Joe is already on a call, so he just throws a thumbs-up in the air. Joe is the only assistant I like. Marianne, the one Selena is covering for, is a matronly woman who is technically El’s superior. She’s out having bunion surgery. I don’t dislike Marianne, but she’s all business and dull as a post.
“El, call the temp agency and have them send me another assistant,” I say loudly.
I know this will rile El up, but I have other plans for Selena, and they sure as shit don’t include answering phones all week.
“Absolutely, Mr. Calloway. I’m sorry Selena didn’t work out.”
“I didn’t say cancel Selena. I said get meanotherassistant. Selena’s not going anywhere.”
Perhaps that will stop El from thinking anything more than work will happen between us again.
Selena comes back twenty minutes later with my espresso in a tiny cup and my bagel wrapped in a brown paper bag.
“Here’s your order, Mr. Calloway,” she says, standing stiffly at the door.
“Bring them here and close the door,” I tell her.
She does as I ask, almost robotically, setting my food on my desk.
“So what the fuck is happening here?” I ask, leaning back in my leather chair.
“I got a call Saturday afternoon from Staff Savers. The man at the service told me I had a week-long assignment at a law firm. He clarified: ‘be dressed in corporate chic, be on time.’” She stands at attention. “A name was mentioned, but until a few minutes ago, I had no idea whatyourlast name was.”
She stares straight ahead, barely looking at me.
I round the desk and sit on the edge, inches from her. She backs up a step. She’s wearing a pretty navy blue dress that flares out from her slim waist, paired with chunky shoes and thigh-high socks. Definitely chic, but I wouldn’t say it was corporate. I’ll take her shopping for appropriate clothes later.
I lower my voice, softening the edge. “Why did you walk out on me?”
“You had a meeting in the morning, and I wasn’t feeling well. I couldn’t sleep, so I left. I figured you wouldn’t care.” Now she looks at me.
Wow.What a piercing stare.
“So, you just happened to show up at my workplace this morning?”
She closes her eyes, exasperated. “I wish I were the kind of woman who can meet a random stranger at a sex club,” she whispers with a healthy dose of venom, “sleep with him knowing only his first name, sign up with a temp agency, and get myself hired to be his assistant—all while managing grief, a new city, and a stomach bug. Trust me, if I were that girl, I’d be running this firm by Friday.”
She takes a breath. “But in reality, I’m just an unlucky woman who got cheated on at my wedding, got railed by a stranger, ate something weird that made me puke all night, and then randomly ended up in the stranger’s office with a supervisor he clearly has a history with. I only have six more hours to endure this nightmare before I am set free. Then I’ll never see you again.”
“It’s over between El and me,” I say, chuckling because her face has gone red, and she’s cute when she rants. “Did you have breakfast?” I ask, ignoring her threats to leave. She looks pale.
“No,” she answers in the same feisty tone.
“Well, eat before you come in tomorrow. You’re cranky when you’re hangry,” I tell her. I walk back behind my desk and sip the espresso, glad to have the physical barrier hiding my erection. She had the grace to pretend she didn’t notice it.
“I’m not coming back tomorrow.”
“So you’re running away from this, too?”
“I’m not running away. I’m... walking.”
“No. Here’s what you’re going to do. Answer my phone with Joe today. This way, you’ll get a feel for my client base. Tomorrow, you’ll report to me here, in my office. Don’t worry about checking in with El; come straight to me.”
“I’m not sleeping with you again,” she blurts out, then covers her mouth, looking at the door.
“That’s up for debate. You certainly won’t be fucking me in my office; I’m not dealing with HR again. And what I won’t do is benice. You’re here because you want to be a lawyer? Show me what you’ve got. Now get out there; my phone is probably ringing off the hook.”
“What if I don’t come back tomorrow?” she asks, her voice smaller than she intends.
