7. ASSIGNMENT

ASSIGNMENT

Jerry tapped the pen against his desk repeatedly, the soft sound echoing through the office as he waited for Emma.

One minute passed.

Then two.

Then five.

A slow smirk crept onto his face.

“She’s doing this on purpose,” he muttered under his breath, leaning back lazily in his chair.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the floor, Emma dragged her feet dramatically toward his office like someone being led to execution.

She stopped in front of the door and narrowed her eyes at it.

The stupid door looked expensive too.

Emma lifted her hand, ready to barge in, but paused.

Unfortunately, she remembered his ridiculous rules.

Knock twice.

Wait for permission.

Don’t barge in.

Don’t breathe incorrectly.

Don’t blink too loud probably.

Emma rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw her ancestors.

Still, she knocked twice.

Then waited.

Silence.

She frowned.

“Is this man sleeping in there?” she muttered quietly.

Inside the office, Jerry heard every word clearly.

He deliberately ignored her for another few minutes before finally speaking.

“Come in.”

Emma pushed the door open slowly before stepping inside.

Her eyes immediately landed on Jerry.

And annoyingly enough…

The man was smiling.

Not a normal smile.

That annoying “I know exactly what you’re trying to do” smile.

Emma instantly disliked him all over again.

“Reporting for duty, sir,” Emma said dramatically, saluting him.

Jerry’s brows scrunched together instantly.

“Never say that again.”

Emma blinked.

“Tough crowd,” she muttered under her breath.

“What took you so long?” Jerry asked, dropping the pen on the desk.

Emma resisted the urge to say:

Because walking here peacefully is the only thing stopping me from throwing this coffee file at your forehead.

She didn't have wings to fly to his office at his first call and even if she really did ,she rather crawl there just to get on this silly man nerves .

Instead, she forced a fake smile.

“Sorry, boss.”

Jerry sighed immediately.

“That’s another thing I dislike. Apologies.”

Emma stared at him.

This man hated greetings.

Hated apologies.

Probably hated oxygen too.

“Why apologize?” Jerry continued. “I asked a simple question, not for a dramatic speech.”

Emma bit her lower lip hard.

Her self-control deserved an award at this point.

Actually no.

Money.

She deserved money.

A lot of it.

“Sir,” Emma finally said, “I was reading the company rule book and then Miss Lucy gave me these files to deliver to you.”

Jerry’s eyes shifted to the file in her hand.

“Hm. Let me see it.”

Emma handed it over quickly like it was cursed.

Jerry flipped through the pages calmly while Emma stood there awkwardly shifting from one foot to another.

He noticed immediately.

But he said nothing.

There was literally a chair in front of him.

She refused to sit.

Interesting.

“What did you understand from the report?” Jerry suddenly asked.

Emma froze.

“…Eh?”

Jerry slowly looked up.

The corner of his lips twitched.

She just said the first thing that came to her mind _ but in fact ,she was too angry to even open the file and even if she did ,she still wouldn't understand because she wasn't there

Emma cleared her throat quickly.

“Well…”

“Yes?”

“I discovered that…” Emma started confidently before her confidence died halfway. “…it was a very significant progress?”

Silence.

Then Jerry chuckled.

Actually chuckled.

“Impressive,” he said dryly. “That was almost believable.”

Emma glared internally.

“You didn’t read it, did you?”

“Of course I did,” Emma lied instantly.

Jerry leaned back in his chair, resting his head lazily against his knuckles.

“Then explain it.”

Emma’s brain immediately packed its bags and left.

“Well…” she started again. “There were… numbers.”

Jerry stared at her.

Emma smiled nervously.

“Ha.”

That single sound somehow carried disappointment, annoyance, and mockery all together.

“You are a terrible liar,” Jerry said flatly. “And unfortunately for you, I hate liars.”

Emma looked down at her sneakers instead.

“Listen carefully,” Jerry continued. “I can tolerate incompetence for a while. I can tolerate mistakes. But dishonesty? No.”

Emma frowned slightly.

For some reason, that sentence sounded more serious than everything else he had said today.

Still annoying though.

Very annoying.

“I’ll let it slide because today is your first day,” Jerry continued. “Now get me a cup of coffee.”

Emma’s eyes widened.

“Coffee?”

“Yes. Coffee.”

Emma blurted out before she could stop herself

“You have hands.”

She quickly shut her lips seeing Jerry narrowed eyes as she muttered a quick apology . He continued.

“And you have a job.”

Yeah she knew that part . But she was his manager _ there wasn't any rule that stated she also need to manage his coffee or something!.

Emma inhaled deeply.

Exhaled slowly.

Counted to five in her head.

Then another five.

Then another.

“Wonderful,” she muttered stiffly before turning around.

She marched toward the door angrily.

Right before she opened it, Jerry spoke again.

“And try not to mess this up.”

Emma’s eye twitched violently.

The urge to slam the door nearly consumed her soul.

But unfortunately…

Company rules.

So instead, she shut it carefully.

Which somehow felt even more painful.

Emma stormed toward the office café with murder in her eyes.

“The nerves of that man,” she grumbled. “One day I will roll him into a carpet and throw him into traffic.”

A few workers nearby immediately lowered their heads and pretended not to hear anything.

Emma reached the café counter and leaned against it dramatically.

“One coffee please,” she sighed.

As the worker prepared the order, Emma continued ranting to herself.

“He acts like he owns the moon.”

Pause.

“Actually he probably would if someone sold it.”

She closed her eyes tightly and kicked the air in frustration.

Unfortunately…

The air moved.

“Ow!”

Emma’s eyes flew open.

Silas stood there clutching his leg in pain.

Emma gasped.

“Oh no.”

Not him again.

Emma bit her lips when she saw who it was .

That weird man that kept on introducing himself she thought nodding to herself as she quickly apologized .

“Sorry!” Emma blurted immediately. “I didn’t mean to kick you!”

Silas forced out a painful smile.

“It’s okay…”

It was clearly not okay.

The poor man looked like he was reconsidering every life choice that led him here.

Emma winced.

“I swear I was aiming for someone else.”

Silas blinked.

“…Should I be concerned?”

Emma thought about Jerry.

“Yes.”

Before Silas could respond, Emma angrily muttered again:

“That slimy peacock.”

Then she kicked the air again.

Unfortunately for Silas…

He was still there.

“Ow!”

Emma froze.

Silas stared at her in disbelief.

“Miss Emma,” he groaned painfully, “do you have personal issues with my leg?”

Emma slapped a hand over her mouth.

“No! I promise this is accidental violence!”

The café worker behind the counter looked seconds away from laughing.

Emma immediately pulled a chair for Silas.

“Sit down before I accidentally break something else.”

Silas sat carefully while massaging his leg dramatically.

Emma crouched beside him guiltily.

“I’m really sorry,” she said, rubbing lightly below his knee. “Work stress is destroying my sanity.”

Silas instantly stiffened.

His ears slowly turned red.

Emma looked up innocently.

“Are you okay?”

Silas forgot how language worked for three full seconds.

“Y-yes.”

Emma blinked.

Why was this man blushing like a cartoon character?

Cute.

Very cute.

Like an overworked golden retriever.

“Oh thank God,” Emma sighed. “I thought I fractured your future.”

Silas laughed awkwardly.

The café worker placed the coffee on the counter.

“Your order is ready.”

Emma stood up quickly.

“Oh right. The dictator’s coffee.”

Silas frowned.

“…The boss?”

Emma grabbed the cup dramatically.

“Yes. May this coffee humble him.”

Silas nearly choked.

“Miss Emma!”

“What?” she asked innocently.

Silas lowered his voice immediately.

“You shouldn’t say things like that.”

Emma narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“You sound scared.”

“I enjoy being employed and also the boss isn't someone to mess with too” Silas admitted honestly.

Emma stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter.

“You know what? Fair.”

Silas smiled helplessly at her.

“Do you need help getting back to your office?” he asked shyly.

“Sure, Mr…” Emma paused dramatically.

Silas looked wounded already.

“…Silas,” she finally finished.

His entire face brightened immediately.

Emma almost laughed again.

Golden retriever confirmed.

Silas tried standing up confidently.

Then immediately sat back down with pain.

“Ow.”

Emma bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

“I really damaged you.”

“No no,” Silas said quickly. “I’m perfectly fi…”

His face twisted in pain again.

Emma nodded seriously.

“Absolutely thriving.”

Silas laughed weakly.

Emma placed a hand on his shoulder gently.

“You should rest before I accidentally kill you.”

Silas froze again.

This woman touched people very casually.

Meanwhile he was internally combusting.

Silas cleared his throat when Emma continue to stare .

"Ahem, miss Emma can I also ...um call you ...um Emma too " Silas asked giving Emma a small smile who blinked before she nodded a yes.

“See you later, Silas.”

Before leaving, she lightly patted his cheek.

Silas completely stopped functioning.

Emma walked away happily carrying Jerry’s coffee while Silas remained frozen on the chair staring into space like his soul had temporarily exited his body.