The Assistant(125)

“You’re annoying,” I replied in a monotone.

“You love me.” He smirked arrogantly. Once I didn’t reply to that, his smirk fell instantly. “You love me, right?” he asked with a worried expression.

I kept my face blank as I turned to answer him. “I don’t know Adrian, lately… well, I’m just not feeling it…” I trailed off, giving him a sympathetic look and attempting not to laugh at his look of disbelief.

“What the hell do you mean by that?” he exclaimed angrily, turning to face me fully. “You have to love me; I love you!”

“Yes, I know you do, it’s just that-”

“It’s just nothing. We’re getting married,” Adrian cut me off.

“I-”

“No, I mean it. There is nothing stopping us from getting married. I don’t ever want to lose you and I’m ready to settle down with you by my side.” Adrian growled.

I blinked back at him in shock momentarily before placing a hand on his cheek. “I don’t ever want to lose you either, but this is something you have to think long and hard about. We can talk about this another time. I was kidding before, I do love you.” I mumbled, giving him a small smile.


I watched as he frowned slightly before grunting and looking away. “Whatever,” he snapped.

I sighed. “Adrian.”

“No, Emily. I don’t know how much more open I can be with you; and you just turn it down like it was an everyday conversation.”

“No, I don’t!” I insisted. “I know how hard it is for you to talk about this kind of stuff, I do. And I’m not saying no, either! It’s just that… well now, in an elevator… isn’t exactly the right time.”

Adrian stayed silent for a few moments before sighing. “You’re right. Come on, let’s go start up on that dinner. We can talk about this another time.”

***

“Are you sure this is the right apartment?” I asked nervously, glancing at Amy who was tapping her thumbs to the beat of the music playing too loudly in the car.

She let out an exasperated sigh before nodding. “Yes! Now go up there and apologise to the girl and give her, her job back! You owe that much to her after indirectly firing her and accusing her of working for that stupid pig who is now rotting in prison, and hopefully soon enough, in hell.”

I laughed nervously before nodding and getting out of the car and making my way up to the apartment buzzers.

Anna was number 68; the penthouse apartment of this building in particular. I pressed the button and waited patiently before a bleak shuffling noise sounded from the rounded speaker. “I’m not interested in whatever product you’re trying to sell-”

“This isn’t a salesman,” I replied nervously. “This is Emily… May I come in?”

“Emily Johnson?” she asked in surprise, before I heard the buzzer go off and the door click open.

I tried to contain my own surprise as I made my way up to her apartment; trying to figure out why she’d let the woman who potentially ruined her career into her home so easily.

Anna was already waiting at the door of her apartment once I stepped off the elevator, and I smiled weakly as I took in her appearance. She was in comfortable looking sweat pants and a shirt that looked two sizes smaller on her with a Dora the Explorer theme splashed all over her chest area.

“It’s my little cousins’. I couldn’t find my favourite home shirt, so I used hers…” She trailed off, flushing slightly as she looked up at me with a sheepish grin.

“Well, it looks very nice. I think it’s not far off from becoming the next big thing in fashion!” I laughed, joining her amusement on the topic.

“Not to sound blunt or rude or anything, but… why are you here? I don’t get visitors often; especially people as important as you.” Anna explained quickly, trying to back up her side of the story before I had the chance to get offended.

I waved her off. “You don’t sound rude. Quite frankly, I’m surprised you even let me up here.” I smiled awkwardly. “I, uh… I wanted to talk to you about… some things.”

Surprise once again flashed through Anna’s eyes, before she immediately stepped aside. “Oh, yeah! Of course, come in!”

“Thank you,” I mumbled quietly as I stepped past her into her apartment.

Apparently, working at Kingston Corporation compensated well. So well, in fact, that Anna’s apartment was almost as nice as the penthouse Adrian and I were currently living in. White walls and floors extended throughout the open space, and a black and lavender coloured scheme was splashed all over the apartment in places which highlighted the expense of the place even more.

“Wow, your place is amazing,” I stated truthfully, still taking in the bright home.

“Thanks. Do you want me to make you a coffee or anything?”

“No thank you, I’m okay. I can’t stay long,” I explained with a small smile.

“Oh, okay. So… What did you want to talk about?”

I took a seat on the edge of one of the black sofas in the living room and Anna sat across from me, placing a lavender pillow in her lap in the process.

“I… I’m so sorry.” I blurted, blushing once I realised I sounded like a 5-year-old who got caught stealing candy.