Page 4 of Strictly Business

Serena nods.

“Good,” I say. “For today, if you have any questions or if you need anything, just ask Ruth. Obviously, her speciality isn’t marketing, but we have worked together a long time and I trust her opinion on most things, and I think she knows me well enough to know if I would approve something or not.”

“Ok, that sounds great,” Serena says with a smile.

“Do you have any questions?” I ask.

She shakes her head.

“No,” she says. “Not right now.”

For the first time since she came into my office, she looks down at her hands in her lap as she speaks instead of looking at me.

“Serena,” I say gently. I wait for her to look back up at me before I carry on. “Please don’t be worried about asking questions or speaking up. I like people who know their own mind and who aren’t afraid to speak up ok?”

She nods.

“Ok, then yes, I have a question. Well, actually, it’s more of a favor to ask of you,” she says.

It’s far too early in her time here for her to be asking for favors and I’m reminded once more that Serena is a family member of my best friend. Is she going to expect preferential treatment? Because if she is, she’s going to be massively disappointed. Despite that, I am curious as to what she thinks it’s acceptable to ask for already and so I nod for her to go on.

“I was hoping we could keep it between us that we already know each other. I know I’m probably just being paranoid, but I don’t want anyone thinking I’m only here because of that. I mean I get that at the moment, that is the only reason, but I want to prove myself with my work,” she says.

Ok, I admit I misjudged her. That’s the sort of favor I can get behind. In fact, I am relieved she feels that way because I don’t want to have to spend any time second guessing myself if people think I’m being too lenient on her, because if no one knows that we know each other, and I am too lenient, I have no doubt someone will let me know. It also means that if Serena is working with someone else, they won’t give her an easy ride thinking that’s what I would want.

“Yes, that’s perfectly fine,” I say with a smile. “Let’s just keep work and our personal lives separate.”

Serena smiles gratefully and nods.

“Thank you,” she says.

“No problem. Right, if that’s it for questions, I’ll get Ruth back in here,” I say.

Serena nods again, confirming that’s it for questions and I call through to Ruth and ask her to come back to my office. In less than a minute, there’s a knock on my office door and I call out for the person knocking to come in. The door opens and Ruth steps inside, closing the door quietly behind her. She walks towards my desk and seeing there’s no chair for her, she perches on the edge of my desk. I would have preferred her to get another chair, but I let it go. I don’t want to undermine her in front of Serena on Serena’s first day here.

“So, obviously you two have already met,” I say. “But just to make it official, Ruth, this is Serena West, my new associate. Serena, this is Ruth Stainsby, my personal assistant.”

The women smile at each other. They both look a little uncertain, but I guess that’s normal until they get to know each other a little bit.

“Ruth, I’ve just been explaining to Serena that I am up to my eyes with meetings and what not for the next few days and I have said that she should come to you with any questions or anything she might have,” I say. “And if you could just check in on her now and again, make sure she’s on the right track, that sort of thing, that would be a big help.”

“Yes, of course,” Ruth replies.

“Serena is going to be working on the Hislop’s campaign,” I tell Ruth.

“Alone?” Ruth asks, raising an eyebrow.

“She’s more than qualified to do the work, don’t worry,” I say. “But she won’t be on her own will she, because you’ll be there to help her if she needs it.”

Ruth smiles and nods, but again, her smile looks strained.

I sigh. I don’t have time for this, but I need to know if there is some sort of problem.

“What’s wrong?” I ask Ruth.

“Nothing,” she says.

“Then what’s with the face?” I ask her.

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