The Stalked Assistant (Chapter-8)

A few minutes after we are riding the elevator back up, I think overate a bit, my stomach feels so full, all I want to do now is take a nap, my bodies been so used to me not actually working for a whole month.

As we step out of the elevator, I turn towards Amanda. "Thank you for inviting me. It was definitely good" another small white lie, it tasted like McDonald's, but I'm for sure grateful that she even thought to invite me.

"You're welcome. We are going to have to make that a regular thing. We got to eat so we might as well do it together." She tells me, before heading towards her desk. 

I watch as she walks away being happy about making a friend, I swear I'm not anti-social it's just not that easy for me to make friends here, as you seen with two rude bitches today.

Heading towards my office, I dig my sticky note pad out my bag before slinging it down on the ground next to my chair before taking a seat.

I see that Claiborne's calendar is still pulled up on my computer screen when I move the mouse, making the computer come out of sleep mode and quickly copy the what the sticky note says onto his schedule for tomorrow. Zack Hall, 4:25pm meeting in the boardroom.

That's done, he didn't give me any details, I can't really add little notes to it, I guess he will remember what's it's about.

I wonder if Claiborne is back from his meeting yet, I want to pay him the 15$ back for the burger before I forget, I should have written that on a damn sticky note and stuck that to his desk for shits and giggles but that wouldn't be worth my job.

So obviously I'm not going to do that, heck no.

Bending over I pull out my phone, I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask him where he is, I'm not sure when he is coming back or even if he is, the boss so he doesn't have to stay in his office all day like the rest of us and I don't want to go home without paying him back.

When I click on his name, I'm surprised to see those dots, you know the ones that lets you know when someone is typing but they disappear.

That was weird.

I quickly sent him a text hoping I'm not disturbing his meeting.

Me- When will you be at the office?

I bring my hand to my face and chew on one of my fingernails, I know it's a nasty habit, but I can't seem to break out of it.

A text comes back almost immediately, making my stupid heart skip that beat again.

Claiborne- Won't be till later today. Instead of calling with my father, I'm going to go to his house.

I guess I could just leave the money on his desk, and he will just get it when he sees it.

Claiborne- Is something wrong?

Nope, nothing wrong just wanting to pay you back for the food, I'm not a charity case even though you don't approve of my outfits. Is what I wanted to text back, but obviously I don't.

What can I say?

How can I say I want to pay him back without sounding like I'm being a total bitch about it.

Me- No. I just wanted to know when you would be back so I could pay you back for the lunch.

Claiborne- How do you know I paid for it?

Who else would have paid for both me and Amanda's food? It's not like I know a lot of people around this city.

Me- Wild guess?

Claiborne- is that a question or an answer?

Me- Both. You're confusing me.

Ugh why does he have to be so stubborn, just tell me yes so, I can pay you back and be done with it.

I don't like handouts.

Claiborne- I paid for my employee lunch. It's fine. You don't need to pay me back.

It's not a need, it's a want, not after the way he made me feel earlier, all that judgmental shit he was saying.

I can pay my own way.

Me- It was nice of you to do that, but I would still rather pay you back for my share.

Claiborne- No.

No? That's it? No?

Does he think just because he said that little word is going to make me not do it? 

He doesn't know me very well, if that's the case.

I don't respond because it's no use, his not going to want me to pay him back so while I know his not in the office, I dig my wallet out my purse, digging around inside it I pull out all my cash and count 50 dollars total, that's my food money for the week and now I'm losing 15 dollars for a damn hamburger but it's okay, I'll live.

I toss my wallet back inside my bag and head to Claiborne's office, and just because I want to be a little funny, I turn around and head back to my purse digging out a sticky note and grabbing a piece of loose paper from the copier.

He doesn't want the sticky note on his desk, that's fine. I'll stick it to this piece of paper instead.

Grinning like a fool, I head out my office and towards his when I hear Amanda's voice calling for me.

"Mr. Claiborne isn't back in the office yet, girl"

"Oh, I know. I just spoke to him. I wanted to pay him back for lunch" I tell her and raise up the hand holding the money to show her.

"Why? His rich you know. He can afford it" she giggles.

"I know he has money, but I would rather just pay him back, I don't like to feel like I owe anyone something and definitely not someone like Mr. Claiborne" I tell her.

I really don't need to explain why I want to pay him back; is she doesn't want to that's her but I'm not comfortable.

"Well, I worked for him for 2 years and he has never bought my lunch before, so I'm going to let him" she shrugs and answers the phone when it starts to ring.

I smile towards her before walking away and heading to Claiborne's office, not bothering to knock this time because I know his not inside, I slip inside and walk towards his desk. I don't want to be in here without him too long, so I quickly lay the paper down and stick the sticky note on top, grabbing the pen I brought with me I quickly write that it's for my food and lay the money next to it.

Later that evening I'm bored out of my mind, I been going through the file cabinet, making sure everything was in the correct order. I guess when it's a slow day for him, it's a slow day for me too.

I was even hoping that he would send me something to do but he didn't, so I was basically banging my head on my desk in boredom until my eyes locked onto the cabinets.

I needed something to do, so why not make sure everything was in the correct place for a time that we are busy, and he needs me to find a certain file.

A few things were not in the correct place so it was actually a good thing that I checked, if he asked for one of those files, I wouldn't have found them unless I looked through them all.

It's almost 5pm and Claiborne still isn't back, I left my office door open so I could be able to hear him coming in, but he hasn't and the only two people on this floor is Amanda and I and poor thing has been busy with phone calls since we got back. 

I guess I should text Claiborne and make sure he doesn't need me to do anything before I leave for the day.

Picking up my phone I see that I have a missed call from my momma, I'll have to call her back as soon as I get home, she is probably wondering how my first day was.

Me- Do you need me to do anything before I leave for the day?

Claiborne- I'm in my meeting and no. You can leave.

Being his still in the meeting, I'm not going to bother with texting him back, I quickly shut off my computer, grabbing my bag, and head out the door.

"Good night, girl. I'll see you tomorrow." I tell Amanda as I pass her desk, she just waves and smiles and points to the phone with a grimace on her face. I shoot her a thumbs up, letting her know I get it before heading towards the elevator.