Free The Assistant by Ramona Gray

me. 
    I smiled at him.  “Mr. Parker.  Survived
your meeting with Mr. Wright, did you?”
    “Just barely.”  He laughed before scanning
the menu board of the small café we were sitting in.  “What’s good here?”
    “The mushroom soup is delicious.”  I took
another sip of soup as Jamie watched.
    “I had a very interesting discussion with
Mr. Wright at our meeting this morning,” he said.
    “Oh?”  I feigned disinterest as I bit into
my piece of garlic toast.
    “Yes.  We talked about you, actually.”
    “Odd,” I replied neutrally.
    “Are you and Mr. Wright dating?”
    I choked on my toast and coughed raggedly
as Jamie reached across and pounded me on the back.
    “You okay?”
    “Yes,” I croaked out before taking a sip of
water.  “Why would you ask me that?”
    “Because Mr. Wright told me you were off
limits.”
    I blinked at him.  “He what?”
    “He said you were off limits.  Those were
his exact words.”
    I frowned.  “Why would he say that?”
    “You tell me.”
    “I have no idea.  We’re not dating.”  I
pushed away my bowl of soup and tried to keep from blushing as Jamie stared
thoughtfully at me.
    “I didn’t think so, but thought I would
ask.  I asked him if you two were fucking.”
    This time I choked on my water and Jamie
patted me again on the back.  “Sorry, that was coarse of me.  I meant to say
that I asked him if you two were making the beast with two backs.”
    I snorted laughter.  “Oh, that’s much
better, Jamie.”
    He winked at me.  “He denied it.”
    “Of course he did.”  I gave him a look of
fake indignation.  “I’m not the kind of employee who sleeps with her boss.”
    “I didn’t see anything in the employee
handbook about coworkers not being allowed to date,” he said casually.
    “There isn’t but that doesn’t mean I’m
going to hump my boss,” I replied.
    He laughed.  “Fair enough.  But you know he
wants to fuck you, right?”
    “Jamie!”  I glanced around nervously. 
Several of our coworkers were in the café and I glared at him.  “Keep your
voice down.”
    He leaned closer.  “Sorry.  I’m just trying
to figure out the situation here.  Good old Mr. Wright wants to fu – sorry,
make sweet, sweet love – to his assistant, that much is obvious, and I’m
wondering if his assistant feels the same way.”
    “Why do you care?”  I asked.
    He grinned.  “Do I have to spell it out for
you, Lina?”
    I blushed and looked down at the table. 
“You don’t even know me.”
    “I’d like to get to know you but not if my
boss is going to take me behind the building and beat the shit out of me for hitting
on his woman.”
    “One – I’m not his woman and two – he
doesn’t want to sleep with me.  He doesn’t like the idea of coworkers dating,
that’s all.”
    “Sure, that’s all it is.”  He reached out
and traced my knuckles with the tip of his finger.  “So, what do you say,
Lina?  Would you like to go out?”
    I hesitated.  Jamie was handsome and funny
and I was tempted to say yes.  If only to figure out why on earth he would be
interested in my chubby body and average looks. 
    “I – can I think about it?”
    “Of course.”  He jumped up and started
toward the counter.  “Do you mind if I have lunch with you?”
    I shook my head and he grinned like a
schoolboy.  “Great.  It’s our first date.”
    I rolled my eyes, giggling a little despite
myself, and watched as he walked confidently to the counter.
     

Chapter 7
     
    “Merry Christmas, Lina!”  Amanda threw her
arms around me and kissed me wetly on the cheek before giggling.
    I grinned and returned her hug.  “Are you
drunk, Amanda?”
    “I’m not not drunk,” she giggled
again.
    “Tell me you’re not driving.”
    “Of course I’m not.  Tell me why you’re not
drinking.”  She eyed my glass of water before taking another sip of wine.
    “Because I’m driving.” 
    “Oh please.”  She rolled her eyes.