Once Upon A Time(29)

I didn't sleep for shit last night; the moment I closed my eyes visions of working in Starbucks plagued my mind. If I wasn't working in Starbucks, I was watching myself back in Omega with Gabriel, remembering the skill he showed in negotiating my body. I tossed and turned every hour, finally deciding to get up at 5am to get myself ready for the day that I might lose my livelihood.

“Congratulations, Payton.” Kate’s voice cut through my thoughts, leaving me completely and utterly frozen in place.

“I’m… I’m not following,” I stuttered, trying to find my voice as Kate smiled deviously at me.

“You managed to sign a client and not screw it up,” she said, taking a sip from her china teacup. “But there’s a slight problem that I’m still trying to wrap my head around.” Pulling out the contract I’d given her the moment I stepped into her office, she flipped to the back page where Gabriel’s signature sat. Eyeing me suspiciously, she closed the contract. “I told you to call me the moment you stepped out of that meeting. You didn't. Instead, I got a phone call from Mr. Black himself.”

Oh shit, this is where I’d lose my job.

Sucking in a breath, I waited for my life to pretty much end. It was an over-exaggeration on my part, but when you’re trying to give yourself a life your parents never could, moving from my decently paid job to never being able to work in PR again, it’s a big deal. Kate was vindictive, the Queen of PR, she could make or break your career. If she broke mine, I had no qualifications or experience in anything else, Starbucks would be my best bet.

“He told me that he wants you to personally handle the account or he'll opt out of the contract.”

I… What? I didn't understand. I thought I was sitting in her office to be fired. This had to be a whole other level of fucked up. I stared at my boss completely stunned, wondering what the hell was going on. What’s going to happen to the account? Surely she wasn't going to give it to me. Right?

“Usually, I would've told him to stick his contract up his ass for thinking he could demand one of my staff; one of my under-qualified staff, for that matter. But this is Gabriel Black. This relationship could have the potential to grow Blue Stone PR financially. So the account's yours.”

“Thank you, Kate.” I smiled softly, wondering what the angle was; there was always an angle where Kate McKenna’s concerned.

“On one condition.” She smirked.

There it was.

“Okay,” I replied nervously.

“I want daily reports on what’s going on with the account. Find out exactly what he has planned for every business he owns. Every business, Payton.”

“Of course.”

I said of course, but what I really wanted to say was hell no! My mind was in a battle: one side telling me to take the account, this was my step up and this could turn me from PA to account manager, while the other side was screaming not to touch it, it was too risky.

“Good. I suggest you get in contact with Mr. Black and set up a meeting to get a rundown on his businesses.” Her eyes finally left mine and she shooed me away with a flick of her wrist. That was my cue to leave. Standing from my chair, I turned to leave. “Oh, and Payton?”

I stopped mid-step, my hand resting on the handle of her office door.

Turning, I noticed the contract in her outstretched hand. Stepping forward, I took it from her before leaving the room in a rush. I made it back to my office within seconds, slamming my door shut behind me.

I slumped back against the door, dropping to the floor. With a cup of coffee in one hand and the contract in the other, I laughed. Story of my job, really. On one hand, I served coffee to the PR queen as her PA; on the other, I had one of our biggest clients, who demanded to work only with me.

Shaking my head, I got to my feet and moved to my desk. Sitting in the chair, I placed the coffee and the contract on the desk and decided if I was going to do this, then I better do the job well. Opening up my emails, my fingers started working on their own accord.



To: gabrielblack@blackenterprises.com

From: paytonmiller@bluestonepr.com

Subject: Welcome to Blue Stone PR

Mr. Black,

I was kindly informed this morning I’d be the point of contact for all PR business dealings.

Please contact me at your nearest convenience to schedule a meeting to discuss future projects.



Payton Miller.



Hitting send, I moved on to scanning the signed contract into the system. Halfway through scanning, my door flung open and in walked Clarissa and Katrina, both wearing smug smiles on their lips. Damn it, I was not in the mood for these two today. I kept my back towards them, not acknowledging their presence. But, of course, they acknowledged mine.