The same night Eve was in her kitchen with Sandra, preparing some dinner. Instead of helping her, Sandra was busy drinking a glass of red wine. They were talking about Eve’s first day at work. 

„Christian and I didn’t have a situation like this in ten years. Not even close,“ Eve complained. 

„Come on. Evy. Don’t work up into this. He just asked you to tell him, when you leave for lunch. It’s not a big deal.“ 

Eve gave her a warning look.

„Are you on his side now?“ 

Sandra chuckled. 

„I can imagine the outraged look in your face, as you heard him saying that.“

„What that supposed to mean?“

„You lose your temper quickly.“

„I didn’t lose my temper!“ 

„But I bet you made him understand clearly how much he pissed you off with this.“ 

„I just hate those unnecessary power games, Sandy!“ 

„Still, he’s the boss. Not the way around.“ 

Eve took a deep breath and sighed. 

„I already miss Christian. Maybe I should go with him. Maybe all of this was a big mistake.“

Sandra sighed, as well. 

„Look. Christian is leaving in few weeks. If things continue being shitty with JC, you can still go. But don’t you dare giving up after just one day.“ 

Eve arrived at 7:02 AM at work in the next morning. She was tired. Standing up that early was torture for her. With a big coffee cup from Starbucks she entered the empty open space office.

„Good morning,“ she said, standing in JC’s doorstep. 

He scanned her body from head to toe. She was wearing a tight denim dress and black heeled ankle boots. Her hair was put together into a sleek ponytail. Her make up was sexy as always. 

„You’re late,“ JC replied. 

Eve checked her wristwatch. 

„Are you serious?“

„You lied about your German punctuality.“

If looks could kill, JC were immediately dead.

„Why exactly you expect me to be here at 7 o’clock in the morning, if no one else is around?“ she asked, trying hard to stay calm.  

„I am here at 7 o’clock in the morning.“ 

„And for what reason, if I may ask?“ 

„Obviously you didn’t make yourself familiar with my time schedule. Because if you did, you would have noticed, that I’m in the studio each day in the afternoon.“ 

„Does it mean I can finish work early, as a return for starting in the middle of the night?“

JC scoffed. 

„Your boldness is remarkable, Eve. I pay you 70 grand and you dare asking, if you can finish work early, just because I’m not around in the afternoon for few hours?“ 

„Why are you overreacting? This was just a simple question.“

JC bent his upper body in her reaction, obviously being mad at her.

„I am not tolerating you talking to me like that.“ 

„Please explain like that,“ she continued arguing.

„You are disrespectful.“ 

„That makes to of us.“ 

JC was seething with rage.

„Get out of my face.“ 

Eve turned around and went to her desk. Her heart was beating out of control. She felt her eyes filling with tears.

„Oh no! Hell will freeze over, before you cry because of him!“ She warned herself in her thoughts. 

But few angry tears left her eyes anyway. She tried hard not to sob. 

„Pull yourself together!“

JC watched her through the glass wall. She was sitting with her back into his direction. Still he noticed that she was crying, as she hastily wiped her cheeks. His anger immediately turned into regret. 

„You’re such a giant asshole,“ he blamed himself.

He saw her putting her cell out of her black Celine shopper and typing a text. 

„Please call me, when you have a minute.“ [Eve]

Few seconds later her phone rang. She stared at the display for a short moment. Then she raised herself and hurried into the lady’s bathroom. JC’s curiosity reached its peak. He needed to know what this was about. 

„You’re so pathetic,“ he was thinking, as he left his office to follow her to the bathroom. 

He stopped standing in front of the closed door and listen secretly, as she was talking on the phone.

„Why are you texting me that early?“ 

„Listen, Christian. I changed my mind. I’ll go with you.“

„First of all explain what exactly has happened.“

„I just cried at work. This is the first time something like that happened to me.“ 

„Come on, girl. You’re not a quitter. Since when you lose your shit when things get difficult, hm?“

„I blame myself for acting this way. But fact is, my new boss hates me with every cell of his body and he’ll will fire me anyway. It’s just a matter of time.“ 

Christian took a deep breath. 

„You really think that?“ 

„I am 100% sure.“ 

„Okay. I’ll prepare your papers.“ 

„Thank you, Christian. As soon as I have the new contract, I’ll resign.“ 

JC felt like the worst person on earth. He was aware of, that he gave her a hard time from the beginning. It was a matter of fact, that he wasn’t easy to handle. Even his closest friends used to blame him for turning into a grump. But it was hard breaking bad habits. 

When Eve finished her phone call, he disappeared quickly into the men’s bathroom. He was thinking about how to makes things up to her. He felt truly sorry, that she believed he was hating her. But admitting a mistake was definitively something he wasn’t used to do. 

At 9:00 AM Richard arrived at his desk. Eve looked at him and frightened. 

„Dear lord… what happened to you, Richy?“ she asked concerned. 

Richard’s face was completely red and swollen. 

„I had Chinese food for dinner yesterday night. There must have been peanuts in the sauce.“ 

„Did you take meds?“ 

„Yes, I have meds for emergencies like that. But it takes some time, till the swelling completely disappears.“

In the next moment their colleague Peter stopped standing in front of them. He saw Richard’s face and begun laughing. 

„With that face you can work at a chamber of horrors,“ he teased. 

Richard felt intimidated, not knowing how to reply. Peter continued talking. 

„You can’t be serious showing up in public like this. You look like a freak.“ 

As Eve was in a bad mood anyway, she decided not tolerating Peter’s mean comments. She stood up from her chair, crossed her arms and stopped standing in front of him. 

„Well… even in this condition Richard is more attractive than you ever will be,“ she talked back. 

Peter scoffed, crossing his arms, as well. 

„Very obviously you must he blind.“ 

„I’m certainly not. Richard’s intelligence and kindness is sexy as fuck. You on the other hand have absolutely nothing to offer.“ 

Peter felt offended and gave her a dismissive look. Then he turned around and went away. Richard looked at Eve in pure disbelief. 

„Thank you for doing this. But… it wasn’t necessary,“ he stammered. 

„I said only the truth. You are very attractive. The only problem is, you don’t see it.“ 

If Richard’s face wasn’t already red, he would have completely blushed in that moment. 

„Don’t worry, Richy. I’m not hitting on you. I know, that your heart is already occupied,“ Eve continued talking. 

Richard’s stomach immediately dropped. He stared at her like seeing a ghost. Eve smiled and bent down a little to whisper in his ear. 

„I noticed how you look at Nicole.“

„Um… what… no… um… I’m not…“ 

„Relax. Your secret is save,“ She interrupted him. „But I really think you should ask her out.“ 

JC watched the whole scene, sitting at his desk. He was aware of, that Peter enjoyed harassing Richard. Eve didn’t think twice, as she decided to stick up for him. Her empathy impressed JC. At the same time he felt shitty about himself, as he never rebuked Peter for his behavior. 

A phone call brought JC back to reality.

„Yes, Nicole?“

„I have Christian Schmidt for you on hold.“ 

„Christian Schmidt? I don’t know anyone with that n…“ 

JC didn’t finish his sentence, as he suddenly had an idea who this person must be.

„Wait a second,“ he said and stood up to shut his door. Then he returned to his desk and grabbed the phone.

„Put him through.“ 

„Good morning, Mr. Chasez,“ Christian said friendly. „Thank you for answering my call.“ 

„What can I do for you?“ JC asked. 

Christian took a deep breath, before answering. 

„Please tell me what’s your problem with my prior assistant.“ 

„I don’t think I owe you any kind of explanation,“ JC replied. 

„Of course you don’t. But as she’s going to quit her job just after two days, I have reason to be concerned. We used to work together for almost a decade. Losing her as my assistant was truly painful. She’s not just smart, hardworking, reliable and inventive. She also has a good heart. What must have happened, that she’s convinced there is no future for her in your firm, Mr. Chasez?“ 

Josh sighed, before he answered. 

„She has trouble subordinating herself and follow simple directives.“

„Are you saying, you’re not able dealing with a confident woman?“ 

„I can deal with confidence, Mr. Schmidt. What I don’t tolerate is, when my assistant contradicts and put my requirements into question.“ 

„I see. Well, I just wanted to let you know, that I already arranged her re-employment. She’ll go back with me to Germany.“

„I’m surprised, that she changed her mind about going back home.“

„It’s not like she’s having a choice.“

There was a short pause. The imagination not seeing Eve ever again made JC feel sick.

„This conversation was confidential, Mr. Chasez. Have a great day.“ Christian said next. 

„Wait,“ JC stopped him from hanging up.

„Yes?“ 

„I’ll fix this.“

„How?“ 

„That’s not your business.“ 

Christian scoffed. 

„You really suck on a personal level. I hope you know that.“ 

„That’s also not your business.“ 

„I agree. But please take my well meant advice and reflect your own behavior, before claiming again, that Eve is the one who’s hard to handle.“