Page 15 of His White Moonlight
“And second?”I asked.
She sighed.“Bennett’s been struggling lately.I think you can bring a smile to his face.”
“I think the last time he smiled was when he had gas as a baby.”
Mom’s startled laugh was cut off when Dad took the phone.Though he tried to muffle it, I heard him say, “You're only encouraging her to misbehave.”
When Mom came back on the phone, only a hint of humor lingered in her voice.
“I don’t want to hide anything from you,” she said.“Bennett’s been through five assistants in the last four months.”
“Sounds like the problem is Bennett, not the assistants.”
"You're right.Females keep throwing themselves at him, and his patience is…well, it’s thin.”
"So find him a male assistant.”
"We tried.It didn’t stop the attention he doesn’t want.”
“And you think having me here will stop it?”
Mom chuckled.“Bennett isn’t the only prickly member in this family.”
“Ouch, Mom,” I said without really meaning it.I knew I hadn’t been the nicest to them in the past and that they didn’t understand why.But that was my problem, not hers.
“Fine.I’ll try, but don’t blame me if I’m fired on the first day.”
“He won't fire you.”
“Right…”
“You have a good day, Sweetie.We’ll see you tonight.”
I hung up after saying goodbye and wondered what she had planned for tonight.Probably nothing I’d like.
Rather than sit and do nothing, I got up and knocked on Bennett’s door.I didn’t hear anything from inside and was going to go back to my desk when the door suddenly opened.
Bennett had taken his jacket off and loosened his tie.He looked a little wild in the eyes, too.
Huh.Maybe Mom hadn’t been lying.
“Good morning, Mr.Wulf.Is there anything that I, your lowly assistant, can help you with?”
His pupils pulsed in time with his heartbeat.
“You’re going to give yourself a stroke if you can't calm down,” I said.“Seriously, what do you need me to do so you don't start beheading people at the office?”
He studied me for a moment, and I thought he was going to say something not so nice to match his mood.But he didn’t.
“Keep going through the subsidiaries, and if my door’s closed, I'm not seeing anyone.You’re the exception.If you need something, knock and then come in.If I’m on the phone, give me a moment.”
“You got it.What time do you take a lunch break?”
“I don’t.We can order something in.”
“Okay.I’ll order something for twelve-thirty then.”
He nodded and, after a brief pause, closed the door in my face.
