Page 3 of The Assistant
“No problem, thanks for bringing this up,” I tell her as she scurries out of the room like she can’t get back to work fast enough. She closes the door quietly behind her, leaving me to sift through this pile alone.
There are multiple stacks of stapled papers, folders, a box with an iPad, a laptop, and a new phone. I pick up the papers at the very top. The heading readsInstructions.
I guess this is where I start.
Sign the contract, read over all of the material and familiarize yourself with company policies.
I note how it says to sign the contract but not to read it, which only makes me want to go through it even more. I look down at the thick folder that readsCompany Policy.
This is going to take me forever to do.
My schedule is already on all of your devices. I need you to learn it inside out. I also need you to go through the client profiles and learn everyone’s names.
I’m a quick learner with a good memory, so I’m not terribly worried about those tasks. As long as I have enough time to prepare, I’ll be fine… then I read the next line.
You start tomorrow at 6AM, be prepared.
He can’t expect me to learn all of this overnight!
I flip through one of the folders, hoping to see a bunch of pictures and graphs. Instead, I find small print text, pages after pages.Ugh.
Shaking my head about this impossible task, I reach for the contract next. I take it to my desk and flop down on my chair. The document has over thirty pages which I intend to read entirely.
By the third page, I feel a headache coming. By the fifth, I have the urge to rip this paper up, and by the tenth, I’m just so angry about this ridiculous contract, I’m ready to run downstairs and shove this down Dawson’s throat. I don’t even finish reading it. There is no way in hell I’m signing this.
Grabbing the contract, I stand up and walk to open my door. I don’t make it down the end of the hallway before my mother’s voice stops me. “Where are you going, Harper? It’s not dinnertime yet, and you know you are not supposed to snack.”
My mother talks to me like I’m a misbehaving child and not an eighteen-year-old adult. I grit my teeth and spin around to face her. Even though she won’t leave the house today, she is wearing a full face of makeup. Her long blonde hair falls in perfect waves down her shoulders, and she is wearing a silk wrap dress with matching high heels.
“Did you know about this?” I wave the papers in my hand.
“What are you talking about? What is that?” She questions, closing the distance between us.
“A contract Dawson wants me to sign. He wants me to work for him.”
My mother rolls her eyes. “Why are you being so ungrateful? He is offering you a job in his company. Some people would kill for an opportunity like this.”
“To work twenty-four-seven and basically get paid nothing?” I fire back.
“Oh please, don’t be so dramatic,” my mom says, with a wave of her hand. “Sign the contract and don’t embarrass me working for your new brother.” She dismisses me with a disapproving shake of her head before turning around to walk away.
What else did I expect from her?
Holding on to the paper, I make my way through the house to Henry’s office. The door is open, and I hear him and Dawson laugh about something. Probably about fucking me over.
I don’t knock. I step into the office and up to Henry’s desk to throw the contract down. “I’m not signing this.”
Henry’s laugh comes to a stuttering halt. His gaze bounces from the document to me. His eyes darkening, and for a moment, I’m taken aback by the anger he is suddenly radiating with. “Don’t interrupt me like this again,” he says, his tone threatening. “You knock before you enter my office.”
I want to tell him the door was open, and I don’t give a shit, but I’m not stupid either, so I hold my tongue and swallow my pride. “I’m sorry I barged in… but I’m not signing this.”
“And why not?” Dawson asks, leaning back in his chair. “Are you too good to work?”
“This is not a job; this is you owning me for a year.”
“Curious choice of words,” Dawson says dryly. “I’m paying you.”
“Minimum wage,” I fire back. “And this says you are deducting food and rent, which leaves me with nothing. Plus, it says I’m supposed to accompany you to business lunches and dinners, but I have to pay for my food myself.”
