Her palms were sweaty, it was her first day back at work after the conference fuck up. Clarke was still in a meeting when she arrived. Lyla had yet to see her boss. She had cleaned his desk and already made lunch reservations for him and Cassie, she was over compensating for her mistake which could cost the company millions, she just hoped with all the meetings that something could be done to fix the mess she had caused.
"Fuck you Holt," she muttered under her breath, she threw herself into her tasks for the day. Her small office was situated in front of Clarke's, being his P.A she had to be near him at all times, even his secretary's office was two doors down. Before this whole debacle she liked to think of herself more than just his assistant, she considered herself more of a sounding board for his ideas. Offering advice when she saw fit and a reassuring word when he second guessed himself. She could see his talk lanky figure walk past the frosted glass, her heart rose into her throat. She quickly began ruffling files as he entered with his secretary Jennifer and a young brunette in tow.
"Afternoon Mr Bentley," she said following him and his group through the giant oak paneled double doors to his giant office. It was situated on the corner of the building complex, no walls just windows of the skyline on the left, the river on the right, it was truly stunning. Sometimes when Clarke was gone for the day Lyla would sit on the sofa he used for entertaining and just watch the sun set.
"Morning" he replied gruffly, taking a seat behind his surprisingly minimalist desk, he seen the files that Lyla had earlier tidied and began to scatter them across his desk, scanning them as he went. He finally found the sheet he was looking for and handed it to Jennifer. Ever since Lyla had started at the company Jennifer had treated her with nothing but scorn, she was old fashioned and resented everything Lyla stood for, in Jennifer's day women dressed more conservatively and kept their opinions to themselves. Lyla with her tall thin frame, white blonde shoulder length hair and a body more commonly seen on a magazine cover or runway, was never going to be her best friend.
"This is the file, Jennifer please scan it and email it to the board."
"Yes, Mr Bentley." She said, casting a dismissive eye at Lyla as she left the office.
"Lyla," he said without looking up, 'this is Halle she's the new temp."
"New temp?"
"Yes with you taking on a few additional roles in the company I thought you could use some assistance."
He looked up at her with a serious gaze, she could feel her cheeks flush. She smiled and took Halle's outstretched hand.
"Pleased to meet you."
Lyla put Halle to be about twenty, a good head smaller than her, a dark brown bob haircut framed her oval face perfectly. She was smartly dressed in brown pants and a black blouse. She gave off a timid vibe, Lyla suspected that she was a bit out of her depth, but found herself instantly liking her.
"Lyla will show you the ropes in the next few days, for today I would like you to familiarize yourself with the building and departments. I know it's a temporary role right now but who knows what the future will bring. Come back to me at about 4. 15 I will answer any questions you have and I will plot out some tasks for you for the week."
With that she shot Lyla a friendly smile and left the office.
"Sit, we have a lot to discuss and little time." He said curtly. He typed away quickly on his laptop. She didn't like the talk about Halle potentially staying on but after the mess she created she wasn't in a position to complain. She glanced around the office while he continued working on the laptop. It was a huge office, tastefully decorated. One side housed a giant glass table, used for demonstrations and conferences. A row of clocks lined the wall above the bank of computer screens. On the other side of the room near his desk was a small kitchenette. In the middle of the office were two sofas, facing each other, used for more formal meetings.
"I would like to apologize for what happened in your kitchen," he said, wringing his hands nervously. "As you can imagine I was in shock and not really myself, send me the bill and I will gladly cover any costs.
"Forget about it," She said smiling at him, the knot in her stomach eased a fraction. " Once again I cannot apologize enough for what happened at the conference. I will do anything to make it right, anything at all."
He stared at her, not in a rude way but like he was seeing her for the first time ever. observing her in great detail.
"You mean that? Truly."
"I do."
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"It's not going to be easy, Lyla, the board think we can come out of this ok but it's going to take a lot of hard work and luck. The solutions they have offered seem impossible but they don't know that I have you as my secret weapon. The investors we are going to need, the experts that have to come on board, are all top of their game. I can work on them from my end but you are going to have to close the deal."
"I will try my best."
"No," he said his voice rising. "I need more than your best, you will have to be on your 'A' game now Lyla. We cannot afford the slightest fuck up. Holt holds most of the cards. We need to be smarter than him and do things he wouldn't even consider, that's the only way we come out of this."
"I know it sounds like crap but you can trust me to do this Clarke. I won't let you down again, I swear."
"I have been corresponding with Robert Howe. He was my old college professor, a very nice man, widower, never remarried. I have sought advice from him in the past. He has the most brilliant mind but is retired and is reluctant to come back into the fold. Even after years of friendship he is set in his ways and just casts off my offers. I need him on board if we stand any chance of surviving."
Lyla could see that Clarke was avoiding saying something.
"And..." She said leaning forward.
"And he has a thing for blondes." He finally blurted.
"Oh," she whispered.
She inwardly smiled. She had never seen Clarke look so uncomfortable before, she was enjoying watching him squirm. As soon as she thought that, the overwhelming guilt crashed over her. They were only having this conversation because she had dropped the ball.
"Yes," Clarke replied sheepishly. "He has agreed to a meeting in his house down by the lake, he thinks I am going but I thought you could take my place with a bottle of Cognac that I know he enjoys. From his email I sense that he is nearly ready to sign on but I can't take the risk of him changing his mind. Will you be able to meet him in thirty minutes." He voice had taken on a slightly pleading tone. "I cannot stress enough how important Mr. Howe is."
"Don't worry, I will get him to agree." She said standing up. It wasn't just about helping Clarke, it was about getting revenge on Holt. He had made a fool of her and that couldn't go unpunished.
Forty minutes later, she had paid the taxi and was walking up the steps to the black front door. The house itself was small but in a beautiful area, the front garden was well kept but around the back was a sweeping lawn that lead down to the river. She rang the doorbell and waited nervously.
"Surely I am expected." She thought.
The door opened, just as she was about to ring the bell a second time, by a young man in a suit.
"May I help you?" he asked in a deep voice.
"I am here to see Mr. Howe, he is expecting me. I am from Clarke Bentleys office."
"Yes, he is awaiting a guest but he thought it was going to be Mr. Bentley himself."
