Page 8 of My Demon Assistant

I dodged around a few humans, and mourned the fact that there were no dark alleys around to teleport from.

"Monday. Carol will be there the first three days to walk me through everything, and then it's all me."

"Are you ready for the job? I know you applied for it to get closer to Jerry—though I'm still not sure why you couldn't have just come over when he was around—but he does still need an assistant."

That was exactly why I'd done it. Sure, it would've been easy to 'meet' Jerry at Lux's place, but Jerry didn't need a romantic partner at the moment. Or rather, he needed an assistant more. I wanted to be there for him in any way he needed, so I'd decided to go this route. It would also help us get to know each other better.

"I know. I'm not going to make his life harder. I want to make it easier."

Lux hummed. "He won't date you while you're his employee, you know."

"What?" I might've shouted that part. I was also frozen solid in the middle of the sidewalk, much to the annoyance of the humans walking around me.

"What?"

"What do you mean he won't date me? Why not?"

"Esh, are you serious?"

"Does it sound like I'm joking?" I growled, and a woman walking around me almost jumped into the street. Shooting her an apologetic smile, I tried to keep my demon side in check.

"Eshim, there are rules about fraternizing with your employees. It's also ethically wrong since Jerry will sign your paychecks. It's a power imbalance thing."

"It's not like I need the paychecks. And out of the two of us, I'm the stronger one."

"But Jerry doesn't know that. His morals won't allow him to ignore that."

"Well, fuck. Why didn't you say this when I told you my plan?"

"I thought you knew!"

I mulled over it as I walked. I hadn't started the job yet. I could quit, then see Jerry again at Lux's place like he'd suggested.

But Jerry did need an assistant, and I wanted to help him.

"Okay, it doesn't matter. I'm gonna be his assistant, and I'll get him to like me. When he falls for me, I'll quit and ask him out."

"That...sounds like a plan," Lux said with an amused note in his voice, and I narrowed my eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing! I just like your confidence."

I huffed. Sometimes, it was hard to figure out if my friends were teasing me or not, but Lux was my closest friend, so I could generally count on him to be good.

"Well, I'm not confident in my own...skills. But Fate paired us up, and I have faith in them. If they believe Jerry and I belong together, I know things will work out."

Lux was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke, his voice was warm and sweet. "I adore you, Eshim. I'm gonna help you any way I can, so just let me know, okay?"

I nodded, then remembered we were on the phone, and said, "Yeah, okay. Maybe if Jerry mentions me, let me know?"

"Of course."

We chatted until I reached my—Lux's old—place, and I climbed up the stairs, grinning when the door beside mine opened.

Matilda, a human woman in her fifties whom Lux had introduced me to, smiled up at me, her eyes lighting up at my apparent joy.

"You got the job?"

---