Page 11 of A Bossy Roommate
Ever heard of the word “please?”I grab a pad and pen from one of the desk drawers I examined earlier and follow him. Once inside, I close the door.
“Besides keeping track of and scheduling my appointments, there are other things I’ll need you to stay on top of,” he says, moving to sit behind his desk. “People will always try to get around my schedule and force a meeting. I’m not seeing anybody who doesn’t have an appointment. I don’t care how important they say it is. No appointment, no meeting. Got it?”
I sit down and open my mouth to respond, but he keeps going, completely ignoring the fact that I was going to speak.
“Next, make yourself familiar with the pre-approved list of names and phone numbers, which are allowed to be transferred to my personal line,” he continues. “If they aren’t on the list, then you’re to take a message. I’ll need their first and last name, phone number, company, and title. Keep the message brief. I don’t have time to read long blocks of text. No sales calls. Ever. I don’t have the patience for them.”
“What if they want to leave a voice mail?”
“Have you not been listening? Only those on the list.”
My eyebrows shoot up, and I purse my lips to keep from talking back.Bosshole.
“You’ll do well to memorize it,” he adds.
Honestly, who the hell does he think he is spouting directions like this? I get that I’m his assistant, but that doesn’t mean he can be so rude. What happened to the man I slept with? Sure, he hadn’t exactly been a ray of sunshine when I approached him in the ice cream shop or later in my motel bed either, butthis? This is unacceptable. “While we’re speaking, I have some stipulations of my own.” I speak up before he can continue.
It’s his turn to hoick up his eyebrows. “I’m listening.”
“Well…this is a two-way street, Mr. Bancroft. If we’re going to work together and work togetherwell, we should both respect each other’s boundaries.”
Carter studies me intensely as he leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “Go on.”
Emboldened by his response, but also cautious of the fact that he’s my boss and I need to tread carefully, I continue. “‘Please’ goes a long way, sir,” I say. “Yes, I’m your assistant, and I’m here to help you with what you need, but I would hope you would show me enough respect to speak to me as if I’m a human being. I was hired because HR thought I could handle this position, and I know I can. Also, you don’t need to worry about me not understanding your directions. I’m a quick learner.”
“I have no doubt.” Carter folds his hands. “However, I don’t always have time for pleasantries. You’ve seen my calendar. Every minute of my workday is accounted for, and I will be coming and going frequently. Get used to me not having the time to say please and thank you.”
“You don’t have a second to treat me like a human being?”
A tense silence fills the room.
At once, I know I’ve overstepped. Me and my big mouth. But it’s out there, and I can’t take it back. Besides, him saying he doesn’t have time to be polite is BS. I don’t care how busy someone is, there should always be time to thank the people who help you.
“This is your first day so I’m going to let that comment slide,” Carter rumbles. “In the future, Eden, I don’t appreciate being talked back to. I’m your boss, you’re my assistant. I don’t appreciate being questioned, and in the future, I won’t be lenient about it. Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” I say. “I’m sorry I spoke out of turn.”
Things are tense after that. He goes over other office tasks before he dismisses me for lunch.
5
EDEN
Idesperately need a break. When I get back to my desk, I receive an instant message from Gretchen.
Gretchen:
Are you ready for lunch? Been waiting for you.
Thank goodness.
Me:
Absolutely! Let’s go.
I grab my purse and meet her in the hall. She’s wearing a sympathetic expression behind her red-framed glasses. I don’t even have to say anything for her to know what’s going through my mind.
“He is a lot,” she says once we’re out of earshot of my office. “But, again, he’s a total hottie.”