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Zoriah

This day is dragging on, and I am ready to leave already.

I have been in back-to-back meetings all day, and now I am having to type up the notes.

Who knew I would get a master’s degree in business administration just to fucking type all goddamn day?

I am an executive assistant for a company named Tolson Capital Group, or TCG for short.

It is a premier venture capital firm specializing in early and growth-stage investments.

We focus on high-potential startups in areas like technology, healthcare, clean energy, and financial technology.

In short, I work for an asshole billionaire who invests in companies run by other assholes and haughty billionaires.

Roman Tolson is a force to be reckoned with.

He is the literal definition of brooding and grumpy with everyone.

He isn’t as bad with me, but he is strict.

He knows what he wants, and he expects it to be done correctly the first time.

I worked as an office bitch intern all through college, but then when his assistant of the month was fired, I was moved into this position. That was six months ago.

I like to complain and say all I do is type, but I do so much more than that.

I do everything from running his personal errands to leading meetings if he is running late.

He has control issues, so many are surprised by his trust in me.

Really, I think I just know how to do my job, so he gives me more responsibilities.

When he announced that he would be taking me on a company trip to one of his big meetings in Los Angeles next month, rumors instantly started up that I was fucking him to get ahead. Jokes on them, because I’m a virgin.

It's not that I don’t have sex on purpose; it’s just never worked out.

I am extremely introverted, unless I am working.

I do my job, but I don’t go out of my way to talk to people.

When I’m not in the office, I am home doing things for the office.

Outside of that, I get dragged out by my best friend, Haley, every few weeks.

I find it comical that anyone would think we are sleeping together, because I can hardly look the man in the eyes a lot of the time.

His stare is like a trap. Roman is so fucking gorgeous, so when he stares me down, I get sucked in, and I can’t seem to find my way out.

When he smiles at me… Fuck. I’m done for.

I will blush so hard that it only makes him smile more.

I think he does the shit on purpose too as a way of entertaining himself.

Roman is a tall, muscular man with icy blue eyes who has muscles that tell me he could absolutely break me in half.

His suit is tailored to fit and highlight those thick muscles.

Shit, even when his hair is a mess, it’s perfect.

Okay, so maybe I am a teeny bit obsessed with my boss. It’s just laughable that anyone would think he would sleep with me because here I am, short and thick with long, frizzy hair.

I am actually dressed up today, though, because Haley is having me come out to some new bar that just opened.

Her ex-boyfriend is supposed to be there, and she is trying to win him over by having fun.

I don’t know how exactly she expects to win someone over by ignoring them, but whatever.

We’ve been friends since elementary school when she moved into town.

She adopted me as her friend, and I just go along with it.

We’ve had our ups and downs, but it’s easier to make up than stay fighting, I guess.

Being friends with her is exhausting, though, and not always in a good way.

She is so high-strung all the time, and it’s hard to keep up with.

There is also this little thing where she likes to fuck every boyfriend I get.

Let’s not forget that she has zero qualms about stealing from me and calling it borrowing.

Like how she borrowed money from my wallet when I was asleep, or when she borrowed my car while drunk and wrecked it last year.

What can I say? I am a doormat, and I hate being lonely.

She’s not all bad, though. We’ve had our good times, and I know that when we go out, she will never leave me alone.

She might steal from me, but she wouldn’t abandon me or put me in harm’s way.

“Have you finished the notes yet?” Roman asks as he stops behind my desk. I don’t answer because I am literally typing. Obviously, I haven’t finished them if I am still typing. “Hello? Am I talking to myself?”

“I am not done yet, Rome,” I say simply.

“Well, hurry up,” he says. “Next time, don’t ignore me.”

“Aye aye, captain,” I mutter as I start typing again.

“Excuse me?” he asks. “Zoriah.”

“What?” I snap but immediately take a deep breath.

“What has gotten into you?” he asks, turning my chair to face him. My desk is in the corner of his office. It is an L shape, so he will frequently lean against the other part when he comes over here to talk or see what I am doing. “Are you going to talk, or are you going to just stare at me?”

I make the mistake of doing something I know better than to do with him and roll my eyes before turning back to my computer.

I hear him take an audible deep breath as a way of calming himself.

With anyone else, he would just blow up.

That’s not to say I’m not about to get my ass handed to me for being disrespectful.

“Zoriah,” he says with a deep and gritty voice.

“Mr. Tolson,” I reply, knowing he hates when I call him that.

“You need to lose the attitude and…”

“Do you want me to finish these notes?” I ask, snapping at him. “Because I can’t talk to you and type at the same time.”

“Ms. Kingston, I don’t know who you think you are talking to with that attitude, but I have fired assistants for far less,” he snaps back.

That’s new. He’s never threatened to fire me before.

Usually, it’s me quitting and coming back the next day like nothing happened.

I don’t know why he puts up with my shit, but I guess with him going through so many assistants, I have just assumed he would toss me aside too.

I keep my resume updated and stay on top of looking for jobs just so I can be prepared.

I abruptly stand and close my laptop. It’s five already, so I’m leaving. I have too much on my mind to deal with his bullshit. “I’m leaving for the day. I’ll email you the notes,” I say flatly as I put the computer in my bag.

“I’m sorry, did I say you could leave without finishing your work?” he asks with a snide tone. When I turn to look at him, he’s pissed.

“You have never once had an issue with me finishing my work at home,” I frown.

“Yeah, and then you rolled your eyes at me,” he says. “Finish your work before you leave.”

“Make me,” I scoff when he turns and walks back to his desk, ending the conversation.

“What did you just say to me?” he asks, slowly turning to face me. I cannot discern his emotions right now because he is completely blank. “Make you?”

Ah, fuck. That was a bad idea. Why in the fuck did I have to say that?

Now he really will fire me. I instantly tear up because that’s what I do when I get stressed.

I quickly turn back to my desk, take my laptop out, and lay it on the files I hadn’t put in my bag yet.

I have never cried in front of him, and I’m not starting today.

“I’ll leave my badge with Amy,” I say as I sniff back tears.

“Riah,” he says. I hear him walking back over to me, so I scoot around my desk so he doesn’t corner me.

“I’ll, uh… I’ll bring my spare keys up here on Monday,” I say, avoiding his piercing gaze as I fumble to get my badge out of my purse. I have to use it to take the elevator down to the main floor, since this floor is restricted by badge access only.

“Zoriah,” he says again, but louder. I pull the door open, but he promptly reaches around me and pushes the door shut.

Instead of fighting him, I just press my forehead against the door and try to calm down before I start openly sobbing.

I have horrible anxiety, and when I panic, I sob.

I fucking hate that I cry so much. Maybe that’s why I avoid people.

If I get stressed or anxious, I just cry.

“Zoriah, stop for a second and talk to me,” he says simply. I don’t say anything, so he carefully turns me to face him. When he sees the tears rolling down my cheeks, he softens. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I say, wiping my face. “I just want to go home.”

“Riah, I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me,” he sighs and drops his hands to my shoulders.

“I don’t need your help,” I say hatefully but then close my eyes and sigh. “I’m sorry… I’m just stressed. When I’m stressed, I’m a bitch, and I cry for no reason.”

“What can I do?” he asks sincerely.

“Nothing. I just want to go home,” I say.

“Alright,” he sighs. “I’ll see you Monday, Zoriah.”

“Monday?” I ask.

“Yes. Instead of getting an attitude, I would appreciate it if you could just tell me if you are having a hard time. You do a good job, and I am not a mind reader,” he says.

“Okay. I’m sorry, Rome,” I sigh.

“And Riah?”

“Hmm?” I ask.

“Be careful telling me to make you do something again,” he says with a smirk as he leans in closer to grab the door handle behind me. “Because I’ll do it.”

Roman opens the door with a wicked smile, and I stare at him with my mouth open, not knowing how to respond. “Uhm…” I choke out. “I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Have a good weekend, Ms. Kingston. Remember, we have our quarterly meetings first thing Monday morning.”

“Yeah… I mean, yes, sir. I’ll be here early,” I say.

“Yes, sir? That’s new,” he says. When I don’t move, he smirks. “Goodbye, Zoriah.”

“Right,” I say, forcing myself to look away from his smile. Fuck, he has a nice smile. My cheeks are blazing red, and I hate that I wear my interest on my face. “Have a good weekend, Mr. Tolson.”

I hurry to the elevator and completely forget my laptop. I stop and turn, but he steps out of his office and locks it. “Go home, Zoriah,” he says simply. “Finish the notes on Monday with the others.”

“I can…”

“Go home,” he says as he scans his ID badge for the elevator.

“I’m going to take the stairs,” I say when the elevator door comes open.

“It’s ten flights, and you are in heels,” he laughs. “Get in the elevator, Zoriah.”

I sigh and step in to stand beside him, and he presses the button for the ground floor. “I’m sorry I was rude,” I say after a beat.

“It’s okay,” he says. “Why did you look scared?”

“Because you fire everyone who gets an attitude,” I say bluntly.

“You threaten to quit once a week,” he says. “If I was going to fire you for being a brat, I would have done it when you were an intern.”

“I am not a brat,” I say with a frown. He looks at me, and his smile grows wide, making heat flush my cheeks again. “Dammit. Stop.”

“Stop what?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Being all… you,” I say as the door opens.

“Good night, Zoriah,” he says with a sweet smile. I sigh dramatically and step out. I think he intentionally gets me flustered, and I fall for it every time. I just want to drink and forget about my responsibilities for a while.