Page 1 of My Favorite Boss

Chapter One

BANE

The knock I had been waiting for happened. I recognized it since I knew it well.

Rap, rap. Pause. Rap, rap.

I delayed responding for a moment, just to annoy the person on the other side of the door. Before they could knock again, I called out, “Come in.”

The door opened, and Laura walked in, a stack of files in her arms. She sat across from me, not waiting for an invitation. When she spoke, her voice was purposely restrained, hiding the fact that she, no doubt, would like to ream me a new one but, as head of HR, knew she could not. Still, there was an undertone to her voice—one of barely concealed impatience.

I had to let her have it.

“Alexander,” she began.

“Laura,” I replied, not looking up from the rows of numbers on the page in front of me.

“We need to have a discussion.” She paused. “Now.”

When I didn’t respond, she reached across the desk, closing the file folder in front of me. “And I need your complete attention.”

With a sigh, I sat back, pulling off my glasses and rubbing my eyes. “I already know why you’re here, Laura. Save your voice, and we can move on.”

“That was your sixth assistant in two months, Alexander. Sixth.”

“She was horrible. She couldn’t assist me getting out of a wet paper bag.”

Laura rolled her eyes.

“You need to send me someone better.”

“I’ve sent you the best candidates we’ve had. You’ve found fault with every single person.” She opened a file folder. “Constantly late, bad attitude, can’t handle direction… Smiles too much.” She looked up. “Shall I go on? The faults you find are so minuscule, it’s ridiculous. You barely give people a chance to settle in, and you fire them. Do you see a pattern here?” She removed her glasses, glaring at me.

“Yes. You send me the wrong people. HR is obviously falling down on the job. I gave you my list of requirements.”

She regarded me, her voice becoming pointedly annoyed. “No. You are the pattern. Your list is ridiculous. No one is going to work the hours you want, be at your beck and call, run around after you, and never talk back. Nor will they have the education level you desire, be able to travel at a moment’s notice, and—” she referred to the list “—make a mean sandwich.” She shook her head with a sigh. “You’re hiring an assistant, Alex. Not a gofer.”

“Sally did all those things and more.”

“Sally knew you and could handle you. Plus, she was fifty-six and knew how to put you in your place. You frighten all these young women and men we send to help you. You never give them a chance.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “And it is not HR’s fault. The common denominator for failure here is you.”

“Ha,” I snorted. “I could do better.”

“I thought you’d say that.” She handed me the stack of files she’d been carrying.

“What are these?”

“Four of the top applicants for the job. You interview them.”

I accepted the folders, pursing my lips. “If you think this is a challenge, you’re wrong. I’ll find the right candidate.” I leaned back. “What do I get if I’m right?”

“You interview, you hire, and they last more than six weeks? I’ll admit the fault was ours.”

I scoffed. “Prepare to apologize.” I grinned, winking at her. “I expect quite the show.”

Laura laughed, standing. “When this doesn’t work, then I get the apology. I think an office memo stating that your arrogance and ego were the problem all along will suffice. That, plus you buy lunch for the entire HR department. Our choice.”

I chuckled. I liked Laura, and I enjoyed our little sparring matches.