Page 12 of All the Right Words
‘You’re welcome,’ Gina said and then turned her eyes to her screen, hoping Olivia would take the hint and leave without any further comment.
A bum cheek slid onto Gina’s desk. ‘I’ve asked her out for Friday night,’ Olivia said nervously.
Gina looked back up at her boss. ‘Great,’ she said and looked back down.
‘I thought I might take her to that Italian place, Troppo Caro. What do you think?’
‘I’ve never been there,’ Gina told her. And she never would, not on her salary.
‘Oh, sorry,’ Olivia said. ‘Of course not.’
The pity in her voice annoyed Gina. But she didn’t show it. Olivia had her head in the clouds about Harper, so Gina would cut her some slack in the manners department. She wished she would at least remove her cloudy head from her office.
‘So, would you mind booking that for eight?’ Olivia said.
Gina looked up at her in slight surprise. Michael, for his faults, would never have made this ask. Gina knew other people used their assistants like this, so maybe she’d just gotten used to the sweet life.
Olivia, sensing the hesitancy, looked suddenly horrified. ‘Oh shit. I’m so sorry. I used to do this with Vincent, and I just thought… Please forget I asked. I’ll do it myself.’
Gina shrugged. ‘No, no, it’s fine.’
‘It’s not, though, is it? Michael designed your role, and it never included this stuff, am I right?’ Olivia asked anxiously.
‘Well…’
‘Look, I don’t want to ruin our working relationship by overstepping. You know how much I value you. Forget I asked.’
‘No, it’s fine.’
Olivia shook her head. ‘Gina-’
‘Olivia, really. I can do that stuff. I don’t mind. I never did it before, that’s all,’ Gina explained. She didn’t know why she was begging to do what she categorically didn’t want to do. She wasn’t sure how it had happened.
Olivia chewed her lip. ‘How about a three percent raise for your trouble?’
Gina’s eyebrows shot up.
‘It’s not much, I know. It would be more if things were on steadier ground,’ Olivia said.
‘Olivia, there’s no need.’
‘There is. But I promise I won’t abuse it. And if there’s something you don’t feel comfortable doing, just say the word.’
‘I’ll be sure to speak up,’ Gina told her. But really, what could be asked that would be worse than this? A restaurant booking and a bunch of flowers weren’t such a big deal. But that was only because she didn’t understand the bargain she’d made for three percent. How deep her involvement in Olivia’s personal life could get.
Eight
Harper was sat at the bar at Troppo Caro, waiting for Olivia, dressed to the nines in her favourite little black number. She assumed Olivia would be too. But when she did turn up - ten minutes late – she looked like she’d just come from work, wearing one of her power suits. She still looked great, if a little creased. But it made Harper feel like she’d been squeezed into the day. She was not a feature of it.
‘Bloody cab got stuck in traffic,’ Olivia said as they were led to their table in the corner. ‘I told him to take Carter Road, but he wouldn’t have it.’ She sat down and gathered herself. ‘Did you get a drink yet?’
Harper hadn’t, but before she could get a word out, Olivia was summoning a waitress and ordering two gin and tonics. Harper happened to like gin and tonics. But she wasn’t a fan of being ordered for. All in all, it was a disappointing start to the night.
‘So, here we are,’ Olivia said, smiling across the table, flashing her brilliant smile. Harper’s annoyance lessened somewhat. It was hard to put up resistance against that shiny smile.
‘Yes, here we are,’ Harper agreed, feeling slightly awkward.
‘I’m so glad you said yes to this. I wasn’t sure you would,’ Olivia admitted.
