Page 15 of Hotel Mallois

For the next hour, Katherine checks every corner of her future hotel. The construction is well advanced, and she estimates they can inaugurate it in a few months. Behind her, Jodie writes everything down, and Katherine can't help feeling very comfortable with her temporary assistant. On one occasion, the hotel owner turns towardher, ready to ask her to take notes, but realizes that Jodie has everything under control and doesn't need to be told what to do. When they finish, they walk toward the exit, and Jodie doesn't notice a piece of wood on the floor, stumbles, and if it weren't for Katherine's quickness in grabbing her arm and pulling her firmly against her body, the housekeeper would be on the floor with some bruises.

"Be careful, I wouldn't want to lose my new assistant so soon," Katherine whispers in her ear. Jodie struggles to hide that she's completely willing to open herself to her boss with just a couple of words spoken in that voice that drives her crazy.

Chapter 10

Jodie still finds it strange to assume this new position as Katherine Taylor's personal assistant. She thought yesterday was a one-time thing until she found another assistant to replace Olivia, but today, mid-morning, Katherine ordered someone to call her, making another coworker replace her much to Marjorie's displeasure, and had her come up to her penthouse.

"I didn't ask you yesterday if you wanted to help me," Katherine says while collecting several papers from her work table in the living room, which Jodie hasn't dared to organize despite being horrified every time she looks at it.

Jodie clears her throat.

"I work for you, I'll do whatever you ask."

"That's not what I'm asking," Katherine lifts her gaze and fixes it on Jodie, making it hard for the cleaner to breathe. "Being my assistant isn't part of your duties, maybe you're not comfortable with that."

"Yesterday I enjoyed taking notes more than ever," Jodie blurts out with a playful tone that satisfies Katherine more than she expected.

"Good, because I need you to accompany me today too. Obviously, all this will be paid separately as extra if you agree."

"Yes, of course," Jodie responds, trying to control her excitement.

"Great. Go change while I finish preparing what I need, we'll meet at the car in ten minutes."

Jodie can't remember ever changing so quickly in her life. She comes out two minutes early, and yet, when Mike opens the door for her to get in the car, Katherine is already inside.

"Sorry for being late," she apologizes, flustered, and Katherine tilts her head toward her with a half-smile drawn on her face.

"You're not late."

The morning flies by for Jodie in Katherine's company. First, she accompanies her to a building where the Mallois owner has a meeting where she sat right behind the businesswoman and took notes of everything that seemed important for Katherine. Then they stopped by the dry cleaners before going to a law office where Jodie waited outside with Mike, and now they've just gotten back in the car.

"Where to?" Mike asks, looking at Katherine through the center mirror.

"To the bank, I need to take some papers to Annie."

Jodie's stomach twists when she hears this and shifts uncomfortably in her seat.

"To Annie?" Jodie asks, pointing her finger in the direction of the Mallois hotel, unable to contain herself.

Katherine frowns and nods.

"Yes, to Annie," she responds with a dryness that makes it clear to Jodie that she didn't like her indiscretion.

During the entire ride, there's a palpable tension inside the vehicle. Jodie can't help it, hearing that woman's name is the same for her as seeing her near Katherine, and she doesn't know if she can bear being in the same room with both women, even if it's a bank.

When Mike parks, Jodie unbuckles her seatbelt, ready to get out, but Katherine stops her by raising her hand.

"No need to come in, wait here with Mike," she says and gets out of the car without waiting for a response.

Jodie doesn't know what bothers her more, being in the presence of both women or not knowing what's happening now that Katherine has gone in alone, making the fifteen minutes it takes her to return to the car feel endless.

"To the Mallois?" Mike asks when his boss buckles her seatbelt.

"No, to lunch at the same place as yesterday."

Jodie, who's still tense and very uncomfortable, looks at her bewildered.

"I think it's better if you drop me off at the hotel," she says checking the time on her wristwatch, "I should eat there and change, then I have to take care of your house," she adds, barely looking at Katherine.

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