Chapter 9: Ups and Downs

“OK, Brazil boy, I’ve had a wonderful Saturday. But I’ve been patient long enough. Tell me your great idea, now!”

“Kayla, when you deliver to law offices, who accepts your shipments?”

“Almost always there’s a secretary or assistant to sign the receipt or proof of service, why?”

“Did my assistant accept your box on Friday?”

“Only you were there, I think. I was not myself then, Nio.”

“That’s my problem. I want to hire you, Kayla. Starting Monday.”

Her eyes comically wide, she stammered, “Just like that? You can’t be serious!”

“I am serious. You can do the job, I’ll train you as needed. I can pay you 65 thousand, health insurance, and get you a leased car, since you need one.”

Kayla was now angry and moved away from him. “This is creepy! You barely know me. This is some trick to keep getting into my pants by chaining me to your desk. What kind of lawyer sleeps with his staff?”

“Kayla! This is strictly business, you would have no personal obligation to me inside or outside the office. I’m dying under a mountain of paperwork, and my last assistant moved away two months ago. Please, I’m an honorable person. I really need the help, and I want to keep seeing you. I’m desperate!”

“You can’t tell me there are no applicants out there for a legal assistant job. Instead, you dangle this in front of me, knowing that I am poor, unqualified, and car-less in Los Angeles. Don’t you see the imbalance of power? I want a relationship of equals, Nio. At least I found out early, before you could charm me farther into ... whatever this was.”

“Was!? Oh, no, no, no! I’m sorry, I take it back, please forgive me, Kayla! The last thing I want is to drive you away.”

Kayla was cold, implacable. “Where are my clothes from Friday? Call me a taxi. And you’ll have to pay the fare because I don’t have enough money.

“But, against my better judgment, I’ll take the job. Any funny stuff from you and I’m gone. Instantly.”

For the rest of the weekend Nio castigated himself. “Too fast, too fast!” he thought. Everything had been going so well. This amazing woman had fallen into his lap, literally, and then they had such a wonderful evening and day at the beach. Then he blew it all up with his overbearing job offer. It was an impulse he should have resisted.