Lionel
Pettigrew is a genius, but he doesn't usually come across as one. In
fact, he's so scattered, he usually appears like a moron. Mostly,
that doesn't matter, but when a beautiful brunette is waiting in his
office, he doesn't make a very good first impression.
He
entered the sanctity of his office, sighing happily as he leaned
against the closed door. It took a few moments to realize he wasn't
alone after all. Someone sat in a chair in front of his desk. He
stared, mouth agape.
"I
let myself in," the young woman said quietly. "I'm sorry.
Your assistant said it was okay."
"Assistant?"
"The
girl out front when I got here. She said you were in a meeting and I
should have a seat."
Jackie—pretending
to be his grad assistant again. Wishful thinking on her part. She was
an idiot who thought that flaunting her tits would get her through
his class.
"Did
you need to see me?" He wandered in the general direction of his
cluttered desk, setting things in random spots as he passed.
"I'm
your new research assistant," she said quietly. "Arista
Lockhart." She leaned across the desk, her hand extended.
Lionel,
whose right hand was still full, handed her the object instead of
shaking her hand. Arista gazed at his left shoe with a puzzled frown.
He took the shoe, dropping it on the floor beside his desk. After
rubbing his hand on the seat of his brown corduroy pants, he took her
hand.
"Research
assistant? I've got one of those?"
"Don't
you?"
"I
didn't think so. But they could have given me one and not told me. Or
they could have told me...." His voice trailed off
uncomfortably. "And your name is?"
"Arista,"
she pronounced slowly. "Lockhart."
"Like
the small spikes on grain," he said with a grin, making pointy
fingers like spikes.
"I'm
sorry?"
"Your
name. The little spikes on wheat—they're called Arista. Or some
kinds of insect antennae.... Uh...."
She
gave him a very puzzled frown. "If you say so."
"So,
research—um—assistant?" Lionel cleared his throat, frowning.
"Doctor
Murphy said it was all arranged. You requested an assistant? I
thought the other girl might be."
"No.
She wouldn't know how to go about research. Do you?"
"Do
I what?"
"Know
how to research?"
"Depends
on the subject, but yes, I'm fairly proficient. I'm here to learn how
to do it better." A strained smile pasted itself on her lips.
"Doctor Murphy had the impression it was imperative that I start
immediately."
"Oh!
Oh. I wonder when I requested you."
"Less
than three weeks ago. You walked in, told him you needed a research
assistant immediately and left. He got me as fast as he could...."
"Oh.
How odd. I wonder what I was thinking?"
"But
you do need me?"
"I'm
sure I do. I must, if I asked for you."
"Excuse
me, Mr. Pettigrew."
"Doctor,"
he corrected.
"What?"
"Doctor
Pettigrew. Not—not Mister. Doctor." He gestured feebly with
his hands. Scratching his head, he twirled some hair around his
finger.
Arista
tried very hard not to roll her eyes. She almost succeeded. "Right.
We need to talk about what my duties are."
"I'll
have to figure that out, Miss... Um...." The scent of her
perfume had finally drifted over to his sensitive nostrils. It was
sweet, sultry, enticing—a little spicy. He found it very hard to
concentrate.
"Lockhart.
Are you okay? You seem really distracted."
"I'm
fine. Just fine Miss—Miss Lockhart," he said slowly and
deliberately. "I have to figure out what I needed you for, then
I can tell you what I want."
"Are
you always like this?"
"Like
what?" He gathered up a handful of loose papers, trying to stack
them. He failed, scattering them all over the floor. Lionel stared at
them helplessly.
Miss
Lockhart rose, gathering the papers on her side of the desk. Her
skirt was short, but not alarmingly so. It was soft, dark chocolate
fabric that clung to her hips, flaring at her knees. Her long legs
were shapely, encased in some sort of patterned tights. Her top was a
rich, rose pink with a high neck and long sleeves. A matching brown
jacket was draped over the back of her chair.
Lionel
took all this in as she picked up papers. He fumbled awhile with
those on his side of the desk, wondering who she was and where she
came from.
"I
bet if you told me what projects you're working on, we could figure
out what you need me for." Her voice was slightly muffled
because she faced away from him, still picking up his papers.
Grabbing
the last page from the floor, she straightened up and went through
them, putting them in order. Fortunately, they seemed to be numbered.
Lionel didn't realize he was staring until her eyes met his with an
unnerving, withering glare.
"They
match your skirt," he babbled, not realizing he'd said it aloud.
"Excuse
me?"
"Your—um—your
eyes." He cleared his throat again. "Match." He waved
his hand between his eyes and his pants, indicating they matched her
skirt.
She
cut her eyes at him suspiciously. What's with this guy? Is he
retarded or what? "Your project," she said patiently.
"I—I'm
between projects at the—at the moment." Dammit! He
thought he'd conquered that stammer. Indulging in mental profanity,
he cleared his throat again.
"Coffee?"
he asked suddenly.
"What?"
"Want
some coffee?"
"Do
you want me to get you some?" She looked around in confusion.
"No.
No, I can make some. I won't drink what they produce down in the
lounge. It reeks of chemicals. Mine's organic."
"You
a vegan?"
"No."
He looked puzzled, then his frown cleared. "No. I don't trust
the crap they put in coffee. Never know where it's been."
"Organic
is grown in manure," she said politely.
"But
at least we know where that's been." He laughed rather
awkwardly.
©
2016 Dellani Oakes
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