The Billionaire and His PA novel Chapter 40

It had taken almost two hours for Cassie to finish working on Bethany’s nails. Just as Bethany had said, she had come prepared with a handbag full of everything that Cassie needed to use for the mani-pedi; from the foot bath right down a pack of numerous colors of nail polish. Cassie started by removing the old layer of nail polish on Bethany’s hands and feet.

Next she had proceeded to let Bethany’s feet soak in the foot bath. To get water for this procedure, Cassie had resorted to making multiple trips across the office, from the water dispenser to Bethany’s side, as she filled the foot bath with water she carried in a small plastic cup. She had explained to Bethany that she would be a lot more efficient if she stepped out of the office to look for a larger cup or better still, if she dragged the foot spa closer to the water dispenser, but Bethany, hell bent on making someone suffer, would hear nothing of it. By the time Cassie was done, the water that the internet recommended should be moderately hot had significantly cooled down. It made Cassie’s work of removing the dry skin on the soles of Bethany’s feet harder. Bethany didn’t make her chore any easier as she pretended to have awfully ticklish feet and splashed water all over Cassie every now and then, without any word of apology.

Cassie collapsed on the ground once she was done painting the last nail, leaving Bethany to inspect her work. She never wanted to even smell nail polish ever again for as long as she lived.

“It’s not the best work I’ve seen.” Bethany said, as she took in the still drying smudged nail polish. “But it will have to do for now.”

“You’re welcome.” Cassie grunted inaudibly from her position on the floor.

“Don’t rest now.” Bethany said as she nudged Cassie with the heel of her feet. “I still need you to run some errands for me.”

Cassie propped herself up by her elbows. “Like?” She didn’t know it then, but asking that simple one-worded question, cost her an entire day’s worth of happiness.

Before meeting Bethany, Cassie would have liked to think that she had a normal amount of regrets for someone her age. She regretted not spending enough time with her family. She regretted ever knowing her ex from her university days. She regretted that she hadn’t accomplished more in her life. But so far, her biggest regret would be not listening to Daniel when he had warned her about not going into Felix’s office. If she would have heeded his advice, she would have never known the horror that was Bethany. Throughout the entire day, Bethany had sent her to complete a range of tasks that she could have very well done herself.

Bethany had had Cassie pick up her brioche crab melts from an upscale restaurant all the way on the other side of the city. Then she had had her go get her a different meal after she had complained that the brioche crab melts tasted too much like crabs for her comfort. Then she had sent Cassie to three wrong drycleaners before she was finally able to give her the address of the correct place for her to pick up her laundry. And all that had happened before it was afternoon! The only time Cassie had gotten any rest was when she had tripped and fallen on her ass while walking back to Felix’s office. She had sat on the floor for a good five minutes before getting up again.

Cassie had stuttered in and out of the office – careful to avoid bumping into Luther or Emerald in the process – as she fulfilled Bethany’s numerous and seemingly never ending demands. Everyone she passed by in the office gave her a look of sympathy. They had come to know her as the poor girl that was saddled with the unfortunate task of being at Bethany’s beck and call. When closing time rolled, Cassie couldn’t have been happier.

“Goodbye Mrs. Hart.” Cassie greeted as she shrugged on her jacket.

Bethany looked up from the magazine she was reading. “Where do you think you are going?”

“Home.” Thanks to the prior phone call from Diana, she knew not to go to the Bean House for her shift. As bad as she felt for Mrs. Thompson considering all the money that she would have to spend cleaning up the aftermath of her daughter’s carelessness, Cassie was glad that she wouldn’t have to work after her exhausting day with Bethany. Visions of her very comfortable bed floated around her mind.

“You can’t go home.” She snorted. “You’re not done for the day.”

“Yes I am.” Cassie said. “This is the time I usually leave work.”

Bethany closed her magazine and then sat up to face Cassie. “I don’t care about the time you usually leave work. You’ll leave here when I tell you to leave. Now go fetch me a fruit salad from Green Bowl. And be quick about it, they close in five minutes and if you don’t make it there on time, you’ll just have to go to the supermarket, buy a bunch of fruits and then make the salad yourself.”