The Clandestine Assistant

13. Smores Doughnut

My alarm went off and I jumped out of bed, quickly putting on my running clothes. I texted Sterling. 'Let’s meet for a run, I'm leaving in 5.' I made my way downstairs and ran towards the park.

I needed to clear my head before going into the office this morning. That new girl overheard my mom and I arguing, and I wasn't ready to face her. Sometimes I could be a real jerk. I mean I really didn't have any interest in the girl in that way, which was probably a good thing. Maybe she would be an assistant that would actually stick around. I flipped my hood over my head and sighed.

"What is wrong with you today?"

I looked up to see Sterling waiting for me. He ran up next to me, as we continued towards the park. "Mom hired a new assistant yesterday. She brought her up after her interview to meet me."

"Nice is she hot?" Sterling punched my shoulder.

"Uh, she's not ugly, but I don’t know that I would consider her hot. She overheard mom and I arguing, after we thought she had left, and.." I stopped and looked at him. "I said some not nice things."

Sterling stopped and looked at me. "What did you say?"

"That mom didn’t have to worry about me sleeping with her, because she's not my type. She's not a hot skinny blond."

Sterling shook his head. "What the hell man?"

"I know!" I shook my head and we started running again. "I tried to run after her, but couldn't catch up. So now I have no idea if she will even show up this morning."

"She probably wont. I don’t know if I would if I was in her shoes. You’re a asshat sometimes dude."

"I screwed up big time. What the hell do I do now?"

"Start with apologizing to the poor girl if she shows up."

I nodded. "I will. She will get major props from me if she shows up."

We finished our run, and I made my way back home. Took a quick shower and drove into work. I was a nervous wreck the entire ride there. How would I ever apolagize for being such a jerk? What is wrong with me? I asked myself, as I pulled into the parking garage, then into my spot. I made my way into the building and decided to check in with Gracen. "Good morning Gracen."

"Good Morning Mr. Dalton. How are you?"

"I'm doing ok. Has the new girl come in yet?"

"I'm not sure. She hasn’t passed since I got here at seven thirty."

I nodded. "Ok thank you. If she happens to, will you give me a heads up?"

Gracen smiled and nodded. "Of course. I really like Ava, she is very sweet."

I nodded, sighing to myself. "I am sure she is."

I walked to the elevator, and made my way up to my office floor. "Why is this elevator so slow?" I shook my head as I slowly watched the numbers climb. Finally I made it to the top. I grabbed my cell phone and started scrolling through it, something to keep my mind occupied as I walked out. In case she was here. The elevator doors opened, and sure enough, she was there. I started panicking, not sure what to say. So I kept my face down in my phone, and walked past right her to my office. i***t! I cussed myself. She followed me in, telling me good morning. I tried to play it off like I hadn’t seen her. I kept trying to apolagize, but she kept interrupting me. She handed me a coffee, my morning messages, sat a plate of doughnuts down and then walked out. I sighed and ran my hands through my hair, pacing back and forth in the room. What is wrong with this woman? Here I am trying to apolagize to her, and she just cuts me off? I pulled my cell phone out and called sterling.

"What’s up man? Did she show up?"

"Yes, and I tried to apolagize, three times. She kept interrupting me, then just walked out!"

He laughed. "You're pacing aren't you? I am impressed she showed up. I like her already!"

I stopped pacing, and sat on the edge of my desk. "No."

"Liar." He chuckled. "Just try again."

"What if she wont let me. What do I do th.." The conference line dinged on my phone. "Yes." I asked.

"Mr. Dalton. You’re mom is on line one." She said and then cut the line.

"Ster I gotta go. Mom is on the phone."

"Good luck, tell her I said hi."

I hung up, and picked up the phone on my desk. "Hey mom."

"So I see she showed up. Did you apolagize to her yet?"

"Mom I tried, but she kept interrupting me, like she was changing the subject."

"Well try again! I can’t not believe she heard us, I am mortified."

"I know, I feel like a complete jerk."

"Well you were!"

"I know. I will apolagize I promise."

"Ok I love you. I am going to come in at the end of the day, and apolagize to her as well."

"Love you too mom. Oh and Sterling said hi."

"Tell him I said hi back next time you talk to him."

"I will." She hung up. I put the phone back in its cradle, and stood up. I walked to the office door and grabbed for the knob, then backed away, shaking my head. What was wrong with me? Just opened the door, call her in here, and apolagize to her. I took a deep breath and opened the door. Sarah was standing there, they finished their convo, then Sarah walked away. She looked up at me.

I looked at her. "In my office." I turned back into my office and walked to my desk. Why was I so scared to apolagize to this woman? I turned and sat down at the desk. She walked in, with a teal colored notebook and pen in her hand.

"Yes Mr. Dalton."

"Have a seat please."

She sat down, and I could see her cheeks getting red. I wondered if she was embarrassed, nervous, or something else. "Mrs. Fontaine. I know."

"Miss."

"What?" I asked shaking my head.

"You keep calling me Mrs. but it is Miss."

"Ok ." I shook me head. Great I can’t even call this poor girl Miss. "I wanted to apolagize for yesterday. I know you overheard my mother and I. Listen that wasn't about you , it was more about…"

"Look." She stood up. "With all due respect. You’re not really my type either, and I am not here to find a boyfriend. I have every intention of moving up in this company.  So how about we both just decide to keep it professional from here on out?"

She stood their staring at me. I was in complete shock. "I uh, yes. That is a great idea."

She nodded and turned walking out of the office. "If you need anything just let me know." She walked out and closed the door behind her.

I sat there, staring at my office door, still in shock. People rarely talked to me like that. Everyone who worked here, with the exception of Sherry, did whatever I asked. They never stood up to me in any way. Women basically worshipped the ground I walked on. Not her type? I scoffed and shook my head. She would be lucky to date a guy like me. I was good looking, and rich. I sighed and picked up my coffee, taking a drink. It was cold since it had been sitting on my desk. I clicked and buzzed her.

"Yes Mr. Dalton?"

"My coffee is cold. Bring me another cup."

"Yes sir."

I smiled to myself. I would put her in her place. I looked down at the plate of doughnuts she had sat down. There was a glazed, a chocolate glazed and a smores doughnut. I quickly grabbed the smores doughnut. I hadn't had one of those since I was a kid. I grabbed the doughnut and plopped it into my mouth, just as the door opened. She walked over and handed me the coffee. She gave me a smile and picked up the other coffee cup, then headed to the door. "Miss Fontaine?"

She turned around and smiled. "Yes?"

"Why did you get these three doughnuts?"

"Well I got half a dozen glazed, and half a dozen chocolate glazed. Then I saw that smores one, and thought you might like it. You seem like a smores guy to me." She shrugged, and looked at my plate. "I guess I was right?" She smiled.

I looked down at the plate, the smores doughnut with a bite gone. "Uh, yes, it was very good thank you."

She smiled and nodded, then turned and walked out closing the door behind her. She almost looked like maybe she had been crying. I sighed and sat back in my chair, picking up the doughnut and taking another bite. I smiled, as memories of going to Dryers with Dad and getting a smores doughnut popped into my head. This girl was peculiar for sure. He red eyes said one thing, but her words said another. I would figure her out, and make her realize who the boss was around here!