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“Hayden? Apologize? That’ll be the day.”
“Well.” The corner of Gabriel’s mouth curves upward into a half-smirk. “It wasn’t me.”
I walk back over to my desk. I know in my bones it wasn’t Hayden, but I see no reason for Gabriel to lie. That leaves…
I walk over and knock on Ford’s office door.
“Come in.” His voice is brisk, as always.
I poke my head in. “Thank you. For the dinner.”
Ford doesn’t even look up from where he’s taking a pen to a contract like he’s an English teacher and it’s a failed midterm essay. “Don’t mention it.”
I retreat, closing the door softly behind me. I never know what to do about Ford when he gets like this. Hayden might drive me insane, but it’s Ford I can’t seem to get a read on. Self-contained and icy, he’s an enigma wrapped in bespoke suits and glacial calm. But he’s the one who offered me this job, and he sometimes does things like this. At first, I thought it was pity. Now I wonder if it’s just how he is. But either way, I don’t know what to make of it.
I eat my dinner, which is delicious, damn it, and send Hayden the email to let him know the work is done.
2
From: [email protected]
Subject: Done
To my least-favorite-boss,
I got everything done as you requested. I’ve attached the documents you need here.
I’ve also attached my salary and the ever-growing list of my accomplishments as your assistant. Just something to think about when we come up on annual reviews and the subject of raises.
Respectfully yours,
Maeve Keller
From: [email protected]
RE: Subject: Done
Keller,
Noted.
3
MAEVE
A typical day working for one very driven business owner, especially one with an insane net worth and a multi-national company, is hectic even when everything goes smoothly.
And I’ve got three of them.
Luckily, I have it all down to a system. I have three different computer monitors and three different dedicated phones. Everything is marked and coded, and arranged in specific, strategic places so I know exactly what to grab and where and when and why. I designed it all myself and honestly, I’m proud of it.
With the separate phones, I never get confused about who’s calling for which boss. I can transfer things as needed. I’ve had it in place long enough that it’s automatic to answer each one properly and to sort everything efficiently.
I put a client on hold and use the phone intercom to speak to Hayden. “Your three o’clock needs to move to three-thirty. I’ve already bumped the three-thirty to tomorrow, but this will mean you’re on a time crunch for the four-fifteen.”
