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"You’re fired"

"No, I’m not"

"You’re not?"

She shook her head "Sorry, but youa country bumpkin like me here, but you still need me"

"And why is that?"

She tilted her head, and he watched as one curl sprang free from its jail "What time is your first appointht Was this a trick question? "I’ witha board of trustees" He tried to think

Her eyebroent up "Go on"

"Over adonation of some kind" He waved a hand "That’s what they’re always about"

"Wrong You’re having a late breakfast with yourto a polo e And then you have a faave hi about your own schedule I, , selected a different tie and shirt for you to wear to the poloyour clothes, and have arranged for you to have a breather in between in case you need to get away fro" Her voice was utterly cool "So I’ve tried to acco in the future--"

"Maylee--"

"Further, you don’t carry money You can’t tie your own tie, can’t pick out your own clothes without assistance, and you don’t drive yourself anywhere Let’s face it, Mr Verdi, you’d be lost without someone here to hold your hand"

"That is ridiculous--"

"Yes, it is," Maylee said quietly "Which is why you shouldn’t treat e just because I work for you"

"I do not!"

"You constantly act like I’h to breathe your air, Mr Verdi I may not be the assistant you wanted" Her voice broke a little and she paused "But I’ot, so you just need to suck it up and deal"

He scowled at her "I can drive myself"

She crossed her arms "So drive yourself Do you want me to untie your tie so you can do it yourself as well?"

Griffin put a hand protectively over his tie "No"

She waited

He threw his napkin down on the table "For the record, I as on my own You tie my tie because it pleases h to pay sosoestured at the breakfast laid out before the

Furious, Griffin snatched his book off the table "I ahness’s palace for breakfast thisat Maylee, "can stay here and pack your bag I don’t need servants I’ne Verdi," she murmured in that toneless voice

Griffin stalked away from the table She wanted him to prove that he was capable and independent? Fine then "I will see you tonight"

"Until then," Maylee said, and sipped her coffee

He was helpless?

He’d show her

An hour later, Griffin had to admit to himself that he was hopelessly lost in the maze-like streets of Bellissime He parked the sedan on the side of the street and jerked open the glove co Goddaan to pace

So driving himself was harder than he’d suspected It wasn’t that he didn’t kno to drive; he did It was that he had no clue of where he was going He could recognize his mother’s palace from the outside, knew the street it was located on He just had no idea how to get to that street Nor could he ask for directions without looking like a fool Frustrated, he tugged at the tight collar of his shirtand then swore again when he felt the knot of his tie loosen

Blast

Jerking at his tie, he turned to the carand used the reflection to loosen his tie Maylee thought he was helpless? He’d tie his own fking tie and she’d be forced to eat her words Then he’d send her horace, and everyone would know just how terrible of an assistant she was

So he undid his tie and tried again

And again

And again

So to figure out what he was doing Irritated, Griffin ripped his tie off and shoved it into a pocket He’d just go with a loose collar Fuck it He got back into the car and pulled into the street He’d just use his fking phone app He pulled out his phone, and a red battery symbol flashed at him, and then the screen went dark

Fuck

He tore onto the street, deterain for another half hour