Nosy Assistant

The following chapter is written in 3rd Person POV following Paige…

While Jay and Courtney were having their conversation…

“I’m just glad this wasn’t an actual service or we’d probably be fucked on social.” Viv comments to Becca. The two of them, along with Paige and Tricia, are on their way back to the private room after checking up on the main party and making appearances with their other guests.

“I’m just glad our small incident didn’t result in any of our other guest’s displeasure.” Becca comments back. It doesn’t escape her attention that Paige and Tricia glance at each other when she refers back to the ‘small incident’.

“Speaking of that small incident, is there any way we can help with that, Becca?” Paige asks, with Tricia nodding supportively.

“We don’t know what exactly happened, but we know it’s still an ongoing thing. So whatever we can do to help resolve it, just say the word.” Tricia adds in support.

“Thank you both, but no.”, “I can think of a way you can both help, actually.” Becca and Viv both answer at the same time, making them look at each other in surprise. Meanwhile, Paige and Tricia can only look on in confusion at their bosses’ opposing answers.

“What are you talking about?” Becca asks Viv, and Viv bulges her eyes as if trying to telepathically answer Becca.

“Do the math, Becca!” Viv tells her, and Paige has a look like she’s heard Viv say something like that before.

‘Math? Why does that sound so familiar?’ Paige asks herself.

Viv’s answer only gets Becca to raise an eyebrow. Viv in turn has to roll her eyes, knowing she can’t honestly answer without divulging major secrets.

“It’s obvious to both of you that Jay’s going through something, right? Well it would really help us if you’d sl—OW!” Viv tries to answer, before Becca’s eyes bulge in recognition of what Viv’s about to say, and she grabs Viv by the arm and squeezes her grip tightly.

“That is not a request you can make of them as their employer, Vivian. This isn’t the Red Rum.” Becca reminds Viv through gritted teeth.

‘This isn’t the… Red Rum… RILEY AND ERICA!’ Paige shouts in her mind in realization.

“No! I wouldn’t mind helping, I swear.” Tricia suggests innocently. “You’ve been really helpful and supportive by giving me this opportunity, Becca. I’d like to return the favor, and not just as your employee.” Tricia adds.

“I think I’d wait for them to ask now before I’d say that, Tricia.” Paige advises, finding something fishy with the way Becca stopped Viv’s explanation, as well as the eerily familiar way she said ‘math’. Tricia seems to understand that Paige is implying something and reacts in shock.

“You’re not asking us to do something illegal, are you?” Tricia asks innocently.

“No! Of course not!” Viv says defensively.

“I stopped Vivian because she was the one who was about to.” Becca cryptically explains, but Viv’s reaction seems to confirm that her question was heading towards the sexual trafficking route.

“Oh fuck! I’m sorry! My bad!” Viv immediately shouts in a panicked apology.

“I~... don’t understand.” Tricia says, still trying to figure out where their conversation took a turn.

“It’s better that you don’t, Tricia.” Becca tells her. “Just know that I appreciate the initiative and concern to help us.” Becca adds, before opening the door to the private room and trying to usher her in.

Tricia looks disappointed that she doesn’t fully understand what happened, but decides not to push it when Paige shakes her head to tell her not to push it. Viv puts her arm around Tricia’s shoulders and takes her mind away from the current situation when she asks about her grandfather’s **** tolerance, clearly planning something devious.

When Becca tries to usher Paige inside before her, Paige instead gently pushes the door closed.

“Is it okay if I ask you something, Becca?” Paige addresses her boss.

“Of course, Paige.” Becca answers.

“Why would Viv request something like that?” Paige asks Becca seriously.

“I’d be dishonest if I told you I understand the goings on of Chef Nguyen’s mind, Paige.” Becca answers, and Paige’s look of doubt tells Becca she needs to do better than that for Paige to drop the subject entirely.

“It’s apparent that you understood what Viv’s request was going to be, and I apologize for it. If you already feel violated because of it, I’ll find a way to reprimand her further. Our common connection should not bleed into our professional lives. I don’t want you to feel unsafe working with us, or **** to do—” Becca says in apology to Paige, which Paige allows to go on far longer than she wants to, before finally cracking and interrupting her boss.

“I’m the girl who asked if it was okay to have no strings attached… sex… with your boyfriend, remember?” Paige reminds her with an awkward chuckle, whispering the word ‘sex’ like she was embarrassed. “I’m just saying, it’ll take more than an implication to make me feel ‘violated’, Becca.” Paige assures her, getting Becca to smile in understanding.

“That’s not what I wanted to talk about.” Paige clarifies. “I just don’t get what sleeping with Mr. Craig has to do with helping with what got you guys all stressed out.” Paige explains.

“It doesn’t.” Becca denies. “Vivian was attempting another one of her bad jokes, and I stopped her out of respect for you and our professional relationship.” Becca adds.

“That’s the thing, Becca, it just feels like she wasn’t joking. I’ve been around Chef long enough to know when she’s serious.” Paige replies.

“The first thing you need to learn about Vivian is that you’ll never be exactly sure when she’s being serious. Don’t ever be too confident that your reading of her intentions is the right one, Paige.” Becca tells her, clearly trying to drop the subject without being impolite to her assistant.

“I’m sorry. You’re right.” Paige concedes. “It’s just, for some reason, it feels like what she was about to ask was something that will help.” Paige can’t help but add.

“I just have all these dots that I’m starting to connect now, and I know this isn’t the time or the place, but if you’ll humor me…” Paige admits to Becca, who seems to be deliberating if she should allow Paige to share her thoughts or ask her to drop it entirely.

“Go on, Paige.” Becca finally decides.

“I’m not keeping tabs on what everyone’s doing or anything, I just heard that they had a group meeting here a week or so ago. Around the time you were in Vegas?” Paige tells Becca. “I’m not sure why, but I feel like it’s not a coincidence that they had one of those right after the Gala. You know, when Jay met your dad? Right after you were whisked away to a different State? I even remember Maddy mentioning something about not being there to help you guys since she was away too.” Paige adds.

“What are you getting at, Paige?” Becca asks.

“You had another one of those group meetings today before your mom and brother showed up, right?” Paige suggestively asks. “And after both those meetings, Viv’s inviting girls outside of your relationship to sleep with your boyfriend.” Paige finally gets to the meat of her conspiracy theory.

“The night Jay went to the Red Rum where he and Viv had that… thing… with Riley and Erica… that happened a day after they had a group meeting, if I’m remembering it right. And if you didn’t stop Viv just now, she was about to ask Tricia and I to probably do something similar.” Paige explains, and Becca’s doing her best to remain stone-faced and not give away anything to Paige.

“Maybe I am overthinking this and connecting dots that have no connection, but—” Paige caveats her line of thought to lessen how nosy Becca may perceive her line of thinking is going, before stopping in her tracks once she hears the door to Becca and Viv’s shared office open.

“If you want their scores up, then just be nice to people, Courtney. That’s what I do.”

Paige overhears Jay telling Courtney as they exit the office.

“Mr. Craig!” Paige calls out in a shout, sounding like she got caught being nosy.

“Hey, Paige.” Jay greets back, as he and Courtney walk towards Paige and Becca. “What’re you guys doing outside? Is everything alright?” Jay asks.

“We just finished checking up on the main party, Jay.” Becca relays, getting a concerned look from Jay. “Everything’s fine on that end. Don’t worry.” Becca assures him with a smile.

“So Tricia wasn’t lying that Viv did amazing on damage control?” Jay jokingly asks, and the mention of both their names get a guilty panicked look from Paige, which in turn piques Courtney’s interest.

“What’s up with you?” Courtney asks curiously, and Paige’s panic becomes even more obvious. Paige shakes her head anxiously trying to tell Courtney that ‘nothing’s up with her’ but it just has the opposite effect.

“Do something, Love Coach. I think your girlfriend’s broken.” Courtney tells Jay.

“I’m not one of his girlfriends!” Paige declares in panic.

“HA! Like I’ll believe that.” Courtney expresses her disbelief.

“I’m not!” Paige says defensively.

“Yeah, right.” Courtney continues to not believe Paige. “Next thing you’ll tell me is you have no idea about his magical a-OW!” Courtney continues, a little too quick for Jay and Becca to recognize where she was going, with Becca a little too late on the draw to stop her from saying too much.

“His magical ‘what’?”