Page 81 of The Rebel Billionaire

It’s then I realise he has the new presentation open in front of him.

I leave, not sure whether I’ve done anything wrong, but I do as he says. Distracted by my conversation with Daphne, I only made one coffee. I return to the kitchen, relieved to find it empty.

When I make it back to my desk, his door is closed, so I pull up his emails and schedule, noting down the changes. I drink some coffee before flicking through the reports, checking everything is in order, which I know it is because I’ve already gone through them five times.

I look up when his door opens, surprised when Elise steps out.

“I’ll leave it with you then,” she says, shooting me a smile as she passes.

I’ve only met her a couple of times, but her designs and talent are world-renowned.

“Ready to go?” Alex says, appearing a moment later.

“Absolutely.”

* * *

The meeting is long. I take copious notes and make a recording that I’ll later transcribe. Alex likes accurate records.

“Dominic, these additional changes,” he says.

“Yes, I felt we needed to readdress them.”

“By having my PA work late into the evening? Where was Sasha? We already agreed they’d be dealt with later?”

He shoots a look at Dominic’s PA, her cheeks flaming under his scrutiny.

Dominic bristles. “Well, if she didn’t have time to do it, she could have said.”

He shoots me a look, and I drop my gaze. This is not my argument.

“Next time, check with me first,” Alex says, his voice letting everyone in the room know it’s not up for debate.

By the time we leave, my nerves are frayed. I collect the recording and make a note to ask whether the dressing down should be included. I’m hoping not. It was awkward enough living through it once.

“Brooke, can you come into my office, please?” Alex says as we return.

I follow him in, taking a seat when he motions for me to do so.

“If anyone, and I mean anyone but me, asks you to do work, let me know. You’re not one of the pool secretaries, and I’ll not have you treated as such.”

“I’m sorry, I…”

“Don’t be sorry, just don’t allow it to happen again. You’re my right hand and, as such, will be treated with the respect owed to your position.”

I’m surprised by the conviction in his tone.

I nod, not sure what else to say.

“On another note, Elise came by this morning. We need to visit one of our suppliers in Italy.”

“You’d like me to organise the itinerary?”

“Yes, but Elise thinks it would be a good idea for you to come with us.”

I glance up, only to find him watching me. “Me?”

“Yes, you. Elise’s number one, Nolan, would usually come with us, but he’s got a family emergency to contend with.”