Ava
Iknewfromthemoment I’d accepted, even under duress, that it would be a mistake. I also should have known better than to expect Hugo to treat me like more than the insignificant employee I was to him.
Working for Hugo was not as bad as I imagined; it was worse, so much worse. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure if he was doing it just to be extra annoying to me, even if I suspected he laid it on extra thick because I couldn’t run, or if he was always a demanding boss.
However, I could see from the weariness in people’s eyes when they looked at him or the pitying look his secretary gave me on my first day that he was not an authoritarian, highly demanding, exasperating boss; only to me.
He terrified most people and even if he didn’t terrify me, I was still wary around him. He had the power to make my life and Ethan’s, extremely difficult.
On my first day working for Hugo, he didn’t leave me even a minute to get up to speed and used every single opportunity to criticize my work.
By midday, I felt completely defeated. I was starting to think I was not half as efficient or as smart as I thought I had been when I first walked into the building this morning.
“Don’t let him take a toll on you,” Marie, his middle-aged secretary, advised as she walked me to the work cafeteria where at least I would get free food.
“It’s hard not to,” I admitted as I supercharged my plate with chicken pasta. I didn’t know if it was the pregnancy or just the stress, but I was really hungry today.
She nodded. “I know, but you stay strong and hold your head high. Hugo St-John loves to bully people and see them break, but once he realizes you’re strong, he won’t be as bad as he is now.”
I pursed my lips as I picked a bottle of sparkling water and continued slowly down the line. “It’s not very reassuring.”
“I guess not.” She jerked her head toward a table already taken by some other employees. “Let me introduce you to some people.”
I followed her gratefully as some eyed me curiously. I was ‘fresh meat’, and that made me want to crawl under a table.
“Team, this is Ava, St-John’s new personal assistant.”
The younger man let out a low whistle while the other middle-aged woman winced.
“What horrible thing have you done in your life to deserve this karma?” The man laughed.
“Dave!” the other woman chastised him with a motherly scowl. She turned toward me, pushing back her glasses on her thin nose. “Don’t listen to him. My name is Debra, I’ve been with JohnCorps for…” I waited while she did the math in her head. “Twelve years now and I’m the Executive Assistant to the CFO."
“Nice to meet you,” I replied with a genuine smile and turned toward the younger man, a little more relaxed now.
“Oh, yeah, right.” He wiped his mouth with a paper towel. “I’m not used to people seeing me,” he said with a wink, and I laughed.
I highly doubted that. He was not my type, too preppy for me with his sandy blond hair cut short on the side and longer at the top, but he was charming.
“I’m Dave from Marketing. I’ve been here for three years now but at least I’m far from the boss’ floor, so I don’t get too many Underworld vibes.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that, he was so right there. He beamed with pride at my laughter and I decided then and there that I liked Dave.
“Dave,” Debra said with a weary sigh. “You’re going to get yourself into trouble and what will I tell your mom, huh?”
“It’s okay, Aunt Debra. Ava knows what I mean.”
I nodded, twirling some pasta on my fork. “I do,” I replied before taking a mouthful, and I was surprised at how tasty it was! It was work-cafeteria food; I wasn’t expecting it to taste that good!
I couldn’t help the little moan of appreciation, and the three at the table chuckled.
“Yes, it really is that good!” Marie said with a knowing smile as I went back for another mouthful. “And it’s like that every day. Mr. St-John hired a renowned chef to prepare our meals.”
I raised an eyebrow as an only response as I kept wolfing down my food, mentally putting my rudeness down to the pregnancy instead of my own irrational love for pasta.
“One of the perks, I guess,” Dave continued. “Why do you think the retention rate is so high here?” He waved his hand around the room. “It’s obviously not for the warm, cozy feelings.” He let out a little laugh. “Come for the prestige, stay for the money and food.”
“Excellent hiring slogan. You should pitch it to HR,” I said quickly before Debra’s bulging forehead vein burst.