Seeing her in a different light
1494 Words
Stefano Tanner
Stefano sat in his office; he hadn’t seen Raleigh as yet; she was usually in the office before he got there; she must’ve been running late this morning so he thought.
She closed the door behind her with a coffee and doughnuts in both hands he smiled, shaking his head. She looked up. ‘Oh, I didn’t know you were here already. I got you a coffee, I hope you liked doughnuts, the cafe staff said you have them all the time.’
‘I do and you’re late.’
‘No, I’m not. You are, I’ve been here an hour. I’ve already sent you everything you need for your upcoming appointment today and checked your emails, and your calendar for the rest of the week. I can reschedule any appointments if you need me to.’
‘God, you’re a star.’
She smiled, f**k that smile was intoxicating.
‘Oh and sir, you are scheduled to fly out to Italy in two weeks I forgot about that. ‘Thanks for reminding me, Miss. Blackwood, please take a seat.’
She placed the coffee and doughnuts down. ‘Are you sure Mr Tanner I have a lot to do?’
‘I am. We need to go through the meetings today as you'll be joining me. And the trip in two weeks.’
She nodded, taking a seat. He looked at her. ‘So what do we have booked for today Miss. Blackwood?’
She pulled out her galaxy note 10 tapping into it with her pen telling me which meetings we have today f**k who the hell overlapped. ‘Miss Blackwood please send out apologies to Stern inc and reschedule some imbecile f****d up again when I find out they will be sacked. I’m sick of telling people not to f*****g overlap my meetings.’
‘Yes, sir I’ll get right on it.’
I smiled. ‘So the trip to Italy it’s a big deal Miss. Blackwood, so what I need to know is have you got a passport?’
‘Yes, sir I’ve had it since I left school. Ie and my friends toured around the world before I began college.’
I smiled at how I wished I could’ve done it, but my dad threw me in at the deep end before I began working here. I went to Uni to do a law degree and learnt from uncle Leon the ins and outs of his solicitors firm and the law.
But dad won and wanted me to take over from him so I did, though I wanted to work alongside uncle Leon he understood what my father was like. I chanced it and worked my way up to the CEO of Blackwood Inc, I’m just surprised it didn’t go to someone like Ryleigh she seems to have her head screwed on.
‘You okay Mr Tanner? You zoned out.’
‘Yeah, I’m fine Miss. Blackwood.’
She smiled. f**k that smile. I wanted her so bad but knew I couldn't. We'll just have to see how things progress.
‘Wel, I guess we're all done here Miss. Blackwood you can go back to your desk. We have a meeting scheduled in an hour.’
‘Sure.’ She pulled herself up. ‘How long will we be in Italy for Mr Tanner?’
Fuck I forgot to tell her.
‘Two weeks depending on how well things go. I’ve booked your ticket, so pack your suitcase for all types of weather okay.’
‘Okay.’
She walked out of the office. I'm seeing her in a different light than when she first began here she looked as if she didn’t want to be here or hated me for my father and her father joining hands.
Whatever it was, it seemed to have passed and I’m glad. I like her here. She's so much better than the last P.A.
The day was busy. We had at least four meetings, one of which was a lunch meeting, Ryleigh had informed me she managed to change the meeting to Stern inc which I was truly grateful for because they were one of our top investors.
I was so looking forward to going to Italy with her, she would do Blackwood inc proud.
‘You can go home now Miss. Blackwood.’
‘Almost done.’
‘Sure thing. May I give you a ride home?’
‘That’s not necessary Mr Tanner. But thanks for the offer.’
‘Just thanks for saving my ass.’
‘No problem that’s what I’m here for.’
I smiled. She was so much politer than my last P.A. That was one of the reasons I had gotten rid of her.
Once Ryleigh was done I wasn’t taking no for an answer. I made sure I was going to drop her off. She'd worked the day and I wanted to show my appreciation.
When she finally caved in, the elevator stopped and we both stepped out and I opened the car door, she smiled as thanks and slid in.
I smiled sliding in after her and the car pulled away one of the perks of being the CEO and the son of Aubrey Tanner. I poured the champagne into the flutes, passing her one.
‘Are you trying to get me drunk Mr Tanner?’
‘Not at all please take it.’
She smiled, taking it off me. ‘To a new friendship and a new business relationship.’
She clinked the glass on mine. ‘To the above Mr Tanner.’
I smiled. ‘I hope in time you will consider been more than my P.A,’
She choked. ‘Sorry went down the wrong way.’ She said tapping her chest, coughing.
I smiled trying not to laugh. ‘I meant. If you decided to stay more permanent.
I would like you to become the Co CEO of the company.’
She choked again. ‘I’ll think about it.’
‘Is it not something you want?’
‘I just want to prove myself to my father, to prove to him I’m more than he thinks I am.’
I placed my hand over hers. ‘I understand.’
I understood more than anyone my father was a very high-powered man, he was very powerful everyone cowered down to him. He was ruthless in business he’d learned from the best of his father, my granddad. God rest his soul. He was a great man like my grandma was a great woman by his side. I loved them to the moon and back, but sadly they are no longer my father who was preparing to take out who had taken them out five years ago. I wanted to be by his side for that, but he said I had to take care of the company, Mom and my younger brother, when it all went down it sounded like he was not coming back, god I hoped he would kill the bastards that took my grandparents and his parents away from us and come back home safe.
‘Are you sure you’re okay Mr Tanner?’
‘Yeah, I’m fine. Just remembering the past.’
She smiled, placing her hand over mine, and squeezing it. ‘If you ever want to talk about it I’m here.’
‘Thanks, Miss. Blackwood, but it’s not something I like to share.’
‘I understand.’ She said taking her hand off mine.
No please don’t take it off you have no idea how comforting it is.
The car stopped. ‘We’re here Miss. Blackwood.’
‘Thanks and thank you Mr Tanner for the ride home.’ She said, resting the empty glass down.’
‘It was my pleasure, Miss. Blackwood.’
The door opened. ‘I’ll see you at work tomorrow Mr Tanner.’
‘You will goodnight Miss. Blackwood.’
‘Night Mr Tanner.’
She slid out of the car now I wished I had more time with her, I’d like to share my life with her, but I was scared everyone I chose to share it with was scared of me and who my family were and they’d run away, and I was scared she would too.
The door closed and I watched her as Jameson got in closing the door before pulling away.
Rayleigh Blackwood
God, I’m such a fool. How stupid could I be of course he wouldn’t want to share his past with me. I was no one important to him, just his f*****g P.A. I should’ve just kept my f*****g mouth shut. I should have never placed my hand over his to comfort him, he looked so lost in his thoughts. I thought reassurance would help him open up, f**k I’m an i***t he was probably going to fire my ass tomorrow for being so forward I’m such an i***t. We were getting on so well this last week and I just had to go and f**k it up f*****g s**t. I was going to lose my f*****g job and dad would be pissed at me.
I had to apologise and beg him not to fire my ass.
- Writer
