Chapter 57 Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!!
Lilian's POV
The elevator doors slid open on the twenty third floor of Quinn Enterprises, and I stepped out with my head held high, even though I was completely agitated on the inside.
I can do this, I had to.
A sharp featured Asian woman in her late twenties with perfectly styled black hair, looked up from her desk. Her nameplate read "Melissa Chen - Executive Assistant." Her eyes narrowed the moment she saw me.
I forced a smile. "I'm Lilian Knowles. Mr. Quinn is expecting me today."
"Is he?" Melissa said with a confused expression, "That's odd. He never mentioned hiring anyone new. And I handle all his staffing arrangements."
Before I could respond, An office door swung open and Xavier walked straight to me looking really neat and domineering as ever.
"Miss Knowles. You're late."
I snapped my gaze away from him immediately and quickly checked my watch. It's only Six fifty five. "I'm five minutes early, actually."
"When I said seven o'clock I didn't mean seven o'clock as arrival time but seven o'clock as ready to work time." Xavier's cold blue eyes swept over me. "Follow me."
Melissa's jaw dropped slightly as I walked past her into his massive office. I closed the door gently and turned to face him.
"Mr. Quinn, about this whole arrangement---"
"Coffee," he interrupted, settling into his leather chair. "I need coffee."
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Do you find it difficult hearing, Miss Knowles? Get me Hot Coffee. No, actually, make it iced with sugar."
I sighed as I held myself from hissing out loudly, I pulled out my phone to make a note.
"Actually, no sugar. I'm watching my intake." He didn't even look up from his computer screen. "Make it Almond milk. Wait, no make it Oat milk. You know what? Start over. I'll text you my order instead."
Why the hell can't he just decide on one thing, my jaw clenched in annoyance as my phone buzzed. I looked down at the message: Regular hot black coffee.Two sugars. From the cafe on Fifth Street. Not the one in the building. The one on Fifth.
Didn't he say he's watching his intake? And secondly that cafe was twelve blocks away!.
"Sir you can't be serious."
"Do I look like I'm joking, Miss Knowles?" He finally looked at me with one eyebrow raised. "You agreed to this arrangement. Or would you prefer I call my lawyer about that little incident?"
I bit down on my tongue so hard I tasted blood. "Fine. I'll get the coffee."
"Good. And Miss Knowles?" He turned back to his screen. "Don't take too long. I have actual work for you when you return."
Gosh I'm already regretting this damn agreement, but I have no choice.
I turned and marched out, slamming the door harder than necessary. At this point I don't care if it falls off its hinges.
Melissa was waiting by her desk with her arms crossed.
"So. Who are you exactly?" Her eyes glittered with suspicion. "Are you? His girlfriend? Or some sort of relative?"
Seriously I'm not in the mood for this interrogation, "I'm his assistant secretary, just temporarily." I said through gritted teeth.
"Hmm, But we already have many executive assistants. We don't need another assistant secretary." Melissa said with a hint of irritation.
Okay why is she so interested.
"Like I said before ma'am , it's only Temporary." I replied stressing the word Temporary.
I saw the unsatisfied look on her face, but who cares, I don't have time to explain myself or banter words with anyone especially now that I'm really annoyed.
She wanted to say something else but I ignored her heading for the elevator.
The elevator arrived and I stepped in and pressed the button for the ground floor.
.........
Twelve stressful blocks later, I stood in line at the cafe, my feet was already aching in my heels.
My phone buzzed with emails from my actual job. Three manuscripts needed a review. A meeting with the editorial team in two hours. A publisher waiting for my feedback on a major acquisition.
I was the chief editor of one of Greenville's top publishing houses. I had a master's degree in literature. I had built my career through years of hard work.
But here I was, buying coffee for a man who was punishing me for a drunken mistake.
Gosh this is the second worst day of my life.
"Next!"
I ordered the coffee and checked my work emails while waiting. My assistant editor had already flagged two urgent matters, I immediately responded, trying to maintain some manner of professionalism in my real job. Honestly if I keep on like this I might loose my job.
And I'll never forgive that jerk if that happens.
"Order for Lilian!"
I grabbed the coffee and rushed back, practically jogging the twelve blocks. By the time I reached Quinn Enterprises again, I was slightly out of breath and really annoyed.
The elevator ride up felt like an eternity. When the doors opened, I found Melissa talking with two other women by the water cooler. They all stopped and stared as I walked past.
I knocked on Xavier's door.
"Come in."
I entered and placed the coffee on his desk. "One black coffee. Two sugars. From the cafe on Fifth Street."
Xavier picked up the cup, took a sip, and grimaced. "It's cold."
"Because I had to walk twelve blocks there and back!"
"Then you should have walked faster." He set the cup down. "I don't like it, Make another one."
I felt my eye twitch. "Mr. Quinn--"
"I'm sorry, did I stutter? The coffee is cold. I asked for hot coffee. Get me another one." He returned his attention to his computer as if I had already left.
Every fiber of my being wanted to throw the cold coffee in his smug face. But that would land me in even more legal trouble. So I grabbed the cup and walked out biting my lips real hard.
Melissa was alone at her desk now, typing away. She looked up as I passed.
"Coffee run number two?" She asked with a smug smile.
But I didn't respond, I simply ignored her remark and stormed off.
The second trip was faster. I practically sprinted there and back, arriving twenty eight minutes later with a fresh cup.
Xavier took a sip. "Hmm Acceptable. Now, these files need to be reorganized. Alphabetically, then chronologically within each letter grouping. I want it done by lunch."
He gestured to three massive piles of documents on the desk of what I presumed is now my new cage.
"You have got to be kidding me."
"The earlier you realize that I don't joke the better for you, Miss Knowles. By the way after lunch, you'll need to pick up my dry cleaning. The receipt is in the second drawer in your new desk." He glanced at his watch. "You have three hours for the filing. So you better get started."
Arghhhhhhhhh
I wanted to scream out loud.
I wanted to scream at him for frustrating me, for crying out loud I haven't even gotten to sit down and rest since I walked into this building.
I took a deep breath and walked to the filing cabinets and yanked open the first drawer to start working.
Few minutes later my phone buzzed. My editorial assistant: Lilian, where are you? The meeting starts in thirty minutes.
I typed back: Please Handle it. I'm dealing with something urgent.
But you're supposed to lead the meeting!
You can do it. I trust you. Just take notes and fill me in later.
I silenced my phone and continued pulling files. From my distance I could hear Xavier's keyboard clicking away, completely indifferent to the fact that he was sabotaging my actual career for his petty revenge.
Two hours in, my back ached. My fingers had paper cuts. And I had only finished the A's to F's.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Come in," Xavier said without looking up.
Melissa entered with a lunch tray. "Your usual, Mr. Quinn." She set it on his desk, then glanced at me. "Should I bring something for... her?"
"Miss Knowles can get her own lunch. After she finishes the filing."