Sorry about the long wait....I am a slacker!!
Chapter 4
The next morning Ann had to get up earlier than usual. She ran out of the house to catch a taxi, but only to find out that she had forgotten a slip that contain Dennis’s address. She had to run back to the house to get it and that was when she knew it will be a long day.
The taxi pulled up to a big house. Ann double check the address to make sure she got the right house and indeed it was the right house. She paid off the taxi driver and rang the gate.
“I am here to see Mr. O’Neil.”
The guard looked at her up and down. “Ann Thongprasom?” Ann nodded. “Mr. O’Neil is expecting you.” He opened the gate and leaded Ann to the front entrance.
The man leaded Ann inside. Ann could see Dennis waiting for her in the living room. She looked at her watch and noticed she was twenty minutes late. She hates to find out what he has to say to her about being late.
He was reading the paper and she couldn’t see him behind it. The guard left leaving Ann there staring at Dennis. She cleared her throat to get his attention.
“You’re late!” He said from behind the paper.
“I am sorry, the taxi driver got lost.”
“No excuses. I specifically told you 7:00am sharp!” He said sharply putting down the paper. He looked up and met her gaze. His eyes piercing into hers. “Let this be your last warning.” Ann nodded. “Get me my coffee.”
“Kah.” She nodded and walked off, but stopped and turned to him. “Err…where would I get that?”
“The kitchen!” He said with annoyance.
“Oh.” She turned, but turned back. “Where is the kitchen?” She smiled weakly. He shot her a dark gaze. “Never mind.” She quickly said and left.
Ann wondered around the hallway looking for a kitchen, but has no idea where it was. The house was big and not a single servant or maid around anywhere for her to ask. Fifteen minutes later she gave up and managed to find her way back to the living room.
“Err…Mr. O’Neil, I…errr…” She didn’t know where to begin. Too embarrass to admit she could not find the kitchen.
Dennis looked up and wasn’t surprise to see her without his coffee. “Well?”
“I can’t find the kitchen…” Her voice trail off and she could feel her cheeks turned red of embarrassment.
“How stupid can you be?”
Ann’s face flamed. That was it, she couldn’t take it anymore. She had tried to be nice and control her temper, but he was being difficult. “This is not my house!” She snapped. “If you want your coffee, why don’t you get it yourself?” Dennis arched his bow. “After all, you got up early enough to get yourself one.”
Dennis shot out of his chair and charged toward her. Ann’s eyes widen and she quickly stepped back. She backed up against the far end of the wall. He stopped only a few inches from her.
“I have two rules for my assistant.” He said through clenched teeth. “One, do as I said and two don’t argue!” Ann swallowed hard gazing in his dark eyes. The man was very tall, very intimidating. “Understand?!” He yelled. Ann jumped and quickly nodded.
Dennis turned away as he mumbled something Ann couldn’t make out what he was saying. She was sure it wasn’t nice and it was probably about her. She gave him a dirty look from behind and raised her fist at him, but quickly lowered her fist when he stopped and turned to her. She forced a weak smile. He looked at her with his eyes narrowed as he called for his servant.
“Show her around and make it quick.” The servant nodded. He turned to Ann. “I still need the coffee.”
Ann nodded and left with the servant.
Dennis’s cell phone rang after Ann was out of sight. He looked down at the familiar number. “Yes? Sure, I’ll meet you later for lunch.”
The servant showed Ann around the house very briefly and very fast. She could hardly keep up with the servant. Ann walked in the living room with a cup of coffee in her hand. Dennis was nowhere to be found. He was not in the living room. She put the coffee down and looked around.
One of the guard showed up and told her Dennis had already left and asked her to meet him at the office. Ann was filled with rage. How can he just leave her like that? Damn him! She gathered her things and rushed out of the house.
She had to call the taxi to get back to the office. When she got to the office, Dao was there waiting for her.
“Where have you been, Ann? Mr. O’Neil is very angry and he…”
“Angry?” Ann threw up her hand. “Why?”
“He needs the file for the next meeting and because you are late, he missed the meeting.” She said and grabbed Ann’s arm. “C’mon, he is waiting.” She pulled Ann with her to the elevator. She pushed Ann in the elevator. “I’ll see you later.”
“Wait, aren’t you coming?” Dao shook her head and left. “Great!” Ann said and rolled her eyes.
Ann stood by the close door to Dennis office. She inhale sharply and calmed herself before she walked in the office. She saw Dennis stood by the big bay window with his back toward her. He had both his hands on his hip. He turned around and gave her a cold stare.
“Where have you been?” He yelled across the room. Ann jumped back startled. “I’ve lost one of my biggest clients today because of your tardiness.” He pointed at her. Ann stood there frozen in place staring at him. “Where are those files?” Ann’s eyes widen as she remember she left it at his house. Dennis shook his head reading her mind.
“I was in a hurry…”
“Shut up!” He barked. Ann face flamed. “Can’t you do anything right?”
“You left without me!” She snapped no longer can hold in her tempers. “Why can’t you be a little considerate?” Dennis arched his bow. “Since we are already off to a bad start, I might as well say this now.”
Dennis sighed in disbelieve. He had never seen or knows any employee acting like her. She managed to turn the table on him when it was clearly her fault for being late. Instead of getting angrier with her, he thought it was amusing and he wants to know what she had to say in her defense. He sat down in his chair and waited for her to continue.
Suddenly feeling uncomfortable of him staring at her, she wasn’t sure if she should continue. Still angry, she lifted her chin and decided to tell him her demand.
“You have your rules and I have mine.” She started. He gave her a pointed look, brows lifted. “As you can see, I am not as rich and don’t have a car to drive around with. All I have is the bus pass to get around town, so for you to leave me behind and expect me to get to places in time, it’s impossible!”
“With the salary that I pay you, you should be able to get a car.”
“Oh great, but until I get pay I can only afford a bus pass!” She rolled her eyes. “Beside, I am not spending that much money on a car.”
“Is that it? Car is your problem?” He was getting irritated with her nonsense excuses.
“Well…”
He threw his key on his desk. “Take my car.” He interrupted her. Ann’s eyes widened. “Now you don’t have any excuses.”
“I can’t take your car!”
“Who said you can have it? I am letting you borrow it for the moment until you get yourself a car.”
“I am not buying a car! I can use the money for something that’s more important.”
“What is with you and the money?”
“Excuse me for being poor.” She said dryly.
“Look, I am not going to sit here and argue with you.” He gave her a hard stare and lean forward. “If you can’t keep up with me, you might as well quite.” Ann opened her mouth to response, but decided not to. He stood up and walked toward her with his key. “Take my car and I expect to see you early tomorrow.” He handed her the key.
“But…”
He grabbed her hand and put the key in it. “Take the rest of the day off.” He walked toward the door. “Don’t worry; you’ll get pay for a full day.” He left.
Ann looked at the key in her hand. Great! Now I have a car, but don’t know how to drive it.