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The door opened, and we both turned to see who was coming in. It was Lennon, the assistant manager, and a woman I didn’t recognise, which meant she was probably the manager, Anne-Marie.
“Mr Black! Good morning!” Anne-Marie said brightly as a smile spread across her face. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“Good morning, Ms Walker,” Theodore replied coolly, instantly turning away from her and holding his hand out towards Lennon. “You must be Lennon Palmer. I’m Theodore Black.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr Black,” Lennon said, shaking his hand. He turned to me with a warm smile. “Miss St. James, good morning. I hope you’re well.”
“You, too,” I said, returning the smile. “You must be the manager, Ms Walker.” I switched my smile to Anne-Marie. “I’m Chloe St. James, executive assistant to Mr Black.”
She reluctantly accepted my handshake, plastering a customer service smile on her face. “It’s nice to meet you, Chloe.”
Ah.
We were going for the patronising route.
“Please address my secretary by Miss St. James while we’re working, Ms Walker,” Theodore said, brushing his hands together. “Chloe, I’ll be in the office. Can you bring me that cup of tea?”
“Of course, sir,” I replied.
“I can make it for you,” Anne-Marie offered, stepping forwards.
“It’s quite all right, Ms Walker.” I picked my bag up from the desk I’d put it on before fixing Theodore’s tie. “It’s part of my job. Would anyone else like a cup while I’m there?”
“We got coffee on the way here.” Lennon held up a cup holder with two cups in. “But thank you for offering. We should have gotten you both some, too.”
“No need. Mr Black is quite particular about his coffee. The sentiment is appreciated all the same.” I smiled. “Please excuse me.”
I took myself into the staff room, but I’d barely put my bag down on the table in there when the sound of heels clicking against the floor followed me.
“Miss St. James,” Anne-Marie said. “Why don’t you show me how Mr Black likes his tea? I’m sure it would be helpful if I could assist you while we’re working. You must have a lot to do.”
I filled the kettle at the tap and put it on the dock, flicking the switch to make it boil. “As I said before, I appreciate the sentiment, but this is my job, Ms Walker.”
“I understand, but you must be busy dealing with other matters.”
I pulled down a mug from the cupboard and tossed in a teabag, then looked over my shoulder. “I would think the manager of this office would be far busier than I am this morning. Far too busy for such a menial task as making tea.”
She stilled. “I thought it would be a good way to foster a positive relationship with the boss, that’s all.”
This woman wouldn’t get the message if I wrote it on my imaginary box file and hit her with it.
“Ms Walker, if you want to get on Mr Black’s good side, I suggest you do your job and let me do mine.” I poured the boiling water into the cup. “He values hard work and competence over flimsy actions such as bringing him a cup of tea to cosy up to him.”
“That’s a strange thing to say while you’re making him a cup of tea, don’t you think?”
“I have no desire to cosy up to him,” I said, finishing up the tea. “And again, this is a part of my job. If you wish to make him a cup of tea so badly, then I’ll let you in on a secret.” I picked up the cup and turned around, also grabbing my bag. “I’m resigning once our trip here is done, so you’re more than welcome to move to London and apply for the position of his executive assistant.”
She blinked at me, slightly taken aback. “Oh. No, I don’t think that’s for me.”
“Then please move so I can take him his tea before he comes looking for me and kicks up a fuss about it being cold.” I offered her the same customer service smile she’d sent my way when she’d greeted me. “It wouldn’t do to upset the boss on the first day, would it?”
Anne-Marie stepped to the side, leaving me space to exit the staff room, and I swept past her without looking at her.
What a nightmare.
Who knew a cup of tea was so exciting?
I knocked on the office door before letting myself in. “I have your tea, sir.”
