The early morning hour seemed to bring out Allie's cranky side. Something I normally avoided. It was one of the reasons I always had coffee ready for both her and Laurence when they arrived at work. Allie could be quite prickly, but her before caffeine... downright terrifying. 

But today wasn't just another day of stifling early morning crankiness. Allie had asked me to come into the office early to create a game plan for how to broach the sudden work change to Laurence. She wanted to be prepared when he came in. 

Allie was settled into her office chair, a fuzzy blanket wrapped around her, clutching a cup of coffee like a lifeline, muttering tiredly to herself, surprising me with how approachable it all made her look.

"When Laurence gets here, let me do the talking," Allie finally said. "You are too nice and will crack, agreeing to sign a contract to work with him for the rest of your life if he looks even slightly sad about it."

"You don't have to strong-arm him into this," I said, sipping my morning coffee, shifting uncomfortably. I didn't want to be a part of whatever mind game she had in mind for Laurence. She took far too much joy out of torturing him.

My black and white polka dot dress was a comfort as I sat in Allie's office, surrounded by half-finished projects, waiting for the other shoe— well, high heel in Allie's case— to drop. I felt comfortable and cute in my thrift store find.

"It's more fun for me if we do it this way," she replied, finally dropping her blanket and setting up her sewing machine, lining up the needle. "Unless you'd rather say you are doing this to get away from him? I'm sure he'd take that very well."

I gave her a flat stare. "Those aren't the only two options. We can just tell him you—"

"What is this?" Laurence asked, walking into Allie's office, holding up a piece of paper, half crumpled in his hand like evidence. 

Allie glanced up at him from where she stood half-crouched next to her sewing machine, adjusting the thread. "Paper." 

She shook her head. "Honestly, Laurence, you really should know what paper is."

"Don't!" He cut himself off, lowering his voice, trying to calm his voice. "Don't bait me, Miss Winters. You and I both know that you have a power play problem."

"Everyone is always so eager to take out the queen bee. I need all the practice I can get at defending my throne from potential saboteurs." 

"You bought my company. What else could I possibly do to you?" he said, voice deathly quiet. He crumpled the paper into his fist, his voice taking on a hard edge.

"You are not firing Miss Autumns. She is a model employee, is constantly on top of things, and, by some miracle, doesn't seem to be terrified of you. A rarity in this office."

"Anything else?" Allie asked, placing a length of cloth underneath the sewing machine needle, unbothered by his anger.

"Yes. I expect you to call her, apologize, and invite her back. Hopefully, it won't be too late to—"

Laurence spun, getting ready to leave, but then spotted me for the first time, his eyes going wide. He looked utterly embarrassed, like he had revealed a piece of information that should have been kept secret. 

He stared at me for a long beat. Then seemed to recover. "She won't fire you. If she tries, she'll have to find a new CFO—"

Allie laughed. "Don't be absurd. No need to quit, Laurence. I'm not firing her."

Laurence looked back at her, brow raised, waiting for an explanation. 

"You really need to learn to read paperwork more carefully," she said with a tsk. "Just because she won't be assisting YOU anymore doesn't mean she won't be working here."

Allie looked back down at the sewing machine as she sat. "You'll just have to find another assistant. And please make it a man. I don't want to have to deal with HR paperwork because you suddenly decide to date your pretty new assistant."

"And you won't have that same problem?" Laurence asked. "Deciding to date a man that I hire? Win him to your side with some mind game?"

Allie looked somewhat proud. "You are becoming paranoid." 

"All your doing." The smile didn't reach his eyes.

"It's healthy to think several steps ahead. So you are welcome for that new skill," Allie replied, eyes on her work. "I'm currently dating someone. So dating your new assistant isn't on my list to torture you. And unless you are still dating that woman from last night, I think it's safe to assume you are more of a dating concern than I am."

She started up her sewing machine, the sound a clear dismissal. 

Laurence closed his eyes, keeping his temper under control. "And what will happen to Miss Autumns?"

Allie didn't glance up, eyes on her work. "She'll be shadowing me until she is ready to become our new COO. The last one got scared off. No idea why..."

Allie failed to mention that the last one was one of Laurence's old employee's who, after having spent one day with Allie— where she had discovered that he had been stealing designs from one of his underlings and passing them off as his ideas— ran out of the building, forgetting to pack up his things. Apparently Allie had given him the choice of giving the underling his bonus for the theft, or be fired. He thought she was bluffing. She was not. Once he was gone, other employee had been promoted and been given a bonus. 

My mind caught on the title, COO, or CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER. 

It was a large jump from Assistant to COO. That would put me second to Allie. On the same level as Laurence. Having me handle the day to day operations so Allie could focus on the large vision. She wouldn't have to sit in budget meetings and negotiate. She wasn't the best people person, so it was understandable, but still... Me?

"Lily can't assist us both while taking on more responsibility," Allie said.

"You're giving her a promotion? Why didn't you just say that instead of making her sign a TERMINATION AGREEMENT." 

Allie smiled up at Laurence for a beat before looking back down at the sewing machine, fingers quickly moving the material through. "What would be the fun in that?"

"This conversation... I can't handle you until I have more coffee," Laurence said, turning away. 

"I put a coffee on your desk," I offered before Allie shot me a glare.

"The last thing she'll be doing for you," Allie warned. "So I'd hire someone fast before you lose track of your paperwork or die from lack of caffeine."

Laurence left her office without a word, settling behind his desk with a tired expression, fingers moving to tug through his hair before he forced his hands to run along the sides, keeping every strand in place. His coffee sat on his desk, untouched.

"You could have handled that better," I said, irritated. "He already has enough to deal with without you pushing him like that."

"That's what you are here for. That'll be one of your jobs. Keep me from destroying him with mind games."

I shot her another flat stare. I was starting to believe that was going to be one of my signature expressions with her.

Allie sighed, bringing her sewing machine to a stop and glancing through the glass at Laurence. "I keep expecting him to lose it. To crack. Fight back. Something."

"You want him to lose it?"

"I want him to show something real. I took EVERYTHING from him when I bought this place. And he acts... unfazed. He should hate me. I don't trust this version of him." 

"There are better ways to broach the subject, Allie."

"I'm more of an action woman than conversation woman. Speaking of which," she handed me a list. "I expect you to have accomplished these by the end of next month." 

I glanced down at the list, my face growing red. "Uh... I... Um..." I couldn't seem to vocalize my sudden panic. "Are these... mandatory?" 

Pulling out another set of cloth, Allie began to measure it out, pinning it at the edge to be hemmed. "Everyone has to start somewhere. After you get over your initial shock, I'll give you your list of new office responsibilities."

Shock was a very small word for a very large potential panic attack. I began to read the list that Allie had titled, "Lily's Self Improvement List," out loud.

"Wear something that makes you feel beautiful." That one wouldn't be hard. 

"Look at myself in the mirror daily and say three things I like about myself." I could probably think of things I liked about myself. 

"When someone you like openly flirts with you, openly flirt back." That one made my brain stutter for a moment before I could put words back into the correct order.

"Go on a date and leave in the middle of it without feeling guilty if the man makes you feel bad about yourself." I just stared at that one. I was still stuck on the flirting. Who would want to flirt with me? Or date me?

"Kiss a man at midnight on New Years Eve..." I had completely forgot that New Years Eve was only two months away... I have two months to make THAT happen?!? My face burned. 

Kissing and flirting... "How are these supposed to make me feel confident?" I asked, baffled. 

"Well the first two build a foundation. Feeling beautiful and believing that you are. The second three reinforce the truth in it. Notice how I didn't say you had to marry someone, or date someone. I think that taking time to figure out who you are and what you like will help you learn so much more about what you like about yourself." 

"Can't I just... do the first two? Those will build up self esteem without me having to deal with..." I flailed my hand at the list, brow wrinkling.  "...other people."

Allie shook her head, talking past a pin in her mouth as she continued to line up the fabric. "Self esteem is challenged in life, Lily. This way, you get to test yourself in a safe way when others either add to it, or try to take from it while being able to call me if you need someone to talk you through it." Allie glanced up at me. "But I warn you. I'm not very good at comforting. So I recommend surrounding yourself with people who encourage you... Add that to the list actually. People who speak truth to you. Who lift you up." 

I pulled out my notebook and began to write. Bex's name was at the top of my list of people. She was encouraging and was always willing to burn things for me. That means she's supportive, right? 

I continued to think, pen tapping the notebook. But no other names came to mind. 

I guess I'll have to add making friends to my list... Work took up so many hours, and the rest had been filled with Liam. I hadn't saved any time, and had forgotten to have good people take part in my life. 

 Reluctantly, I added, "Make healthy friendships," to the list Allie had handed me. 

How do people even make friends outside of school?

"The list of your new work duties is sitting in your email, along with the outline of your raise. Take your time looking it over and let me know if you have questions. We'll be adding a second desk out there for whoever Laurence chooses to assist him. Let's hope he doesn't pick poorly. You'll be COO before you know it." 

Chief Operations Officer... It was huge. I couldn't wrap my head around it. "I don't know if I'm qualified, and honestly, it isn't a self esteem thing. More of a... aren't there more qualified people to do that job?"

"I've scared away the other ones. And you already do half the job anyway. Anything I hate doing, you've been doing since I arrived. It won't require much training, and since you are obsessed with schedules and color coding things..." she shuddered at the idea. "It's the perfect fit."

She glanced up at me. "Unless you don't want the job."

I shook my head. I wanted the job. It was... fantastic. It felt far too good to be true. "I would love it. Just want to make sure I deserve it."

"You do. I have been thinking about promoting you for a while..." She smiled mischievously. "But I liked watching you try to interact Laurence. It had become one of my favorite comedy events in the office."

"Thanks," I said dryly. 

"One final thing. Tomorrow, we will be working on the very first item on your list. So I will be at your house at five in the morning to go through your closet. So, burn anything that you think will offend my eyes." 

I swallowed. Oh gosh. She's going to make me burn everything... I won't have any clothes left... 

The sewing machine started back up, telling me I was dismissed. I walked back to my desk, tucking Allie's list into my purse, lost in thought as I pushed my glasses farther up my nose, and pulled up my email, excited and terrified of my new job.

"Miss Autumns?" Laurence Royal asked. I blinked, and was surprised to find him standing at the door to his office, instead of using the intercom to call me. "May I speak to you for a moment?" 

Standing, I made my way into his office, pushing my perpetually curly hair out of my face, only to feel it bounce back into place a moment later. I grew more nervous with each step. 

What was he going to say? Will he be mad? Will he think that the firing paperwork was my idea?  —Note to self... work on my anxiety levels.

Laurence Royal gestured to one of his leather armchairs as he settled into one across from it. I slowly sat, half expecting Allie to barge in and tell me to keep my mouth shut. 

"I wanted to clear something up," Laurence said. 

"Okay..." I said, waiting. 

He sighed, hands gripping the cup of coffee I had prepared for him. He stared at me, quiet for a moment. "I hope I haven't made you feel uncomfortable. If what Tabitha said yesterday sparked this decision, or if I did something to spur this change, let me know so that I can rectify it." 

"You didn't do anything," I said.

"It was the gift wasn't it." 

I offered a sad smile. "Your gift was thoughtful. If I were you, I would ignore Allie's insistence that you are terrible at it. But..." I paused, wanting to be honest. "Your note made me realize that I didn't want things to remain the same. I want to grow. Be challenged." I pressed my fingers along my dress, realizing this was the first time we had talked about anything other than work. 

It was the first time that we sat across from each other, having an actual conversation. The thought made me smile. It was a small change, but one that I wanted more of.

"I want to look back three years from now and see something... different." 

Laurence Royal looked surprised. "Why didn't you tell me?" 

I shrugged. "You were going out on a date and..." What could I say? He intimidated me. He saw me as his never changing assistant. He wouldn't have had any idea of what to do with someone who wanted an emotional overhaul. 

"And Miss Winters has a way of making things happen," Laurence Royal finished for me. He offered me a soft smile, a look that warmed me to my toes. "Well, I won't lie and say I won't miss you."

My heart raced, making it nearly impossible to think. 

LAURENCE ROYAL IS GOING TO MISS ME.

"And I shouldn't have assumed..." he ran his fingers through his hair before realizing what he had done, mussing it. "That you'd stay forever." 

He stood, holding out his hand toward me. "Congratulations on your promotion. You deserve it." His words caused something inside of me bubble, making it hard to breathe for a moment. "And thank you... for everything, Miss Autumns."

"You are welcome Mr. Royal," I replied softly, taking his hand. His fingers wrapped warmly around mine, sending a tingle up my arm. It made me want to stay. To change my mind. To melt into that touch even if it was a fleeting handshake of farewell.

Pulling free, I left his office before I could change my mind. 

---

Thank you for reading chapter five! I hope you are enjoying the story! Or are at least curious to see where it goes! Add this story to your reading list to know when the next chapter drops!

UPDATE DAYS - A NEW CHAPTER EVERY FRIDAY!

How will working on Lily's wardrobe go? Will Allie let her keep her clothes?

How will Lily's relationship with Laurence change at work? How will Lily's relationship with Allie change? 

How do you think Lily working on her list will go?

What kind of assistant will Laurence hire? And will Lily get along with him?

What do you think will happen next?

CHAPTER QUESTION - Have you ever made a goals list? Did you complete anything on it? Did you tell anyone else about it?