Page 9 of Tell Me Something

He seemed to find that humorous. “When are you going to law school?”

Well, that was quite a change in subject. “I’m hoping next year in the fall.” I was feeling better by the minute as I started on my fries.

“Why are you waiting?”

He seemed sincerely interested, but I didn’t want to make it about money. This was a man who wouldn’t understand having to save up for something. “I had a lot happening directly after graduation and wanted to work for a year first.”

He frowned at my vague answer. “Do you like working for Warren?”

I stopped chewing and swallowed hard. Warren was a bully around the office, and I wasn’t particularly fond of him. But Josh was his boss and since one of the traits I held dear was loyalty, I answered carefully. “He works hard at his job and is well respected in the industry.”

He appeared disappointed by my response. “You do know that he didn’t plan to pay you for today, right?”

I’d suspected that Josh was responsible for the payday, but hearing the confirmation made me a little sick to my stomach. Warren hadn’t seemed appreciative of me stepping in at all. Given his personality, he probably thought of it as an extension of my job duties to fill in when requested.

“Mr. Singer, I’m not sure what you expect me to say. I’m not surprised, if that’s what you’re after. However, I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to discuss my feelings on the matter with his boss and the owner of the company.”

“I admire your loyalty. Warren has been through five assistants in the last three years, so I’m well aware of his reputation. But you’re right. He works hard for me and works harder for his clients, so I can excuse his lack of soft skills most of the time. You started calling me Mr. Singer again, by the way.”

My head was spinning. “Okay, Josh.” I put emphasis on his first name. “Why did you ask me if I like working for Warren?”

“Well, that leads me to what I wanted to discuss with you.”

My palms started to sweat. Isn’t this where in a romance novel he’d propose an arrangement whereby I went back to his hotel room to see exactly what was under that suit?

“I want you to work for me.”

In my mind, that sentence ended with as my personal sex slave, but in reality I grasped that he was proposing an authentic job. “Uh, what?” was my eloquent response.

“I want you to come to New York and work as my second assistant. Nigel has been with me for a number of years and is the best in the business; however, he has a personal situation which currently precludes him from traveling with me. Plus, he’ll need to take time out of the office from time to time to address these personal issues. I would need you in New York most of the time, but you would also travel with me.”

I was stunned. “I would move to New York?”

“Yes. I think you will find the salary quite a bit higher than what you’re earning here.”

“But the cost of living is higher, too. I would need to find a place to live, and I have two more months on my roommate agreement here.” I stopped, realizing I was rambling to someone who wouldn’t appreciate why.

“I recognize this is catching you off guard. Ask me your questions while I drive you home. I’ll give you my cell phone number so that you can text me anything you may think of later this evening. I’m leaving Sunday morning and would want you to come to New York with me then.”

“I, um, wow. But you don’t even know if I’m a good assistant. Not to mention, I would leave Warren without any notice.”

“The fact that you’re worried about leaving without notice tells me what kind of assistant you are. I need someone who’s loyal and who I can trust.”

“I have a million questions,” I murmured, after giving him directions to my apartment building.

“Well, let me break it down to make your decision easier. You want to save money for law school, right?”

I nodded.

“I will pay you a hundred thousand in salary and provide free housing. That ought to allow you the ability to do that.”

Housing alone was a fortune. “I’ve only been to New York City once. Where would I live?”

“In Manhattan, only a few blocks from the office. I need you close by so you can come into work or travel at the last minute. Matter of fact, we’d leave for Cancun next week if you take the job. So, fair warning: you won’t have much time for a personal life. This position is very demanding.”

We had pulled up to the curb, but I still wasn’t sure how to respond to any of this.

“I’ll take care of the last two months’ rent to satisfy your agreement here. For your convenience, the apartment in New York is already furnished. As for your belongings, I’ll pay to have them moved out there. Or if you prefer, you can put things in storage.”