The smell of coffee tickles your nostrils. Delicious. And gently. I involuntarily smile, stretching my stiff legs, which immediately hang down.

Stop.

My sofa is much longer. Yes, not so soft, but I definitely fit on it in full growth. And I have no one to make coffee. I slowly open my eyes. The ceiling is high and pure white. Stretch. On mine, yellow, non-painting water stains flaunt.

I'm not at home. Good morning Ashley.

- Good morning, - sounded from somewhere to the left.

I move sharply towards the sound.

Barrett. He sits on the couch opposite, looking at something on his laptop, sipping coffee. Did you cook it yourself? Well, you must! It finally dawns on me that I'm in the CEO's office. As if in slow motion, I sit up, smoothing my hair sticking out in all directions. The gray fleece blanket starts to slide to the floor, but I manage to pick it up and place it next to me.

- Good morning, Mr Barrett.

I'm trying to understand the whole situation. I fell asleep yesterday at my place, crouched on the table, without waiting for the boss. And he, apparently, when he came, brought me here. Even covered it with a blanket.

Wow, but he knows how to be a man.

“Have breakfast,” he nods at a sandwich plate, a glass of coffee, and a bar of white chocolate. Wow, the boss remembered what kind of chocolate I like. - You have a rumpled look - is that his smile? Sarcastic, but still. Am I really awake? I look at the shirt and understand what he is talking about.

Damn! And I don't have a replacement. Simply gorgeous! And so it all started well. Try asking Theo to go home to change? I'm not sure he'll take that as a good reason.

Woah-woah-woah. I just called my boss by his first name. No last name or "Mr." Let only in thoughts, but it is not good. What, Ashley, put to bed, fed breakfast and that's it, the boss is now white and fluffy?

"When you're done, change your clothes," Mr. Barrett continues to broadcast. No more Theo. Points to a chair near the table. There, in the cases, is something black and pink. Did he buy me clothes? What time is it now if he has already walked to the store? - Please don't sit like an idol. People will start to creep in soon, better hurry up.

Eating in the presence of strangers is not a very pleasant experience, I tell you. Especially if it's your boss. You try to eat as neatly as possible, and at the same time look natural, but it turns out the opposite. Either a piece of the sandwich will simply fall off the main part, or you will choke on coffee.

After a quick snack and thanking my boss, I pick up my clothes and go out. I don’t have time to go far - I hear after me:

- Are you far away?

- In the tu-u-alet, - I stretch out uncertainly.

- In this form? There are no workers yet, but security is here around the clock, and they monitor the cameras. And here you are. Early in the morning, you fall out of the director's office, all disheveled, with a change of clothes in your hands.

- And ... where can I change then?

Is he going to make me change in front of him? I look better in mint. Till the end of one's days.

With a heavy sigh, Barrett gets up and walks towards the window. Did he kind of turn away? Still, this option does not suit me. He presses his finger against the wall, and part of it leaves to the right.

- Go. There is also a bathroom.

And what was so sigh? How would I know he's got a bat-apartment set up here?

I go to this Narnia. Nothing unusual: double bed, bedside table, wardrobe, safe. The only thing that caught my attention was the floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, just like in the office. Although not very high, but still the view is amazing. Better than the one I see from my apartment every day.

The bathroom is just as ascetic: shower, toilet and sink. Mirror on the wall with cabinets. I muster up the nerve and go there looking for some toothpaste. I don’t dare to take a brush, so I have to be content with my finger. I also brush them.

Putting myself in relative order, I go back into the room and notice that the door is still open.

- Mmm... Mr. Barrett.

-What? he looks inside.

- Could you close the door?

- Not.

Like this. Said it suddenly and bluntly.

We don't have much time, so you'll listen while you change.

Still seeing the confusion in my eyes, he rolls his eyes up to the sky.

- God. I'm not in the same room as you. I will stand through the wall, I'm not going to peep, you can be calm - yes, yes, I remember your phrase that I have nothing to look at, thank you. - And move, please.

I don't have a choice. I take out clothes from the cases, trying not to groan loudly. Light pink blouse with a small V-neck and black trousers, slightly gathered at the waist. The tag on the covers and the clothes themselves do not tell me anything, but by the appearance of these things, we can conclude that they are not cheap. Moms, how much will I pay for them?!

I turn my back to the aisle and start undoing the buttons on my shirt. Because of the nerves, it turns out through one.

- The table that you have on the table is a list of buyers with the volumes of their purchases from us for the past year and for the current one, - comes from the office. – Your task is to analyze and call the companies whose purchase volume has decreased especially strongly.

It's clear. For some reason I nod my head, more to myself. To fix the information in my head, I guess.

I changed my shirt, now it's the pants. Here it is more difficult. Whichever side you turn, there is embarrassment everywhere. It remains to hope for the nobility of Theo.

Pah you! Called by name again. Okay, I don't call him by his first name, so it's all the same.

- In general, find out what the reasons are. Only…

The director falls silent. Maybe it's stuck on the phone? No, this is not the kind of person to be distracted from the conversation like this.

- Just now? - I push him.

The boss dies and, clearing his throat, continues:

Just don't ask directly. Come from afar. Introduce yourself as a new manager, say that you are calling potential buyers. Most will immediately dump that they have, for example, a new supplier. Try to find out who it is. Again, don't push. If they don’t call you right away, try to find out from which district, how long they have been cooperating with him, and so on.

By the end of the briefing, I, having collected my things, go out to Theo. He glances over at me and nods slightly. So, the appearance suits.

- Can i ask you? - Who's pulling your tongue? Stupid.

- Go ahead.

- Why doesn't the marketing department or one of the sales people do this?

Life doesn't teach you anything. Past experience with security is safely forgotten, right?

- Miss Lewis.

- What?

- If I decide that you should do this, then so be it. Most specialists have already worked with them before, which means that their contacts are known and will not directly answer the question. And you are a new person, you will bleat uncertainly into the phone, - anticipating my reaction, he puts his palm forward. - No offense, please. I heard you talking on the phone, so there won't be any problems.

In other words, the boss said: “it’s necessary”, then it’s necessary. Accepted, understood.

- Thanks for the clothes. I will return the money!

Someday.

- Miss Lewis, I won't take any money from you. Consider this my apology for your frustrated plans and for spending the night here, - he smiled again! Truth! A tiny smile, the corner of the lips barely lifted, but this is progress!

- And I thought that the chocolate was as an apology? - For some reason, I think that the joke would be appropriate now. I smiled too, only it came out more pronounced.

- And this too. Miss Lewis, - the smile faded, now there is again a stern, tired look and knitted eyebrows, - Ashley. Let's not look for a black cat in a black room, okay? Please don't make up your mind about me. I am still your angry, always dissatisfied boss, who, by the way, is already late. So wipe the smile off your face and get to work.

Understood. It's better not to joke with the boss.

Theo.

Near the gates of one of our factories, the local boss is already waiting for me - short, corpulent Donald. With a quick handshake, Donald gives the command to the guard at the post, and the turnstile in front of me lights up green. The director, not the director, but the order must be observed. Without an employee card or the permission of the direct manager, you will not go inside. He himself set such rules - he himself fell for them. Tritely forgot the card in the office.

How can you not forget, after that striptease from Miss Lewis? I confess, I did not keep my word - I was peeping. I didn’t think about the mirror cabinet against the wall opposite, for which I paid the price. I forgot my card, it froze in the middle of our conversation. Despite her small weight, my secretary has a very good body. I can’t say anything about the chest, but the butt is what you need.

- Forgive me for calling so late yesterday, - Donald's voice pulls me out of my memories, - woke you up already, probably?

- No, everything is okay. It's good you called.

Passing the main building, we approach the old red brick warehouse. A couple of months ago, a new one was built and all the manual equipment was moved there. You won't look at this one without crying. We should hurry the guys, let them quickly take him to hell.

‍​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‍