Page 5 of Mike's Assistant

“He would. My baby loves me.”

“Rub it in, why don’t you? Was there a reason you were calling?” I asked, glad that my best friend had called.

“Naw. I was just checking in while Owen took a nap. I’m glad I did,” he replied.

My reply was cut off by a timid knock on my office door. The timing couldn’t have been worse. I exhaled heavily, the sound caught somewhere between a sigh and a growl. The interruption was the last thing I needed.

“Hey, Hayden… I’ve got to go,” I said, not trying to hide my annoyance. “Seems like one of the temps needs hand holding. Again.”

“All right, bro. If you need anything, call me,” Hayden said before saying goodbye and hanging up the line.

The timid knock echoed again. I released a deep breath before calling, “Come in.”

The door squeaked open, and a petite figure slipped in. Jessica, one of the temporary assistants, was as unassuming as they came. She barely topped five feet, was stick-thin, and had mousy brown hair that hung in limp waves around her shoulders. Her eyes were a dull shade of brown and were constantly darting around, meeting no one’s gaze for too long. Today, she was wearing a bulky sweater that was at least two sizes too big for her, making her appear even smaller.

She shuffled in, clutching a file to her chest as if it was a lifeline. Her fingers were white knuckled against the manila folder. “Mr. Doy?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. The girl had the disposition of a startled deer, always on the verge of bolting.

“Yes, Jessica?” I tried to keep my tone as patient as I could. But honestly, how many times did I have to repeat myself? The girl needed a shot of confidence, and if I had to give it to her, it wouldn’t be pretty.

She blinked, her eyes darting between me and the folder clutched to her chest. She looked like she was about to say something, but her gaze fell to the floor, and she fell silent once again. This was going to be a long day.

“Jessica?” I asked again.

She swallowed before mumbling, “I… I have the Wassermann file, and Mr. Wassermann… he’s on the phone. But I’m having… problems… transferring the call.”

I released a sigh and held out my hand. “Give me the file. What line is Wassermann on?”

With a shaking hand, Jessica flung out the folder. “I-I don’t remember. He was pretty mad at me and yelled. I… I just put him on hold and came here.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck. I tapped down the urge to roar and grabbed the file. “I’ll figure it out,” I said, returning to the desk phone while Jessica scurried out of my office.

After several failed attempts, I was finally greeted by a cacophony of delightful curses. My eyes widened; Liam Wassermann had a vast vocabulary, and the things he was saying to do to my… I shook my head.

"Mr. Wassermann, this is Mike Doy. I understand there’s a problem with your contract that you wish to discuss,” I interjected, cutting short his rant.

“Doy? I asked for Edward Satchel. Who the hell are you? If Satchel Industries doesn’t value my business, just spit it out. Get me Edward,” he commanded.

Before replying, I leafed through the file Jessica had left on my desk. “I’m the Chief Legal Officer here, Mr. Wassermann. Contracts fall under my purview. If you’re displeased with your rate, we’re open to discussions. But rest assured, there are other prospective buyers.”

“Now, just a minute—”

“No, you wait. You’ve phoned us three times this morning, even after Katie, Mr. Satchel’s executive assistant, informed you I’d be the one to handle your concerns. In response, you’ve been nothing but abusive towards my secretary, employing language that I wouldn’t expect from a professional. You’ve stated that if we don’t want your business, we should tell you outright. Well, here it is. We don’t tolerate such behavior, Mr. Wassermann. Unless you’re willing to adjust your attitude and exhibit some patience, we have no reason to continue this conversation.” I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “I’ll call you back at the scheduled time, not a second before. And when I do, I expect an apology.”

With a surge of adrenaline, I slammed the phone down. The anger that had been simmering within me throughout the day finally boiled over. I took several cleansing breaths, hoping to calm my racing heart. The call had me so worked up I could feel my veins throbbing.

The soft creak of my office door inching open was the final straw, pushing me past my breaking point once more. In a voice that rattled the glass on my desk, I thundered, “What? If you’ve got any sense, you’ll give me a damn minute and stay the hell out!”

“Mike?” The gentle timbre of Vanessa’s voice made my growl falter. I glanced up from my clenched fists to take in the sight of her standing in the doorway.

Even in my aggravated state, I couldn’t ignore the elegant curve of her figure outlined against the soft office light. Standing tall at five-ten, her presence commanded attention without trying. Her long, dark brown hair, always perfectly styled, fell gracefully over her shoulders, framing her soft, oval-shaped face. Her rosy cheeks were touched with a warm glow, and her full lips, adorned with peach lipstick, were slightly parted in concern.

Her blue eyes, usually so captivating, now reflected a mirror of my own frustration. Dressed immaculately as always, Vanessa’s designer dress accentuated her grace and sophistication. A hint of expensive jewelry peeked from under her sleeves, catching the light as she held her hands in front of her, a clear sign of her apprehension.

“What’s going on? I could hear you screaming all the way to the elevator. The entire floor is petrified.”

“Good!” I yelled, my anger still having control. My lion wanted to take command and roar. He was ready for battle. “Maybe if they did their damn jobs—”

“Michael Doy. I’m not one to take your bullshit; I never have been. You better dial that tone back the hell down. We both know my lion can and will kick your ass,” Vanessa interrupted, her voice steady despite the charged atmosphere.

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