“George you wouldn’t even know how to get up in the morning without Sara, you better hold onto her with both hands, she’s a keeper.”
“That’s true but a guy can dream, right?”
“You're hopeless George, you have a good day.”
"You too love, see you tomorrow.”
~~~
Claire walked down the hall to the elevator bank. No corners were cut in the décor of Danvers, Inc., everything here was gleaming; white marble floors, soft off-white walls, and stainless steel elevators with mahogany walls inside. As Claire stepped into the elevator she once again forced herself to remain calm. Meeting her fear of enclosed spaces was what forced her to take the elevator every day instead of the stairs. While the stairs might be better for her physically, conquering her claustrophobia was far more important.
Danvers International was a huge glass and steel building with 25 floors. Jason Danvers' office was on the 23rd floor and his personal space was on the 24th and 25th floors. The door to Jason’s large office was closed as usual. Claire settled into her desk in the reception area, putting away her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk. Jason liked for the office to be very impersonal and Claire was always careful to have no personal items on her desk. His one concession to some type of informality was to address her by her first name, and he liked to be addressed by his as well.
Claire had been working for Jason as his assistant for three years. Her job generally required her to handle all the liaising with clients, suppliers and other staff. She was Jason’s right arm and ensured that all appointments, meetings and projects were scheduled and staffed as needed. Her office life was never slow or boring. Jason was a fair boss and always treated her well. In the time, they had worked together, they had managed to create a comfortable relationship. It wasn’t exactly a friendship because they didn’t have personal conversations. It was more of a mutual respect for each other’s abilities.
Claire was checking her email when the office door opened and Jason strolled out. His normally wavy brown hair was rumpled as if he had been running his hands through it, and his mouth was pulled in a tight line.
“Claire, could I have a word with you in my office?”
Normally, Jason just relied on the telephone to give orders so it was somewhat of a surprise to be summoned into his office personally. Jason waited for Claire to step out from behind her desk and precede him into his office. Claire was initially surprised at how at odds Jason’s office seemed to be with his personality. Jason was very direct and a person of few words. His clothing favored darker colors, his style usually expensive and conservative. At thirty-five years old, he could easily pass for someone in their twenties. His office, however, was in a nautical motif. Jason had several beautiful colorful pictures of the ocean and various beach scenes and was reminiscent of an expensive seaside hotel.
Claire had been shocked the first time she entered his office at how comfortable and soothing it was compared to the rest of Danvers International. She’d heard from various employees that Jason loved the sea which was a major reason the headquarters of Danvers International remained in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina versus bigger cites that would offer more benefits to a company of their size.
She’d spent a lot of time in this office imaging rolling around on the floor buck naked with her boss, carpet burns be damned! Just because Suzy was her best friend didn’t mean she had to tell her that her fantasies of Jason were probably better than anything Suzy had dared to imagine. Carefully schooling her face into a neutral expression, Claire looked at Jason with what she hoped would pass for professionalism and not ‘do me’ desperation.
“Claire, I need you to work this weekend. I know I usually don’t impose a weekend’s work schedule; however, the contracts for Mericom are supposed to be finished on Saturday, and I’ll need you to be on hand to handle any last-minute changes that may take place.”
“That’s not a problem, what time shall I be in the office on Saturday?”
“That’s the problem Claire; I’ll unfortunately be going out of town this evening to Columbia, and I’ll need you to travel with me. One of my childhood friends is getting married on Sunday, and I’m expected at his home for the weekend as I’m in the wedding party.”
Oh great, I’ve not worked weekends for over a year and rarely travel on business, and now I’m being asked to do both! “Jason, I have a previous family engagement for the weekend, but I’ll be glad to be in the office during the day on both Saturday and Sunday for assistance.”
“Claire, I’m afraid that isn’t acceptable; I don’t need to remind you how big this deal with Mericom is to Danvers, do I?”