I spent the entire morning going over the schedule, checking emails, and cleaning the office. I was just finishing the first cabinet, when it was getting close to noon. I stood on a chair to see the damn top drawer and was shoving the last file in, when I heard Mr. Personality clear his throat.

I turned and literally fell on my ass off the chair and felt like an idiot.

"That's not a stepping stool, Miss Heart. I'll ask Brenda to order you a stepping stool." The asshole didn't even offer me a hand and just stood there with his hands in his pockets.

"I'll meet you at Brenda's desk. Please compose yourself before stepping out of this office." He turns and walks away.

Dammit, always tripping or falling. He's such a dick the way he acted.

Once I put my shoes back on, straightened out my hair, and grabbed my leather-bound notepad, jacket, and purse, I made my way out front where carrot top was totally flirting with my future sexual harassment defendant. Oh, the asshole smiles. Who knew?

"We're late," He says as he hits the button.

"Oh, Gavin. I meant to tell you earlier, but thank you for the ride home last night." She glared at me, and I saw him nod just as the elevator door opens.

He lets me walk in first, but my damn heel caught the threshold and, of course, I feel a strong arm wrap around my waist to catch me.

Dammit, again!

"Seriously, can you walk without trying to kill yourself?" He is still holding my waist.

"Thank you and, no, it's a problem I have sometimes. You can let go of me now, though." He lets go and I grab the railing to hold myself upright.

"Maybe you should leave the heels at home and wear flats. Practice a little before you wear them again."

I snorted. "That won't make a difference."

He shakes his head and almost cracked a tiny smile.

"Well, at least we won't need to cross the street. You should be safe for now."

I snorted again. "Don't give me a challenge."

Did I just hear a small chuckle?

Once again, he places that hand on the small of my back and I shake him off.

"What's your problem? I'm just trying to be a gentleman," He snaps.

"You can do that without touching me," I snapped right back.

He stands up straight and again turned stone cold. We walked out, and there's a man standing next to a large black car with the back door open.

"Regi," he greets the man, and he nods back. "This is Miss Heart, my new assistant. She may call for your services at times."

I stick my hand out. "Call me Kori, and it's very nice to meet you, sir." He shook my hand and smiled. He has kind eyes with salt and pepper hair. Probably my dad's age. "It's a pleasure, Kori." I slide in, and Mr. Asshole slides in next to me, so I scoot further away.

"Hardwick." He answers his phone.

"Not tonight," He says. "Because why? I'm not in the mood, that's why." He sighs. "I'm not an asshole, I'm just not in the mood to entertain. I'll see you tomorrow night, Candace."

I checked his emails again from my phone and kept busy so he doesn't think I'm listening. He stared down at his phone, probably texting, and not a word was spoken between us. I know he's still stewing about me telling him he doesn't have to touch me.

As soon as the car stopped, he just sat there while Regi hopped out.

"You can't open your own door?" I ask him.

He looked at me like I had two heads. As soon as the door opened, he hopped out and didn't even offer to wait. I sped up behind him, but he let the restaurant door shut right in front of me and, of course, I run straight into the damn thing with a thump.

Ugh! I swung open the door, and there he stands, fighting a full-blown laugh. "I said you didn't have to touch me to be a gentleman. That doesn't mean to slam the damn door in my face."

"Oh, is that what you meant?" He looked down at me, waiting for my reply.

"You are..." I snapped my mouth shut and he stood there looking at me.

"I'm what Miss Heart?"

"Nothing." I crossed my arms.

"That's what I thought." He smirked, then turned around. So, I did what every perfectly groomed professional woman would do and stuck my tongue out at him when I thought he couldn't see me.

He turns around. "Did you just stick your tongue out at me?"

I can feel my eyes grow like saucers. "No, I'd never dream of doing something so childish." He held his hand out and pointed. My eyes followed what he's pointing at and, of course, the wall to my right is all mirrors.

I straightened my collar and held my head high, acting as if I'm not completely mortified.

He smirked again and purposely put his hand on the small of my back, and when the people ahead of us walked away, he approached the hostess.

"It's so good to see you again, Gavin. Your party is already seated, so I'll personally escort you."

"Thank you, Rachael." He leaves his hand there and I try to shake him off, but I guess he's enjoying the thought of making me uncomfortable. "You know that's creepy, right?" He looks down at me.

"What?"

"When you touch me, it's creepy. Stop."

He starts to laugh, but we arrived at our table and a man stands to greet us. When he turns around, I almost gasp.

"Kellen?"

He blinks a few times.

"Kori." He smiles at me and hugs me.

"You knew you'd see me today?"

He shook his head. "I didn't bank on it, but I'm glad I did. Wow! You look...amazing." He kissed my cheek.

"I hate to interrupt your little reunion, but would you have a seat please, Miss Heart?"

He held out the chair across from Kellen.

"Thank you." I pulled out my notebook and pen, and set my purse next to me.

"Kori, I have to say it again. You look amazing. Just beautiful."

"Thanks, Kellen."

The waitress takes our drink order and I read over the menu. I can feel Kellen's eyes on me.

"What? You're staring."

"Remember what I said Saturday night?"

"You said a lot Saturday night. Anyways, what are you ordering?" I try to change the subject.

"You said you were no runway model and you're not. You're better." He smiles, and I feel Mr. Grouchy sit up straighter. I cleared my throat and looked over the menu. I can tell he's enjoying his attempts to annoy me.

"You should get the Nicoise Salad. It's really good here." Kellen suggests, so I shut my menu and told him to order it for me.

He set his menu down, followed by Grouchy pants.

"Kellen, aren't you traveling to France next week?" I asked.

"Yes, but it would be a lot more enjoyable if you'd finally agree to go with me."

Ugh!

"She has a busy schedule next week," Hardbitch says before he takes a drink of his tea.

"You should take Stella. She would be able to extinguish those useless thoughts on your mind right now."

I heard the statue choke on his water.

"Not like you couldn't." Kellen winks and smiles at me, and I bent over and acted like I was gagging on my finger.

Hardbitch elbows me.

Kellen puts his hands up. "Alright, alright, I get it, Kori. Stella isn't your type and you have no plans on sleeping with her, but you really should give her a try." He grins, and I see Hardbitch's head snap toward me.

"What? You're a lesbian?"

My face is bright red, and I kick Kellen under the table.

"No!" I heard forks drop, so I look around and, of course, men's eyes are all on me. "Can you ask that any louder?" I snapped at the prick.

"Sorry, I just didn't see you as the type."

"Than what type do you think I am?" Kellen is watching like he should have popcorn to watch the showdown.

Hardbitch, I love his new nickname, looks at me like a deer caught in headlights.

"Umm.." He pulls at his tie, which I've noticed must be a nervous tick. "Like the type that's naive about her looks and way too innocent."

Kellen starts busting out laughing. "You have no idea, Gavin. She won't sleep with me because I slept with her friend."

"I believe we came here to do business. Do the both of you mind to stop picking on me and doing your business." I reminded them.

Kellen holds a finger up to tell me to be quiet. "How many times did she fall today?" He looks at Hardbitch.

He holds two fingers up. "That I know of." Kellen laughs.

I kicked Kellen again and opened my notebook.

"Oh, we aren't ready for notes yet." Kellen stops me.

"Oh, I'm not taking notes. It's my confession for when the authorities find your body."

"You wouldn't do that to your first kiss," Kellen says, and I can see Hardbitch is getting irritated now.

"You are not, and I don't have much time left. We have a board meeting, so you better get down to business."

Kellen eyes me like he's planning something, then thankfully gets to business.

They talked about a stupid medical device thingy and investors, and I just took notes. We ate, and Kellen kept to business, thankfully, then it was time to go.

We all walked out together and Kellen, of course, kisses my cheek. "I'll pick you up at 8 on saturday."

"She's busy." Hardbitch interrupts.

"Fine, I'll see you when you get home, and join you Sunday when you meet with Father Heart."

"Enjoy the couch. The same rule applies, no tramps in my room." I duck into the car and asshole slides in next to me. When Regi shuts the door, bossman glares at me.

"I guess it'll be like that everywhere we go? Men wanting to get into your pants? I take it back, wear your grandma suit from now on."

I snapped my neck around. "What is your deal? One minute I'm too ugly to be seen with, the next minute you're telling me to not take off my jacket. That was Kellen, just my close friend and he always acts like that, so, no, men do not try to get into my pants, and why do you care anyways? I'm your employee, not property."

"You're walking a fine line, Miss Heart. You would do best to remember who your boss is, and it's my business because your reputation affects mine. I also never said you were ugly. I said you needed a more professional and confident appearance."

"Maybe you should remember who you are speaking with! I'm a college educated woman who earned this position and, so far today, you've talked about my boobs and touched me several times."

"A college-educated woman who sticks her tongue out at her boss and acts like she's gagging herself in the middle of a five-star French restaurant! Grow up."

He's got me there, dammit!

"You accused me of being a lesbian in the middle of said five-star French restaurant, and every man in that place stared at me!"

"They weren't staring at you because you're a lesbian!"

"I'm not a lesbian!"

Our screaming match caught Regi's attention.

"I didn't say you are a lesbian!"

"You did too!" I crossed my arms.

"I did not!"

I stuck my tongue out again.

"I swear to all that is holy, you better not let me catch you doing that again!"

"What?"

"You stuck your tongue out at me again!"

"Did not!"

He laid his head back and closed his eyes.

"Jesus Christ, you annoy me." He sounded defeated.

"You annoy me more."

The car starts to slow. "Regi, you stay right where you are!" I ordered.

"What?" Hardbitch looks at me, and I reach over and push the door open.

"What are you doing?" He asks as I climb over him.

"Doing what capable adults do and opening my own door."

His hands are on my hips as I straddle him to get past him. One hand disappears. "Get your hand off my boob!"

"What? Oh, shit!" He curses.

"Regi!" He yells.

"Sorry sir, she scares me."

"Dammit, Kori!"

"That's Miss Heart to you!" I finally escape, only to fall flat on my ass on the sidewalk.

I stand up, and he just stared at me while I pull my skirt down and straighten up. Dammit, my phone and notebook. I went inside the car. "What are you doing now?"

"Getting my stuff!" I grab it and back out,  putting my hand on the door. "Open your own damn door from now on!" I slammed it in his face and went toward the door, but I heard the door open and some cursing chase after me.

I let the door shut behind me and I heard a thump. I stopped and smiled, only to turn around and see Hardbitch holding his nose. A flip of the hair and some speed to the elevator was in order. I can't get stuck in the elevator with that man.

How does she get away with talking to her new asshole boss this way?  Do you think she really cares?