New Boss Stacy

My previous boss was incompetent, and I hated being her secretary. It’s hard enough being a male secretary, but when your boss is utterly inept, it’s so much worse, especially when I knew I could do her job better than she could. So, it wasn’t much of a surprise when she was caught embezzling funds two weeks later and promptly fired. Just a week after that, the company sent someone new to head up my division.

Her name is Stacy, and she’s quite the surprise. Bubbly and scatterbrained, she peppers her speech with an excessive number of likes and totallys.

Stacy's first order of business is to meet everyone in the office one-on-one. I’m up first. I step into her office at the appointed time. It’s been redecorated in pastels, an explosion of pink, with plushies everywhere.

She sits at her desk in a tailored pink suit and skirt, with a crisp mauve satin button-down blouse, her bright smile shining like a spotlight. In front of her is a small pile of paperwork—my entire history at this company. That surprises me; I didn’t think she’d be focused on anything at all.

“Oh my gosh, hiiii~!” she exclaims, standing and extending a hand.

“This is going to be, like, super quick. Just wanna get to know you before we really, like, get going, you know?”

She giggles, plopping down in her chair and crossing her legs. The click of her heels echoes in the room.

“Well, like, I totally want to know alllll about you! Your hopes, your dreams, what makes you tick! Actually, this is super embarrassing, I don’t even know your name. I’m Stacy DeVore, and you are?”

“I’m Eros Apostasia, your secretary,” I reply.

“Please call me Ero.”

“Oh em gee, Ero! What a totally cute name!” She claps her hands together excitedly.

“I just love it! Okay, so like, tell me all about yourself, Ero! What do you love most about working here? And don't hold back on the details, 'kay?”

She leans forward, resting her elbows on the desk and propping her chin in her hands, giving me her full attention. Her eyes sparkle with genuine interest behind her cat-eye glasses.

“I wanna know everything! Your strengths, your weaknesses, your deepest darkest secrets!” She giggles. “JK... unless?”

She winks playfully.

“Well, Miss DeVore, I worked for my previous boss for two years, but I always felt like I was bailing her out and she would take all the credit. I don't want to be a secretary forever, but it's important to start somewhere, so I want to make sure I have your back and attend to your needs here in the office. I guess you could say I'm strong in anticipating your needs and filling in gaps you miss in all of your business dealings, so your job is easier.”

“I also make the best coffee.” I pause, choosing my next words carefully.

“I need to improve on trusting my boss, you in this case, to recognize my strengths and to bring me along so my strengths complement yours. My last boss let me do all the work, and she took all the credit, so I'm a little short on trust at the moment, but I promise I'll try with you.”

“As for deepest darkest secrets,” I grin, changing the subject.

“Miss DeVore, let me go get you some of my world-famous coffee and if you still want to talk about those, I'd like to get to know you a bit first before we go there…”

“Oooh, Ero, you're like, totally speaking my language!”

She bounces slightly in her seat, clearly thrilled by my words.

“I am, like, soooo glad to hear that you're all about supporting me and making my job easier! That's what I'm looking for in a secretary, you know? Someone who's got my back and can, like, read my mind!”

Her eyes light up at the mention of my coffee skills.

“World-famous coffee? Like, for real?”

She fans herself dramatically.

“Be still, my beating heart! You had me at hello, Ero, but now? Now I'm like, totally smitten!”

She giggles, then pauses, her expression softening.

“But, like, I totally get where you're coming from with the whole trust thing.”

“You stay here, I tell Stacy, and I'll get the coffee. It's best black, but you're the boss. Is there a specific way you like your coffee?”

“Aww, you're like, the sweetest thing ever, Ero!”

She clasps her hands together, practically vibrating with excitement.

“I would loooove a latte, please! With extra foam and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. Make it a skinny latte though, 'cause girl's gotta watch her figure, you know?”

She winks and playfully pats her flat stomach.

I leave and soon return with two coffees. A skinny latte for Stacy, and a black coffee for me.

Her eyes widen with delight as I return, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. She takes the latte from me, inhaling deeply.

“Mmmm, smells like heaven in a cup! You are like, officially my hero now, Ero.”

She takes a sip, her eyes fluttering closed in bliss.

“Oh. Em. Gee. This is like, the best coffee I've ever tasted! You weren't kidding about it being world-famous.”

She sets the cup down and leans back in her chair, eyeing me appraisingly.

“You know, Ero, I have a feeling you and I are gonna be like, totally inseparable. We're gonna accomplish so many amazing things together!”

She reaches into her drawer and pulls out a folder, sliding it across the desk to me.

“Now, let's talk shop.”

I sit across from her and lean forward, drinking my coffee and actively listening so she knows she has my full attention.

She opens the folder, revealing a meticulously organized set of documents. Despite her bubbly demeanor, her eyes are sharp and focused as she scans the pages.

“Okay, so like, I've gone through your file pretty thoroughly, and I gotta say, I'm like, super impressed with your performance so far, Ero. You've got a track record that speaks for itself!”

She taps a perfectly manicured nail against a specific section of the document.

“But, and I mean this in the nicest possible way, I think you've been like, totally underutilized in this role. Your skills and potential are way bigger than just being a secretary, you know?”

Leaning forward, her voice lowers conspiratorially.

“Here's the thing, Ero. I see something special in you.”

I continue listening, excitement building. Her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm as she continues.

“I want to help you grow and reach your full potential here at the company. We're gonna work closely together, and I'm gonna push you to excel beyond your wildest dreams!”

She stands up suddenly, pacing around the office with animated gestures.

“Picture this: you and me, like, totally crushing it in every project. You'll be my right-hand person, handling tasks that go way beyond the typical secretary duties. I'm talking strategy meetings, client presentations, even some decision-making roles!”

She spins around to face me, her expression deadly serious despite her bubbly tone.

“But here's the deal, Ero. I need to know that I can count on you completely. No more playing it safe or holding back. I need you to be bold, take risks, and always strive for excellence.”

“Stacy, Miss DeVore, I don't know what to say. Yes, I really want this. I want you to count on me. Thank you! I won't let you down, I promise.”

She rushes over and throws her arms around me in an enthusiastic hug, nearly spilling both of our coffees in the process.

“Oh my gosh, Ero, you just made my day! I knew you were the perfect fit for this role from the moment I laid eyes on you!”

To be continued in chapter 2...