Page 9 of Hot For Her Assistant

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck," Natalie curses as she starts scrolling across her phone's notifications. "I shouldn't have come here."

"If you didn't come here, you wouldn't have come as many times as you have. Think about last night as a way to prepare you for today. What can possibly be worse than being electrocuted, drugged, and fucked by a naughty fairy?" I ask her. "Shit, what did you shock me with, anyway?"

Natalie smiles and reaches for her bag, pulling out a small flashlight-looking device.

I nod. "Next time, we're going to use something proper for us to enjoy."

She giggles with her little snort. "Are you serious? You want me to electrocute you again?"

"Yeah, why not? I had a good time. Didn't you?"

She nods slowly, moving to her feet so she can start her day. I see the panic coming before she turns to face me.

"You're unfired." Natalie's panic doesn't fill me with urgency, nor does it give me relief.

"How about you trust your instincts as a great business owner? You were right about me. I'm not the kind of man to fold to industry standards. I don't want to shop for drugs for clients. For us? Yeah, but not as someone's doormat."

"Tyler," she says my name, making me fall for the way it sounds coming off her lips. "I don't think I can deal with today without you. If I have to fire Anderson for whatever's going on with Chanel, then I'll be alone, and what if the police come? What if she knows Anderson laced her drugs or something and she's holding me responsible?"

I hop out of bed, crossing the room to her and grabbing Natalie by the shoulders. "Chanel Bell is an adult. She requested illegal drugs be brought to her on set. Instead of listening to me and waiting until after she wrapped, she fired me. You fired me, and then Anderson was sent to her with whatever she requested. No one forced her to take anything. I'd hate to sound like him, but Anderson's right."

A frown settles on her face. "Right about what?"

"You shouldn't take drugs from strangers."

Natalie takes another set of deep breaths. "He's right, you're right, but that doesn't make it right. Fuck, I'm fucked. Come in today and help me just deal with whatever's waiting at the office."

"Okay, I'll come in. Do you want to head home to change?"

Natalie's eyes look down to see her clothes a bit stretched from where I pulled at them. She glances from herself to me and back down again.

"Relax, Natalie," I tell her again. "The office doesn't open without you. You changed all of the security codes, remember?"

"Just meet me there by 9:30. Please? Thank you." She grabs her stuff before hauling out of my apartment without a second thought.

I shrug it off, having an idea of the crisis she'll be dealing with when she arrives at Radiant Talent this morning. I'm in no rush to go into the inevitable shit show. But, I agreed to go in, and from there, I can figure out what my next career move should be.

When I get to the office, I'm not surprised to see the pint-sized pain in the ass standing in front of Natalie's desk, screeching into her phone. I haven't even stepped inside, but the scene through the large window doesn't give me hope that this morning is getting off to a good start.

Anderson's sitting in his chair, leaning back with a cocky grin across his face. The air of nonchalance around him is rage-inducing, and I'm not the one whose drugs he laced.

"Morning, everyone," I greet them as I walk into the office. I set the tablet on the desk that used to be mine, but stick in the waiting area.

Chanel Bell is about 4 feet 8 inches, with fire-red curly hair, the complexion of a toasted almond with sprinkles across her face. She does a bit of everything from music to acting and modeling. What she doesn't do well?

Being sober.

The redness in her eyes is evident as she turns her attention toward me.

"This is all of your fault, you righteous little gremlin," she snarls.

"There's nothing little about me, Nelly," I shoot back.

"Did you just call me Nelly? Like the Lochness Monster?" Her eyes twitch like she's about to erupt.

I laugh. "No, that's Nessie. I called you Nelly like 'It's Gettin’ Hot in Here.'"

Anderson nearly chokes as he sits up to laugh. That only makes Chanel rage harder.

---