A Devil Boss

Chapter 3.2

"Misses Dabalast," Astarot greeted politely, took her hand, and kissed it. After that, he looked into her eyes for a moment, which made Sera feel quite queasy. "So you are the victim of the attack," he said softly. "Don't you want to tell me what happened?"

Nervously, the addressed woman ran her hand over her neatly pinned-up hair, and Sera saw that she was wearing a lot of jewelry. Probably the most expensive. She pulled out her pad and waited for Misses Dabalast to begin. Still, Sera wondered what her boss was up to with this kind of behavior. Was he seducing his clients? If that was the case, she would resign. For Sera, her boss needed to be an honest, detached person.

Sera settled down in an armchair at the woman's request, as Astarot had joined Misses Dabalast. This was good, so Sera could observe and take notes in peace as the woman began to narrate.

She enumerated the various attacks she had narrowly escaped. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I think my husband is trying to get rid of me after I told him off recently."

"I see. Was there a fight before?" asked Mister Diabolus, and Sera noted what the woman told.

Her husband had also already told about it. However, the woman now said some other things. Among other things, that her husband would accuse her of cheating. That had never come up with this one.

It was strange that their versions partly agreed and, in some points, completely diverged. Probably because they had a different perspective on things.

Mrs. Dabalast's husband had meant that his wife would accuse him of having a mistress. And in the same way, this one seemed to accuse his wife of that. So what was there really to these allegations?

"Was there ever any trouble about your husband having a mistress?" her boss asked, and Mrs. Dabalast looked surprised but then shook her head.

"I don't know exactly. I think he has one, but who she is, I don't know," she explained, running her hand over her hair again.

Thoughtfully, Sera took note of the conversation. She listened and could write very quickly. Often she just made notes that she could write down properly later. But she found that Astarot's questions were important, too, so that they could be related.

They talked much longer than they did with her husband, which somehow astonished Sera.

But finally, her boss rose. "Thank you very much for your time," he said.

"Thank you for your time," the woman said with a wry smile. "You will be escorted outside."

Sera stood up and gave her a friendly nod as she stowed her notes and pen in her shoulder bag.

The butler who had led them in now led them out again. As he did so, Sera noticed that it was really late. Although it remained light for a long time, the sun was already setting. "It's getting late. Would you like to have dinner with me, perhaps? My treat," Astarot's voice rang out, leading them to the wagon.

As if on cue, Sera's stomach growled loose. She hadn't eaten since the morning, and it was noticeable that she was pale. "You already hear the answer," she remarked, smiling slightly. She had nothing against a proper dinner.

"Very well. You usually have longer lunch breaks," he assured her. "But when we visit clients, it always shifts," he explained, opening the car door for Sera to get in.

The latter settled down and took out her smartphone to type something. It didn't matter if the lunch break was postponed as long as she had a snack now and then. Sera got dizzy more often when she hadn't eaten for a long time. "What kind of restaurant did you have in mind?" she wanted to know.

"The Little Easy is a nice, atmospheric pub," her boss explained, and Sera was surprised that it wasn't more upscale cuisine.

However, she liked it better because she was definitely in the mood for a drink. Besides, she didn't have any clothes that would be suitable for an upscale restaurant. So it suited her just fine that her new boss had chosen a pub.

"Would you like to change first?" he asked. "The pub is close to the hotel and work."

"Really?" asked Sera in amazement, turning to face her boss. Glancing at her suit, she nodded. "A good idea. And if there's still time, I'd like to jump in the shower real quick."

"I'll pick you up in thirty minutes?" he asked, apparently wanting to know if she had enough time. He seemed to want to change himself.

Nodding in agreement, Sera eventually got off at her hotel. "I'll wait here," she told Astarot. She never actually took long to freshen up. Only rarely did she allow herself a hot, long bath.

"All right. Then I'll change as well and pick you up," he agreed before his driver drove on, leaving Sera behind.

Within twenty minutes, Sera was downstairs in front of the hotel, freshly showered and wearing a clean dress. She had done her still wet hair back with a hairband so it wouldn't interfere with her meal. The white dress with the blue dots looked great on her and emphasized her figure, just like the black belt with the silver buckle. Her blue stilettos made her look taller than she was. Since she still had time, Sera devoted herself to her cell phone and already started looking for an apartment.

However, she didn't get far, because the familiar car stopped and her boss got out.

His hair was loose and blowing in the light wind. He also wore a white shirt, which somehow made him look more casual. His black pants were tight and classy but not mainly dressed up either.

Sera had to hand it to him: He had a taste. At first glance, he even looked like a model. His striking face matched his figure. "You're early," Sera remarked with a slight smile. Now she couldn't look for a place to live.

"Just in time, I'd say," he smiled, holding the door open for her to enter.

Once again, Sera settled down on the passenger side and picked up her bag on her lap. "I didn't expect you to arrive early. I wanted to stay busy looking for an apartment," Sera explained as Astarot started the car and steered it safely through traffic.

"Then I hope you will be successful," he said, driving himself this time. He was a perfect driver, and the road was not particularly far. Therefore, they quickly arrived at the pub.

"The Little Easy" was, at first sight, a pretty but inconspicuous pub. Only the name above the entrance gave away that it was here. Sera got out after Astarot opened the door for her, and she looked around. Some people were walking on the streets, and from somewhere she heard music. Either from the bar itself or from another restaurant.

She shouldered her shoulder bag and nodded in the direction of the entrance, for she was curious to see what it looked like inside.

Together with Astarot, she walked towards it and finally inside.

It was very cozy, and many colorful lights created an atmosphere that had something very idyllic. The smell of all kinds of food invited me to linger because it was charming.

Sera licked her lips at the thought of food. It was time to get something in her stomach. The chocolate bar at the hotel had only been a stopgap. "Where would you like to sit?" asked Sera, her boss, not knowing if he preferred the bar or real chairs.

"I have a table reserved," he said, leading Sera on and out into a sort of courtyard. This was illuminated by the fairy lights and seemed somehow tropical.

Surprised, Sera looked around. Because it had already become darker, it also looked romantic. Of course, only if you were into that kind of thing. However, Sera had to admit that the atmosphere was really very pleasant. They wouldn't be disturbed here since not very many people were sitting outside.

Astarot pulled back a chair for her. Somehow this was old-fashioned but also very obliging. He seemed to like that sort of thing.

"Thank you," Sera said and settled down. She successfully suppressed the instinct to immediately reach for the menu because she didn't want to misbehave in front of her new boss. Therefore, she waited until he had settled down across from her and then took the menu to see what all was offered.

There was a very fancy menu. Both hearty and extravagant. So you had everything you could want, and the selection of cocktails and wines was stunning as well. There was an extra menu for that.

Which posed a problem for Sera because the selection meant she couldn't decide what to eat or drink. "They certainly live and have been here many times. Come on, spit it out: What do you recommend to a stranger from another city?" asked Sera with a curious look at her boss.

Astarot laughed. "I can recommend anything," he remarked. "If you are starving, I would recommend the mixed grill platter. It's perfect for sharing, but one person can't do it alone."

Sera tilted her head and thought. "I'm a person who can eat well at any time of day. If you recommend the barbecue platter, I won't say no."

"Then I would recommend a red wine or a cocktail to go with it," he offered. At the same time, he also said he'd go with a Dark Sunrise.

"Red wine and a small cocktail for after," Sera decided and waited until the waiter came and took their orders.

When he had left, however, an awkward silence fell for Sera. She didn't know what to say. Astarot was a stranger and, at the same time, her boss, so she could not start an innocuous topic. Simply because she couldn't think of anything.

"If you can't find a place to stay by the end of your time at the hotel, feel free to approach me, and I'll help you," he offered, looking around with apparent interest.

Sera explained to him that she actually had to leave tomorrow. Her time at the hotel was up. Two days had been included. "I was planning on staying in a cheap hostel until I found an apartment and arranged the move," she confessed, a little embarrassed.

Astarot nodded. "I guess it was all terse notice after all. If you want, I can get you an apartment by tomorrow. Temporarily," he suggested as the waitress came and served.

Sera waited until their drinks were on the table. The food would take a little while longer. "Really?" she then asked suspiciously, for it sounded strange that he could get an apartment so quickly.

Astarot nodded. "I have contacts," he said with a smile.

"All right," Sera replied, raising her glass of red wine to toast him. It was not a good decision to drink alcohol on an empty stomach, but they would get their food soon, so there should be no problems.

Astarot, who also had a wine and a cocktail, raised his glass and returned her cheers.

Sera took a sip and then nodded with satisfaction. Excellent and fruity, just the way she liked it. "There's one question you should answer for me: Why did you decide so quickly? I mean, there were more applicants," Sera said with interest. She didn't understand the reason why he had hired her of all people.

"There were really a lot of applicants," he said, leaning back. "But if you want to be a lawyer, or if you're a lawyer's secretary, you need a lot of grit and courage. You have to think for yourself and make your own decisions. A lot of people have failed at one of those things."

Sera looked him in the eye as he answered, then looked around the courtyard a bit. "I suppose most were very excited. Fear and excitement often cloud your senses, and you are unable to react properly," she said thoughtfully, her eyes landing back on Astarot's face. "You said many failed, but there were certainly some who met your requirements."

"Yes. You, that's why I hired you," Astarot said seemingly calmly. "Honestly, I had already given up on finding anyone this year. You were the last applicant."

Stunned by his candor, Sera didn't know what to say back at first. "Then I hope I can learn a great deal from you. After all, the working relationship should give satisfaction to both sides," the young woman thought. Her eyes lit up as the waitress, along with two others, brought the grill platter as well as bread baskets.

Astarot nodded. "I'm sure you'll definitely get a good look at the work."

Pleased at the prospects, Sera rubbed her hands together and looked at the offerings on the grill platter. Beef and pork and chicken and fish were available and gave off a delicious smell. "I didn't think the food was going to be this much right away," she said.

"I told you it was a lot," Astarot said with a laugh, taking bread and also meat on his plate." Perfect for sharing."

Carefully, Sera took fish and chicken, but also potatoes and carrots, which were offered. They looked beautifully braised and grilled, making her mouth water. "Don't tell me there are always portions like this in Los Angeles."

"Not everywhere," he assured her with a laugh. "But this one is perfect for sharing," he said with another grin. "Plus, you get to taste everything." With that, he took her the grilled broccoli.

Sera called the vegetable "the devil's tree." She had always loathed the vegetable and still found it disgusting. All the better when Astarot ate it.

This one seemed to like it.

The beef was delicious, and the fish was also excellent. The cook must be really talented.

There were small bowls of sauces that were appropriate for each meat.

During the meal, Sera would occasionally watch her boss out of the corner of her eye or look at him from below. If she was honest, she hadn't imagined someone like this as the most famous lawyer. Still, she was employed now and would have to find a way to get along with him. He didn't seem so bad, although she hadn't approved of his initial behavior.