Two days after the sexual encounter with my boss, two days after I got back in the office, only to find he’d called for a meeting, and I hadn't been there. And then, me trying to make excuses and him scolding me.

Fucking bastard. It’s his fault I’m so damn exhausted.

My intercom beeped, and I almost groaned out loud. But because I was still on the job—though I had seriously been considering quitting, I picked up the phone and pressed the intercom button.

“What can I do for you, sir?” I asked, my voice blank and professional.

“Jasmine, can you go to accounting and pick up some files for me? The head of the department should have them available, just talk to his secretary.”

“Yes, sir,” I said briskly and put the phone down perhaps a tad too hard.

But I was growing fucking sick of the bastard treating me like his errand girl. Especially since, with him around, I already had more work to do than I’d ever done before.

I got up and put away the things on my desk. I had to shut down my computer for safety reasons, just logging out was apparently not enough. Any papers on my desk that pertained to work had to go into a drawer, which is then locked and carried the key with me as I left my station. I’d done it several times already for the day.

“I really should just fucking quit,” I mumbled to myself as I walked into the elevator.

The accounting department—or at least, the head’s office—was three floors down. Once I got off, I grimaced. The floor was crowded, with a bunch of desks and cubicles arranged in the open space, equipment littered around the room that was shared among the occupants. It was louder, too. There were only three other secretary’s with stations on my floor, though they were separated far enough that I didn’t get to talk to them much. But I was unused to this kind of chaos.

I crossed the room, walking in between the desks and cubicles. The atmosphere was loud, with several people talking, either on the phone or to each other, with several other voices ringing and papers rustling. Even with all that noise, I could hear the machines in the room whirring, and it only made it all even more unbearable. I understood it was a busy time for the company, but if things were this frantic this high up, I might just tear my hair out if my boss sent me to a lower floor.

Or, I could always quit, my mind put in helpfully.

Finally, I made it to the other side of the room. I knocked on the door to the head’s office and walked in. His secretary sat in the small office that led to his. I wasn’t envious she got her office, no matter how small, but I would probably be glad for it, too, if I had to put up with as much as she did per day.

“Hello, Lily,” I called as I slid inside, closing the door with relief. “I came to get something from your boss.”

Lily was someone I’d only seen now and then, and usually only at staff meetings or parties. She was at least a decade older than me, and it showed in the wrinkles on her skin. She had blond hair and brown eyes, and always put on a colorful top.

She arched an eyebrow. “You’re looking a little worse for wear. Overwhelmed because you’re working for once?”

I pursed my lips. Lily didn’t like me much. A lot of the secretaries didn’t, and if they had to put up with the shit I currently was, then I understood why. To them, I was probably the lucky bitch that got to be lazy. Those like Lily were probably celebrating because of my bad luck these days.

“Could I please just have the files?” I asked, not up for anyone else’s shit today when I already had my boss to deal with. “He didn’t tell me what they were, just that your boss had them. If you don't get them, I could always go in there.” I arched my eyebrows at the threat.

She frowned, but she got up off her ass. “Fine,” she said, voice clipped. “Just wait here.”

I shrugged and folded my arms under my breasts as I leaned back against a patch of wall. She was back after a couple of minutes with a bunch of papers stacked in her arms. My jaw dropped a little as she set them down on her desk with a loud thump.

“There’s everything,” she said, voice smug, smiling thinly at me. “I assume you don’t need help to carry this much, right?”

I sneered at her as I stepped to her desk and picked up the papers. They were heavy, and taking them back up would be a pain. I managed to lift them up, and I grimaced at their weight in my arms.

“Have a nice day, Jasmine,” Lily singsonged behind me.

I snorted as I struggled to open the door—she offered to be no help—while trying desperately not to drop any of the papers.

“Thanks for your fucking help,” I muttered bitterly as I stepped out of her office and into the chaos of the floor.

The way back was irritating. Crossing the busy floor with papers in my hands took a bit of restraint. It was like everyone was suddenly getting in my way, because everyone suddenly had to be somewhere else, and more than once, I almost lost my footing or dropped some of the papers. And then I made it to the elevator and somehow had to press the button with both my hands occupied, when I couldn’t even look straight ahead or above the load to see what I was doing. I had to do it again once I was inside to hit the right button for my floor.

By the time I made it back to my desk, my arms were cramping uncomfortably. I dropped all the papers down and took a moment to breathe. When I moved to the desk and knocked.

“Come in,” my boss called, voice muffled.

I opened the door gingerly, just enough to stick my head inside. “I have the papers for you on my desk, sir.”

He glanced up at the document he was reading. “Can you please bring them in here for me? Just leave them over there.” He waved his hand vaguely.

The office was large, enough to fit his desk and a separate area that looked more casual with a small table surrounded by chairs. I pulled away from the door, opening it wide enough as I picked up the papers and transferred them to his table. I set them down, as Lily had, with a loud thump. He looked up at the sound.

“Would you like anything else, sir?” I said pointedly.

“Actually, yes. I need the papers I left for you this morning. Are you done with the proofing?”

I almost groaned. “I was finishing up on it when you interrupted me.”

My tone was just a little sour, but he ignored it. “Then get that to me right now. I’ll send you something else I need you to look over for me in your email in a while, so look forward to that.”

I wanted to remind him that there was other work he’d given me, similar to that, already. I was only nearly done with what he’d left me earlier in the morning, and he’d been interrupting me to send me on errands the whole time. But, it was my job, so I just gave a sharp nod and headed for the door.

“Of course, sir.”

Work dragged on, to the point I thought I would pass out. It was evening already, around eight, and I was finishing up my last bit of work for the day. I wanted to finish everything and leave, but then Gabe’s door was opening, and I looked up as he stopped at my desk and looked down at me. I was growing used to the cold look on his face, but after what he’d put me through for the day, it left me feeling a little irritated.

“Can I do something for you, sir?” I asked politely.

“I need you to come into my office.”

I clenched my hands in my lap. “If it’s the work you wanted, I’m finishing it right now—”

“You can finish it tomorrow—” he said, cutting me off. “Close down your computer and come in, because I need you now.”

Then he turned on his heel and walked back to his office.

My hands were clenched so tight I felt the sting of my nails against my palms. I wanted nothing more than to ignore him and go home. Instead, I did as he said and followed him into his office.