“I will pretend I didn’t notice the swift subject change there, but yeah. I think so. It’s not rocket science–I’m the PA to some ballbusting bigshot who doesn’t have time to mop up her own paperwork because she is just too busy being a superstar. It’s no biggie,” I dismissed casually.
“Well, I’m sure that you will add a zany flavor to your office, and they are all going to really take to you. All the best. I’d best get back to work. Thanks for the help. Bye-bye, Billie Jean, you angel!” She gave Billie Jean a warm cuddle and rub down.
“Thanks,” I replied, a little lost outside in her garden as she went inside and shut the door behind her.
I guess she had to get back to work in a hurry. Women!I thought, shaking my head all the way out of her yard.
THREE
MARILYN
After a weekend that was both annoying and interesting in equal measure, I was glad to get back to work. Casting the image of Chris Miller’s dimpled smile and blue-green eyes out of my mind and the cute puppy smell of Billie Jean out of my heart, I decided to leave about twenty minutes earlier than usual to beat the Monday bottleneck of traffic.
I had heard Miller leave a full ten minutes before me. He sure was an early bird. I kind of liked that about him–the morning noise that usually followed in his wake, not so much.
It was just my luck that there was an accident on the highway, and the traffic was severely backed up. This would not do. I wanted to make a good impression on my new PA. I was hoping that she would be caught up in this traffic and would be late as well. Nevertheless, I called reception and left a message with Laura.
“Ah, finally,” called that annoying voice dramatically, as I entered. “Had a wild party this weekend, Marilyn? Hung-over much?” Of course, the first person I encountered would have to be the insufferable Chase Ferdinand.
“I am sure that you know about the traffic jam out on the highway, Chase,” I retorted.
“Well, your PA lives out there too. It’s a good thing he managed to make it to work early, huh?” He just had to rub it in.
“He?” I asked in surprise.
Not one to pass up an opportunity to take a dig at me was Cheryl, who added, “Well, maybe now you can have a bit of a lie-in every morning–what with your handsome PA taking some of the strain off of your workload. But if you have no need for him, do send him my way. He looks like he has good hands, and I could use a shoulder rub,” she whispered as she breezed off.Oh! I absolutely hate her! And I hate being late. I will have to leave home a lot earlier from tomorrow–
What is he doing here? Oh, no! No way! Chris Miller is my new PA? This day just got a whole lot worse.
“Ah, Marilyn. You are uncharacteristically late. Come in,” chimed Mr. Wright, who was always so annoyingly cheerful in the mornings.
“I want you to meet Chris Miller. This fine and capable young man will be your new PA. Chris, I’d like you to meet our new rising star of the firm, Marilyn Alexander,” beamed Mr. Wright, completely oblivious to the tension in the room.
What can I do but pretend to be meeting him for the first time? I hope he follows my lead.
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Miller. If you will come right this way, I will show you to your desk,” I shook his hand firmly and gave him a subtle warning look which, thankfully, he caught and played along.
“Miss Alexander, a pleasure. Please, do call me Chris. Would you like a cup of coffee before we get started?” he asked with a hint of a smirk on his face.
“That would be great. Thank you, Chris. And feel free to grab yourself a Chai,” I managed a little wink, and he dashed out.
Back at my office, I flopped onto the couch reserved for clients and realized just how exhausted I was already, and it wasn’t even 9:00 a.m. yet.
When Chris returned with the beverages, I hastily shut the door behind him, and we got straight into it.
“How did you manage to omit the fact that you work at my firm, Chris?” I burst out.
“Hey, this is as much a surprise to me as it is to you, Marilyn. Alright, I am not exactly thrilled to be working for my new neighbor, especially since…” he trailed off.
“Since what? Let me see. You pegged me for a fussy, spoiled workaholic but not the one you had to–how did you put it? ‘Clean up after a ball-busting bigshot who can’t be bothered to mop up her own paperwork’ –did I get that right? Well, I have news for you, Chris Miller. Getting a PA was not my idea! I have a very rigid system. And it works. The last thing I need is for some surfer dude from Venice Beach coming into my perfectly organized space and trying to ‘help’!” I plopped myself back onto the couch with my arms folded in indignation.
“Look, Marylin. We are both in this situation together. What do you say, we try to make the best of it? In that way, we will both look good. I really need this job. And, it might help your career to be a bit less…” he stopped, searching for the words.
“Less what?” I dared him with my eyes.
“Never mind. What would you like me to get started on, Miss Alexander?” he asked in a resigned tone. My shoulders dropped, and I relaxed a bit. I decided to give him a break for the moment. You catch more bees with honey, after all.
“You’re right. If we must work together, we might as well make it as painless as possible. Truce?” I offered.