The Lunas Duty

The Worst

        I can not believe that jerk, Reuben Darkmoon is MY mate!

        Moon Goddess what did I do to you? Yes, I know I'm being pitiful right now  but I think I deserve a moment to mourn the incredible future I had concocted in my head for myself, about my loving mate and our lives together. That’s all ruined now. All because Reuben Darkmoon is my mate.

         I slumped down into my chair, slowly twirling it from side to side as I wallowed in self pity. My life sucks! It is not only the fact that he came in here, barely said anything, but threatened me, before finally storming out, that has me convinced I pulled the short straw in the Mate department. But he’s from the Darkmoon Pack! Of all the packs why did my Mate have to be from that one. They are the worst.

        He is completely gorgeous though, even while he was threatening me I couldn’t stop thinking how captivatingly beautiful his eyes were, each angle and plane of his face was just moulded to perfection and the way his muscles strained under his suit would make any one feel a tingle inside. I guess that is one TINY positive against the long list of negatives. Shame he doesn't have the personality to go with it.

        My eyes fell on the documents on my desk. Oh crap, I didn't even get him to go through the paperwork I needed him too, now I'm going to have to go out there and talk to him again. 

         I’ve organised everything perfectly, I know every detail I have to go through and the most efficient way to convey the information so that this will take the shortest amount of time possible. 

        Urgh, why do I feel so pathetic right now, i need to pull myself together and just get on with it. I can not let him affect me like this. Okay,  Pep talk to myself over, I straightened up, pushed my shoulders back and held my head high, before I finally pushed out of my office.    

        The rest of the floor is almost back to it’s usual work, the excitement of Mr Darkmoons arrival must be wearing off. I spotted Reuben at his new desk with a gaggle of groupies around him hanging on every single word he said. God, these people really don't need much to be in awe.

        ‘Hey, Carrie, over here.’ I looked in the direction of the call and found Violet Freeman, my best friend and my anchor to sanity in the office.

        ‘Hey, what’s up?’

        ‘I haven't seen you all day, has something happened?’ she looked at me expectantly as if she is waiting for me to burst into a massive drama filled story, she should know by now that's not my style 

        ‘Oh, I’ve just been so busy …’

        ‘Oh my god, Carrie, have you met Reuben yet, he is my new life role model’ Mason gushed as he slid into our conversation. Mason and Violet are desk buddies so naturally we became friends too.

        And I’m guessing that Reuben is still the no.1 talking point.

        ‘Umm, yes I met him a few moments ago.’ awkwardness was enveloping me, I did not want to be talking about him with my friends right now, especially as they also seem to be worshipping the ground he stands on like everyone else. 

        Mason barrelled into his story of how great Reuben is, ‘When i was over there earlier,  he was telling us about this super cool case he worked on last month, they told him there was no way he could win it, the guy was a sure thing for life imprisonment, but he got him acquitted! He is such a legend!’

        ‘Urgh, is that really a good thing, sounds like the guy definitely did something bad.’ I muttered.

Violet and Mason both chuckled to each other about how naive I am, ‘Well, you can't think about things like that, it's just the line of work we’re in Hun, plus they ruled that he wasn't guilty.’ Violet defended, even Violet thinks he’s a God.

        ‘But he definitely was.’ I don't know why I can't just let it go, it’s all because I'm trying to prove Reuben’s not as great as everyone thinks.

        ‘Oh my god girl, why are you being like this?’

        ‘Like what, I’m not being like anything,’ I tried laughing it off, ‘I’m just saying I wouldn’t be bragging about getting a murderer free to roam the streets, on my first day of new job.’ 

        Their laughter only grew, they never take me seriously, ‘Girl you gotta find yourself a new line of work if you're going to let little things like that get to you.’

        ‘I’m a PA.’ I exclaimed, questioning where having morals conflicted with my line of work.

        ‘At a Criminal Defence Attorney’s office, and Hun you know your so much more than that.’

        ‘There’s nothing wrong with being a Personal Assistant.’ I sassed

        ‘You know it.’ Bless Violet, always cheering me on.

        ‘Now, excuse me. I've got to go get Wonderboy to go through some paperwork.’

        ‘Have fun’ Mason winked as i walked away. 

        ‘I won’t’ I muttered under my breath

        When I got to his desk people were still crowding it, intently listening to the latest miracle story he’s dishing out with the compliments of how great he is peppered in at all the appropriate places, wow this is going to get really old, really quickly. Noticing me hovering, the group started to disperse. I neared his desk, he managed to get one twice the size of everyone else's, typical.   

        I Cleared my throat to get his attention, ‘I have some forms you need to go through.’

        Slowly he leaned back in his chair, saying nothing he looked me up and down, before meeting my eyes, I shot him a challenging look, he just returned a sly smile, ‘Sure.’ He drawled, not taking his eyes off me, ‘Want to sit down?’ there was no other chair around his desk and I wanted this so be over with as soon as possible.

        ‘No, I'm fine standing.’ 

        ‘Suit yourself.’

        ‘Here is the login details for your server, and your company email, along with your company issued phone, your number is on the form also.’ I placed the form and phone down on his desk before I continued, ‘this is also the form outlining company policies, you’ll need to read and sign that. If you want to join the company pension scheme, here’s the form. Will you be needing a parking space.’

        ‘Yea , L’ll take one.’

        ‘Fine, you’ll need to fill out this form to register your car, this is the pass for the parking lot, and you’ll need to park in space 32. Okay? I’ll let you fill these in, you can bring them to my office when you're done.’

        ‘No, I'll do it now, you can wait.’ he pulled the remaining form out of my hand. He patted down his pockets, clearly looking for a pen, with a sigh I held out my own pen for him. Taking  it without acknowledging me, he started scribbling down his details, ‘What’s your name anyway?’ He couldn't have sounded less interested if he tried.

        ‘Carrina Booth.’

        He pulled a face, as if working out what he thought of the name, ‘Carrina.’ he quietly repeated, seeming to be testing out the name. ‘I’m Reuben Darkmoon’ 

        I simply responded with a tight polite smile, of course I already knew that.

        ‘Oh Carrie, what are you doing out here? I hardly ever see you out of your office, there’s no problem is there?’ Alik joked as he clumsily shuffled beside me.

        ‘No, not at all Sir, I just needed to finish going through some of this paperwork with Mr Darkmoon.’

        ‘Oh, I thought you did all that in your office already.’

        ‘There were just a few things I forgot.’ It was better saying that than he stormed out before I had the chance to do any of it.

        ‘That's very unlike you, you're normally so on top of everything.’ he laughed ‘ This girl has been a complete god send for me, Reuben, usually she’s sorting out all my mistakes before I've even realised I've made them.’

        ‘That's too kind sir.’ I tried to cover my blush.

        ‘No it’s true, and Reuben if you need any help settling in, I know Carrina will be more than happy to help.’ giving us each a huge smile Alik hurried back to his office.

        With the promise Alik made on my behalf still laying in the air, a wicked smile stretched across Reuben's face, all I do is roll my eyes in return. 

        With nothing else to do I subtly watched Reuben while he continued to fill out the forms, I really should have insisted on going back to my office and him bringing the documents when he was finished. I know it was a power move from him to make me stay and wait for him. ‘Your supposed to actually read that before you sign it .’ I accused as he just signed the office policy from, he didn't even make an effort to pretend to read it.

        ‘Has anyone actually ever read it?’ 

        ‘Yes, I have.’ My voice raising at the insinuation someone would sign a contract with reading it first.

        ‘Of course you have.’ The judgement was clear in his words.   

        In that moment Lexi sauntered up to the desk. ‘Hey Reuben, I just came to check everything was alright, you don't need help with anything do you?’ with that she shot me a dirty glare, as if I was the problem here. While she pushed herself up on his desk.

        The flirting between them had to be one of the most sickening and awkward things I've ever gone through. I had to look away. It was so uncomfortable to watch. but finally, after what felt like a lifetime, Reuben had finished the forms, he thrust them at me, without even breaking the vile conversation with Lexi. 

        ‘Oh, er…’

        ‘What do you want Carrina?’ Lexi snapped at me.

        ‘You still have my pen.’ I held out my hand to receive it.

        ‘A pen? Don't be so pathetic.’ Lexi sneered, what is her problem? Meanwhile Reuben was studying the pen before finally placing it in my hand. As soon as it was back in my possession I turned on my heels and strode straight back into my office.

        I wouldn't normally be so petty about someone using a pen, but this pen is important to me, my father gifted it to me on the first day of my job here, it has my name engraved on the side, and he presented it to me with his typical lecture on personal presentation and his little saying, ‘All fine men, always  carry a pen.’ if I'd heard it once, I’d heard it a thousand times, but it's obviously something Reuben was never taught. 

         As my fingers reached the handle of my door, I was halted by the screeching sound of Lexi's laughter, ‘Oh Reuben, you're sooo funny!’