Part I
"This is exciting, wouldn't you say Jay?"
Jay gave his best charming smile to the interviewer, eyes sparkling. "It is. Chicago Annual Tech Summit is always my favorite event of the year and I am just so amazed that JH Tech gets to be the headliner again this year."
"You are the premiere and leading tech company for five years running. And each year, you've managed to come up with more and more innovative ideas and ventures. And of course, this year is no exception. Would you like to tell us a little bit more about your latest venture?"
"I'd be honored to," Jay replied, adjusting his glasses before returning his full attention to the interview and the cameras around him. "At JH Tech, we've always pride ourselves with being the leader in innovative and cutting edge technological advances. In the past, we've primarily focused our attention on the gaming sector and I don't know, I think we've been pretty successful at that, wouldn't you say Lisa?" Jay smirked, flirting with the interviewer.
"I'd say," Lisa replied, blushing under Jay's attention. "I mean you've only been the creator of the best selling games every year. Not to mention, you've completely covered the market on gaming devices."
Jay chuckled. "Thank you. As a gamer myself, it's like having all my teenage dreams come true. I mean I can't tell you the countless hours I've spent in my room just playing video games in middle and high school."
"Oh, I can't see that," Lisa interrupted, caressing Jay's arm flirtatiously. "I'm sure you were too busy being out with girls when you were in high school. I mean, look at you. You must've been the most popular guy in school."
The grin on Jay's face faltered for a second before he quickly recovered, that charming smile that drove women crazy pasted back on. "Oh, you'd be wrong there Lisa. But all that time spent playing games has just naturally led me to form JH Tech with my best friend. You know Greg?" Jay pointed at Mouse who was standing off-camera and looked like a deer caught in the headlight when the camera quickly panned over to him. "Say hi Mouse." Mouse waved, looking every bit as uncomfortable. "Yeah, he's the best." Jay said as the camera returned back to him.
"Cute too," Lisa commented.
"Very," Jay agreed, chuckling. "And we've decided that it has been long past due for real advancements to be made in Virtual Reality when it comes to gaming. Think about this Lisa. You've ever watch Yu-gi-oh as a child?" Lisa nodded. "It's the best right? I've always dreamt of having that technology where monsters come to life and the players get to duel for real. Imagine how awesome is that? Well, we're working hard to make that a reality. A virtual reality." Jay laughed at his own pun.
"That sounds amazing. I know my nephew would love something like that. But I know that's not the only new venture you have your eyes on right?"
Jay laced his fingers together, his glasses glinting as the light bounced off from it. "We're also venturing into the sports world. I think with the heavy focus on analytics in the popular sports like NBA and NFL, we have an untapped market. We're really excited about that too."
Lisa sighed. "Everything sounds amazing. You are truly a wonder Jay Halsted. You're in your 30s and you're already mega successful. Not to mention, look at you. You're truly every woman's dream man. How are you still single?"
Jay bit his lips, dropping his gaze down to his lap feign shyness. "I don't know," he shrugged, bringing his blue eyes back to the camera. "I guess I just haven't met the one yet."
"I swear I heard every woman in the country swoon," Mouse teased as the two best friends walked out of the studio. "Seriously man, where did you pick up your game from because I need to learn a thing or two from you."
Jay rolled his eyes, too busy looking at his phone. "Trust me Mouse, all you need is money, power and a few cliches memorized and women are just easy."
Mouse scoffed. "Yeah? That wasn't the case for us in High School." He sighed, flashing back to their high school days. "Man, you remember what losers we were back then? We didn't have any other friends and girls avoided us like we had the plague. Look at you now though. Women are practically throwing themselves at you whenever you go."
"I don't want to talk about high school," Jay stated, a bit harshly. "And besides, all these women are shallow as fuck." He paused and turned to Mouse. "You want some advice Mouse? Don't fall for any of them. Use them, have fun with them sure but don't make the mistake of taking any of them seriously."
Mouse rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah Mr. Casanova. I'll take that advice to heart."
"I'm serious," Jay retorted. "They didn't want us when we were losers did they? But now that we're rich and successful, they're suddenly interested. That's called a user in my book." Mouse didn't bother replying, knowing that Jay was set in his ways. His friend, as much as Mouse loved him, had certainly changed from the scrawny 12 years old that he was when they first met. Back then Jay was more trusting, open, and saw the world with rose colored glasses. But growing up being bullied, teased and picked on by the 'popular crowd' and ostracized for being smart and different had changed Jay. Plus there was that incident in Jay's senior year.
So now as Jay's height grew and he grew into his own body, his walls also grew and he became more guarded and had a more cold-hearted view of the world, especially women. Sure, he dated them— a bunch of them actually— but he never took them seriously. At least not more than as arm candy for whatever event he was attending. That was why he had a revolving door of models, actresses, instagram influencers that he recycled through— all hoping and thinking that they'd be the one to change and tame the Jay Halstead.
"Mr. Halstead," Millicent, Jay's personal assistant, greeted him meekly, barely able to make eye contact with him. Jay kept a stern face, in contrast to the soft smile Mouse gave the poor girl, who seemed terrified of her boss. "Um, here's your schedule for the rest of the day," she said, handing him a paper.
Jay arched his brows, not taking the paper that was held out. "I'm a CEO of a multi-billionaire tech company and you're using paper to give me my schedule?" Jay asked, his voice flat yet had an underlying sinister tone to it. "Are you kidding me right now?"
Millicent quickly withdrew the paper, tucking it back inside her folder. "I'm sorry, Mr. Halstead. But it's only my second week and I haven't quite gotten used to all the devices that I'm supposed to be using."
Jay crossed his arms, shaking his head. "If it takes you more than two weeks to learn to use simple devices like an iPad when a five year old could learn in a day, you're in the wrong business Melanie."
"Millicent," the girl corrected, Jay just quirking his brow in return. "Sorry."
"Well Millicent," Jay sneered. "I think it's time for you to clean out your locker because you're fired." Millicent squeaked, shocked. Jay just shook his head and entered the car, slamming the door and the driver driving off.
Mouse gave the girl a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry about that." Millicent couldn't reply, too in shock that she was just fired on the spot. "But it really takes you more than two week to learn how to use an iPad?" Mouse asked, incredulously. He took pity on the girl, who looked like she just got out of college and just got fired from her first job. He sighed, pulling out a business card from his wallet. "Here, call this number. She's a friend of mine and I know she's looking for a new assistant. Tell her Mouse sent you." Millicent took the business card, giving Mouse a grateful smile.
Mouse walked over to his chauffeured car, stopping before he was about to enter. "Oh Millicent, learn to use an iPad before you give that number a call." he teased before he closed the door, returning to JH Tech.
"Another one bites the dust," Trudy muttered under her breath when she saw Jay and Mouse return to the office without the mousy looking girl following. She shook her head, knowing that she was in for a berating from her boss about not being able to meet his high standard in finding the right personal assistant.
"Trudy!" Jay called, hands on his hips as he stood in the doorway of the Human Resources department. "My office," he ordered before walking away.
"Right." Trudy turned to the doe-eyed girl that was startled by the angry stance of their boss. "Burgess," Trudy called, snapping the girl's attention back to place. "Make yourself useful and handle things around here while I go get my head cut off by the Devil Prince would you?"
"Yeah," Kim agreed, sending her supervisor a smile. "Good luck Ms. Platt."
Trudy groaned, "I told you Ms. Platt is my gold digging mother after she cleaned out my philandering father's bank accounts. Just call me Trudy." She sighed. "Or at the least make sure my headstone only says Trudy if I don't come back from this." Kim giggled, more than happy that she wasn't in Trudy's place and had to face Mr. Halstead's wrath.
Trudy knocked on the office door before entering, finding Jay standing by the floor to ceiling window with his hands cocked on his hips, his back to her. "Jay."
Jay turned, coming face to face with one of the very few employees that was allowed to call him Jay. "Trudy."
"What happened to Millicent or Melody or whatever?" Trudy asked, taking a seat even though Jay was still standing up. "That's like the fifth P.A I've hired this month. What was wrong this time?"
"What wasn't," Jay snapped. "She didn't know the first thing about being a personal assistant, didn't know how to use basic devices and I swear to god, she was the dumbest person on earth," Jay complained, rolling his head back. "Mouse had to hold her hands for everything."
"I'm sorry," Trudy offered.
"Just where are you finding these airheads from?"
"From the applicant pool." Trudy replied.
Jay sneered. "And she was the best candidate? How is that even possible?"
Trudy gave Jay a look. "Are you even aware of your reputation? Sure, you might be the most eligible bachelor in Chicago or whatever nauseating title you've won this month but as a boss, you have a reputation of being….demanding," Trudy explained. "Half of the employment agencies in Chicago quiver in fear when they see the opening for the P.A position. And the ones that do make it through, when they come in for face to face interview with yours truly, they're more occupied with meeting you and working under you than the actual job. And what was it that you ordered me to do?" Trudy asked. "Oh that's right. Don't hire a fangirl."
Jay scoffed, shaking his head.
"So really," Trudy continued. "My options are limited." Trudy leaned in closer, elbows on the table. "Was she really that bad?"
"She didn't know how to use an iPad and printed my schedule out on a paper," Jay replied, shuddering. "She needed to go."
"Alright fair enough, I guess. So should I send out another search?"
Jay sighed. "I guess. Double the pay so the agencies would get more candidates." He pointed his finger on his desk. "But this time, I'm choosing the assistant. Just send me the files of all the new applicants and I'll decide for myself." Trudy nodded, agreeing.
"You got it boss."
Knock Knock Knock
Erin groaned, stumbling with half of her eyes closed to the front door, cursing whoever it was that was knocking on her door at 2 in the morning. She didn't bother checking to see who it was before flicking the door open.
"Oh thank god Erin! Finally!" Erin was pushed back inside her door, her mother grabbing her shoulder.
"Mom?" Erin asked groggily. "What are you doing here?"
"I need your help baby," Bunny replied in the sickeningly sweet tone of hers. One that she always used whenever she needed something.
Erin groaned, knowing whatever Bunny wanted, it wasn't good. "What now mom?" Erin asked, "What have you gotten yourself into?"
"Honey," Bunny whined, almost pouting. "I haven't gotten myself into anything. I swear, trouble just finds me. I'm just trying to get my life back on tracks and every time, I get taken advantage of. It's probably my shit luck or because I'm just such a generous and trusting person…"
"Mom!" Erin shouted, cutting Bunny's ramblings short. " . ?"
"I need money." Erin groaned, already used to her mother always asking for a handout. "Please baby."
"Why?"
"You know Jimmy right?" Bunny began, ready with the sob story. "He was our neighbor back in that apartment we lived in? Well, I ran into him three months ago in rehab and he promised to help me get back on my feet when I got out. Only he forgot to mention that I needed to pay him back."
Erin rolled her eyes. "So you seriously thought that he'd just give you money with no strings attached, for free?"
"Well, we were friends!" Bunny claimed. "I thought friends helped each other. How was I supposed to kn.."
"Alright mom!" Erin shouted. "How much?"
"$50,000," Bunny muttered quietly.
"What?"
"$50,000," Bunny repeated, more clear this time. Erin's eyes widened, finally feeling awake, all semblance of sleep gone now.
"$50,000?!" Erin asked, shocked. "And what? You think I have that much money just lying around?"
"Baby," Bunny whined, holding Erin's arms. "I need the money. Otherwise, Jimmy has some friends that are willing to collect on his behalf."
Erin scoffed. "Mom, I don't have that much money. Even if I did, I've bailed you out so many times before. I'm not doing it."
"So you wouldn't mind seeing your mom getting her kneecap broken?" Bunny asked, accusing. "Or seeing your mom get hurt by those awful men?"
"What do you want me to do here mom?" Erin retorted, crossing her arms. "I don't have that much money. I can't pay Jimmy off."
"He's willing to talk things out, come up with some monthly arrangement. Please baby, just help your mama out. Talk to him, agree to his terms. Please? You know it's just the two of us in this world. We can only rely on each other, no one else." Erin sighed, knowing that her mom would just say whatever it took to get what she wanted. The only problem was that she was right. Her mom was the only family member Erin had in the world and despite not wanting to, she knew she just wouldn't be able to leave her mother out in the cold.
"Fine," Erin gave in. "Where can I talk to this Jimmy?" Bunny squealed in happiness, hugging Erin.
"He agreed to meet at Liberty Diner at 7 in the morning. He's giving us a last chance here Erin. Don't blow it." With that Bunny left, Erin flabbergasted at Bunny. She grunted in frustration, knowing that she just got played by her mother again and got roped into her mess….once again.
"Remember, you have six months to pay the whole debt." Jimmy sneered, "Or we come after both you and your mother!"
Erin tugged on her hair, dropping her head on the table. Just how was she supposed to come up with that much money in such short time? She worked retailed, for god's sakes and was barely making ends meet herself. Now she had her mom's debt on top?
She checked her bank account, looking at the few thousand dollars that she had managed to save. But that wasn't nearly enough. Her job wasn't enough either. She needed a new one… a better paying one if she had any hopes of paying off her debt.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Erin snapped her head back up when the lady at the employment agency entered her office. "It's just been a busy day around here."
"No problem," Erin replied as the woman took her seat at her desk.
"So Erin Lindsay," the agent said, looking at the file. "Let's see. Most of your work experiences are in retail?" Erin nodded. "Hmm, you're looking for….what kind of position?"
"Any position really," Erin replied. "One that pays better than what I'm getting right now. I've come into some unexpected emergency and need money. It's really urgent."
The agent looked at Erin, giving her a sympathetic smile. "We've all been there." She looked back at her computer, browsing through all the potential matches for jobs that would fit Erin's need. Her eyes narrowed when she saw a new open position, debating with herself if she should tell Erin about it. "Ummm, just how dire is your situation really?"
Erin bit her lips. "A matter of life and death."
The agent nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay, there is a position. A personal assistant."
"Okay…" Erin said.
"The position is very highly paid. $5,000 a month." Erin's eyes widened at the figure.
"5k for a P.A position?" Erin uttered out, unable to believe the pay. "Wait, what's wrong with the job?"
The agent sucked in her tongue. "The boss….he can be a bit demanding. It sounds great on paper but we've had our clients quit often, unable to handle the job. Then of course, they'd come here and complain to us, saying how could we do that to them? That's probably why the pay increased."
"Well I can handle it," Erin said, determined. Besides, how bad could it be? She was actually interested in getting in the corporate world so starting at an entry level position like a personal assistant sounded good to Erin. Not to mention, the pay. That $5000 was double what she was getting now. That meant that she could use the extra money as payment for her mom's debt. Really, it sounded like a dream come true to Erin.
The agent still looked apprehensive about filling the position.
"Trust me," Erin said to the agent. "I can do the job. I want to apply for it."
Jay scrolled through the files that Trudy had sent over, the number of applicants that applied for his P.A more than he was expecting. He had to admit, some of them even sounded impressive. Most of them were recent college graduates, a couple of them were even from prestigious Ivy League colleges. But everyone had to start out somewhere, even super smart and highly educated people.
"What are you doing?" Mouse asked as he joined Jay at his desk, looking at Jay's monitor. "Ah, new P.A?" Jay nodded, still scrolling through. "Any good options yet?"
"A few," Jay replied, occupied with the search. "What sounds better? A girl that just graduated from Harvard with a 3.8 GPA or a girl that used to work for a CEO of Fortune 500 company?"
"Um, sounds like you can't go wrong with either." Jay let out a snort, directing his attention back. The rest of the applicants were a blur, Jay dwindling his choices down to two until he came across the last applicant, Jay's heart coming to a stop when he saw the name and the passport sized picture that was attached to the application.
Erin Lindsay.
Jay scanned the application, looking at her qualifications and past experiences and finding them lacking. But still, as he looked back at the familiar face in the picture looking back at him, he couldn't move.
Those eyes. Those dimples. That smile.
They used to be permanent fixtures in his dreams once. The familiar features were all he dreamt about and suddenly he was flashing back to the days he worked so hard to forget. Days he thought he had left behind completely.
Days where he was pushed and shoved and teased by bullies, days where he was ignored by other kids as he sat in class alone, no one to talk to, days where Mouse was his only friend, days where he could only watch Erin Lindsay as she and her crew of popular friends glided across their high school campus with all the confident and grace that Jay himself was lacking.
"Eww what is that smell?" Stephanie sniffed the air around her, wrinkling her nose. Her friends— or more like her minions— follow her action, looking around the room. Stephanie's eyes landed on the two boys sitting together at the lunch table, their heads buried in the latest issue of Captain America. "Oh right," Stephanie said loud enough for the other kids around them to hear. "It's those two losers."
Giggles and small laughters echoed around them. Jay finally looking up from his comic book and realizing what was going on.
"Hey," Stephanie called out, getting both of their attention. "Try taking a shower sometime, would you? Your stench is seriously ruining our appetite."
Landon guffawed loudly, mouth wide open displaying the half chewed food inside. "Yeah," he shouted, agreeing with Stephanie. "Just because you guys can't get girls doesn't mean you still can't take showers." He laughed like he found his own joke hilarious and he brought his arms around his girlfriend, Erin who rolled her eyes, brushing his arm off. "Or at least go eat somewhere where the rest of us don't have to look at you or smell you."
Jay clenched his fists and got up from his seat, unable to control his anger. If he needed to punch Landon Vanick's smug face, then he would do so. "Come over and fight me!" Jay started, ready for a fight. But Mouse held his shoulders down, stopping his friend from getting into another fight.
"Come on man," Mouse said softly. "Let's just go!" He pulled Jay out of the cafeteria, leaving the crowd of kids laughing at them.
Mouse managed to pull Jay into the hallway, far away from the kids that tormented them.
"Fuck!" Jay shouted, punching his locker in anger. Mouse saw Jay's knuckles immediately turned red and split after the outburst of anger. "I fucking hate them!"
"Yeah, me too," Mouse agreed, patting Jay's shoulders comfortingly. "But let it go man."
"I can't let it go!" Jay argued, face still red from anger. "That's what make those fuckers think they can just bully us."
"Well, you can't get in another fight!" Mouse reminded Jay. "What would your parents say?"
"I don't give a fuck about my dad!"
"Okay but what about your mom then?" Mouse knew Jay would give in then. "Come on, just let it go. Just a few more months in this hellhole and we'll be out. We'll graduate, go to MIT and we'll create the most awesome video games. Remember?"
Jay rolled his eyes, nodding. "Yeah," he said, giving in. He needed the reminder that high school wouldn't last forever. Just a few more months of their senior year and they would be free, far away from the idiotic assholes at their schools. Most kids were fine, he guessed. They just ignored Jay and Mouse like they didn't exist, but for some reason the popular crowd— Stephanie and Landon and their flock of mindless sheeps— had far too much fun picking on them. It probably didn't help that Jay had a hard time controlling his anger, giving them what they wanted— a reaction. But he'd be damned if he was just going to just sit there and take whatever bullshit they threw at him.
He winced, shaking his hand in pain. The knuckles were split and there was a little bit of blood coming out of the skin. "Fuck!"
Mouse chuckled. "Told you you need to learn to control your anger."
Jay was about to retort but the closing of the locker behind them caught their attention, Jay's eyes growing in size when he saw who it was. He felt his throat dried when he saw Erin Lindsay approach them.
"Here," she said, her raspy voice making Jay's heart race faster. He looked down and saw her holding out a bandage. "For your hand," she clarified, probably because Jay was just standing still, looking at her like an idiot. Mouse finally nudged him and Jay snapped out of his thought— and that Erin Lindsay was actually talking to him— and he reached over to grab the bandage from her hand.
"Thank you," he said, doing his best not to sound nervous.
She smiled, her dimples that Jay was mesmerized by showing. She glanced around the hall quickly, like she was checking to see if they were alone. "I'm sorry about earlier. Landon…he can be an idiot," she shrugged, rolling her eyes. "Are you okay?"
Jay nodded, unable to say much else. Erin gave them another smile and walked away, leaving Jay to stare after her.
"Dude!" Mouse elbowed his sides, giddiness on his face. "Erin Lindsay just talked to you!" Mouse teased his friend, knowing just how big of a crush Jay had on the girl. He couldn't believe that Jay was actually blushing.
Jay grinned, the corner of his eyes crinkling. "I told you she was different from the rest." That was Jay's answer when Mouse first found out that his friend liked someone that was part of the popular crowd but Jay was certain that Erin was different— not mean or cruel like the rest of them. Perhaps Jay was right, after all Mouse never really saw Erin directly picking on anyone. Sure, she was dating the most obnoxious and coincidentally the most popular guy in school, Landon Vanick but from what Mouse had seen, she seemed more annoyed by him than anything.
"Yeah, you may be right about that," Mouse agreed but his friend was too busy paying attention to his crush.
But Jay wasn't right. If anything, she was far more cruel than everyone else.
Jay's mind was occupied with the memories of the past as he walked down the large hallway to the H.R department, stopping at the entrance when he heard Trudy's voice on the phone.
"I can't believe Stafford staffing only sent one girl this time," Trudy spoke into the phone. Jay heard the person on the other side laughing over the speakerphone.
"It's a miracle that I even got one for you Trudy," he heard an unfamiliar woman's voice say. "I even tried to warn the poor girl that the job and the boos was demanding but she said she needed the money desperately and was determined." Jay recalled seeing that Erin was the one applicant that was sent by Stafford Staffing. She needed money?
"Oh shit, I got to go!" Trudy immediately hung up the phone when she saw Jay. "Jay."
Jay entered the department, stopping in front of Trudy's desk. "I made my choice with the P.A. Set up an interview with Erin Lindsay," Jay ordered, immediately leaving the department after.
"You got it boss!" Trudy called after the retreating back of Jay.
Erin couldn't actually believe it. That she actually got an interview at JH Tech. When she told her friends— Annie and Caitlin— about her interview, they freaked out, filling her in on just how big the company was and just how people were dying to work for it. Not to mention, they went on and on about just how hot the CEO was. But that was a far cry from what the staffing agent had told her about the job. She had made it seem like he was a nightmare to work for.
But as she sat across from the CEO, this Jay Halstead, she had to admit her friends got it right. He was hot.
She kept a small smile on her face as she watched him look at her resume on the computer. She knew she was lacking in a lot of the department so she figured showing him that she was a positive and optimistic person with a smile on her face couldn't hurt. He glanced over at her every so often, Erin keeping that smile on every time. Finally, he was done reading her short resume and took off his glasses, resting them on his neat desk.
"Your experience leaves a lot to be desired," Jay commented, sounding unimpressed. Erin gulped.
"I understand that Mr. Halstead. But I assure you that I am a fast learner. I can pick things up super quickly. Whatever you need. I also have a lot of experience dealing with customers so if you need me to sweet talk any of your clients, I'm your girl."
Jay glanced at her statement and narrowed his eyes. There was something menacing about this guy, Erin thought. Sure he was hot but he was all tense and stoic like he hadn't gotten laid in years. But she knew it was false. Annie and Caitlin went on and on about all the different famous models he had dated before she came in for her interview.
Jay cleared his throat. "I'm sure you've heard that I can be very…..demanding," Jay started. "I have high standards both for myself and this company. I built this company from scratch and I hate to have some….assistant ruin the image of the company." Erin nodded, still trying to smile. "You don't have the proper qualification or the experience. All you have is some can-do attitude."
"That can go far in life," Erin interjected, smiling sheepishly when Jay just responded with a glare. "That's just a small joke. Sorry." Jay just grunted, not amused. Erin sighed. "Mr. Halstead, I know that I'm lacking in a lot of places but believe me, wherever I am lacking I can more than make up for it in determination and hard work. I know that you have high standards and expectations and I'm telling you, please give me a chance and let me prove to you that with me by your side, as your personal assistant, you won't regret it."
"You can go now." Erin's heart fell, knowing that she was being dismissed. She sucked in her tongue, trying to control her dislike of this arrogant guy. He was supposed to be the most eligible bachelor in Chicago? Erin could snort at that. He was an ass— a self-important, arrogant, and rude ass. But she still sucked it up, having far too much experience dealing with jerks like him at her work.
"Thank you for your time anyway," she said, making her way out of the office.
"9 a.m." Jay called out, Erin turning around in confusion. "A second late and you'll be fired before you even start."
Erin gasped in shock. "I got the job?" Jay just looked up and gave her a dead stare. "Thank you!" she smiled, this one more genuine than before. "You won't regret it."
Jay didn't say anything to that. Instead he just looked back down on his computer. "Go see Burger or Burmen in the H.R. She'll help you fill out the paperworks." Erin nodded, too excited and unable to believe that she actually got the job.
"Hello, I'm Erin Lindsay and I'm looking for Burger?" The woman at the desk just gave her a funny look. "Burmen?" The woman still looked at Erin like she lost her head. "I'm sorry. It's just I'm the new assistant for Mr. Halstead and he told me to come here and look for someone named Burger or Burmen to fill out my paperworks."
The woman nodded. "Burgess!" she barked, a small woman with brown hair a couple of desk down squeaked out, startled. "Get over here." Burgess made her way over. "This is Erin Lindsay. She's the new P.A," the woman introduced Erin to Burgess. "You should know the drill by now Burgess."
"Of course Trudy." Burgess turned to Erin. "Should we get started? Let's give you a tour of the place."
Erin followed Burgess out of the H.R department to the rest of the large company. "I'm Kim by the way."
"Erin." Erin felt comfortable around Kim. She was the first person Erin had met today that she felt comfortable around. Everyone else she had met so far was just….scary. "I can't believe I'm actually working here." Erin looked around in awe at the fancy large company. The decorations and furniture were top of the line and everything looked so modern and clean. "Is that...did we just pass by a gym?"
Kim chuckled. "Yeah. The company has a gym and a pool." She paused in her steps, turning around to face. "We even have a spa."
"Wow," Erin let out. "I guess it's true what people say. This place is like a freaking work dream come true." Then a question came to her. "Then why is the P.A position open?"
Kim let her into the cafeteria, only this cafeteria was bigger than any Erin had seen before. Varieties of choices were available, a few employees enjoying their lunch at the tables in the middle. Erin followed Kim into what she assumed was the break room, several coffee makers and a whole wall filled with coffee, teas, drinks, and snacks proudly on display.
"Let's just say it's great to be an employee here….at any other department other than Mr. Halstead's P.A." Kim replied. "The pay is amazing and the benefits are beyond and the further you work away from him the better. But being his P.A, you'd be around him all the time and you have to fulfill every one of his demands."
"Like bring him coffee?"
"For starters, yeah." Kim chuckled. "He likes his coffee very specifically. Come on."
Erin followed Kim as they went back to the top floor where Jay's office and H.R was located, finally stopping in a smaller kitchen than the communal one at the main floor.
"This is his personal one," Kim told her. "Only people from his personal office and H.R are allowed in here." Kim went over to one of the coffee maker. "Every morning at 9, he likes his coffee ready. He's very specific like I said." Kim started making the coffee, demonstrating for Erin. "It's half Colombian blend and half Ethopian blend, the water is at exactly 196 degree in a ceramic coffee dripper for a smooth pour over." Kim handed Erin a cup to taste.
Erin took a sip, letting the taste play out on her tongue. "It tastes like coffee." Maybe Erin was just unrefined when it came to fancy coffee and the many elaborate ways of making a cup. But it tasted like any other cup of Joe.
"Right?" Kim laughed, agreeing. "But Mr. Halstead swears he can taste a difference." Erin just raised her brow, not really believing that.
"What's up Burgess?" they turned at the newest comer in the office, a black man with a very nice smile making his way in.
"Kev," Kim smiled at the man. "This is Erin, she's the new P.A. Erin, this is Kevin Atwater."
"Ooh," Kevin gave Erin a sympathetic look. "The new P.A huh?" He winced. "Good luck girl." He grabbed an energy drink from the fridge before leaving.
"He's part of H.R too?"
"No," Kim replied. "He's the head of P.R here."
Erin frowned. "I thought this kitchen was only for Mr. Halstead and H.R."
"His personal office too." Erin looked confused. "It's just a nicer way of saying his friends," Kim rolled her eyes. "He has several of his friends working for him. Like Kevin went to same college with him and they're close friends. But Kevin is really nice and he's definitely the go-to if you need anything. I swear to god, he has a hook up for everything. Probably the reason why he's in P.R."
Soon they were back in H.R office at Kim's desk and in front of them was a large binder, Erin's eyes taking in all the new rules and guidelines she needed to memorize.
"These are all his requirements?" Erin asked, flipping over all the new pages. Kim nodded.
"Good luck?"
"Half Colombian….half Ethiopian," Erin muttered to herself as she struggled making the coffee for Jay. It was her first day and she was determined to get things off on the right foot with her new job. She even came in a hour early, wanting to perfect his very specific coffee order. "Water...water…" she tested the temperature, finding it the right degree that Kim told her and she pour the water over the coffee dripper, watching and waiting patiently as the coffee began to drip, drop by drop into the carafe. "He's an anal guy isn't he?" she commented herself as the coffee finished brewing.
By exactly 9 in the morning, she was all ready with the cup of coffee and she knocked on the large double door, entering the office when she heard his voice telling her to come in from the other side.
"Good morning Mr. Halstead," Erin greeted happily. "Here's your coffee this morning." Jay looked at his watch.
"It's 9. How did you already have the coffee made?"
"Oh, I came in early this morning." Erin smiled, hoping to impress her new boss. Jay just knitted his brows before taking a sip of the coffee, slamming the cup back down on the saucer, Erin frowning at the reaction. She had tasted a little bit of it, wanting it to be perfect and it tasted exactly like the one Kim had made.
"It's cold now," Jay complained, making a disgusted face at her coffee. "It's terrible."
Erin picked up the cup, the warm temperature of the liquid warming her fingers. "I made it at exactly 196 degree…"
"Yes but you made it a while ago and now it has gotten cold. Probably because you made it before I even got to the office at 9," Jay argued back. "Are you arguing with me that it's not the right temperature?"
Erin shook her head, biting her tongue. "No." She gave him an apologetic smile. "I can make you another cup."
"Forget it," Jay cut her off. "Just call downstairs to the Starbucks and tell them to bring up my regular order." He waved her off and Erin nodded, leaving the office. She sat down at her desk that was right outside of his door, frowning. She had came in early to make a good impression and it was only the first task of the day and she had already failed. She sighed, already feeling let down by herself but managed to follow his order anyway and called the Starbucks downstairs.
A few minutes later, she heard the elevator dinged and she thought it was the Starbucks barista bringing up Jay's coffee. Instead, it was a man, dressed in a comfortable t-shirt and jeans and who looked quite surprised to see her.
"Um hi?" the man said.
Erin smiled, recognizing the man immediately. She had seen him several times in magazines and interviews, often by her boss' side. "Mr. Gerwitz," she greeted him, knowing that he was Jay's best friend and one of the main contributors to the company. "Good morning. I'm Erin Lindsay and I'm Mr. Halstead's new assistant."
The guy just nodded hesitantly. "Is Jay in?"
"Yes, Mr. Halstead is in his office, Mr. Gerwitz."
Mouse paused, turning back around to look at Erin. "Please just call me Mouse," he said. "Erin Lindsay." Erin nodded. Mouse shook his head slightly before he entered the office. Erin had thought it was strange but she chalked it up to tech guys and their awkwardness.
"Met the new assistant," Mouse started as he sat down in front of Jay. "So tell me something? Is Erin the Harvard graduate or the ex-assistant of the Fortune 500 CEO?" Jay tossed a glare at Mouse, going back to ignoring his friend. "Come on Jay. What are you doing?"
"I needed an assistant and she applied to be one."
Mouse chuckled. "So you're telling me that she was the most qualified out of everyone that applied? More so than the woman who had years of experience?"
"Sure."
"Yeah fucking right," Mouse scoffed. "Come on, man. What are you thinking here?"
"Nothing Mouse! It's just a damn job."
Mouse snorted. "Okay so it's just a perfectly normal coincidence that the woman you had a huge crush on all throughout high school is now just working for you? Does she even remember you? Because she sure looked like she had no idea who I was when I saw her."
Jay sighed, shaking his head. "I don't think so."
Mouse gave Jay a sympathetic look. "I didn't think so. So what? You're hoping that by her working here, she'll finally fall for you?"
"No!" Jay denied.
"Then what?" Mouse asked. "Just what are you hoping to get out of this?"
"I want to get revenge!" Jay finally revealed, his face turning redder by the seconds.
"Jay…"
Jay was breathing deeply now. "You know the hell we went through in high school Mouse. You were right next to me the whole time. And you know what Erin did in Senior year. How cruel it was. And now I'm finally on top this time. I'm not the loser that I was in high school. Now she is the one that needs my help." Jay paused. "Don't you think it's completely fucked up that she could do what she did and just completely move on like it's nothing? Like she sees me and she doesn't even realize that she completely ripped my heart out in high school and humiliated me in front of everyone? Because she probably has done it to so many others that we all just blended together for her."
"Jay, that was in high school," Mouse pointed out. "That was years ago."
"Yeah, but it doesn't mean it hurt any less." Mouse sighed, knowing just how hurt Jay was by the incident in Senior year. That what had happened then had shaped Jay into the man that he was today in his personal life and why he had closed himself off to women or at least as anything more than just one night stands or flings.
"So what's your plan here?"
Jay smirked, although it looked half-hearted as best to Mouse. "Make her miserable as she made me."
Erin plopped down on her bed, completely exhausted. To describe her job as demanding would be an understatement. It had only been two weeks and she was completely worn out. Her regular hours were supposed to be from 9 to 6 but it seemed as though Jay was determined to keep her in the office. They often worked super late into the night and coming home at 9 was becoming more and more common.
She had thought about quitting many times during the long two weeks, like every time she got reamed by her boss for making a tiny bit of mistakes but every time, the looming threat of Jimmy over her and her mom had stopped her. She needed the money and she needed it fast and there was no way she'd be able to find another job that paid as well as this, especially with all the overtime hours she'd been working, so she knew she'd just have to suck it up.
She twisted around in her bed until she was lying on her elbow and she glanced over the drawing she had pasted by the side of her bed. She smiled whenever she saw the drawing. She didn't even know who had given her the drawing but she loved it so much.
It was a drawing of herself, in comic book style. Only she was drawn as a superhero, a female warrior, with a cape on her shoulders that was blowing in the wind, she looked fierce and she looked totally badass. At the bottom of the picture, there was 'Amazing Erin' scribbled on it, her superhero name. There was no artist's name, no initials to tell her who the artist was, who had seen her as this amazing person in a way she didn't see herself, especially when she was 17 years old. She could only vaguely remember when she had gotten the drawing.
She had been crying into her locker after school, long past the hours when the kids would roam the hallways. She remembered it was around the homecoming season and she was so excited to be going to her first dance. She had even saved up enough money for a dress and had hidden it in her backpack, just carried it around with her so no one— mainly her mom— could steal it.
She was supposed to go shopping for dresses with Stephanie and her crew. Some days Erin couldn't believe that she had been accepted as part of the popular crowd. Of course, none of the kids knew about her junkie mom and deadbeat dad and she worked hard to keep it that way, just kept her head down and her mouth shut whenever her 'friends' were causing trouble, just went with the flow. Somehow she even had the most popular guy in school as her boyfriend. Landon was as interesting as a frat boy and was just as dumb too but he was at least useful. No one really dared to cross her when she was his girlfriend. Not even Stephanie. And Erin just knew that Stephanie would just have a field day if she found out about the truth about Erin.
Like how her mother was a drug addict, so far gone that she had resorted to stealing from her own daughter. Because when Erin searched her backpack earlier for her dress fund, the money she worked so hard to saved up was gone and she just knew that Bunny had gotten to it. Even worse, when she told Landon about not being able to make it to the dance on the account that she had no dress, he just flippantly dismissed her, angry and told her that he'd be going with Stephanie. He was an ass and she couldn't believe that she was actually shedding tears over it. She was just glad that she was alone. Or that was what she thought.
She felt a presence next to her locker and she cursed under her breath, having been caught crying. She looked up and saw a piece of paper being held out. She tried to blink her tears away, trying to get a better look at the guy. But before she could even say anything, he just said "I thought you could use this," his voice was gentle and understanding. And before she could even registered what had happened, he had already left and she was left holding the drawing in her hand.
She vaguely recognized the guy, one of the loner kids that her friends loved picking on yet he was nice enough to give her the drawing that depicted her as this beautiful figure, one that didn't match the image she had of herself in her mind at all.
Ever since then, she kept that drawing close to her. Whenever she was having a hard time in life, she'd look at that drawing and see 'Amazing Erin' all standing tall and fierce looking back at her and it would give her strength.
She knew that she needed to hang in there this time too. She could do this. She could survive working for Jay Halstead.
"No no no!" Erin heard his shouts of frustration through the office door, Erin grimacing at the thought that he'd be in a bad mood now. "Damn it."
She knocked on the door lightly, entering it. He looked like a mess, his hair all messed up from him pulling it, his glasses that he used for work in his mouth, and he looked frazzled. For a moment, she felt bad for him, knowing how hard Jay worked daily.
"Are you okay?"
Jay looked at her strangely, like he was taken aback by her inquiring how he was doing. "Yeah," he finally managed to answer.
"It didn't really sound like it," Erin returned, stepping closer. "Do you need me to do anything?"
Jay scoffed. "No, not unless you're an expert in sports analytics." He dropped the file he was looking at on the desk, Erin getting a glance of what he was working on.
"A proposal for the Bears?"
Jay nodded. "We're expanding into the Sports world. What?" he asked seeing the strange look on Erin's face.
"Nothing," she shrugged. "It's just...you don't really seem like the sports type."
"I'm not," Jay bit back. "That's why I don't understand half of the things written here. Like this YAC? What the hell is that?"
"Yards after catch," Erin replied easily, catching Jay's eyes. She chuckled. "You're really lost about this aren't you?" She couldn't believe that he didn't know simple acronyms about football. That he was clueless about the most basic stats. She chuckled, studying him.
"I wasn't exactly a jock in high school," he said, staring at her. She felt his eyes lingered on her like he was waiting for something but she didn't know what. Finally, he cleared his throat. "You know this stuff?"
Erin nodded. "Yeah." she paused, hesitating. "I can help you."
Jay looked at his watch. "It's 8 already."
Erin shrugged. "Eh, I've gotten used to long hours working here." She saw him hesitating so she made the first move, dragging the chair next to him and sitting down, grabbing the file. "It's no big deal." He looked at her and her new close proximity to him for a minute before he finally nodded.
"Okay."
They spent hours pouring over the proposal, Erin filling Jay in on football terms he didn't know and just generally giving him the basic run down of America's game. They were set to meet the son of the Bears owner in a week and Jay would be proposing to let JH Tech take over the analytics and technological advances for the football team. It was JH Tech's first venture into the sports world so Jay had stressed how important it was.
"Shit, it's nearly midnight now," Jay finally noticed, looking at his watch. "We should call it a night."
"No, we're almost done here!" Erin protested. "It's just a few more pages."
"We should at least get some food. We skipped dinner." He picked up his phone to place an order. "I know this Chinese place that's still open. What do you want?"
Erin waved him off. "I'm not hungry. I'm okay." As if on cue, her stomach growled, Erin's face getting hot in embarrassment. Jay just gave her a knowing look. "Chow mein is fine," she said, giving in. Jay just smiled, placing the order on the phone.
Just about twenty minutes later, the food was delivered and Erin had the best Chinese food of her life. She practically inhaled the noodles, her stomach more than satisfied.
"Mmm," she hummed. "How come I've never heard of this place before?"
"It's just a small mom and pop place," Jay replied, still working on his food. "A little hole in the wall. What?" he asked, catching Erin's surprised look.
Erin shook her head, smiling. "I guess I'm just surprised that you'd even eat at places like that."
Jay frowned, "Why?"
"I don't know," Erin shrugged. "Thought you'd only eat at five star restaurants. Those are the places you were spotted the most in the magazines."
Jay groaned, rolling his eyes. "Please don't tell me you like reading those."
"I don't!" Erin replied. "It's just...my friends told me about them when they found out I'd be working here. I had to look you up." Jay went quiet at that, Erin feeling like she overstepped some unwritten boundaries. The easy atmosphere that they had created with working side by side and eating dinner together evaporating quickly.
But before she could say something to ease the tension, Jay had recovered and gave her a small smile, the gesture looking foreign on his face that had mostly greeted her with a stern expression. "I'm different than people think."
Erin had to agree with that. The magazine had made it seem like Jay Halstead was a charming womanizer. But working for him these past few weeks, she'd come to realize that he was different from how the magazines and interviews had depicted him. For starters, she hadn't seen him date….at all. She spent late nights working outside his office, handling his calls and no girlfriends had called. And she realized that the easy charming persona he displayed in public was an act, the real Jay was more guarded and quiet behind the doors.
"Yeah you are," she said, agreeing with him. Jay just chuckled and returned his focus on his food, Erin taking the opportunity to study her boss. He was strict and serious for sure, he had high demands and expectations of her and she was nearly killing herself, not wanting to disappoint him. But now that they were alone, just eating dinner together like they could be friends and he had somehow let his guards down just a bit, there was something charming about him. And she wasn't talking about the persona and the mask he put on in public. This was real. He looked up and their eyes met, neither of them able to look away. Erin held his gaze, a soft smile taking over her face when she spotted the small smear of sauce on the side of his lips.
"What?" he asked, smiling along with her. She noticed then just how good his smile looked, especially the crinkles on the corner of his eyes. She pointed to her mouth, showing him that he had some sauce on his. He quickly wiped it off and she giggled, seeing him blush in embarrassment. Her scary boss was actually adorable. Who knew?
Their moment was interrupted when the door suddenly opened and Mouse barged in.
"I knew you were still here!" Mouse started but immediately stopping when he took in the scene— Erin and Jay sitting side by side, papers strewn aside to make way for cartons of Chinese take-outs, and both with soft smiles on their faces. "Oh sorry!"
Jay cleared his throat, steeling his face. "It's fine," he said gruffly. "What are you doing here Mouse?"
"I thought you'd still be here obsessing over the proposal so I thought I'd come by and make you go home."
"Sorry," Erin interjected. "I was sort of the one who kept him overtime." She stood up, cleaning up the desk. "Call it a night?" Jay nodded, helping her clean up. "No it's okay, I got it." Erin said but Jay didn't listen and continued helping her clean up even though it was her job.
After the last carton of food was thrown into the trash and papers were neatly stacked together again, Erin stood awkwardly in the office, or almost as awkward as Jay looked, Mouse glancing back and forth between the two.
"Okay then I'll see you tomorrow then Mr. Halstead," Erin said, making her way out of the office.
"Jay," she turned around. "Call me Jay." Erin smiled, nodding. "Um, it's really late and you're probably exhausted. My driver would take you home."
Erin shook her head. "No it's okay. I have my car."
"Leave it here," Jay stated. "Like I said it's late. I can't have my employee driving half asleep. Take the car. I'll have the driver pick you up tomorrow too."
"Okay," Erin agreed. "Thank you. Good night Jay." She smiled. "Bye Mouse."
"Good night Erin."
"What?" Jay asked, ignoring the look Mouse was giving him.
Mouse shrugged. "It's just….a bit strange to walk in here and see you out on a date with your assistant."
"Pssh. It's not a date," Jay denied.
"I don't know about that," Mouse retorted. "It's midnight. It's just the two of you sitting side by side and eating dinner. Looks like a date to me."
"Well it's not," Jay bit out. "We were working. She was helping me understand some football things and it got late and we were hungry. So we ordered food."
"So that sappy smiles that I saw you two exchanging when I walked in...that was nothing?"
"What sappy smiles?" Jay rolled his eyes. "Just leave it man."
"Mmm hmm" Mouse hummed. "I'm just saying, maybe your past feelings for the girl are coming back." Jay scoffed. "I mean, she certainly still looks gorgeous. Working late, in close proximity...maybe your little revenge plan would just lead to you falling in love with her again."
"Please," Jay protested. "I'm not going to fall for Erin Lindsay again."
Mouse just chuckled, not believing him for a second. "Sure man. Whatever you say."
Jay threw the balled up napkin at his best friend. "Get out of here man."
"Who's gonna give you a ride then bro?" Mouse retorted, holding up his car keys. "Come on. Unlike you who is beyond help, I need my beauty sleep."
"Hey, you're talking about Vogue's bachelor of the year here," Jay retorted, shaking his head fondly before putting on his jacket and following Mouse out of the office.
Erin was having a good morning. Despite staying past midnight last night, she actually had a good night sleep and was feeling extra refreshed this morning. Of course, Jay actually being nice to her last night didn't have anything to do with it.
"Whoa who had a dinner party here last night?" Kim commented as she joined Erin in the small kitchen, noticing the stacks of cartons in the trash can.
"Oh yeah, we ended up staying late last night so we ordered dinner."
Kim's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, who's we?"
"Me and Jay...I mean Mr. Halstead," Erin quickly corrected herself, feeling awkward about calling Jay by his name in front of others.
"Wow," Kim gasped in awe. Erin frowned, asking Kim to elaborate. "It's just it's the first time he ever had dinner with any of his employees that's not his friends— let alone his assistant. Usually his old assistants have to wait outside the restaurants or office so they don't disturb him. You're something special Erin."
Erin felt her face getting hot. "No I'm not," she scoffed, waving it off.
"No I'm serious," Kim replied. "I mean not only have you survived three weeks of working for him, you've actually managed to get him to like you enough to get you food. No one has ever done that before."
Erin didn't know what to say to not make it a bigger deal. She didn't want gossip spreading through the company about herself so she retreated, giving Kim a quick goodbye before heading back to her desk.
She arrived back at her desk the same time that Jay arrived, a smile coming over Erin's face involuntarily like she couldn't stop herself. Jay returned the smile, a far departure from her earlier days of working for him where he just merely grunted as a greeting.
"Good morning Jay."
"Good morning Erin," he stopped and approached her desk. "I just wanted to thank you for last night and helping me with my proposal."
"Oh it's nothing," she said, waving it off. "It's just part of my job." Jay nodded, giving her a small smile and entering his office.
It had been a busy morning for Erin, fielding calls left and right and setting up meetings and conference calls for Jay. But it was interesting work, far better than working retail.
"Hi," Erin looked up at the new arrival.
"Hello," she returned. "How can I help you?" She took in the familiar features of the man, thinking where she knew him before finally recognizing him. "Will?"
Will knitted his brows, looking at her. She saw the moment when he registered who she was. "Erin Lindsay? Is that you?" Erin nodded, getting up from her desk to greet Will in a hug.
"I can't believe it's you!" she exclaimed. "I haven't seen you since you graduated high school. What are you doing here?" Then things clicked for her. "Oh my god, I can't believe I didn't put two and two together. You're Jay's brother?"
Will nodded. "Yeah. You're working for Jay?"
"Yeah," Erin replied. "Wow, what a small world! I can't believe you two are brothers."
"What's going on?" Jay exited his office, coming to a stop when he saw his brother with his arms around Erin. "Will, what are you doing here?" Jay asked, sounding less than happy at seeing Will.
"Jay, I can't believe you didn't tell me that your brother is the Will Halstead," Erin exclaimed. "He was a legend in high school." If Landon was popular then they needed a whole another word to describe Will. He was friends with everyone and knew everyone in school.
"Yeah," Will said sheepishly, both of the Halstead brothers looking uncomfortable.
"Wait. Jay how come you didn't go to St. Ignatius?" Erin asked, wondering why he didn't attend the same school as his brother.
Jay bristled at the question. "He did," Will replied for him, Erin frowning at the answer. "He was in the same class as you actually."
"Oh," Erin uttered out awkwardly. "I didn't…I didn't know you had a brother."
"No one did," Jay finally said. "Will made sure that no one knew we were related." Erin glanced over at Jay. "Because Mr. Popularity was embarrassed of people finding out that he had a loser brother going to the same school."
"Jay," Will began.
"I'm sorry," Erin told Jay. "I didn't know." Erin felt terrible that she didn't know that she and Jay went to the same school.
"Yeah don't worry. No one did. No one really noticed the weird loner at the back of the class," Jay said, storming back into his office.
"Jay inside?" Mouse asked as he came into the office. Erin nodded. Jay had pretty much holed himself into his office after Will's sudden appearance. She saw the rocky relationship between the two brothers and she guessed she couldn't blame Jay for being angry at Will. Because Will had been embarrassed of Jay and had made sure no one knew that they were related. Because Jay wasn't popular. He wasn't cool.
"Yeah, Mouse can I talk to you?" Mouse nodded. "I know you've known Jay for a long time now. Did you go to St. Ignatius too?"
"Yeah we both did."
"I didn't know that," Erin let out a sigh. "Were you guys...picked on?"
"Pretty much every day," Mouse replied.
"By Stephanie and Landon?" Mouse nodded. Not that Erin was exactly surprised. If anyone was vindictive and mean spirited enough to pick on kids in school. It would've been her friends. "That's terrible. I'm sorry."
"You really didn't recognize Jay?" Mouse questioned, looking at her face.
Erin shook her head. "No."
"Not even after…" he trailed off, not completing his sentence.
"Not even after what?"
"Nothing," Mouse shook it off. "Never mind. Just….it wasn't the best time for Jay. But I told him that it was years ago but you know, some things are just hard to forget and get over. But don't worry, Jay is not usually the vindictive type and he'll just get over his stupid plan. I'm going to go check on him." Mouse rambled on before entering Jay's office, Erin left reeling with all the new information.
She sat down on her desk, going over Mouse's words, wondering what he was talking about. Mouse had made it seem like she had done something to Jay but she hadn't. Sure she didn't really stand up for any of the bullied kids but she was just trying to keep her own head above the water. And the whole rambling about vindictiveness and plan….
She gasped, putting the pieces together.
The whole time she had been wondering just how she was lucky enough to get a job like this with her qualification and experience. Especially after Kim had let it slipped that they had far more qualified applicants. But Erin was more than happy enough to chalk it up to luck. But what if it wasn't? What if this had been Jay's plan all along?
To get revenge on her for being picked on in high school. She flashed back to all the times he had scolded her, had nitpicked every tiny flaws. Was he enjoying this? Being in the position of power over her?
She scoffed, anger surging through her. She had thought they had made progress last night but finding out that she was just being used for revenge, she was pissed.
She glanced back at the closed door, cursing under her breath.
If Jay thought he could get revenge on Erin, then he had another thing coming. Because two could certainly play at this game.
Jesse in glasses...that's all I have to say.