INNOCENCE AND ARROGANCE

by Kimberley Reeves

  “I guess the driving lessons will keep us from going this weekend, but if you’re free next Saturday, I’d like to go with you.”

  “It’s a date,” she said, then glanced at him a little apprehensively. “Well, not a date, but…”

  “Sure it is,” Scott smiled, “a date with the sunrise.”

  “I like that. A date with the sunrise. So tell me about my job, Mr. Travis.”

  “You know, we’re going to be working closely together. If you keep calling me Mr. Travis, you’re going to make me feel old. I certainly don’t intend to call you Miss Harmon, it takes too long. Just call me Scott, okay?”

  Mina nodded. “Okay.”

  “As for the job, you’re walking into a pretty big mess. My previous assistant didn’t last long and the one before her ran off with a man she’d met over the weekend so everything was kind of left in a big pile on her desk. You’re going to have a tough time of it at first, but I’ll try to clear my calendar for awhile so I can show you how I like things done. There are things that have to be done a certain way and I’ll expect you to follow procedure, but the general daily work you can do however you think is most efficient once you get familiar with the job.”

  “Your ad said there was foreign correspondence involved.”

  “Yes. We do a lot of shipping to France, Spain, Central and South America, and Greece. That’s one of the reasons I was so impressed with your resume. Every three or four months, I have to fly out to negotiate a contract or straighten out a shipping problem and really need my own interpreter. You’d be paid extra, of course. On top of your regular salary, I’d pay you the same fee an interpreter would charge, plus you would have some free time to explore the city if you like.”

  “So maybe I’ll get to see a bit of the world after all,” she said happily.

  “Are you finished?” He asked, eyeing all the food she still had left over.

  “I’m stuffed.”

  “Let’s get that wrapped up. I’d hate to see it go to waste.”

  Scott called the waitress over and asked her to bring something to put the food in. When Mina excused herself to use the restroom, he took the opportunity to dig out his business checkbook then quickly wrote out a check to Mina for a thousand dollars. He tore it off and folded it several times before stuffing it in his pocket so it would look like he’d brought it with him from the office rather than having just written it out. When Mina returned to the table and they waited for the bill, Scott made a small production of patting his pockets.

  “I almost forgot.” He pulled out the check and smiled apologetically. “I really should have asked Human Resources to put this in an envelope.” He handed it to Mina. “I always give my new assistants a start up bonus but it totally slipped my mind until after you’d gone.”

  Mina unfolded the check and had to swallow the lump in her throat. He had no idea how badly she needed the money, but it just seemed too much, especially since they hadn’t even completed the employment process. She tried to hand it back to him.

  “I really appreciate it, Mr. Travis, but I couldn’t possibly take this when I haven’t officially been hired.”

  Scott kept his hands on the table. “Do you have a criminal record, Mina?”

  She smiled. “No.”

  “Did you lie on your application or resume?”

  Mina laughed softly. “No.”

  “Then you’re officially hired. The rest is just paper pushing.” When she didn’t withdraw her hand, Scott gave her a reproving look. “You don’t want to insult me, do you?”

  “Of course not. It’s just…it’s a lot of money, Mr. Travis.”

  “Scott,” he corrected. “Believe me, by the end of next week, you’ll be cursing me for not paying you more.”

  She folded the check and put it in her blouse pocket. “Thank you…Scott.”

  He glanced at the bill the waitress had brought and handed her his charge card. When she’d gone, he broached the subject of the neighborhood Mina lived in. It worried him that a single woman lived in such a poor part of town, especially knowing she’d been walking to and from the bus stop.

  “I’ve also been thinking about how far you are from the office. I wonder if you would consider moving a little closer. I have some rental property that’s recently been vacated. It’s not much and you’d have to put some work into it, but it would really help me out if I didn’t have to take valuable time out to interview prospective renters.”

  Mina grimaced. “I hate to admit I’m not really in a financial position to take on someplace with higher rent right now.”

  Scott didn’t miss a beat. “Actually, with all the cleaning and painting that needs to be done, I’d feel guilty charging you rent for at least the first few months. Plus you’ll be making more money than you thought you were. I don’t believe we even discussed salary before you left.”

  Mina smiled wryly. “I guess I don’t have to ask if it’s in a better neighborhood than mine.”

  “I’m sure you’ll love it and it’s got a fenced in yard so you won’t have to worry about Buster. It would really be a load off my mind.”

  Mina couldn’t believe how quickly her luck had changed. “Well, my lease is up at the end of the month…”

  “So you’ll do it?”

  “What if things don’t work out with the job? I’d hate to lose my job and my home at the same time.”

  “I think we’ll be great together, but if things don’t work out, it would be your decision to move or not. As far as I’m concerned, as long as you’re paying the rent on time, I wouldn’t have any problem with you staying there. You wouldn't even have to give any notice if you want to leave, does that sound fair?”

  “More than fair. I really can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me.”

  “You can thank me by getting my office in order.” Once the bill was taken care of, Scott drove Mina home and walked her to the door. “Don’t forget, driving lessons at eight o’clock sharp on Saturday,” he reminded her.

  “I won’t forget. Thank you again, Scott.”

  He waited until she went inside before returning to his car. Then he punched in his realtor’s home phone number.

  “Jim, this is Scott Travis. I have a huge favor to ask. I need to find a house…”

  ****

  Mina took the check to the bank first thing Friday morning and deposited the bulk of it then treated herself to a nice breakfast at a pancake house just down from the bank. Since she had to take the bus, she couldn’t really buy a lot of groceries, but she got enough to last a few days. After the driving lessons on Saturday, she could take Buster with her and walk to the store about six blocks from her house. She had a little cart on wheels she used when she was going to buy more than she could carry and she felt safe enough walking as long as she had Buster.

  After she got home and put the groceries away, Mina started worrying about what she would wear the next day when Scott took her driving. Nothing she had really fit and she didn’t want to go looking like a bag lady. He’d already made a comment about the way she’d looked at the interview and now she felt self-conscious about her clothes.

  She hated to spend the money he’d given her as a bonus, but S.S.T. was a major corporation and she was, after all, the assistant to the President. There were plenty of places in the downtown garment district that sold nice clothing at an excellent discount. Feeling much better now that she’d made the decision to buy some new things, Mina set out on foot to catch the bus. She’d barely made it to the end of the block when Scott pulled up beside her.

  “Don’t even try to convince me you were just in the neighborhood,” she said with a bright smile.

  “I just came by to give you this.” He handed her a cell phone and a piece of paper with a phone number on it. “That’s your new phone number.”

  “Scott, I really can’t accept this.”

  “Don’t be silly. I have to be able to reach my assistant, don’t I? And this way, I can reac
h you anytime I want.”

  Mina laughed at his cocky grin. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret taking this?”

  “Because you’re a smart woman. Where are you off to?”

  “Downtown to do a little shopping.”

  “Hop in, I’ll give you a ride.”

  “I really don’t want to impose,” she protested.

  Scott put the car in park and got out. “I swear to God I’ve never met anyone so set on being polite.”

  He looped his arm around her waist and propelled her to the passenger side and opened the door. Mina slid into the seat obediently. She held the phone in her hands and looked at it as if it was a foreign object. Scott climbed back into the driver’s seat, quite amused at the puzzled look on her face.

  “Haven’t you ever used a cell phone before?”

  She smiled apologetically. “Only when someone else dialed the number. I guess I’m pretty behind the times. I can navigate my way through some of the most complicated computer programs, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out how to use these fancy new cell phones.”

  He took the phone from her hands and leaned closer so she could see what he was doing. “All you have to do is dial the number and push the send button to place the call. When you’re done, hit the send button again.” He showed her how to use the directory and how to add phone numbers. “I’ve already programmed my office, cell, and home phone numbers in for you. Since most of your calls to me will be on my cell, I’ve put it on speed dial number two. Just press two, then send, and you’ll get me. Pressing number one will get you into your message center. Do you think you can remember all that?”

  “Got it, boss. I just hope you don’t expect me to master texting on this thing or you’ll be firing me on the first day of work.”

  Their heads were so close together, Scott found the soft scent of her skin quite distracting. He had to remind himself once again that he’d be dead in the water if he made any overtures towards her. He was her boss now and that meant she was off limits. Even with that in mind, he found it difficult to pull himself away from her.

  He’d just about gotten control of himself when she tilted her head back to ask him what one of the buttons was for. Her parted lips were so close he could almost taste them, and despite his effort to remain aloof to her innocent charms, Scott's heart slammed against his ribcage and every ounce of blood in his body headed due south. Apparently oblivious to how close she’d come to being kissed, Mina looked back at the phone and pointed to the button in question.

  “Call forwarding,” he said, forcing himself to lean back in his own seat.

  He put the car in gear and eased out onto the road, explaining how all the features worked. “Where can I drop you off?”

  “The garment district,” she answered, still studying her phone.

  “The garment district? That’s not exactly a good part of town to be wandering alone in.”

  Mina slipped the phone into her purse. “I was going to shop at Sax Fifth Avenue,” she said with a perfectly straight face, “but they’re having their white sale and I’m simply not in the mood to fight over linens today.”

  Scott glanced at her regal pose and burst out laughing. “I think I totally misread you, Mina. I had you pegged as a prim and proper farm girl with no sense of humor. I’m really looking forward to working with you.”

  “I’m just glad someone’s enjoying my sense of humor. Buster doesn’t think I’m funny in the least.”

  “Have you tried telling him your jokes in German?”

  “Well, I never even thought about that. I’ll give it a try and let you know how it goes.”

  Mina enjoyed the drive immensely. Scott wasn’t nearly as imposing when he was outside the office and she felt herself relaxing with him. When they reached the garment district, he pulled into a parking space and cut the engine.

  “Thank you for the ride,” she said, reaching for the door handle.

  Scott opened his door. “I’m going with you.”

  Mina's heart fluttered wildly. “What?”

  “I’m going with you. You obviously have no fashion sense, so I’m going to come along and make sure you don’t buy anything that doesn’t look absolutely marvelous on you.”

  “I’m not sure if I should be insulted by your remark about my lack of fashion sense or thank you for wanting to help me out.”

  Scott grinned. “Go with the thank you, it’ll save time.”

  She laughed as she got out of the car. “Are you sure you can afford to stay away from the office that long?”

  Scott locked his car and joined her on the sidewalk. “Let’s see, would I rather be in a stuffy office right now or watching a lovely young lady model clothing?”

  Mina looked appalled at the idea. “I know you don’t think I’m modeling for you!”

  He put his hand on the small of her back, urging her into the first shop. “How do you expect me to help you out if you don’t model for me?”

  “I don’t recall asking you to help,” she mumbled.

  Scott just smiled and pretended he hadn’t heard her. He glanced around the shop, unimpressed by the selection. Most of the dresses here were made of cotton, mass produced, and not nearly nice enough for a woman who looked like Mina. He didn’t think she’d go for it if he told her he also purchased his assistant’s work clothes, but he cringed at the thought of seeing her wearing such mediocre things.

  He wandered away from her, an idea forming. Scott pulled out his cell phone, made a few calls, then returned to Mina feeling quite pleased with himself.

  ****

  Mina wasn’t having much luck finding anything. The clothes were fairly cheap, but they all seemed so blasé. She was tired of all the black and brown dresses she owned. For once, she wanted to wear something bright and colorful.

  “No luck?” Scott asked.

  “They’re just so…”

  “Nondescript?” He supplied.

  “To put it nicely,” she laughed.

  “I have an idea…”

  “I’m beginning to be a little afraid when you start a sentence like that.”

  “Okay, I’ll put it another way. I have a few friends who own dress shops. They make some very nice things I think you’ll like a lot better. My sister, Jenna, goes there because they give her a huge discount on clothing lines that are being returned for one reason or another. Jenna says it could be something as minor as a dress labeled with the wrong size. Would you like to take a look?”

  "I have a budget I need to stick to,” she said hesitantly, “but maybe I’d be better off getting a few nice outfits rather than ones that will fall apart in a few months.”

  Mina followed Scott back to his car then watched out the window as the discount shops disappeared. She hadn’t been able to explore the city as much as she would have liked to, but it didn’t take a Rhode Scholar to figure out only the very wealthy frequented the shops in this area. She chewed nervously on her lip, knowing full well she’d be lucky to be able to afford even one dress from the posh shops they were passing.

  “Don’t look so worried. Jenna assured me the mark downs are extremely affordable.”

  “You called her about it?”

  “Hey, I went to the biggest clothes expert in the city for you, where’s the gratitude?"

  “I’ll show some gratitude when and if I purchase a dress that doesn’t put me back in the poor house.”

  Scott gave her a rakish grin. “I’m going to remember you said that.”

  Mina’s heart tripped. She wasn’t altogether sure Scott Travis wasn’t just taking pity on her, though he seemed sincere. For the first time in her life, Mina didn’t feel homely. For just a moment, she almost wished she wasn’t going to work for Scott so she would be free to pursue a relationship with him. Then she silently chastised herself for having such thoughts. It was ludicrous to even hope a man like him would be attracted to her. She was acting like a school girl and needed to remember he was her boss, nothing els
e. He was just being kind.

  “Here we are.”

  Mina peered out the windshield, already shaking her head. "I really don’t think I’ll be able to afford anything in there.”

  “We’re already here, so we might as well go have a look.”

  "Are you always this pushy?”

  He tried to look insulted. “I’m not pushy, I’m persistent.”

  “A rose by any other name…” she quipped.

  “Are you going to be this sassy in the office?”

  “Good Lord, no,” she said earnestly. “It wouldn’t be proper.”

  Scott got out of the car and was still laughing when he opened the door and took her hand to help her out. “Come on, sweetheart, let’s go see if we can do a little finagling and get you some clothes that fit.”