Page 8 of Faking It With My New Boss

Screw that.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not here to apply as a secretary,” I said, starting to move toward the door again.

“Assistant, then,” he said dismissively. “That’s probably a better term for it, anyway, considering the scope of the expectations. Which brings me to the discussion of compensation. I know you were given a general idea of your pay when you were hired, but those are details I’m only comfortable settling myself rather than allowing someone else to do it.”

Hired? When was I hired to be a secretary? Anassistant?

I was so wrapped up in trying to figure out what happened and how I got to be standing here in this office, I almost missed it when he quoted the salary. It sank into my head a couple of seconds later and I went still. That was considerably higher than what was being offered for the interior design project.

I blinked at him a few times. Now would be a fantastic moment to come up with some sort of witty comment or say something, anything, that might make me sound like I knew what I was doing in a professional setting.

“Excuse me?”

Instead, I came up with that.

“That is what I am willing to pay considering the additional work that will need to be done for the event coming up. You’ll need to manage the regular daily tasks of the position in addition to overseeing the event.”

“I’m sorry…”

He rolled his eyes, the smirk gone from his face. Now he just looked like the amusement was gone and he was getting frustrated that this conversation was still going.

“Fine. If you prove yourself as capable as Bernice reported you as being, and the event turns out well, you’ll receive an extra twenty-five percent bonus.”

Chapter Six

Bryan

I wasn’t expecting this woman &emdash; Courtney? &emdash; to push back on the pay I was offering. I already knew it was far more than an assistant would usually make, which was precisely why I didn't want Bernice to discuss the offer with her during the interview and hiring process. Pay that seemed far too high for a position often had the opposite effect of what people expected.

Many people would think a candidate would jump on higher pay than anticipated. But often inflated pay meant a less than appealing work situation, so well-qualified candidates would be wary. Courtney wasn't wary. She was downright defiant. It was clear she considered herself very valuable and wanted to be compensated accordingly.

I threw in the added bonus to show I was serious about this position. It probably put the compensation over the top, but I didn’t care. The company had the money to throw around and I’d pay out of my own pocket if I needed to. If she could fulfill what I needed in this position, she would be well worth it. And it would be a lot for her to prove. I was expecting a lot from her.

She was replacing Bernice, my father’s secretary who had been by his side for decades, but I wasn’t looking for just another secretary. I didn’t need someone to just answer phones. Thanks to technology, I was more than capable of keeping my own schedule if I was so inclined. And, also thanks to technology, the idea of having her come in to sit in front of me and take dictation while I rattled off memos and correspondence was woefully outdated.

I needed something different. What I needed was someone who would be able to make this absurd event hovering over my head impressive. I certainly wasn’t going to try to pull something like that off on my own. Not only had I never even attempted to plan an event and wouldn’t know where to begin, but I had no desire to. There were far better things for me to be doing with my time than coming up with things like themes and menus.

But the right assistant would have to be very good at these things.

That was why when Bernice and I discussed hiring her replacement, I specifically asked her to look for someone with an artistic slant and good taste. I obviously couldn’t tell her that I was intending her successor to spend a good portion of her job being an event planner. But I figured those specifications would put me on the right track.

As soon as I saw the woman standing in front of me, I knew Bernice got it right. Her sleek, tailored clothes and expertly applied makeup were clear indications she had what I needed. But I couldn’t go on just eyeliner and a suit alone. Fortunately, she had come prepared.

The portfolio tucked under her arm would give me the insight I needed to ensure she really did have the skills to create an event of this scope. I didn’t know why she would bring it with her, unless Bernice had mentioned my need for a creative, artistic person and she wanted to prove herself. Whatever the reason, I was glad she had it. If she wasn’t going to have what this would take, a glimpse at what she considered her best work would be all I needed to see.

It would be better for me to know now and be able to find someone else than to waste my time on letting her make an attempt and fail.

I gestured at the portfolio.

“Can I have a look?” I asked.

Courtney looked confused for a second, then glanced down at the black leather portfolio under her arm. She looked like she didn’t even remember she was holding it.

“My portfolio?” she asked.

“Yes. I’d like to see it.”

Rather than holding the entire portfolio out to me, Courtney fished out a few drawings and placed them on my desk. I slid them closer to me and turned them so I could look at them.

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