Nessa (Broken Sisters #1) (2 page)

I couldn't go home that day so I rang Stacey and explained everything to her and she told me to go over to her apartment. When Stacey opened the door I broke down and cried for hours while she held me, she didn't ask question just held me till I was ready to deal with the mess my life had become.

That was three long months ago now. That night Stacey went and got my stuff from the house I rented with Brandon. Now I live with Stacey in her two bed studio apartment in Temple Bar. I love the apartment and was delighted by the offer. I wanted to start fresh and that began with trying to clear the debt Brandon left me with. I'm not making much of a dent in it but Stacey offered to cover rent till I sort it out which helps a lot.

I haven't seen Brandon or Lucy in the three months. I'll never trust someone that easy again that's for sure. Everything has been going great since then, right up till yesterday when I found my company was going under. I'm just hoping they can figure out something so I don't lose my job. I can't lose my job, I'm barely making it by as it is.

I jump up out of bed and get ready for the day ahead. For a year now I've worked as an assistant to marketing executive I call pervy Joe. He's not that bright and I often wonder how the hell he got his job in the first place. I mean my job is to be his assistant, and to everyone in the office I'm sure that's what it looks like, but really I'm the girl who does his job.

At first he started handing me little things to do. I didn't have the first clue about marketing accounts so I went online and did loads of research. Turns out I'm a natural when it comes to marketing. Once he figured that out he was letting me manage most of his accounts, while he takes all the credit for my work.

On top of that he's touchy-feely and I've caught him trying to get a glimpse down my top many times. I mean he has a daughter my age for God sake, if I didn't love my job I'd slap him!

Walking up to my building I look up. It's so beautiful, it's really tall, probably one of the tallest in Dublin, it never gets old looking at the beauty of the Liberty Hall skyscraper As I enter I notice a lot of unfamiliar faces and people rushing around and I wonder what's going on. I spot John the head of security, he looks stressed that's never a good thing.

"Hey John, looks busy here today. What's going on?"

He turns and whispers in my ear, "As of this morning we have a new owner. Apparently the deal was made a few days ago and the new owner wants to meet all the staff and he'll make a decision then if he will keep staff on or let them go."

I suddenly feel sick. "Oh really? I hope I get to keep my job. I better get up there."

"I'm sure you will be fine Nessa. Good luck."

I thank John and head towards the elevator. Once inside I hit the button for the second floor. After the elevator reaches my floor I exit and bump in my work buddy Ray. He's as gay as Christmas and amazingly sweet.

"Hey there baby girl."

"Well hello Ray. John said we have had a takeover. What do you know gossip queen? Spill it."

Ray knows everything about everything, I don't know how he gets his information nor do I ask because I'm pretty sure I don't want to know.

"Me, gossip? I have no idea what you're talking about." He laughs and then tells me that I'm right and there will be a meeting in the big conference room in twenty minutes to explain what will happen next.

"Better get to my desk then."

"Yes Pervy McPerveston is running around his office as we speak," he says amusingly.

I say bye to Ray and head down to my desk. As I look into Joe's office I see that he is indeed running around like a headless chicken. Once he spots me he waves me in. I grab a pen and pad then head in and take a seat.

"Good morning Joe. I heard there's been a take over, what do you need me to do, or do you already have a plan of action?"

"You're right there has been one and I need your help," he says as he walks around his desk. He sits on the edge of the desk and leans down to touch my knee.

Ugh, this man doesn't give up! I grind my teeth together and ask, "What can I do to help?"

"I need the figures on the Fitzgerald account. Could you walk me through how you landed the account? I'm sure I let you help on that account and I don't have time to go over figures myself. It's my biggest account, I'm sure I can impress the new owner with it," he says with a smug smile.

He's got to be kidding me, I worked day and night for a week straight to get that account together while he did nothing but take the credit for it. I forced a grin onto my face because I wanted to keep my job. "Sure Joe but could you tell them I helped? I'd like to keep my job too and if they see that I worked on this with you it could really help me."

"Look Nessa I don't think they're going to keep little people like assistants. I've been told he brought his own, so I reckon your job is as good as gone. But you should still help me out, I kept you here for a year and treated you good even though you were a bit of a slacker. I've been a good boss. You owe me."

My mouth goes agape. Surely he did not just say that out loud, did he? What the hell?

This guy is delusional. Is this really happening? He can't actually believe that after what he just said I would still help him. I take a deep breath, then slap his hand away before I stand and walk to the door. Just as I'm about to exit I turn to him and say, "You little pervy prick, how dare you! I put up with your wondering hands for a year while I did your job and let you take the credit. How about I go for your job now because we both know I'd get it over you any day of the week.

He just smiles and says, "When I'm done in there you won’t have a job anyway."

I walk back across the room and slap him hard across the face, something I've wanted to do for a while. Oh that felt great!

"You're going to pay for that Nessa!" I storm out of his office and grab my bag from my desk. I head to the conference room where the meeting is supposed to be held. I know I should probably just leave after what I just did to my boss but I'm not leaving without a fight. I put so much into this job to let one pervy prick to take it from me.

Once I get there I notice only the assistants are in the room. Maybe they are getting rid of us all. I'm still struggling to keep my calm, God I just slapped my boss! I should probably walk now, but just as I'm considering my options a woman walks in and addresses the room.

"Your bosses are all heading to their meetings at the moment. Once they are out you will be called in one by one to do a small interview so the new owner can meet you and see if you're right for his company. I have a list here of the first ten people who need to head up to the top floor. If you're on the list it means your boss is doing theirs as we speak. I suggest you make your way up there now and wait."

She pins the list to the notice board then heads out of the room. I walk over to the notice board and see that my name is on the list. I'm still trying to keep myself calm but I decide to head up. Maybe I can convince the new owner that I'd be a good asset to his company. I reach the top floor and walk over to where everyone else is waiting. I spot Sinead, she works on the floor above me and is a sweetheart.

"Hey Sinead." She's deep in thought and jumps a bit at the sound of my voice.

"Oh hey Nessa, I was in my own little world there. I'm so nervous trying to come up with some backup plans for my interview in case something goes wrong"

"You will be fine but do tell any good ones in case I need them." Lord knows I could use any help I can get after my little stunt with pervy Joe.

She turns to me with a smile on her face. "Flashing," she says brightly.

She couldn't mean flashing could she? "Say what?"

"Flashing. You know show a bit of boob. Just pop it right out."

I burst out laughing she's mad and I hope like hell she's not serious. "Sinead please don't flash. I'm sure your job will be fine. You're great at it but if they don't keep you it's their loss. You just walk out with your head held high." And then crumble to the ground and cry like a baby, but she doesn't need to know that.

"Suppose you're right. I shall keep my tits locked up." I laugh because I reckon she might actually flash. "Good to hear."

We have been sitting here for over an hour when I hear my name called.

"Nessa Donahue could you please follow me, you're next."

As I get up Sinead tells me good luck but also grabs her boobs and tells me to try it. My God, I think she's actually gonna flash! I shake my head and follow the pretty blonde who I've never seen before into the office. The room is huge with a great view and done up very plainly yet very professional way.

As I walk into the large office and there are three men sitting at a big table. The ones on each end of the table and they are probably in their late thirties. The one in the middle looks to be in his late twenties or early thirties and holy hotness is he fine.

He has dark brown hair, broad shoulders and you can tell he works out as his muscles are bulging through his jacket. I can see a peek of a tattoo showing from the cuff of his left hand. This guy is wow, just wow. Someone clears their throat and I jump. Oops I may have been caught staring.

The man on the left speaks, "Take a seat Miss Donahue." He looks down to the file in front of him and frowns. I wonder what that's all about.

"You're the assistant to Joe Harte?"

"Yes sir, I am. I have worked for Joe a year now." Hotness looks up and his eyes are as dark as his hair but they are empty—cold even.

He looks to the man on his left. "Tell me again Jim why we are even interviewing her? I told you I want all underperforming employees gone and Mr. Harte may well have felt sorry for her but I don't. She can go," he growls out and looks back down to the page in front of him.

I think he just dismissed me. What a fucking prick! I'm shocked and really starting to think it's not my day, the temper I have been trying to calm down is bubbling right back up again. Jim looks at me with pity and whispers something in prickface's ear. When he finishes he gets a look from prickface that suggests he better agree and with that Jim breathes out in defeat.

"Miss Donohue we are very sorry but there isn't a position here for you anymore. You can head down to HR and collect your very generous redundancy package," he says and gives me a pity smile.

Gee thanks. I still haven't spoken, I'm trying make sense of it all. The pervy bastard has gone and ruined me for this job and prickface there isn't even going to give me a chance. Just wonderful.

As I stand I see that the prick still can't be bothered looking up at me and that just annoys me more. I walk halfway over to the desk and look at him.

"So that's it? Pervy Joe tells you I'm a slacker and that's it, you just take his word? I don't get a say-"

"Miss Donohue I'm sorry but-" Jim butts in but I don't give him a chance to finish. My anger has reached the boiling over point and I'm ready to let them have it.

"No you're not. You all can go and fuck yourselves! I worked hard here, I did that little fuckers work and he gets the job and I don't even get a chance."

I'm stopped in my second speech of the day when the prick laughs, he actually laughs. Even the two men on either side of him look confused. I'm barely holding it together here and he thinks it's hilarious.

"You expect us to believe you, an assistant, did the work he handed in? I don't think so you can leave now," he says amusingly.

Oh so this is just some joke to him, not my livelihood at stake? I walk closer to the table as I'm shaking with anger. I look him straight in the eye, something changes in them at that moment. I'm not sure exactly what changes in them but I don't care. I'm here to prove that I am capable of doing pervy Joe's job.

"Did he show you Fitzgerald account? I'll tell you what, ask him about any other account and he won't have a clue about them. He studied that one this morning to impress you with it. I worked on that for a week straight, putting in tons of overtime. I barely slept when I was working on it only for him to get the credit. Better yet, ask him if the client was a man or woman , you sexiest pig!"

I'm shouting again but I've said my piece and with that I'm done with this company and trying to save my job. With shaky hands I pick up a glass of water that's on the table in front of the men and throw the water inside of it at the prick himself.

With no hope of keeping this job I slam the glass back onto the table and storm out of the office pissed at him and pissed at myself for losing my temper.