Chapter 2

"You're back! Tell me everything," Scarlett squealed. Her voice still managed to sound loud and clear, despite her mask. "Did you, you know," she asked with a wink, lowering her voice.

"It was just a coffee date," Grace reminded her, as she walked into her office, and threw her purse on the desk.

"So? I've had coffee dates that led to–"

"Yes, I know you have, and that's great for you. Even if I wanted to, this kind of put a damper on things," Grace said, pointing to her gas mask.

"Good point. Also, the worst timing ever."

"Agreed. I enjoyed talking to Jake. It would've been nice to see how the date could have ended if we hadn't been wearing these doomsday contraptions."

"No, I'm not talking about that," Scarlett said, waving her hand, dismissing what Grace just said. "The new boss starts today."

"He does? Scarlett, why don't I know this?"

"I found out last week that he was starting today," Scarlett explained. "His assistant messaged me. No one told you?"

"Scarlett, you're my assistant. You were supposed to tell me," Grace said, as her anxiety rose. She wasn't ready to meet her new boss. She needed more time to mentally prepare, come up with some amusing and intelligent anecdotes, and prepare a smart, appropriate meet-the-new-boss outfit.

"You sure I didn't leave a sticky note?" Scarlett asked as she looked around Grace's OCD orderly desk.

Grace responded with a knowing look.

"My bad. Anyway, like I was saying, this fog is bad timing. I looked super cute today with my hair and makeup on point to greet the new boss and now look at me," Scarlett whined.

Grace rolled her eyes. Scarlett looked perfectly put together, as always, even with the gas mask on. She didn't have one hair out of place and her makeup still looked perfect behind the still clear, protective shield. Meanwhile, Grace's long brown hair suffered under the tight straps and her makeup had already started to melt from sweat. The humidity from her breathing had caused her mask to fog, distorting her looks further.

"Cute dress though, your boobs look great," Scarlett added, as she gave Grace the once over.

"Focus Scarlett, you need to tell me everything you know, and fast. Close the door."

"I don't know much, no one does," Scarlett said as she closed the door behind her. "His name is Mr. Kennedy. He was poached from an agency out east. He's in his thirties and that's all anyone could say about him."

"Wait, he isn't from Hell's Gate?"

"Apparently he grew up here, but left after high school. He got out, weird that he'd come back."

"With our high property taxes and impeding death lurking around every corner, why wouldn't anyone want to come back?" Grace scoffed.

"For real though, Grace, this is probably the safest place. Stuff is starting to escape our city. Other cities and towns won't know how to deal with any of this stuff. I'd rather stay at ground zero where we know how to survive. Maybe he figured that out too."

"Fair point. Any messages?" Grace asked while she booted up her computer.

"About what?" Scarlett asked while she scrutinized her latest manicure.

"Again, that's what you're supposed to tell me," Grace explained.

"Oh. Right, right. No, no one called," Scarlett assured her. "Look! This day might just redeem itself after all," she said pointing to the window.

Grace heard the rain before she saw it, and relief washed over her. The rain would eventually cause the killer fog to dissipate and they would be able to remove their masks soon.

"Keep me posted when the city issues a notice to remove our headgear. Sometimes they forget to sound the alarm."

"Will do boss," Scarlett saluted before leaving.

Grace shook her head and laughed to herself at Scarlett's incompetence. Scarlett was a terrible assistant, but was great with people. She knew all the office gossip, which Grace never had time to find out herself and she made an amazing cup of coffee. She just had to answer her own phone when she was in the office so she didn't miss anything too important.

As Grace read through her emails, her cell vibrated with a new notification.

Jake

It was great to meet you today. Thanks for meeting me for coffee.

Grace

I enjoyed meeting you too

Work is busy, but I'll text you later

Sounds good !

"You should've said, ‘looking forward to it,' or ‘I'll be waiting with bated breath.'"

"Jesus," Grace yelled, as her phone flew out of her hands and landed hard on her desk. "When did you even get in here?"

"Just now. You didn't notice because you were too busy looking down at your phone smiling, trying to figure out what to type. You way overthink texting by the way," Scarlett observed.

"I don't. It's just very new. I don't want to say something stupid," Grace defended.

"Just do what I do, if you say something stupid, send a pic of your tits. They won't remember what you said, and maybe they'll send a pic of their–"

"Was there something you needed, Scarlett?" Grace interrupted.

"There was. New boss wants everyone in the conference room at 1 p.m."

"It's five after one," Grace gasped as she stood up and grabbed her laptop and binders from her latest campaigns.

"Shit. That's my bad. I got the call a half hour ago, and on my way here to tell you, did Susan not walk by wearing a new diamond studded mask? I thought to myself, ‘Bitch, you can't afford diamonds.' Then Sam walked by, saw me notice her mask, and rushed right over to tell me the latest. It turns out, our young intern has found herself a sugar daddy, and Sam said that one of the rumours is that it could be our new boss, and that's why he took this position. You know, for some behind-the-desk action."

"This is unbelievable," Grace said walking out of her office.

"I know, I don't believe it either. The timeline doesn't add up."

"No, Scarlett," Grace snapped. "I can't believe you got sidetracked walking to my office when your desk literally sits right outside my office door. Now grab a notepad and hurry up. Hopefully, we aren't the only ones who are late."

They were.

The conference room was full. Grace's designated chair remained empty at the table, made more noticeable by its position beside the head of the table where the new boss would sit. When Grace and Scarlett entered, they saw a man standing at the front of the room with his back turned, facing the projector screen. They walked in quietly, trying to sneak in.

"I like what your previous boss did with staff schedules, and I will do my best to try to keep your working environment the same. Unless your previous boss was okay with tardiness. That, I won't tolerate," Mr. Kennedy said, as he turned around. His voice was deep and authoritative, amplified by his gas mask.

"Mr. Kennedy, Sir, your eminence–Ouch!" Scarlett started, before getting elbowed by Grace. "It was my fault we were late, tardy. Why our arrival was untimely."

"Hiding behind the faults of our assistants' incompetencies is a poor excuse, so you, Ms. Grant, I do not blame," he said to Scarlett, while his displeased stare was focused on Grace.

"Thank you, Sir," Scarlett said, relaxing in her chair with a pleased smile.

Grace closed her eyes and gave her head a slight shake as Mr. Kennedy's insult went way over her head.

"It won't happen again," Grace assured him.

"No, it won't," he responded. "As I was saying…"

Mr. Kennedy proceeded with the meeting. It was introductory, wanting a face-to-face with the key players in all departments. He presented his expectations and how he planned to run the office. Grace thought he was firm, yet fair.

"Who's in charge of the city's campaign?" Mr. Kennedy asked.

Before Grace could answer, a deafening siren blasted throughout the city's streets, a different tone than the one that sounded hours earlier. This siren indicated that whatever threat had been plaguing the streets was considered over. Thanks to the constant rain, the body-melting fog had dissipated quickly. Immediately, everyone reached for their masks, and a collective sigh could be heard throughout the room as everyone took their first free breath.

While everyone rubbed their eyes, tried to smooth out creases in their hair, or did whatever primping they felt needed to be done, Grace studied Mr. Kennedy.

She already got a good look at his frame. He was tall, she guessed around six feet, with broad shoulders and a trim waist. His fitted dress shirt suggested a sculpted back, and thanks to her assistant, she had no choice but to notice that the rest of his behind didn't disappoint. Scarlett had texted her when they sat down, pointing out his ass and explaining how she wanted to bounce various things off of it. She suspected Scarlett also texted more things she wanted to do with his ass, but she didn't get a chance to look as Mr. Kennedy had started to rip her and her assistant a new asshole soon after receiving Scarlett's first text.

When his mask was on, she had noticed his chestnut brown hair, but now she could see that it was styled longer on top and short on the sides. He had a trimmed beard that matched his hair, and from where she was sitting, his eyes looked a dark brown. He appeared to be mid-thirties.

He was handsome.

"City's campaign?" Mr. Kennedy curtly asked again, reminding the room of his question.

"Me. That's my account," Grace spoke up.

"Great," he said almost sarcastically. He shuffled through a few papers while he repeatedly clenched his jaw. "You're now sharing that account with me."

"What? Why?"

"The city has asked that I personally oversee the campaign. The population hasn't grown, and tourism is down. Your ads aren't working."

"I've had the account for barely a year. How fast do they expect the ads to work?" Grace asked, unable to hide her anger.

"This isn't negotiable, unless you wish to give the account to someone else?" he asked. He looked bored and continued to shuffle papers around.

A few heads popped up at his suggestion. Grace gave them all a dirty look.

"I won this account because I was the best for it. No one else is getting it."

"We will see. You and your assistant will meet me here tomorrow at 9 a.m. and we'll go over everything you have done. See what we can salvage and move on from there," he said, barely looking up from his paperwork. "Thanks, everyone. You know where my office is if you need me. Dismissed."