Chapter 5: Double?

After being appointed as the new boss’s assistant, my life was more colorful. Each day I got a beautiful scene: the handsome’s appearance before me! As a superior, he was kind too. He didn’t ask me to do unreasonable things. As long as I did what he asked, he wouldn’t make a fuss. What an ideal boss!   

After five days as his assistant, I accompanied him to lunch in the cafeteria. I could hear some nasty things. It was from The Trio Gossipers. Who else? It was a nickname my friends and I gave to them. They were from the Marketing department: June, Myra, and Caithlyn, who loved gossiping.  

“See the Handsome Boss and Miss Curvy? I don’t get it. How can he like her?” June said.  

“Shh, don’t talk too loud! If he hears you, it’ll be a problem!” Myra whispered though I could still hear it. 

“What? It’s a fact. Yesterday Andrew told me, the boss gazed at Miss Curvy for a long time while they were working.” Caithlyn raised her eyebrows.

“What?! Truly? Probably Lana used a black magic! Where did she go? Maybe I need it too so I can attract some young, handsome, and rich bosses!” June said. I could hear their muffled laughters clearly because they sat only two tables away from here.  

My face was hot immediately. I was sure it was crimson already. A gentle touch on my arm made me lift my head.  

“Are you okay? Don’t listen to them. They’re busybodies,” he whispered. 

“Ah ..., yes. I’m okay.” I forced a small smile. 

“If you feel bothered, I can come to shut their mouths.”

“No need, sir! Uh, I mean, Edward.” Unconsciously, I touched the back of his hand to stop him from scolding The Trio Gossipers. When I realized what I did, I rushed to pull my hand away. “They will talk more nonsense if you do.” I sighed before muttering, “They will be quiet if they have been bored or get new gossip, for sure, the more interesting one.”  

“New gossip? More interesting one?” Suddenly he winked at me, then talked loudly. It was so loud that probably everyone in the cafeteria could hear it. “I think you all need to know that talking about people behind their back is unethical.”

I gaped. It was quiet suddenly in the cafeteria. If a needle dropped, we might hear it. When realizing my mouth opened too wide, I closed it.  

Edward seemed to enjoy what he did. He said again, still with his loud voice, “If people have time to gossip, they have less work. Probably I need to add more workload. It seems we are too relaxed here!” 

I stole a glance at The Trio Gossipers. They were pale. Not long afterward, one by one left the cafeteria. Take that! 

They had been mean to me for so long and I couldn’t defend myself. So whatever they gossiped about me, I just accepted it. So, it was like this to feel defended, especially the one who did it was a powerful boss.  

He touched my shoulder. “Can you accompany me to the Steak House tomorrow? I heard it’s a romantic place.”

I was too startled to reply. 

Since I was speechless, he asked again. This time, he did it with a louder voice. “Lana, what do you say? Say yes, okay? At seven?” 

“I-I … okay.” My heart beat so fast. I was afraid that he could hear it.  

“I pick you up, okay?” This time, his voice was already normal. 

“Uh … Uh ….” I squirmed on my seat. 

“What’s wrong? Can’t I pick you up at your place?”

“Well … you can, but ...” 

“But what?” 

“Let’s talk later after office hours, sir,” I said, deliberately calling him sir.  

He grinned. Again, my heart beat faster than usual. “Okay! Let’s work again. The lunch time is over.”  

When I was about to rise, he shocked me again.  

“I’m serious. I’ll take you home today, okay? So I know your address.” Then he whispered in my ear, “Tomorrow night is our real date.”

I was so glad that I didn’t have a heart disease. I bet it surely would have a heart attack when he held my hand. Considering letting go of his hand, I changed my mind because I wondered if it wouldn’t be a nice thing to do. Yet holding hands at the office? It was also inappropriate.  

Finally, I let him hold mine until we entered our workroom. My heart raced like a madman. It was too loud, too fast, at least in my ear. Fortunately, after escorting me to our room, he left it.  

While sinking myself into the chair, I could feel the vibration from my phone. When I checked it, there were seven text messages—three from Cecil, two each from Anna and Jenny. 

‘Wow! You’re the girl! Amazing! You can do it in a week!’ It’s from Cecil. 

‘Congratulations! I’ll wait for the treat!’ This one was from Anna.

‘Don’t forget the treat! I’m waiting!’ This one was from Cecil again.

This text was from Jenny. ‘I’m confused now. So, should I be the one who treats you? Probably it’s you who should be. Congratulations, madam!’

‘Cecil told me to text you, ‘Is it even?’ Since she promised to treat you, but it’s you who becomes the boss’s girlfriend. If both treat each other, it means it’s even.’ This was Anna’s. 

‘My phone signal was poor. How could you never tell me? Please, my bestie is close with our boss, but told me nothing! Don’t forget a complete story! Spill everything! I want to know the details.’ Again, it was from Cecil.

The last one was from Jenny. ‘I wonder if you’ll be the one who gets married soon. Don’t forget to invite us to your wedding!’

I patted my hot cheeks. How did everyone react so quickly and jump into a wrong conclusion? I finally replied with the same text to the three of them. ‘Edward was only acting. There is nothing between us. I swear!’ Then I put my phone inside the bag. For sure they would reply and it would be endless if I texted them back.  

A lot of work to do, I had to continue on with this month's financial report. Despite helping Edward as his assistant, I still needed to do my work in the Accounting department. Besides, being his assistant was only a temporary job. If he already got a new assistant, I’d return to my current position.  

When I was drowning in the busyness of doing reports, suddenly the phone on my desk rang. 

“How’s work? Done yet?” It was Edward.

“They were done, but I’m doing this month’s financial report.”

“Wow! You’re doing double jobs?” 

“Yes, sir, uh, Edward, since my duty is in Accounting. Helping you is just temporary, right?”

“Are you sure you can handle both?” He sounded worried. It might be because he wanted to ensure I could handle both jobs, but maybe it was only my imagination.  

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

“Anyway, are you happy as my assistant?”

I frowned when I heard it. “Uh, I’m happy, sir. Why?”

“I’m so comfortable to work with you. I want you to be my assistant for good. What do you think?” 

“Well, I don’t know. I’m not a professional assistant. For now, I only do general things that don’t require special skills. I don’t know if I can do more complicated work.”

He was quiet for a while. Later, he said again, “Let me tell you. How about if you take an assistant course? The office will pay you. So you can be my assistant full-time. I promise I’ll give you a raise. Double?”