Chapter Four

"Well Avery... It will certainly be a pleasure to work with you.” Derek said. 

I narrowed my eyes, unsure how to take that. Fortunately I was saved by Linda softly knocking. 

“I have her stuff ready.” 

Derek waved her in, walking back behind his desk.

“Go ahead, take her. Tell Matt I want to talk to him if you run into him.” 

Linda nodded, pulling my elbow to lead me out of the office. We walked back toward the apartment style space again and into a small bedroom. Well, smaller. This bedroom was still larger than my entire apartment. An outfit we had picked out at the store was laid neatly on the bed.

“We did not have time to wash it so we steamed it. The rest I sent down to the laundry to be washed.”

“What is this place? An apartment or office?” I asked, picking at the light blue blouse. While it was not my style, I could not deny how pretty it was. 

“Both. Mr. Swanson is a very busy man. He has to work in multiple time zones. It is easier to have a penthouse within the office. Only a select few have access to this floor,” She explained, “This will be your room, his is directly across the way and his smaller personal office next to it.”

I turned to her in shock. “Wait, what do you mean my room?”

“I - um- I’m sorry I thought you were aware. You are Mr. Swanson personal assistant. You are to be with him at all times.” Linda stuttered.

“I did not know that meant I would have to live with him. I am not moving into a stranger’s house.” I crossed my arms like a small child throwing a tantrum.

Linda stared at me silently as she tried to gather what she wanted to say. “You signed the contract of employment, in which it stated the requirements.” 

“Then I quit. I do not care if he buys the coffeehouse.” Linda grimaced. 

“Ms Parker, you work for Mr. Swanson and only he can terminate this employment.” 

I gawked at her. “What the fuck? Is that even legal?” 

“I’ll leave you to get dressed.” Linda said softly “ Then I’ll show you what Mr.Swanson expects daily.” 

I fell into the bed, screaming into the pillow with frustration. It was something I had done since I was little. With a slightly clear head, I knew I needed to get my hands on that paperwork to know exactly what I had gotten myself into. I got dressed quickly, throwing on the black pants and light blue blouse. I stared at the black flats that were sitting on the floor and opted to keep my sneakers on.

I walked out, looking for Linda. She stood by the counter in what I assumed was a kitchen. It looked like a professional restaurant considering what type of kitchen I had at my apartment. 

“You look nice,” She said, her voice still soft. I felt bad for yelling at her and sighed. 

“I’m sorry I yelled at you. You’re not the one I’m frustrated with.” I threw myself on a barstool, looking at an expensive laptop and cellphone sitting on the counter.

“They are yours.” She said, turning on the cellphone and handing it to me. 

I shook my head. “I don't know how to use it, never could afford one.”

She put it in my hand. “I’m sure you are a quick learner. This is the main form of communication. Laptop is to be used for all transactions. His flights, hotels, dinners, etc.” 

I stared at the equipment in front of me, overwhelmed how little I knew about this type of world. I never felt the need to buy a cellphone or computer when I had no one to reach out to. Everything I needed was within walking distance of my home. 

“I really don’t know how to do any of that.” 

Linda pursed her lips. “I’ll try to help as much as I can”

She took back the cellphone, navigating to a calendar type app. “This has his daily schedule, business and personal. His chef, Natalie, comes twice a day. And laundry is delivered directly to his room, so you don’t have to worry about that.” 

I laughed unironically. “A chef? Of course he does. Why aren’t you his assistant? You seem to know everything” 

She smiled at me. “That would be a waste of my CPA degree” 

“CPA?” I asked, with no clue what she was talking about, as I fumbled with the cellphone. I clicked through all the little icons unsure what they all meant. 

“I manage his money. I'm just the longest employee here.” She said simply. 

“That’s all I have for now. I’ll check in with you in a few hours. Can you make your way back to his office?”

I nodded, but stopped her before she could leave. “Can I get a copy of everything I signed?” I asked. 

She looked at me intently before agreeing and walking off. 

I grabbed the laptop and stopped by my room to drop it off. There was no point of lugging it around when I had no idea how to work it. I shoved the cellphone into my back pocket and made my way to his office. 

Derek was talking to another man when I got there and I paused, unsure if I should walk in. He locked eyes with me and waved me in. 

“I’m telling you I didn’t use the card…” the man trailed off as we recognized each other. “You” he spat out. 

It was the rude man from the gas station. 

Derek raised an eyebrow, no other emotion sprawled across his face. “You know each other?” 

“I- uh- we-  no sir we don’t.” The man stuttered, he stared at me intently as if trying to convince me to play enough with his life. 

Derek looked at me while I turned toward him, plopping down in one of the chairs he had across his desk. I swung my legs up onto the arm, crossing my legs. Derek looked disapprovingly at my sneakers. 

“Does he work for you?” I asked Derek. 

“Possibly.” He replied. 

“He threatened to have you sue me last night.” I said, entwining my fingers and placing them behind my head as I looked toward the man. 

I watched as his face turned red, he went to speak but Derek held up his hand. 

“And why would he do that, Avery?” Derek said his voice was cold as ice. 

“I don’t know.. something about a company card being charged multiple times. I tried to tell him I didn’t have anything to do with it but he refused to listen.” The man stared at me furiously, and I cocked an eyebrow at him. I desperately wanted to flip him off. 

“The card you just claimed to not use, Matt?” Derek asked him. Matt didn’t say anything as his eyes fell to the floor. “Get out. I’ll have your things brought to you” 

Matt left the office without a card. And I heard Derek sigh, dropping the card he had in his hand onto the desk. 

“That’s the second employee you’ve costed me” 

“You know your employees throw you around like you’re some hotshot and they should be treated differently. It comes off as incredibly arrogant.” I replied in defense. 

“Many see working for me as a privilege, as they should.” 

I grimaced at his words. “That doesn’t mean you get to treat people like shit.” 

Derek looked at me intently, searching my face for something. “I’m aware. Thank you” 

Narrowing my eyes, I continued. “Plus I didn’t force you to fire anyone. You did that on your own accord.” 

Just noticing the view of the city, I got up to stare at the beauty of it. You could see it for miles, with the giant green square park in the middle of it. I’ve always waited to visit it, but never could find the time or energy. I thought back to my little town and how different it was from here. 

“I don’t want to live here” I said quietly. My back was to him. 

“You live too far away to be any convenience for me” he replied simply. 

I turned around, crossing my arms. “Why were you out there? You have all this. Why that town? Why my coffeehouse?”

He stopped typing on his computer to face me, taking in my annoyed stance. His face softened as he spoke. 

“To get away.” He said. 

“Away from what?” I pressed on. 

Derek shook his head, “you wouldn’t understand.” 

I laughed now, mockingly. “You’re right I don’t. Your life is incredibly different from mine. I don’t belong here.” 

Clearly annoyed now, Derek slammed his laptop shut. “You haven’t bothered to try. One of the reasons I wanted to hire you was because you seemed like a person who doesn’t give up easily; determined. Was I wrong in that assumption?” 

We stared at each other briefly, while I filtered out what I wanted to say to him in my head. “No.” I finally said quietly. 

He cocked an eyebrow. “No, what? No you are that person or no I’m not wrong.” 

I narrowed my eyes on him speaking to me like a child. “You only asked one question. I gave you an answer.” 

Derek stopped a smile from escaping before waving his hand dismissively. “Go roam the building. I’ll come find you at lunch”