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Nevertheless, I was eager to please, and if I had to start with Charles and his condescending attitude to get by, then so be it My new boss couldn’t possibly be worse than this little jerk

"So should I do sohten up his office or--"

"Dude--do not touch his desk or his stuff unless he asks Just…wait over there" He pointed to a waiting area with a coement of deeply padded chairs meant for visitors and clientele while they waited to s "You report to Susan, his paid assistant, and she isn’t in yet"

I looked back at hi for you?"

He raised his brows "Yeah, as a et to work and impress ars And don’t go to our café They suck There’s a Starbucks down the street Extra hot, lare, and with a bit of resignation in my slumped shoulders, turned around to carry out his orders There was a pecking order here, and clearly Charlie-boy considered himself above me

I returned twenty minutes later with his coffee and one for h the front, thedepartment was populated, and some of the interns I’d worked aved and smiled Cari raced towardafter her She earing a provocative outfit--plaid, pleated ht white blouse and knee socks She’d referred to this outfit as her take on the "naughty school girl" Professional it was not

She took in rown-up today for your new position! How are you doing? Want me to help you carry that?"

I smiled, a little uneasy as I reood, thanks"

She threw a curious glance at me out of the corner of her eyes as she pushed the double doors open "So, u okay?"

I hesitated arihCharlie-boy’s ultra-hot scalding with the fire of a thousand suns coffee shook and a bit of it spilled out the top, burning the back of my hand "Shit," I said, but didn’t knohether it was because of the pain or the fact that Cari kneas me in the video

"Um I don’t want to talk about it," I muttered

"I, uh…why is it on the Internet?"

"I don’t know I must have pushed a button to upload it to the cloud or so idea And did I mention I don’t want to talk about it?"

I turned and started back to the atriu cup of si to do?"

"I’m not sure there’s ot Cari onabout it So asto have to be her bestest buddy ever Cari was fast beconat I couldn’t bat away I’d have to sweet talk and kiss up to this gnat, in fact

"Can I, uh, ask you to cover for rid was the other one with us at the bar, and she was so drunk she doesn’t even remember that was you I won’t say a word I know you et together for lunch, okay?"

The feeling of relief caiddy with it Thank God I had Cari on reat," I said

I didn’t fully trust her--had never fully trusted her But she had no reason to rat h to know it could backfire on her to do it I’d find a way to keep the loyalty I’d won in her Tiain

Cari quickly peeled away from me before I entered the atrium, where I all but slapped that cup of white-hot neutronium on Mr Hipster’s desk I shookhot The same way your new boss likes it," Charlie chirunted at et hiar"