I stood my ground. "What do you mean she's not coming? She’s a grown woman and can make her own decisions. You’re not her mother. Is this another one of your attempts to make her life a living hell?”
"I’m just her employer, something you forgot when you filled her little head with that startup nonsense.” She grinned tightly. "Fortunately for her, I saw right through what was happening and chose to give her mercy by keeping her employed here."
"Please," I scoffed. "Being tortured working under you is what you call mercy? Give me a break!"
I expected a hot retort. Instead, Christine began to circle me. “In a way, I'm the only mother she's got."
I laughed in disbelief. "You're unbelievable. And I thought I was full of myself.”
Christine looked at me as if waiting for me to say something else. When I didn’t, she spoke up.
“You know, when I saw Victoria standing in front of me that first day, interviewing for a position as one of my assistants, I saw a girl who was vulnerable, lost. I saw a girl who needed guidance. I thought, she reminds me of me when I was younger. I took her under my wing, Mr. Locklin, because I had a gut feeling that Victoria had a future ahead of her, a career that will never be allowed to flourish with you underfoot."
"Nice story," I said sarcastically, "but what a load of bullshit! Victoria has told everyone who will listen about how horrible and awful you treat her. And now you want to act like you’re her fairy godmother?!"
"Ah, yes," Christine said, "big, bad, evil Christine, treating her girls like they're red-headed stepchildren." She clasped a hand to her cheek. "Whatever shall they do?" She circled me again, stopping directly in front of me. This time, her gaze softened as she looked me in the eyes. "We live in a cruel world, Mr. Locklin, as I'm sure you know, working in the corporate world and all, and there is nothing crueler than to work in the cut-throat world of fashion. What these girls think is mean, is actually me preparing them for the viciousness that awaits them. I do it and I make no apologies about it either, because if Victoria doesn’t crack under the pressure, she’ll appreciate it later. If she does, then this business just wasn’t for her.”
"That was a nice little speech," I growled, doing a quick golf clap that was meant to annoy her. “You almost convinced me with that one. Now let me see Victoria."
Christine's face hardened into stone. "Victoria is busy, Mr. Locklin. Besides, you'd be better off focusing on helping your father's company maintain its portfolio rather than wasting your time on Victoria. Now please, I’m going to need you to leave my building.”
Ignoring the last bit, I said “You’re not accomplishing anything. You can't keep me from seeing her."
Christine produced a cellphone out of the side of her dress in one quick, elegant flourish, brandishing it in front of my face as if it were a weapon. “Of course I can’t. But I can have you escorted out of the building. Which I'll be forced to do if you don't leave within ten seconds." She stared at me with challenge. I could see in her eyes that she wanted me to defy her.
I stood there for a second, wondering if I should call her bluff.
"Fine," I said, hating myself for giving up, but not wanting to give the condescending woman the pleasure of having me removed from her building. "I'm leaving.”
Victoria
I let out a sigh, sweat beading my forehead. When I'd gotten the message from April that Tyler was here, I almost lost my will, tempted to go down to talk to him. Right when I was about to go down, Christine intervened, saying that she'd handle it and if I wanted to see him, I’d have to do it on my own time.
While there was the normal bossiness in her voice, it almost sounded like she said it as I got your back. I was shocked, but at the same time, I was probably just imagining it. Christine never did anything for anyone, though she had seemed to lighten up a little over the last couple of months.
"What did he say?" I asked with trepidation, not sure if I wanted to know the answer.
Ignoring him was the hardest thing I'd ever done, but I’d managed. All I had to do was think of what I’d seen, and it gave me the will and the resolve to hold steady.
Today was the first time that the image didn't produce the strength needed to resist the urge to give him a chance to explain.
"He was determined to see you," Christine replied. "I told him that you were busy, which you are. Victoria, I don’t need this kind of thing happening here. I know you can’t control him, but I need you to try to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
I was taken back, almost speechless. “Um, thank you, Mrs. Finnerman,” I told her, unsure exactly what to say. “And it won’t happen again. I promise.”
Christine walked over. “Good. Now get back to work. You’re a good assistant with a bright future ahead of you, but trust me with this one: there’s a thousand girls out there who’d kill for your job, and I won’t tolerate disruptions.”