Page 6 of The Fool

“Sorry, but I’m afraid I have no idea what you are talking about,” I finally reply.

Nathaniel sighs over my confession, dropping the pen to the desk with a loud clunk on his perfectly ordered workspace. For all the rumors I hear about his party-boy ways, the guy is a complete control freak. I bet he requests his tighty whiteys ironed, along with his designer socks, the cost of which are probably the same as my monthly rent.

“Didn’t Nate tell you about the meetings that are taking place with several companies in London next week?”

From the look of cluelessness on my face, he immediately turns toward his brother with a confused frown to rival my own.

“I’m sure I mentioned it to Miss Summers,” Nate says with a bored sigh. “You and Sam will be accompanying me and Nick to London next week. It’s only for three nights. I’m sure you can take the time out of your ‘busy’ schedule. It is expected of PAs to attend business trips away.”

I continue to stare at him, probably looking completely dumbfounded. He damn well knows he didn’t bother to tell me about this rather inconvenient trip. I had plans with my best friend, Finn, for next week. What with his busy life at the restaurant, it means I won’t get to see him for a few weeks now.

“I can send Jack if you’re busy, Bea,” Cameron offers, obviously sensing the tension. “I can see my brother has failed to mention this rather important piece of information to you.”

He turns to glare at Nathaniel, but he simply shrugs his shoulders and takes a sip of his coffee. I’m shocked he doesn’t spit it out and begin complaining about it. I take in a noisy breath through my nose and put on one of my perfected smiles. I refuse to let him get the better of me by making me look emotional and unprofessional in front of the big boss.

“No, that won’t be necessary,” I reply politely, “I can handle it.”

“Excellent!” Cameron replies, looking relieved. “And don’t worry, I’ve had accommodation fixed up for you in a rented house with two self-contained apartments, so no living in a stuffy little hotel room. Nate and Nick will take the top floor, while you and Sam can take the bottom floor…are you ok staying with a guy for a few nights?”

Nathaniel scoffs with a smug grin on his face and I can’t help but give some evil eye his way.

“It’s fine,” I answer, “I live with my brother actually, so I’m used to guys and their living habits.”

“Ah, yes, we can be a little much to live with at times, can’t we, Nate?” he asks with a laugh, sounding jovial even though I can tell his brother has pissed him off. Nate, however, just rolls his eyes with a disinterested look on his face.

“Is there anything else I can do before I get back to it?” I ask, gesturing to the safety of my office.

“Oh, yeah,” Cameron says, “Lils said she’d pop by at lunchtime, she’s keen to see you. Take some extra time and go out for lunch with her, will you? She gets so bored during the long summer break.”

“Sure, but don’t you and she have a wedding to plan? It’s not long now, is it?” I ask, smiling genuinely for the first time.

“Yes, just a few weeks away, but everything is done, so she’s all yours,” he says, and I can tell from the look on his face that he’s excited about it. Apparently, it’s been a long engagement.

“Ok, well, thank you, Cameron,” I reply with a nervous laugh, wincing over calling him that. “Mr Carter,” I say formally to Nathaniel, to which he moodily nods.

Having survived another interaction with Nathaniel Carter, I return to my office, close the door, and release a deep breath of relief. After all, that could have been a lot worse. In fact, for Nathaniel, that went fairly well.

_____

Nate

“Could you not?” I snap at Cam with a sigh.

“What?” he laughs, throwing up his hands in the air.

“Be so pathetically over-the-top nice. And why the fuck are you letting my PA have extra-long lunch breaks?” I scowl at him.

“Because I own the company,” he replies smugly. “Fuck, you are a miserable bastard to her, aren’t you? What’s your fucking problem?”

“Nothing, I just don’t want my PA taking advantage,” I snap, getting more and more frustrated by the second. “I’m her boss, not her friend.”

“God, I remember you being less of a dick before you started working here. I’m not asking you to be her friend but treating her with dignity is mandatory. So, please, could you make a little bit more of an effort to be nice? I don’t want her going to HR because you’ve pushed her over the edge. Besides, she’s excellent at what she does, you ungrateful asshole.”

“Well, maybe she should work with one of the other bosses,” I suggest, hoping he considers it. Beatrice Summers and I just clash, which is saying something; I don’t recall clashing with anyone other than our brother-in-law, Evan. I can admit it’s partly my issue, she hasn’t said or done anything to warrant my attitude, it’s just an off-vibe I get from her.

“No, that would be a step down for her and you know that” Cam snaps me out of my thoughts with his irritating truth. “Just because something crawled up your ass and died doesn’t mean she should suffer.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” I argue, becoming irritated with his insults. “Some people just aren’t meant to get along. Miss Summers and I are two of those people. Can’t explain it, but that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t get on with her.”

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