Short Story Soup

My Queen and I (gxg)

A/N - There is a fun little Pride Book Club that I'm a member of, with some very talented writers in it. This year we're taking a little time to do a few fan-fics of each other's books, with the characters from those books. So, I'm starting off by doing that for the book The Queen's Maid by the wonderful AziaElga which you should definitely check out. I changed it up a little. Instead of a historical fiction, this is a little office romance. In any case, I hope you enjoy!

***

"I have to warn you, Seul-Gi, she's been very hard on assistants," The office manager told me as we went up in the elevator in the skyscraper that housed Empire Financial. I was so nervous that I couldn't even remember the office manager's name. "She fired the last three we assigned her, and we've had four from temp agencies leave in under a week. Don't take it personally if this doesn't work out."

Right, it's only my job if I fail, don't take it personally. I was shocked to have survived the corporate merger and have a job at this point. But if Ms. Bae didn't retain me, then I was out on the streets, like so many others. I used to work with. Kang Financial, my old employer, tried to initiate a hostile takeover of Empire Financial, only for them to turn the tables and take over Kang Financial instead once the proxy fight was done. Having been a senior personal assistant over at my old job, perhaps it was thought that I might be able to handle this assignment.

But I wasn't holding my breath based on what I was hearing. I was hardly a miracle worker!

When the elevator opened up, we were on a quiet floor. There were glass doors in both directions off the elevator bank, and I was directed to the right. I used my new security badge to get through the doors, and we headed straight ahead to a tasteful desk and waiting area, behind which was a heavy wooden door.

"This will be your desk. Ms. Bae's office is through that door." She stopped short of the desk, backing away from the door nervously. "I'll let you make your own introductions, as I have to get the other new employees settled."

"Yes, thank you." I said with a nervous nod. I guess I was on my own from here on out. The office manager wasted no time scurrying back towards the elevator. I would have liked the introduction, but she really did have more people to settle. Many of us were coming over from Kang, so they'd be busy getting them all into their new positions.

With a deep breath, I knocked on the door, hearing an exasperated 'come in' from beyond the door.

I opened the door, easing in slowly. "Ms. Bae? My name is Seul-Gi, I've been assigned as your new assistant. Is there anything I can do for you? Or would you prefer to man the desk?"

I was just glad I said that before looking at the woman on the far side of the room, because it seemed as though my tongue was suddenly glued to the roof of my mouth by the sheer beauty of this goddess. Porcelain doll skin, petite frame and ebony hair in a bun made her look as though she couldn't possibly be real. Dainty hands were poised in front of her right eye, and she just gazed back at me. I think I just stood and stared, half in and half out of the room until I heard her clear her throat after I obviously missed what she said.

"I'm sorry Ms. Bae, what did you say?" I finally choked out.

She flashed me a small smile, and my heart melted. "I said you have great timing. I seem to have lost my contact lens. Could you help me find it?"

"Oh! Of course! Stay still so you don't accidentally step in it!" I raced across the room, dropping to my hands and knees as I got close to her and her office chair, and then had to bite my lower lip to stifle a groan when I saw the rest of her.