“Fine, I guess I’m just the assistant.” I mumbled, feeling deflated. That told me all I needed to know. Why didn’t he invite me to that meeting? Didn’t he think I had ideas? Didn’t he think I was good enough to go to the meeting?
“Have a great evening.”
“Yeah, you too.” I sighed and clicked the phone off. I switched my computer off and jumped up. I was going to just leave now. What was the point of staying and doing work? I was just the lowly assistant, my job didn’t matter. I might as well just go home and watch some Maury with Lisa. I was about to walk out of the building when I realized I’d left my handbag in the office. I turned around and went back into the elevator and walked back into my office. Leo’s door was open and I could see him on the phone talking to someone. His back was to me and I could see him running his hands through his hair as he talked.
“Yeah, tomorrow.” He sighed. “Yeah, totally different from being a bouncer.” He laughed. “Anyways, forget about my stress, how is Lucky? Tell her I bought some presents for David and Ruby Lane.” He stepped back and I quickly moved out of site. Who was he talking to? “Zane, I’m not sure I’m ever going to believe that you’re a married man with kids.” He chuckled. “Who knew you’d be so whipped? Me?” He burst out laughing. “Never. There will never be a woman that can trap me into marriage. Don’t want it. And don’t need it. Whatever, bro. You wish. I better go. Dad wants me to go up to his office so he can remind me how important this account is. And how the board of directors will not look at me fondly if I screw up.” He sighed. “I don’t know why my assistant Hannah was fighting so hard to be in this position. All it carries is stress. Yes, she’s cute and I have no idea if she’s single. Yes, she’s doable.” He laughed and I heard him sitting down in his chair as my face reddened. “She’s a 9. Her personality is a bit off, otherwise she’d be a 10. No, you’re not going to meet her.” He laughed. “I’m going. Tell Lucky, I said yes to the picnic when I get back from New York. I’ll talk to you later, bro.” And with that he hung up. I grabbed my handbag and quickly moved out of the office again. So he thought I was a 9, asides from my personality? I wanted to laugh. I wasn’t sure if I should be offended or not. I had a smile on my face when I left the building this time. I’d show Leo Maxwell just what he was missing. I’d have him salivating over my every step by the time I was done with him.
Chapter Five
Leo
“First time on a plane?” I looked at Hannah as she nervously played with her seatbelt.
“Nope.” She snapped at me while she tried to lock it.
“I can help you know. I’ve a knack at getting seatbelts done up.”
“I’m not a kid. I don’t need your help.” She shook her head and I finally heard the click. “I’ve been on this earth for 24 years and I’ve survived quite well without your help.”
“I was just offering.” I shrugged and sat back and studied her appearance. Hannah looked different in her casual clothes. For some reason she seemed even more sexy in her jeans than she did in her skirts at work. They seemed to cling to her body and accentuated her long legs well. She wore a loose fitting white blouse with the jeans and I could see the silhouette of her bra underneath. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she was wearing minimal makeup. She looked fresh-faced and beautiful and I couldn’t stop myself from looking at her.
“Is there a problem?” She frowned at me as I continued to survey her body.
“No.” I shook my head. “Are you ready for the meeting tomorrow?”
“I don’t really have anything to get ready.” She shook her head. “You’re the boss. You’re the one that will be running the meeting. I’ll just be taking notes.”
“You’re a vital part of the team, Hannah.”
“Uh huh.” She pulled out some earphones from her bag. “Excuse me, I’m going to listen to some music.” I watched as she played around with her small music player and turned on some music.
I looked in front of me for a few seconds starting to feel frustrated. As much as I enjoyed the tension between us, I was starting to get annoyed at her reactions to me. Yes, I had taken her job, but how long was she going to treat me like a criminal? I wasn’t used to women being so distant towards me. It wasn’t as if I wanted her to fall in love with me, but a little softening towards me wouldn’t go amiss. I sighed and pulled out some folders I’d brought along with me to review before we hit New York. I couldn’t believe my dad had sent me on this trip alone. This was a big account. In fact, purchasing Martin Corp was an investment we really needed to go smoothly. I didn’t really understand why I’d been given the account and so quickly after I’d started working there again, but I didn’t question it. As much as I didn’t want to work in the corporate world, I was still excited by this trip. Partly because it was going to be all about the power play and partly because I wanted to be with Hannah outside of the office.
***
“Okay, so tonight we’ll go over the files one last time in my room. Then we’ll have dinner and then we can both go back to our own rooms. That sound okay?” I looked at Hannah in the back of the cab as we drove through Queens on the way to Manhattan from LaGuardia airport.
“Sure.” Hannah mumbled, her eyes never leaving the window.