The Alpha boss and the PA

Friday night, gossip night

Alissa POV

"So he hasn't defrosted even a little bit?", Daisy asked. It was Friday evening and it was the first full evening we spent together since Monday. Naturally that meant takeout, wine and gossip.

"Not one little, tiny bit.” I responded in an offended tone. “I don't understand. I mean it may not have started off great, but I did really well the rest of the week. I even went to the office early Tuesday to attempt to learn how that ridiculously complicated coffee machine works! I didn’t manage, because that machine is evil and designed by sadists, but I tried. And do you think mister frowny face appreciates any of that?"

"I assume he does not?" Daisy guessed.

"He does not! He claims he doesn't want coffee, but when I come back from taking a toilet break I see him sneaking into his office clutching a cup of coffee! What is up with that?" I continued my rant.

"That is weird" Daisy replied nodding sympathetically.

"That is very weird. He is very weird. It's almost like he is avoiding me. I am his friggin personal assistant. How is that going to work if he is avoiding me?" I angrily stuffed a piece of pizza in my mouth giving Daisy a window of opportunity to actually respond.

"Breathe... It's just a temporary job. And his old PA did say he had some issues with getting a new assistant, right?” she said in a calming tone. “Maybe he just needs some more time to warm up to you. Some people are just horrible with changes in their lives. Just smile, nod, do your job right and just ignore the weird behavior. And if that doesn't work then use your work hours to find a new job. This one isn't going to last forever anyway."

She was right, but it wasn’t easy to behave normally to somebody that seemed to dislike you to the point of avoiding you for no apparent reason. Because surely being new and/or getting myself covered in printer ink was not a solid reason for this type of behavior. And yeah, some people took a little longer to adjust to change, but that person would have to actually give it a chance first in order to adjust, wouldn’t they? Maybe I just needed to be more assertive with him. Sarah didn’t seem like the shy type and she told me that they got along like two peas in a pod. What did I have to lose? The way things were going now wasn’t exactly great to begin with.

"I guess...", I begrudgingly agreed with Daisy as I grabbed another slice of pizza. "I just really wanted this to work out, you know?"

"I know sweetie, but sometimes things are out of our control. Speaking of out of control... Is he still as breathtakingly gorgeous? Or was that just the shock of the first day speaking?" Daisy asked while wiggling her eyebrows at me and leaning forward so she wouldn't miss a word.

I knew I shouldn't have told Daisy about that. I may have described David in great detail to her when she came home Monday. And I may have sounded a little like a fangirl. But that was before I realized what a frostgiant that man was. Ironic really... Somebody that hot acting that cold.

"Wouldn't know, now would I? Barely saw the man", I responded in an irritated tone. It was true, but it hadn't stopped me from having dreams about him. Dreams that ranged from me watching him work behind his desk to dreams that were a lot more steamy than that. A detail I didn't feel like sharing with Daisy.

"Speaking of work, how are things going at your job?" I asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah… fine. Nothing new really…” Daisy answered in what I assumed she thought was a normal tone of voice. She should not go into politics, she was a horrible liar.

“Well that sounded like the worst lie I have ever heard.” I dropped my piece of pizza and focused my entire attention on Daisy. Something was up and she was going to spill the beans whether she wanted to or not.

“It’s nothing really,” she told me, while actively avoiding eye contact with me. “Just a bit stressful at the moment.”

“Why?” I continued to pry. I mean I told her every detail about my disturbing workplace and turnabout is fair play after all.

“There is this new project. Some rich guy wants us to handle his finances. I can’t really say much about it, but…” she hesitated. I waited patiently for her to gather her thoughts. Daisy worked as an accountant at an accounting firm one town over. She never told me much about the stuff that she did because it was too boring to repeat (her words, not mine). I think there was also something about accountant client confidentiality or whatever, but I was her best friend and roommate so surely that did not apply to me.

“I don’t know Alis, something about this project bothers me. I can’t put it into words, but I don’t trust it.” She finally said. “I went over the file that I was given and it seems all good and fine and legit, but there is just something… I can’t put my finger on it. And don’t start ranting about the mob!” she added warningly.

Honestly, as if I would! Though it would make sense in a way. Maybe her new client was in cahoots with Wolff inc. and he was laundering the money that Wolff inc. made for the mob. But then if Daisy was his accountant, wouldn’t she be complicit in the laundering? Wasn’t that a criminal offence?

“Look, I know you think I am seeing things that aren’t there,” I started. “But you don’t. You have the imagination of a rock. And if you think something is off about this project then you need to trust your instincts and keep your eyes open. Because I can’t afford this rent on my own and we both know you would do horribly in jail.”

“I would do horribly in jail”, Daisy muttered while nodding slightly. “Enough!” She suddenly said while clapping her hands, making me jump at the sound. “We have talked enough about bosses with attitude problems and clients with way too much money for one evening. It is weekend! Time to relax and shake it all off!”

“Yes! We are going to forget all about work and let loose!” I exclaimed enthusiastically.

“But I don’t really want to go out.” Daisy pondered.

“Neither do I.” I agreed. I was way too comfortable in the sweatpants and shirt I had put on after work and I didn’t want to get changed into something festive to go out in and do my hair and… ugh.

We sat together in a thoughtful silence that was only disturbed by the sound of Daisy chewing on the last slice of pizza and me sipping on my wine. Hard decisions were about to be made.

“Movie night?” Daisy suggested.

“Movie night.” I concurred.