Cake Love: All Things Payne(8)

After the terrible sex (no amount of romance can make up for being an awful lover) where he just kept looking over at the dresser making faces and not paying any attention to me, I laid on the bed waiting for the ring. After a while I went into the kitchen to get some water and he yelled out to get him some too. I thought maybe he is stalling to get the ring out. When I came back to the bedroom he was sound asleep. Then a week later Aria (who watches YouTube porn all the time - don't ask) pointed out a video that looked a lot like Trevor and me. I freaked and confronted him. Needless to say he was quite proud of the shoddy production and I finally kicked him out of my life. I started to go by my middle name because Mr. Douchebag used our first names on the video title.

It has been five years, and I thought that video would die away. Now I sit here in Mr. Payne's office trying to pull my dress over my knees, hoping I don't get fired.

"Look Mr. Payne, it was a long time ago. I didn't even realize I was being filmed."

His clicking with the mouse stops as he turns to look at me; his face scrunches up in confusion.

"What are you talking about? The serious matter is about our London office. What we have been working late for all week."

D’oh!

I nod furiously as if that is what I am referring to.

"Of course, yes. I knew that."

He is squinting at me again. My confusion is adding to his irritation, well at least I know he isn't about to fire me.

“Anyway Ms. Drake, we have to fly to London for emergency meetings. We are expected there by Monday. I know this is very short notice, but Mr. Mimir's assistant, Kara, has taken care of the flight and hotel arrangements. I assume your passport up to date."

I sit in shock. The good kind of shock because it's London baby! I have never been to London or anywhere in Europe, or anywhere other than Canada. Aria and I decided a few years ago to visit Vancouver for a girl’s weekend. That city is gorgeous and we had a great time, but I always dreamed of flying overseas.

"Yes Mr. Payne."

"Good. The flight leaves Sunday evening, Kara will email you the specifics. Mr. Jacob Mimir and his assistant, Kara, Mr. Edgar Mimir and his assistant, John, and you and I will all meet for dinner on Monday at a later specified restaurant at 6:30 local time to discuss the events of the week. That is all."

He is waving the back of his hand at me as if shooing a fly. I get up to leave but right as I am at the door I hear Mr. Payne, "Ms. Drake. I know in order to be considered for the Executive Development Program here you have to have been employed with us for a year. Sometimes an exceptional employee has made it in after six months. If you show both Jacob and Edgar Mimir, on this trip how dedicated you are to the company, I know they will accept my recommendation to let you enter the program early."

He goes back to typing and flicks his hand at me again. In a heart-fluttery-rainbows-and-butterflies haze I walk back to my desk and sit. Mr. Payne has never paid me a compliment before, let alone talked about recommending me early into the program. The best I ever got from him was a grumble and nod after he took a sip of his morning coffee. Wait, that's not totally true. Let me rephrase that, he has never paid me a compliment about my work before.

This is the whole reason I have stayed his assistant for so long, the Executive Development Program. After I complete that I can practically have any job in the company I want. I have been planning for this since college. When Mimir created this program ten years ago, my whole career path has been centered on getting a job that will lead to this program.

My dream is to be Mr. Payne or any of the top executives at Mimir. I want to have a position with this company that is so vital, without me it would come close to falling apart. That may sound a tad narcissistic but hear me out. How many times has a boss or teacher or parent given you a pitiful look as you told them about an idea? I can’t count the number of times people in charge thought I had two heads just because I thought outside the box. My ideas were always sound and I put effort into them, only to be dismissed like a child.

When Trevor took advantage of my trust I realized it was time to focus on my goal of proving to the people around me that not only am I smart, but I am a woman to be taken seriously. Therefore I stopped dating and put all my energy into building up my resume, knowing who I wanted to impress. So, when I found out Mr. Payne needed an executive assistant late last year I jumped at the chance to interview. Sure, it's been hell but I just keep my eye on the prize.

I have been here about four months and he already wants me to move forward! Perhaps he doesn't hate me. Or, he just wants to get rid of me. He knows how liked I am around here, especially by the Mimir brothers. This is his one chance to get away from me. That must be it. Well, no problem for me. I won't have to see his face every day once I am in the program.

No more wondering if he might grab me at my hips and pin me to his desk to have his way with me. No more spanking. No more f*cking me on a conference table, making me have multiple orgasms. Wait, why don't I want that?

"Focus Morgana. You can see the finish line; don't let Heart and Vagina cloud your judgment." Brain points out.

"I know Brain; it's all we worked for. I'll try, I promise."

Brain nods.

"Good girl. It helps to focus on the bad things he did. Let me just bring those files up on my screen. Ah...there we go." Brain types away on her computer.

No more of him telling me it was all a mistake. He won’t have to ignore me anymore. No more fetching his coffee like a dog. Now is my chance to never have to deal with him again. As excited as I am by the program, there is a part of me that is sad I may never see him again.