Page 33 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

“I’m not useless as anything,” I say through gritted teeth. “Just because I've never been an assistant before doesn’t mean that I don't know what I'm doing. I may not be able to type two hundred words per minute, but that doesn’t mean I’m not fucking amazing at everything else. It doesn’t mean that you're not going to be absolutely delighted at all the work I can do for you.”

He stares at me and nods slowly."I truly believe that you think that’s true.”

“I do. Anyway, I have a question for you.”

“And your question is?”

“If you’re so demanding, and if you’re such a hot shot, then why didn’t you bring whatever assistant you have in the UK with you? Why doesn’t she travel everywhere with you?”

He looks at me thoughtfully. “Good question. But just because you ask a question doesn’t mean I have to answer it.”

“Don’t tell me, she left.”

“What makes you believe that my assistant back home is a woman?”

“I don't know. You just seem like the sort of man that likes eye candy around him.”

“So, you’re saying that you believe you’re eye candy?”

“I'm saying that I know I'm attractive, and I know you’re attracted to me. Does that make me eye candy?”

“I don't know. I'd like to think of women as intelligent, thoughtful beings. I don't like to think of them as eye candy. You know?”

“Oh, cry me a river. Don’t tell me that you’re going to be all PC now.”

“What? You don’t want me to be PC?”

“I’m saying that I think that you are being absolutely—” I pause and shake my head.

“Look, I don't know what’s going on here. I don't even know why you hired me, really. I don't think it’s about the sex at the end of the day because we could have had this flirtation outside of the office. So, exactly what is going on here?”

He frowns for a couple of minutes."I don't know what you’re talking about. You’re the one that asked to work for me, remember?”

“No, I didn’t ask to work for you. You wanted Skye, Lyla, or Juniper to work for you. In fact, you said they were the only ones you would allow to work for you as you didn’t want to hire another assistant. So, I volunteered to take their place even though I didn't want or need this job.”

“And I think you’re talking too much, Elisabetta. If I hired you for your mouth, I'd have you doing other things. You know what I mean?”

I’m furious at his comment, but I don't say anything.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” he says, looking me up and down.

“I hope you can walk far in those shoes.”

“Why?”

“Because we’ll be walking.

“You don’t have a car that can take us where we’re going?”

“I do, but where we’re going, it is best not to show up in a car.”

I blink at him."Where the hell are you taking me?”

“You’ll see.”

We head towards the elevator and wait silently. We step inside, and he presses the button to take us to the ground floor. He looks me up and down for a couple of seconds and then says something that shocks and surprises me. “I want you to know that whatever else you have going on in your life, I don't want this to be the most difficult part. I hope you know this is all fun and games. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, please, you must leave my employ.”

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