Chapter 9
Phone calls with clients had to be one of my least favorite obligations. And phone calls, especially with aggravating clients, were what I tried my very best to avoid the most. But this one, given the huge billings his shenanigans brought in yearly for the firm, was special. I had even gone as far as giving him my personal cell phone number to badger me at any time he needed, even though I knew from then until this moment that I would forever regret it. Still, I had no regrets. Plus, there was the fact that I had a stake in the new construction project of skyscrapers he was involved in. Too bad he was also involved in abusing alcohol and, more times than not, calling me to get him out of some intoxicated-induced mess he was embroiled in.
This time around, he was being sued for agreeing a few weeks prior to an exorbitant price with the plumbing company that was due to handle the plumbing work for the entire building.
”What the fuck were you thinking, Gary?” I complained, already thinking about how I was going to solve this. Instantly, I needed my associate George, but of course, my secretary was still not answering her phone, and I couldn’t get off this call until I had all the details I needed in order for me to place the personal call for George to come over. So instead, I took notes and was so irritated that I couldn’t keep the frown off my face. This was her job, yet she was absolutely nowhere to be found.
This would have been more than enough to fire the other four, but of course, and as Gloria warned, I couldn’t be rash. Sighing, I continued scribbling down the information and just then, there was once again a knock at my door. I had no doubt that it was her, so I didn’t bother responding. She knocked again and again, and I stopped then, anticipating the next, and gearing up as well for how angrily I was going to yell at her. Hopefully, it would put some fucking sense into her brain that as my secretary, if after a knock, I didn’t tell her to come in, she was fucking allowed to do so. For fuck”s sake, she already had access to my cards and bank accounts, so what was this fucking formality for?
Thankfully, and by the stroke of luck that seemed to be peculiarly following her around, she decided to have the good sense to abandon knocking and head in.
I looked up then, unable to do much else but watch her, and it was to see that she had some sort of tray in hand. I wondered if it was food, and upon seeing the angled cup, recalled that I had asked for a refill, what now felt like an hour earlier.
Her delay aggravated me even further, and so I couldn’t truly help but feel even more sorry for her, because she was soon going to wish that she had never been born.
I tried my best to pay attention to Gary as he rambled on about his troubles with the contractor and how he had been taken advantage of, but the mesmerizing sway of her hips as she approached was much more than my attention could ignore.
This skirt hugged her every curve. It wasn”t exactly tight, but it wasn’t flowing and concealing what needed to be.
Sighing, I wondered why she had to suffer this. After all, I was the one who was too immensely attracted to her. So, I immediately decided that I couldn”t bear to berate her on her outfit any longer unless I wanted her dressed all covered up like a nun. Even if she did, a corner of my mind noted, I was sure that her slim waist and the full mounds of her breast would press provocatively against the fabric and once again distract everyone with a dick who set eyes on her.
”Here’s your coffee, sir,” she said quietly, and I couldn’t help but watch as she brought it over to me.
After setting it on the table, I looked at the way she had presented it and couldn’t hold myself back from complaining.
At this point, and more than anything, it felt like a fucking sport.
”Is this a restaurant?” I asked. ”Do you know the importance and magnitude of your position? So rather than help me manage clients and appointments, you spend your time searching for trays and matching spoons to serve a cup of coffee I asked for almost an hour ago?”
I made sure to remain calm as I said this, but as she listened to my words, I could tell that she felt anything but calm. In fact, and in the shock I saw in her eyes, I almost hoped that she would quit and then I”d hire someone else that I didn”t have to fucking avoid thinking about and imagining naked all day.
She stared at me with those big fearful eyes of hers, and for a moment, I thought that she would cry. However, and to my surprise, she smiled.
”I’m sorry, sir,” she apologized. ”Since it”s my first day, I want to do well and didn’t realize that you weren’t one for the frivolities. My previous boss was. I’ll skip everything else from now on and focus on speed.”
Taking my cup and the coaster off the tray, she leaned forward slightly and set it before me. Once again, my eyes went to her cleavage and then to her beautiful face. I wanted to say something then about the shade of her lipstick, but I decided that I had been enough of an asshole for the day because more than anything, I was beginning to feel like a whiny old man.
So, I ignored her altogether and returned my attention to my screen.
”Find my associate, George,” I told her. ”He needs to get on damage control now with one of our clients. I have to go see the judge first by ten, so he needs to get to the meeting with the contractor immediately after lunch. Preferably during lunch.”
At my words, she nodded and went on her way while I picked up my cup and took a sip of the coffee.
Just one taste, however, of the bitter, disgusting beverage, and I froze in place. ”What is this?” I asked.
She had been just about to pull the door open, and then she stopped at my complaint.
Her eyes went to the cup in hand, and I could see once again the fear come into her eyes.
This had to be her worst mistake of the day, but as I watched her, I sighed and put the cup aside without a word.