Chapter 8
THE ASSISTANT
Jennie
Manhattan, New York
I couldn't believe that Ms. Manoban had the audacity to offer me an extended contract after the way she treated me, couldn't believe that she'd included a mention of it in every one of her emails since the day she brought it up.
As I stared outside my town car window, I decided that I needed to tell her that I really was looking for another place of work. That it wasn't personal, but I wanted to go someplace where I'd actually be appreciated.
And somewhere where she won't be such a distraction…
The second the driver pulled in front of Manoban Publishing, my phone buzzed with her usual morning email.
Subject: What I Need Today.
Coffee. Stephen King's new book. Reports for the two o'clock meeting. Your signature on the employment extension contract.
You're welcome.
Lisa Manoban
CEO, Manoban Publishing
I sighed. I'd done my best to avoid that last line on all of her task requests, simply not addressing it via email or simply saying "I need more time to think about it," if she brought it up during one of our meetings. And even though the sexual tension between us was at the highest levels it'd ever been, I couldn't afford to let that cloud my judgment.
Her overbearing sexiness was not a good enough reason to stay, and the odds of us having sex were slim to none. (Not that having sex with her was a good enough reason to stay either.)
After securing a copy of Stephen King's newest book from Barnes & Noble and a cup of her favorite expensive coffee, I rushed inside the building and headed right up to her office.
I knocked against her door five times and waited for her familiar, "Yes?" before opening the door.
The second I stepped inside, I felt her deep brown eyes watching my every move, and I tried not to make eye contact as I walked over and set the book and the coffee on her desk.
"Is there something on your mind, Miss Kim?" She waited for me to look at her, and I finally gave in. "Any particular reason why you're currently mumbling?"
"No, Ms. Manoban. It's just—" I decided to be honest, to finally get this over with. "I'm not interested in signing the extension contract."
She raised her eyebrow. "Are you referring to right now, or ever?"
"Ever." I stepped back, waiting for her reaction, but there wasn't one. Her face remained stoic and she simply picked up her coffee and took a long sip.
"Fair enough," she said. "Thank you for telling me. After you settle into your office, I need you pick up my dry cleaning from Midtown. There should be fifteen suits and twenty shirts in my name."
What the hell? "Would you like me to pick up anything else?"
"Not at all."
I forced a smile and headed toward the door. "Thank you for being understanding about the contract, Ms. Manoban."
"Anytime, Miss Kim."
I left her office and took the steps to my own, quickly printing out the two o'clock reports so I could save time since I had a new dry cleaning mission. As I was stapling the first set of sheets together, my phone buzzed with a new email from her.
Subject: Something Else I Need Today.
My Jaguar needs to be washed. Take it to the place I like in New Jersey, ten miles across the bridge.
Lisa Manoban
CEO, Manoban Publishing
Is she being serious?
I dropped my reports to the floor, barely getting a chance to reread the message to see if my eyes were playing tricks on me or not, because she sent me another email.
Subject: And Also…
I forgot to pick up a particular watch I ordered weeks ago on my way to work this morning. You'll need to stand in line at Audemars Piguet on 57th Street by noon to ensure that I receive it today.
Lisa Manoban
CEO, Manoban Publishing
I slammed my door shut to prevent myself from screaming. I paced the floor a few times before responding to her with a curt "Ok." Then I headed down to the private parking garage.
I took the keys from the lockbox and tried my best not to think about using them to leave major scratches against her car, and I quickly slid behind the wheel. Instead of immediately heading toward the dry cleaners I took her Jaguar for a half hour joyride first.
I took my time driving through the city streets, stopping for ten-dollar coffee and charging five cups worth to her card every time. I spotted a beautiful cashmere scarf through a window dressing at Macy's and rushed inside to buy it in all twenty-five colors. On my way out, I noticed a new line of fashion at the nearby lingerie store, so I took her precious credit card and purchased ten matching sets of overly priced panties and bras.
Screw her…
Still feeling reckless and far less professional than I'd ever felt in my life, I picked up her dry cleaning and tossed it in the back seat. I drove across the George Washington Bridge and sat in the back of a café for half an hour.
I checked my email and saw that my bastard boss had emailed me yet again.
Subject: Timing.
I refuse to believe it takes three to four hours to pick up an order of suits and a watch. Even considering getting my car washed, you should be back by now.
Lisa Manoban
CEO, Manoban Publishing
I immediately deleted it and noticed that there were several other new emails in my inbox. Emails I actually wanted to see.
Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon all sent positive, personal messages that all read to the likes of, "Congratulations! You've made it to the final round of interviews! We simply need to verify your information and references. Afterwards, we'll make an internal decision behind closed doors."
I nearly jumped up from my chair, screaming about my pending freedom. I knew there was no way in hell that I wouldn't receive a formal offer from at least one of those jobs, and since I was still awaiting to hear back from twenty more, I felt more emboldened than ever before. I felt like I could quit Manoban Publishing right now and leave Lisa's Jaguar in the middle of New Jersey for her to find by herself tomorrow.
It took all of one minute for me to realize that I wasn't that bold. That, and I needed a way to get back to New York City.
Annoyed, I vented all of my frustration in a long ass email to Jisoo, and per her previous advice, I deleted it the second I hit send.
Subject: My Boss.
Have I already told you that I hate my boss today?
Sexy as hell or not, this pompous, arrogant, ASSHOLE asked me to pick up her dry cleaning the second I walked through the door. Then she told me that I needed to take her Jaguar to a car wash that was ten miles outside of the city, but only after I needed to stand in a never-ending line to buy some type of limited, hundred-dollar watch.
I honestly can't wait to see the look on her face two months from now when I tell her that I'm quitting her company and that she can kiss my ass. KISS. MY. ASS.
All those former fantasies about her kissing me with her "mouth of perfection" or bending me over my desk and filling me with her cock are long over. OVER.
Your bestie,
Jennie
PS—Please tell me your day is going better than mine…