"That's not any of your business." When I got to the fifth-floor landing, I turned to watch her stagger up the stairs. "I don't know what you heard about this job description, but you are my assistant, which means that you are here to make my life easier not more difficult."
"Uh-huh," she said. "Give me a minute. I need an energy boost." She took a small bag of pink-and-white candy out of her purse, opened it, and put three pieces in her mouth. I shuddered.
"This office is healthy food only," I admonished, plucking the bag out of her hand.
"I was eating that!" she protested as I crumpled the candy bag in my hand.
"There are healthy snacks and water in the breakrooms. There's one on every floor," I said as I ushered her to the large white kitchenette.
Josie picked up a packet from the basket on the counter. "Seaweed?" she said, wrinkling her nose.
"It's good for you. It contains antioxidants."
She opened the package, sprinkling seaweed crumbs all over the floor. "Oops! I guess I'll clean that up." She looked around.
"Just leave it," I ordered and texted facilities. Then I texted IT to bring a new phone.
We stopped outside the large conference room where we were having the presentations for Platinum Provisions. I texted Adrian to come out.
"Oh my God!" Josie exclaimed, looking into the room through the glass walls. "There are more of you! How many kids did your father make?"
About a hundred, but I didn't want to go into that with her.
Archer followed Adrian out, and Josie looked between Archer and me.
She did the double take everyone did when they saw us together.
"I'm the more attractive twin," Archer said.
"Clearly!" Josie told him. I scowled.
"Adrian, this is Josie. She's going to be doing things like serving coffee and making copies. Send her an email with a list of your duties. I'm putting you on the big marketing team. You'll be working with Tara, making sure she and the consultants have all the information they need."
He nodded enthusiastically. "I won't let you down!"
"You better not. This is an important campaign. I'll be working closely with you, so don't get too cocky. I'll be back down in a second after I introduce Josie and Tara."
IT met us in my office and swapped out Josie's phone.
"Don't drop this one," the technician said, handing it to Josie. We looked up when Tara walked in.
"Mace," she gushed. She was the marketing director, but she always volunteered to do things for me that were outside of her job description. I had gone for one drink with her, and now she was there any time I turned around. At least now I could pawn Josie off on her.
"This is my new assistant, Josie," I said. Tara's smile seemed a little strained. "Tara is our marketing director."
"Nice to meet you," Josie said, extending her hand.
"Maybe you can find her something to do?" I said to Tara.
"Anything to help," she purred, lightly touching my arm.
I hurried back to the conference rooms. I had the rest of the Platinum Provisions meetings to get through. And I had completely missed Garrett's presentation, thanks to Josie. On the way I looked out over the parking lot. There were pristine rows of expensive cars. But in the back of the lot, I saw a rust-bucket pickup truck attached to a tiny house that looked like it was listing. The contraption was taking up about eight parking spaces.
I had a sinking feeling it belonged to Josie.
7
Josie
