“I mean it. You’re a good admin, but we all need a breather occasionally.”
It was almost noon by the time she remembered to look at her phone again. Kim had texted her not once. Not twice. But three times.
Kim – What do you mean you’re going to get fired? What happened?
Kim – Can you meet me for lunch?
Kim – Or maybe I should send Justin over there to kick your boss’s ass.
Normally, that would make Ali chuckle, but it made her eyes well up with tears for the second time that day.
Taking Carl’s advice, she called one of his admins and asked if she could forward her phones to her long enough for Ali to get something downstairs at the café. She didn’t have time for a proper lunch break, but if she didn’t eat something, Daniel wouldn’t be happy.
On her way down in the elevator, she typed a message back to Kim.
Ali – I can’t do lunch today. Too busy. I have to research five companies and write a report by the end of the day. Plus, I’m watching his phones and working on five other big projects.
She didn’t need to say whohewas. Kim would know she was talking about her boss.
Kim – That's insane. He needs to get someone else to help you. You need your own assistant.
Ali – Not going to happen.
Three little dots appeared on the screen, letting her know Kim was typing.
Ali got off the elevator and made her way to the cafeteria in the basement of the hospital. She got herself a coffee, a sandwich, and some chips, then headed back upstairs. Her boss didn’t like when she ate at her desk, but if she had any hope of getting everything done, she needed every minute she could get.
Kim – You need to find another job.
Ali snorted.
Ali – It’s not that easy.
Kim – Sure it is. I could probably find you something here. You deal with marketing already. It wouldn’t be that big of an adjustment.
While Ali did work with marketing, being the administrative assistant for the vice president of marketing was vastly different than being an administrative assistant for an ad executive who lived and breathed marketing for multiple companies all day.
When Ali didn’t respond back, Kim sent her another text.
Kim – Have you talked to Daniel?
The elevator dinged and the doors opened to her floor.
Ali – No.
Ali – I've got to go. Later.
To her great relief, her boss’s office was empty when she returned to her desk. She had no idea how long he’d be gone, so she hurried to eat her lunch and took a few minutes of quiet to try and get herself organized before she took the phones back.
Two hours later, she glanced at her phone again and saw Kim’s last text.
Kim – Talk to Daniel.
* * *
Daniel backed up his things and was on his way out the door when Kevin appeared in the doorway. “There’s a currier here. He has a package for you that requires your signature.”
He thought it odd he was coming to tell him this. Packages came all the time, some requiring signatures, and Kevin signed for them. “Is there a reason you can’t sign for it?”