Chapter 57 Working Hard

Anna put away the last of the supplies on her desk and smiled. This was her first day working as a lead in training and she was so excited. What made it the best was that John hadn’t promoted her because she was his wife, he promoted her because she was doing a good job and making the client happy. Anna was trying to ignore the odd looks from the other employees. Not that it wasn’t hard but after all the things she’d overcome in the last month waiting out some sour looks and resting bit$% faces was nothing.
“Knock, knock,” Bess said from the doorway. ”Okay to come in?”
“Bess, come on in! I’m so glad to see you. I wouldn’t have been here if not for your mad computer skills.”
Bess smiled and sat down across from Anna. “It was nothing, I’m just glad I was able to help. So how have you been holding up?”
“Okay, I told John that I’m tired of all the drama in the last few weeks. It’s emotionally exhausting.”
“I understand that”, Bess said, “I went through a really hard time in college with a stalker and I didn’t want to do anything for months after he went to jail.”
“Oh My God Bess, That’s awful.”
“Well it’s been five years and I still don’t like to be alone much.”
“Speaking of being alone, how are things with Nathan?”
Bess blushed and suddenly became very interested in her nails. “They are going amazing. We had a marathon of Star Wars movies the other night and he is amazing.”
“I knew you would hit it off, I’m so happy for you.”
“I am pretty happy. Maybe we both are on the right path after a long rough patch.”
“I hope so because I told John if it doesn’t stop I may go crazy.”
“Who’s going crazy? “A deep voice asked from the doorway. Nathan leaned against the jam stroking his beard smiling brightly “I hope it’s not my beautiful Bess.”
“You are crazy.” She said as Nathan kissed her cheek and sat down across from her.
“You two look great together, I knew you were meant to be the minute I heard Nathan talking about R2D2.”
“Shut up!” Bess said throwing a wad of paper at her.
Anna laughed and ducked the wad of paper smiling when the sound of a throat being cleared form the doorway interrupted their laughter. Anna’s laugh cut off at the raised eyebrows of the man at the door. His hair was red and the twinkle in his blue eyes made his whole facelift. Anna smiled at him, wishing he’d caught her in a more dignified position.
“Who are you?” she asked as she sat up straighter.
“I’m sorry to interrupt but I’m the new executive assistant, looks like a party in here though.”
“You must be Liam.” Anna said with a smile “I’m afraid you have caught us at a bad moment.”
“Oh no please continue,” he said with a flash of his hands, “don’t let me stop you.”
“Actually we need to get back to work.”
Liam rolled his eyes but smiled a little as Bess and Nathan went out the door. “Please sit down,” Anna said wiping the smile off her face and motioning him to a seat in front of the desk.
“Is this where you act like a hard A** and lay down the law for me?” Liam asked with a smile.
“Nope, this is where I get to know you and decide how we can work together without killing each other.”
Liam laughed and snorted smiling at her. “Unless you tell me you don’t like Stephen King I think we’ll be fine.”
“You like Stephen King?” Anna said with a wide smile. “I think he’s amazing.”
“Of course, The Stand has to be my favorite.”
“Mine’s Carrie,” she said with a smile “I think we’ll get along just fine.”
***
John strode toward his wife’s office and stopped at the sound of laughter. He smiled as he listened to her laugh and breathed a sigh of relief. He’d been worried about the toll the past few weeks had on her and now to hear her laugh again in such an unguarded way made him worry just a little less. He reached for the door and went to open it but hesitated when he heard the male voice inside.
“You are unbelievable,” Anna said with a chuckle “There is no way that the remake of Pet Cemetery is better than the original.”
“The acting and cinematography were superior and the director really knew what he was doing changing the character who dies in the movie.”
“I disagree I think a toddler zombie is way more scary.”
“Maybe we can watch them some time and compare them? “The male voice said softly.
John’s fist clenched as he pushed open the door. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“John!” Anna said with a smile coming around the desk trying to ignore his rude comment, “I was just getting to know Liam, my new assistant.” She said slowly as if she were trying to get through to him, frowning at the angry look on his face.
“Liam this is my husband John.”
“Oh,” Liam said softly standing and extending his hand to John “It’s nice to meet you.”
“John actually works here too,” Anna said with a smile as she nudged John back. He was stepping way to close to Liam and looked like a dog protecting a bone.
“I own the business,” John said wrapping an arm around her.
Anna pushed him back a little and smiled at Liam. “I think if we start with those projections for the new ad campaign that will be a good place to start.”
Liam nodded and walked toward the door as the environment got more awkward. John might as well have hung a sign on her neck that read “John’s property.”
“Okay, I’ll get started on that. It was nice to meet you, John.”
“You too,” John growled as Liam nodded and walked out the door.
“What the Hell do you think you were doing?” Anna snarled as she slammed the door shut and rounded on John. “You were acting like a jealous A**hole.”
John opened his mouth but the look Anna sent him stopped him cold.