*Matt*
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I was just about to throw a pen I was holding across the room out of sheer frustration when my phone started ringing. I looked there and sighed in relief. My angel!
“Hello, sir. Have you picked a new PA yet?” her voice calmed me down, but she could have picked another opening question… I frowned and looked at the mess around me. I hate papers! I would burn them all! Fucking bureaucracy!
"No, Dora, I feel like my head is about to explode any day now. Isn't there any chance you can postpone your labor? Just a couple of months or so." I joked, of course, but I needed her so much that I would love for such a possibility to exist somehow.
She laughed wholeheartedly.
"Sorry, sir, but you are more than a couple of months late for such a request. And Courtney wouldn't be thrilled about it, given how long it took us to get here.
"Yeah, sure." I absentmindedly scrolled through emails. "How is she anyway? Is little Brian's room ready yet?"
“No." She laughed again. “But the workers in our house are already afraid of her. One would think she is the one about to give birth.”
"Well, you were always the patient one."
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“How is Natasha?”
"Jealous, bitchy, and hot as ever."
“How many candidates has she already refused?”
"You know, Dora, it will be my assistant, not hers, right?"
“Of course, it will, sir. So how many?
I could hear the mocking tone in her voice. I grinned. This know-it-all. But she was right. My possessive fiancé started messing with my hiring process since Dora had to leave work abruptly. She had to stay on bed rest due to her upcoming pregnancy. It's been six months now that I have done everything, and Natasha has brought to tears every assistant I have hired since. The longest time lasted one brave woman in her 40ties. Carol was her name, and she lasted just over a month.
"I lost count. But I hired three against her will, and she made sure they quit themselves."
“Well. That is harsh. I've sent you the files, but as I said, this will be my last week. Even from home, it's taxing for me. And I promised Courtney.”
"I know, I know, Dora. You tell your wife to cherish you as you deserve. But, seriously, if you ever want to come back, I will fire anyone lucky enough to work here.
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“What luck for them.”
"Her. But seriously, you can come back straight after your labor if you want."
She laughed again. I was not joking. I was seriously screwed. I was wondering if I should break up with my fiancé, whom I have been with for over three years, or to give up entirely and get used to doing two jobs. I didn't want her to win, but I was tired.
Dora fell silent on her end for a moment. “Her? Are you only looking for women?
"Yes,” I said matter-of-factly. “I prefer how women think and organize. I've always had women as assistants. It's nothing sexist, I swear."
“Mister Sanders, I think it sounds a bit sexist, to be completely honest. Did you think that maybe if you find a man, she will have fewer reasons to be jealous?”
"Maybe, but I can't imagine having a man in front of my office, picking up my calls and organizing my calendar."
“Let's hope HR doesn't stand outside and hear this by accident.”
"Dora. Seriously"
“Mister Sanders, what you just said is plain discrimination. I thought of you better.”
Thankfully I could still hear her lightheaded voice as she was saying that. I thought of it, but I felt I still had valid points.
"No, I just find women to be more... representable."
“Okay, sir, let's stop digging this hole, before it becomes any deeper. But let me understand this… Just so I am clear. You are only hiring beautiful women?"
"They must be smart too and have experience. They have your shoes to fill."
“That's kind, sir, but I don't suppose they are also lesbian?”
"You can't ask that in a job interview."
“Of course not, but I can understand that given how jealous Miss Johnson is, I can expect the hiring won't go well any time soon.”
"I am glad you understand me."
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She was silent for a long while. I opened up one mail and frowned upon reading it.
“Sir, may I have a suggestion?” her voice brought me back, but I knew this tone too well…
"Tell me I am desperate anyway. You want me to hire a man?"
“You trust men with many tasks. So why is having a male assistant different?"
"Okay, can I be frank?"
“Can you ever not be frank, sir?”
I smirked. I miss this woman! "If I needed to know something about a client or any situation, you just looked at that person. Or you called a few friends and handed me the best way to approach it on a silver plate in an hour. Heck, in minutes if it was necessary! You just know how to work with people! You could have read the atmosphere in the room. And within minutes, diffused any tension with your wit and charm. You knew secrets that no one should ever have known, and I could trust you with any of mine. You were perfect, and I cannot imagine having anyone else. I am great with codes. You are with people. We were the best team. I am not even mentioning the way you could organize this mess.” I glared at the papers on my desk; they should be obsolete now! Damn it! We are in the 21st century!
“And Natasha knew that. She knew that if I ever had to choose between her and you, I would rather find a new fiancé than a new PA. That fact that you are a lesbian was just a bonus for her. But now, when your dream about having a child comes true, don't get me wrong! I wish that for you with all my heart, but my own is broken because I have to find a new assistant."
She was quiet for a minute.
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“That is so sweet of you, sir. Thank you.”