit she had developed from her years of anxiety. She needed to say something to break the awkward silence she had found herself in. Perhaps she should apologize? Yes, that would do.

"I didn't realize who you were, the other day. I'm sorry I stared. I still feel awful about it." She muttered nervously, keeping her gaze on her feet.

"Aye, I figured." Another short reply. He must be angry at her. The was no other reason as to why he would be so short with his replies. She glanced up quickly to meet his eye before returning her stare to the floor. What should she say now? She chewed anxiously on the inside of her cheek as she planned her next sentence.

"Its good to meet you... again. Thank you for this job. I'll try my best not to let you down." She offered in hope of a slightly more elaborate answer.

All she was rewarded with was a harsh grunt, a noise she couldn't decide if it was a laugh or a snort. Neither was particularly positive. She didn't have time to react before he stormed past her into his office, leaving her dumbfounded in her spot.

She quickly pressed speed dial 2 on her phone as soon as Sandor's door had slammed. Bouncing anxiously on her chair, she had to stop herself screaming when Margaery picked up with an ever cheerful "Hello, Clegane Steel. How can I help?"

"Margaery? It's Sansa." She hissed in a near whisper.

"Oh, hey! You met the boss... again?" She teased with a hint of a stifled laugh in her voice.

"You knew what happened the other day! Why didn't you warn me? He hates me!"

"Oh, don't be silly! He doesn't hate you. He's like that with everyone, trust me. I'm getting another call now, Sansa. You'll be fine, hon. Call me if you need anything else. Bye!"

Margaery hung up, leaving her isolated once again.

She worked through the day, answering phone calls and emails and scheduling appointments until the time came for her to go home. Knowing it was only polite to say goodbye to her boss, she forced herself to knock on his door.

"Come in." He answered in a harsh, rasping voice.

"I... I'm going home now, Mr Clegane. I came to say goodnight." He seemed surprised when he raised his eyes to look at her, his brow furrowed in what seemed to be confusion. When she forced herself to meet his eyes, she realized they were not always hateful. He looked almost kind, though not quite, and the moment of impassiveness to her politeness was soon gone.

"Aye, goodbye." He grunted before returning to his paperwork.

She sighed at her personal failure at the attempt to make her boss feel something other than irritation at her. Still, she forced a smile onto her face, determined not to let this be a dreadful first day, and closed his office door behind her. She went downstairs, got Margaery to sign the lease for her apartment with some ten minutes of small talk, and returned to the motel.

Tomorrow would be better, she told herself firmly. She would make Sandor Clegane like her if it took her whole life.