Chapter 6 — Olivia

I couldn’t wait to get out of his office. I kept imagining him wanting to touch my hands, or even my feet. He was hot, there was no denying that and I was tempted to ask if he had Italian blood in his family, but that would make me fantasize about him even more. The Italians have a reputation for being hot blooded lovers, maybe that was why he was with someone like Scarlett. She was young and full of energy.

I asked him to focus and I was having a hard time doing just that, because every time he came near my mind would wander and not just a little bit, but a lot.

He was very commanding and all it took to get my attention was a wave of his hand. I had a look at his perfectly manicured nails and wondered if he did them himself, or did a professional do them for him?

It must be the way that he admired my hands and feet that had me thinking about his and every other part of his body.

When did I ever get all flustered over a man? I’d met big-time millionaires like Hamilton so many times before. They walked around as if they owned not only a company, but everyone around them. But then Hamilton wasn’t like that. I suppose that was the difference between them and him. He’d had staff come in and out of his office and he never shouted or demanded anything from them. If anything, he gave them the respect that they deserved and even told the cleaner that she looked tired and he would fetch her a cup of coffee.

What the heck? Was he trying to fuck her too, I wondered as I watched him bring the cup over to the woman?

That really took me by surprise, he had a gentle side to him, that made it clear why Scarlett had fallen for him. Which reminds me, he’s taken, I told myself. Stop fantasizing about his hands. And his feet.

He worked mechanically all day long. He’d offered the cleaner the coffee, and when I asked if he wanted one, he told me that he could get it himself. I’d had a secretary many moons ago, and I don’t remember one occasion where I got my own coffee. He made me feel guilty for stating that he could get his own coffee and for actually doing it.

He went into one meeting after another, not once taking a break. Even when he went to make his coffee, he took a colleague with him and talked shop. It was as if his brain was always on the go. I didn’t realize the time until he called me into his office and said, “That’s all, Olivia. I’ll see you tomorrow around eight.”

I realized then that it was after eight pm. I had been here for over thirteen hours and all he could say was 'see you tomorrow.' There was no gratitude or even feedback. I didn’t expect a thank you necessarily, but maybe ‘nice job’ or even ‘you suck at this’ would be something.

I decided that I had to stop being a big baby and get home. I’d left mom with Aunt Veronica all day again. It wasn’t fair to either of them. I needed to get home and not worry about his compliments, or lack thereof. I shrugged as I left his office. “Good night, Mr. Hamilton.”

He grunted something in return, and I realized that I did miss being in an office, oddly enough. Part of me felt alive today. Okay, so I attended meetings and took notes, something that my secretary would do in the past, but I met others and was even invited to lunch by the other secretaries. For the past three years, lunch has meant either sitting with Mom or hardly eating at all. Watching someone you love deteriorate does take its toll on you. Today made me realize that for the last few years, not only had Mom been lost, but so had I. I missed being with people, friends that I once had were now lost and I hadn’t thought about them not even once. But today, when I went out to lunch, I reminisced about the good old days and they all flashed in my mind.

Today wasn’t so bad after all. I’d dreaded the idea of coming into the office, but now I realized that I was acting old before my time. I wanted to thank Mr. Hamilton, but I couldn’t as his head was buried in his computer and acknowledging my presence was clearly the last thing on his mind.

* * *

“Aunt Veronica,” I said when she picked up the phone. I’d decided to call her before I left the office. I thought that I would rather talk to her on the phone before seeing her.

“Yes, Olivia. You didn’t need to call. Everything’s going so well. Besides, Dawn’s sleeping right now.”

I sighed, realizing she was right. Mom was normally in bed by this hour.

“Don’t worry I’ll be home and then you can leave too.”

“Leave to go where? Didn’t Brett tell you?”

Obviously not.

“I’m moving in. I’m not getting here at six and then leaving at these times. 'Big Little Lies' is on, the new season of 'The Walking Dead' and 'Santa Claus Diet.' I mean, I have a life too. I’ll miss out on all the shows if I’m going back and forth.”

That was what I was afraid of. As much as she was my aunt and I loved her to bits, she had a problem with what was reality and what wasn’t. She seemed to think that everyone’s life was based on TV shows, because hers was.

“I know, I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your shows.”

“My dear, it’s not just my shows. Dawn likes to watch them too. I think that you stopped her watching TV—that’s why she was always so angry.”

Of course! Why hadn’t I thought of that? Because I was too tired, I imagine.

“Dear, take your time. You don’t need to rush back. We’re fine and don’t worry about my apartment; I’ve already rented it out.”

That was quick! Didn’t Brett just ask her this morning?

“Anyway, I have to watch the rerun of 'The Walking Dead.' I never understand it the first time around.”

What was there to understand? There were a bunch of zombies walking around and no one knew why, and the writers kept changing their minds about which characters we should love and hate.

Before I could say another word, she’d hung up the phone. I didn’t even realize that Mr. Hamilton was standing in front of me as I stood by my desk ready to leave, but then feeling the need to not rush as much as I did before talking to my aunt.

“You still here?”

“It seems that way. I was going home. But now I feel like a drink to let my brain catch up a little before I head home. It's been a long day.”

Not with you. Alone!

“Sounds like a good idea,” he smiled, and I was so tempted to remind him that Scarlett would be waiting for him, but I knew that it was none of my business. Then again, she hadn’t been working for him for too long. I worked with so many different departments that at times it was hard to keep track because the secretaries come and go so quickly.

“It’s only Tuesday, I shouldn’t really.”

He sighed. “That’s a shame. I thought that we could get to know each other a little since we started off on the wrong foot. Besides I’m curious about your blog and what made you start it? You sound very informative on your blog and judging by your resumé, you shouldn’t be working as a PA. More like a VP. Come on, let’s talk. I’m curious. Just one drink?”

Wow, he was asking me, and I was being uptight. I wasn’t used to going out with anyone but Mom. She was sometimes great company and at other times I was afraid to take her out. I needed to get out and let my hair down and not being so uptight, on my first night of freedom.

“Okay, Mr. Hamilton, let’s have one drink.”

He smiled and said, “Sounds like a plan, and by the way just call me, Ross. Mr. Hamilton sounds too formal.”

I returned his smile and said, “Okay, Ross.”

One drink, what could possibly go wrong?