Page 57 of Under the Mistletoe
I’m hiding. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. I can’t deal with all the eyes on me at the moment.
I expected it. I’m not totally clueless, but I hear the whispers about how I only got my job because I gave sexual favors to the boss. About how I’ve bewitched him somehow, since, apparently, there’s no other way to explain why he’s with someone like me.
I have tough skin; being picked on as a kid will do that to you. But I would be lying if I said it didn’t sting a little.
“Jessica?” Katie walks in, and I look up from my screen.
“Ashley is here to see you.”
Ashley strides into my office before I have a chance to mentally prepare for her presence.
“Thanks, Katie.” I nod as I stand. This should be interesting. We barely talk, yet we see each other most days with me working so closely with Donovan.
“Ashley, how can I help you?” I remain professional, even though she’s looking at me like she wants to scratch my eyes out.
“Donovan has asked me to schedule a few things for Milan. He’s taking you this year.”
I don’t miss that she uses his first name when he’s clearly asked her not to. I also don’t miss the fact that she said this year in a tone that makes me think she’s ensuring I’m not special. She doesn’t have to do that; my parents did a good enough job of it.
“Of course. Take a seat.” I offer her the chair opposite my desk and sit back down.
“So flights and accommodation have all been organized. I would book you a room, but I’m told you’re filling his bed at the moment so that probably isn’t necessary.”
I grit my teeth and swallow my words.
“Go on.” I nod, and her lips purse, obviously expecting me to fight back, but I remain calm.
“I have Donovan’s schedule tightly packed. He has meetings and presentations most of the week. Katie has passed on to me the site visits you’re hoping to do so I can organize the cars for you, since you don’t know your way around the fashion capital of the world.”
That’s meant to be another dig, but I let it slide.
“I appreciate that.” I nod once more, keeping my answers short and professional.
“Your schedule will be just as busy by the looks of it. No downtime. I’ll arrange for international roaming on your cell, but all expenses you incur won’t be reimbursable if they’re not for business requirements.”
She talks to me like I have no idea what I’m doing, like I didn’t just save the company millions.
“Of course. I’ll keep every receipt.” I’m being overly nice now just to piss her off.
“I think that’s everything. But you need to know that if there’s any reason you can’t make it on the trip, Donovan has already told me I’ll be going in your place. And it’s too late to book another room, so I’ll just take your spot. He was more than happy with that arrangement. If you understand my meaning.” She has confidence; I’ll give her that.
I don’t flinch at her words. I feel secure in my relationship with Donovan. We’re still new, but we’re together every day and he hasn’t given me any reason to think he’s playing the field. We’re exclusive, I know it.
My smile is small. “Do you treat everyone on the executive team like this when they have a business trip coming up?” I question her with a quirked eyebrow.
“You’re different.”
“How so?”
She huffs a sly laugh. “Look, I don’t know what magic you have, but Donovan is not a one-woman man. And certainly not for someone like you.”
“Like me?”
“You’ve been here in this role for such a short amount of time. You probably don’t know how things are run around here for us on the executive level. But as his assistant, I help Donovan with many things… small things… big things… hard things… I help Donovan with anything he needs. And I do mean anything…” Her innuendo is thick. I want to slap her.
I force my grin even wider, my teeth grinding.
“Hmmm. Donovan has told me exactly what your role is. I’m fully aware of your position at York Enterprises. I suggest you better go and do it and stop playing childish games. It doesn’t suit you.” I move my gaze from her back to my screen and start tapping the keyboard, effectively dismissing her.
