The Executive's Secretary, page 10
“I had him escorted out.”
“There was a lot of yelling and a big commotion.”
“He put up a bit of a fight,” he said.
“A bit?” I asked.
“More than a bit. He probably has a broken nose, and he’ll be lucky if I don’t press charges.”
“What the hell, Bryce!”
“I think we should just come out to the office now,” he said casually.
“What?”
“Why not? It’ll save your reputation. Nobody will be able to say you’re sleeping around the office. Let’s just tell everyone we’re a couple.”
“Bryce, is that a good idea? What will that do to my career?”
“I’ll write you a stellar letter of recommendation if you don’t want to stay here,” he said, leaning back in the chair again.
I plopped onto his leather couch and let my head fall into my hands. My thoughts were swimming in my mind. What should I do? There was so much happening all at once. Soon the tears streamed down my face again, and I don’t understand why I’m crying. He told me everything I wanted him to. He wanted me. He needed me. Why was it so hard for me to say yes?
If I agreed to what he wanted, what would we be? How would I group Bryce O’Connell? Are we still nothing more than boss and employee? Is he my boyfriend? My lover? The giver of awesome orgasMiss
Will I be able to take him to my favorite hangouts, movies, hole-in-the-wall diners? Will he get along with my friends? Can I introduce him to my family? Can we ever be a normal couple? How does one of the world’s richest men and the most eligible bachelor’s date, especially someone as normal and plain as me?
Can we have a future together?
If I do agree to be his and come out to everyone as his mystery woman, who’s to say he won’t change his mind about me. What happens when he does dump me? I can’t stay with the company. Then there goes my career.
This is why you don’t fuck the boss, Piper.
I looked up at him and the thought of not seeing again was agonizing. How did he get under my skin so fast?
“Talk to me, Piper.”
“What do you want me tell you, Bryce?”
“What you’re thinking? Why are you so upset? Why don’t you want to go public with our relationship?” he asked, leaning forward on his elbows.
“I’m scared. Alright. I’m afraid I’m just your flavor of the month. What if we go public and you decide that you’ve had enough of me? What about my career? What about my heart? I can’t bear to have it broken. Not over Bryce O’Connell. What will everyone in the company say. It’ll be humiliating. How can I face all of them after we come out? If you thought Robby was bad God it’ll be all everyone will be talking about forever.”
“Who cares?” he asked.
“I do, Bryce! I work with these people every day! How can I look them in the face after lying to them for so long saying I had no idea who you’ve been seeing when all along its been me?”
“It’s not their lives. It’s not their business. We’re coming out as a couple and that’s it. We’ll do it at the company gala next month,” he said, kneeling in front of me wiping my tears.
“Are you sure it’s a good move?” I asked.
“Yes and you’re not some flavor of the month. I love you, Piper Troy.”
“What?” I looked up at him, searching his face for any hint of doubt.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Bryce, which is why this terrifies me.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pressing his warm lips to mine.
“I’m never letting you go.”
“Good.”
“Let’s go get coffee. Mine’s cold and yours is on the floor out there.”
“Okay,” I said.”
We exited the office to find Alyssa sitting in shocked silence. She stared up at us with her mouth hanging open. My desk was mess. Papers were scattered everywhere, my chair was still lying on its side, and my coffee was lying on the floor.
“I’m taking Piper to get a new coffee to help calm her nerves. We’ll be back in about an hour. Please have the cleaners come up and get rid of that coffee stain.”
“Yes, Sir,” Alyssa said quietly.
She watched as he directed me down the hallway. A few holes punched in the wall were already marked off and primed to be plastered. Blood near the elevator was being scrubbed and people whispered as we stood there.
I wanted to disappear.
Once we were alone, Bryce hit the emergency stop button.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“Why did you let him get you so upset?”
“What?”
“That man. What did you call him? Robby?”
“Because of what he called me,” I said, staring at the floor.
“Don’t play innocent with me, Piper. Why did you let him get under your skin? You’re tough. You never take shit from people like him.”
“Because that is exactly what I don’t want to happen. I don’t want people talking. I don’t want to be known as the office slut.” I could feel the tears making their way to the surface again. A sob threatened to break free. I was losing it in front of Bryce.
“You’re going to be the talk of the office now. Robby doesn’t have a job, and he’s been telling everyone you fucked your way to your job.”
My stomach felt like it was going to leap out of my throat. At least all of its contents were. Fucking liar!
Bryce must have noticed my pallor turn ghostly because he wrapped an arm around me for support and kissed my forehead. “Don’t worry. By afternoon he will be the raving lunatic who has had the hots for you that was just so pissed that you wouldn’t give him the time or day that you’ll be the innocent victim in all of this.”
“I am the innocent victim in all of this! Bryce, you’re the only man in this entire company who has ever touched me more than a handshake! Do you honestly think I slept my way to my job? I do have two masters’ degrees, one in business and one in marketing. It’s not like you ended up with some air-headed floosy they picked up off the fucking streets.”
“I never said that…”
“You implied it. Christ. Is that what you think of me?” I hit the emergency stop button, starting the elevator again.
He slammed his hand against it, jolting us to a holt. “Stop with this, Piper. No I don’t. You know I don’t.”
“You chose your words poorly then.”
He grabbed my wrists and pulled me into his body. Part of me wanted to be free of him. I wanted run away, but another part wanted him to take me away. I wanted away from all of the crazy around us.
Chapter Sixteen
I didn’t know what to say to Alyssa when we return. Bryce goes into his office without another word. I slide into my chair, my cheeks stained from the tears, and my mascara streaked. She didn’t move. She stared wide-eyed. I watched my black computer screen, sipping at the luke-warm coffee.
“What happen?” she finally asks.
“Robby crossed the line. Mr. O’Connell heard. He offended Mr. O’Connell. You showed up and heard the rest. He was fired,” I said quietly.
“Hungry?”
“Starving.”
“I got us eggplant parm from Luigi’s.”
I smiled meekly. My favorite.
“Okay. Let’s go to the break room and eat.”
“Sorry it’s so early. I wanted to beat the crowds,” she said, handing me a container.
“It’s alright. After that, I need some good comfort food.”
“I didn’t know he was like that.”
“What? Who?”
“Robby. I didn’t know he was so crazy.”
“It’s okay, Alyssa. Neither did I. It’s always the quiet ones right?” The kitchen was empty for once.
“What’s going to happen now?”
“With what?”
“Robby?”
“I don’t know. Mr. O’Connell was talking about pressing charges.” I poked the soggy eggplant with my plastic fork. I didn’t want to discuss Bryce, Robby, or the altercation. I didn’t want to think about the fact that I was thought of as the office slut by who knows how many people.
“Wow. That is just insane. Do you know why he went bat shit crazy like that?” she continued pushing.
“Um, something about me not having sex with him.”
“What? Really? What a slimy pig!”
“Right? At least he’s gone now.”
“How are you?” she asked.
“A bit shaken up. Nobody has ever spoken to me like that before.”
“I’m sorry I ever talked you into going for lunch with that creep.”
“Who could have known just how much of an asshole he was?” I asked before shoving a forkful of spaghetti in my mouth.
My stomach hurt with each bite I took. My head pounded. Why couldn’t the day just be over?
I pushed the container away and rested my forehead on the table.
“Not hungry?” Alyssa asked.
“I’m not feeling very well.”
“Wanna go home?”
“No, I just want to go back to my desk and sit in misery until the end of the day.”
“That’s not good for you. How about we go out tonight?” She suggested.
“I think I may just stay in tonight. I’m not feeling the going out thing.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I’m going to have a pity party on my couch with some ice cream,” I mumbled through my arm.
“Want some company?”
“You can come over if you want.” I smiled up at her. It wouldn’t be so bad to have someone there with me.
“Alright. I’ll stop over around seven with movies and a tub of ice cream.”
“Sounds good.”
“Back to work?” she asked.
“I guess.”
I sat behind my desk tapping my pen on my desk with my head in my hand, my mind a million miles from the office. Bryce was quite most of the afternoon. He didn’t ask for coffee or reports. No conference calls or lunch meetings. No afternoon sex romps on his desk and no firings. I also couldn’t help but think the entire office building was talking about me or at least staring at me. It was the most uncomfortable, awkward feeling in the world. It was probably also completely all in my head.
The old grandfather clock at the end of our hallway chimed five o’clock before I knew it. I quickly shoved the leftover reports I had in my briefcase and grabbed my jacket.
“I’ll see you tonight,” I called, waving to Alyssa.
“Alright. Seven o’clock!” she hollered back.
“Okay!”
I ran to the elevator hoping to miss the rush of people.
Bryce O’Connell, CEO of bitching: Where are you?
Me: Getting on the elevator.
Bryce O’Connell, CEO of bitching: You’re leaving already?
I’m going to have to change his name.
Me: Yes.
Bryce O’Connell, CEO of bitching: Why?
Me: It’s five, Bryce. I need to get out of here. I feel like I’m suffocating in here.
Bryce O’Connell, CEO of bitching: Get back to my office. We’ll leave together. I want to discuss the office gala.
Me: It’s next month. Why can’t we talk about it later?
Bryce O’Connell, CEO of bitching: Does it matter? I want to talk about it now. Get back here.
Me: Yes, Sir.
Bryce O’Connell, CEO of bitching: That’s what I thought.
I sighed heavily and tucked my phone in my jacket pocket. My cheeks flushed as those who merged on the elevators stared while I walked back toward the office.
“Where are you going?” Alyssa asked, seeing me waking back.
“The lord needs me.”
“It’s after five.”
“He doesn’t care,” I muttered.
“Tell him you’ll do whatever he needs tomorrow.”
“I’m still here. I could use the overtime anyway,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“Alright as long as we’re still on for tonight.”
“Of course! I’ll see you in a bit.”
I kept my head down as a few of the other administrative assistants walked down the hallway. I could hear their whispers and tusking behind my back. Was it sympathy? Condemning?
I opened Bryce’s doors and strode across the room dropping my things on the floor. I tapped my foot impatiently in front of him as he continued signing papers. “What did you want to talk about?”
“The gala.”
“What about it?”
“You’re going as my date,” he said, glancing up at me.
“Okay. I go every year.”
“Yes, but this year you’ll be my date.”
“Okay. Do you have a point to this, Bryce?” I asked.
“This year’s theme is masquerade.”
“Masquerade?” I repeated.
“Yes, with a bit of a historical background to it.”
“A historical masquerade?”
“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?” he asked.
“Whose idea was that?”
“Someone in pr and marketing. They thought it would be fun,” he said, shaking his head. “I hate their ideas.”
“I’ll find a costume then.”
“We’ll go together,” he said.
“Together?”
“Yes. If we’re going to be coming out as a couple I want to at least have matching costumes.”
“You’re very serious about all of this, aren’t you?” I asked.
“Yes,” He replied.
“Alright. Then sometime in the next few weeks we’ll go costume shopping.”
“Well if you’re going with me and this is a couple’s thing, you’re paying,” I grumbled.
“That’s fine, because I’m also picking them out.”
“We will pick them out,” I corrected.
He rubbed his temples and stared at me.
“We, Bryce.” I turned and left the office before he could say another word.
He’s not going to control any aspect of my life; including a ridiculous work costume party.
Chapter Seventeen
I sat in the dark, flipping through the channels, waiting for Alyssa to show up. It was already quarter after seven and I was ready with my box of tissues and tub of ice cream. When she finally knocked, I sprang from my seat and was surprised to see her in a short, sparkly dress and six-inch heels.
“Alyssa, that’s a rather interesting outfit for movies and ice cream.”
“We’re not watching sad movies and pouting over an asshole who caused drama at work. We’re going out and having a good time.”
“But…”
“No buts, Piper. We’re going to have a good time.”
“Alyssa, I’m really not in the mood,” I said, sitting on the couch and grabbing the ice cream.
“No! No more pouting and pity parties. You’re too good for that. I’m not letting you sit there and wallow in a half-gallon of chunky monkey because of some jagoff who made a scene in the office. Let’s go.”
“I really don’t want to.”
“Yes you do.” She smiled, dragging me off the couch to my room.
I flopped onto the bed and watched as she ransacked my closet. Alyssa pulled dress after dress out, depositing them next to me.
Great, who’s going to clean up the mess?
She found a red number toward the back I had forgotten about. It was short, much too short. In fact it was scandalous. There was one shoulder, it bunched at the breasts, hugged my curvy figure, and actuated my ass. I’d bought sparkling silver shoes to go with it. I pushed her out of the way and found them on the right side.
“That’s more like it!” she exclaimed.
“Yeah well…” I let my voice trail off.
What girl doesn’t get excited over sparkling shoes and dresses?
“Go get dressed. I’ll help with your hair and make-up.”
“I can do my own hair and make-up,” I protested.
“Let me help. Be pampered once in a while,” she said already digging through my vanity.
“Alright. I’ll be right back.”
I squeezed into the dress and heels actually excited to have someone there to pamper me for once. It was nice.
“Sit,” she commanded.
Obediently I sat on the bed with my back to her. She removed the hair clip allowing my usual straight hair to fall down my back. The loose curls bounced as she fluffed them up.
“Oh my god! This hair!” she squealed.
“What?” I asked.
“It’s gorgeous! Where have you been hiding it?”
“I hate my hair,” I muttered.
“Why? Piper, your hair is ah-may-zing!”
“No. It’s awful. Look at it.”
“I am. I love it!”
“If you say so.”
“I do. Now don’t move. I’m going to make you irresistible!”
“Alright.”
I closed my eyes just happy to have someone else doing my hair. Enjoying the scalp massage and face rub. I had almost fallen asleep when she stepped back smiling from ear to ear pleased with her work.
“Finished.” She handed me a mirror to inspect her work.
“Not bad, Alyssa.”
“I should have been a cosmetologist.”
“Your fall back career.” I laughed.
“Why not.” She smiled. “Alright. You’re finished!”
I looked in the mirror happy with the finished product. I was hot. “Let’s go.”
“Alright!” she squealed.
I grabbed my handbag and pulled the door shut behind us. I followed her to a white Acura that waited on the corner. The lights of the Southside lit up the night. A small glimmer of happiness brewed in my belly. I was excited to get out. To spend time with my friend. To get away from Bryce and the craziness of the office.
Alyssa pulled up in front of a modern looking steel building with a neon sign on the front. The music was so loud you could hear it thumping outside. The line wrapped around the place. Two big men in black suits stood out front, one with a clip board and the other working the rope. There was no way we were getting in. I looked at her with a solemn look, hoping she wasn’t too disappointed. A smile plastered on her face from ear to ear left me confused.
