Caleb Jackson sat in a daze as the woman from the diner left the conference room. Her audacity had taken him by surprise.
“That girl’s going to sue us,” Mr. Hanson said, massaging his forehead.
“Hanson, she’s not going to sue us. Quit worrying,” Caleb retorted, rolling his eyes.
“Who’s next?” Mr. Hanson asked.
Caleb paused, deep in thought. “No one. Send everyone home. We’ve filled the position.”
“But we still have─”
“Just do it, Hanson.” Caleb stood up and headed to his office. As he settled into his chair, he found his thoughts drifting back to the woman.
She had been so straightforward with him at the diner. No one ever dared to talk to him like that, and he found it oddly refreshing.
And then today, when she appeared in his conference room, he was taken aback. The same girl from the diner was standing right in front of him.
He had tried to provoke her, to get a reaction, but she remained composed. She was a determined little thing.
He stood up, grabbed his suit jacket, and left the building, heading to his car.
The door chimed as he walked into the diner. The older waitress looked up, her face a picture of surprise.
He nodded at her and found an empty table.
Nicole approached him. “Good afternoon, sir, can I─” She looked up and locked eyes with him. Her hands found her hips as she glared at him. “Why are you here?”
“I’m hungry. Isn’t this a diner?”
Nicole huffed. “What can I get you?”
“A burger and onion rings.”
“Coming right up.” She rolled her eyes and turned to leave. He stopped her as she was about to walk away.
“Sit with me for a moment.”
“I’d rather not.” She gave a tight smile and started to walk away.
“If you want the job,” he said, his voice rigid, “you’ll sit down.”
He saw her turn back to him, a spark of defiance in her eyes. She sat down across from him. “Okay. What do you want, Mr. Jackson?”
“I told you. You have the job,” he replied.
“You made it very clear that you didn’t want me.”
This girl was starting to get on his nerves. “Just take the damn job. You wanted it before, so what’s changed?”
She crossed her arms. “I didn’t know my boss would be a jerk like you.”
Caleb huffed, then spoke firmly. “You start tomorrow. Be there at eight.” With that, he left the diner without even eating.
“That’s what you get for trying to be nice,” he muttered to himself as he got into his car. He was surprised at his own patience.
He had never been so patient with someone so intent on being difficult. But he had to admit, her resume was impressive.
And the first day would tell him if she had lied about her experience.
Caleb woke up the next morning, eager for the day ahead. It wasn’t every day that he got to test a new assistant. And this one was particularly intriguing.
He was looking forward to taking Miss Sassy down a notch or two. He had already decided to throw everything at her on the first day and see if she could handle it.
As he walked into the office at nine o’clock, he saw her at her desk. “Good morning, Mr. Jackson,” she greeted him with a warm smile.
Annoying.
“Miss Winters, join me in my office,” he said coldly, walking past her into his office. She followed him in and closed the door as he sat down at his desk.
“Proofread those files on the desk. I don’t want any mistakes. I’m expecting a call from Cantrell Group, so make sure you don't miss it.”
“Yes, sir. Is that all, Mr. Jackson?” she asked as she picked up the files from his desk.
“For now.” He dismissed her with a wave of his hand and got to work.
Twenty minutes later, there was a knock on his door. “Mr. Jackson?” He looked up to see Nicole holding a cup of coffee. She walked in and placed it on his desk.
He quickly looked up. “Go back to your desk, Ms. Winters. I’ll let you know if I need anything. Don’t interrupt me again.”
She looked down. “Understood, Mr. Jackson.”
She left and he returned to his work, feeling a small sense of satisfaction at having put her in her place.
A while later, his phone rang. “Yes.”
“Cantrell Group is on line one for you, Mr. Jackson.”
Caleb hung up on her and pressed line one. “David!” He leaned back in his chair. “How’s New York?”
An hour later, after a successful call, he was back to his work when there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
“Mr. Jackson…” Nicole stepped in hesitantly, holding a file in her hands, and Caleb knew his moment had finally come.
He looked at her sternly. “Ms. Winters, I thought I told you not to interrupt me again.”
