PA to Love: Women Loving Women

By Susie Ray

Two stories of Women loving Women

PA to Love – Cassie is hired as Blake's Personal Assistant, so that Blake can concentrate on her wedding to her fiancé James. So, how is it that after a boozy kiss in Paris, between Blake and her PA, that it's James who is encouraging her to try another kiss?

Add another trip to Paris, to the mix, and something is bound to give…

 

Makronissos - is the perfect place for four girls to rediscover themelves, although maybe not in the manner things turned out…

• Language: English
• Publisher: S-Ray Press
• Release date: May 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223745402

Susie Ray

Susie Ray Author bio I love to read and lose myself in stories conjured up by the written word – I am a mature individual, but I can still recall love’s first sweet kiss and the sting of rejection; the elation of being brought alive, by another’s caress, or tender words. I write sapphic stories for my own pleasure as well as hopefully that of the reader, and my head is full of ideas and storylines that are desperate to be shared. Admittedly, it was a freebie, but the first sapphic tale I read, left me feeling wanting and empty. I thought ‘I could do better than that’, and I did! My stories draw on a lifetime of experiences and places I have visited, so there is always a piece of ‘me’ in them. My preference is for short stories; tales, in bite-size portions, although some topics, simply require a novella to do them justice. I feel my writing skill has improved and grown with me over time and I am pleased to offer some of my work for your pleasure. Come lose yourself for a while, like I do when I’m writing…

Book preview

PA to Love

Blake

T hank-you for attending Mrs Jackson, I’ll be in touch in the next day or so! I try not to let my disappointment show.

I have to hope the final candidate measures up better than the first three – they were okay, but that’s just it – I was looking for a PA better than okay. Perhaps I judge others by my own high standards, and no, I haven’t a bloated ego – I am a successful entrepreneur with a proven track record, and I’m expanding. Relatively speaking I’m still one of only a handful, a woman in a man’s world, and I’m rightly proud of what I have achieved by the age of thirty-three.

Mom, would have been proud, strike that, she was proud of me, even though I hadn’t made it when she passed – she was my inspiration – the driving force in our family. Dad’s alright, especially at the fun things, but he’s lost without Mom around to nudge him in the right direction...

Anyway, back to the matter at hand; I have re-read the applicant’s CV – quite impressive for a twenty-five-year-old. She even went to my old Alma Marta, a good sign, but it concerns me that she didn’t continue her education and get her degree, as I had, and the vast majority of students from the old school, did. Her results are impressive enough to do so. That’s the only blot I can see – I just don’t want someone who lacks ambition, as my PA. I tidy the papers on my desk and head for the door.

Ms Cassandra Black, please! I announce, although she’s the only one sitting there.

First impressions, as she stands and heads towards me with her outstretched hand at the ready, are favourable – smart and suitably turned out and her profile picture doesn’t do her justice – she’s much prettier in the flesh.

Hello, Ms Black, I’m Blake Portman, and I’m pleased to meet you! Her handshake is good, firm without trying to crush my fingers.

"You too, Ms Portman, please call me Cassandra, or Cassie if you prefer.! Her voice matches her looks.

Blake, please Cassie. She passed the first test and asked me to call her by her given name, unlike the last candidate.

I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, but hopefully, I’ve saved the best ‘til last. I flash her one of my best smiles – the kind I usually reserve for important clients.

She responds well, My pleasure – I just hope I don’t disappoint.

We run through her previous employment, and she satisfies me that she’s not a flitter, dashing from one job to the next, chasing the big pay-check, and during this we seem to have made a connection, which is unusual for me – I normally take longer to warm to strangers – a good sign?

I broach my concern, Your school results were impressive Cassie, were you not tempted to continue your education? I feel nosy, but it’s a valid question.

I’ve struck a chord, of that I’m sure – her face is a giveaway, It was always my intention to go for a degree, but my mother became ill and needed caring for so I decided to put my ambition on hold, to look after her – my father left when I was very young, so there was only me to step up. Her illness lasted far longer than either of us realised it would, but thankfully, she’s all-clear now and has been for two years, which is a blessing. Cancer is such a god-awful disease!

And you worked a full-time job, as well as caring for your mother? I’m impressed, but now, I really felt nosy.

We had bills to pay... Her voice falters and fades.

I didn’t expect to be saying this today, I lost my Mom to ovarian Cancer, so I know some of what you must have gone through – my Dad is still going strong, but he misses the love of his life...

I felt even more of a connection, now, and I have almost made up my mind to offer her the job, but we’re not done yet.

What do you know of me, if anything? I’m keen to see if she has done any research.

Well, Blake, I know that you are a self-starter and have had your own business for nearly four years, and by all accounts, it’s going from strength to strength. You back, up and coming people with good ideas, helping them get started, for a share in their business, both home and in France, I believe. She clearly has.

Let me tell you a little more – my fiancé, is urging me to name the day and with the wedding to organize, as well, as you rightly said, business is booming. I can’t do it all on my own anymore, and I’m looking for help in the guise of a PA. Do you think, you could be that help, and if so, do you have any questions? I gave her the short version.

I think we could work well, together – our personalities, don’t appear to clash. The salary you offered seems generous. When were you looking to appoint someone? Cassie couldn’t think of any further questions, and she hoped she wasn’t too presumptuous in her statement.

When can you start? An even better smile this time.

Cassie answers, A week on Monday – does that mean...?

Yes, the job’s yours if you want it? I feel good that I’ve managed to resolve my immediate needs. Something else occurs to me, It’s not a deal-breaker, but I see your typing speed isn’t particularly fast?

She smiles, Would you believe the first company I worked for, still used typewriters and I learned quickly that accuracy is far more important than speed.

Just so, Cassie, and I’m not exactly looking for a typist, either, but some typing is inevitable! I explain my question, not that I needed too, I just felt I should.

We shook hands on the deal and I showed her out, happy with my choice – all I have to do is notify the other applicants that they were unsuccessful, and I look forward to working with Cassie, very soon.

Cassie

HOW DID IT GO, DEAR? Mom asks, the moment I step through the doorway. Do I read from your expression, that it went well?

Better than well, Mom – I start a week on Monday, and the salary is almost double what I’m getting now, so no more struggling with the bills, okay? I know Mom worries, but at the same time, I’m glad that I like Blake – the money is incidental.

Mom hugs me, I’m so pleased for you and that Blake had the common sense to offer you the job. What’s he like?

He is a she, Mom, and a very stunning one at that. She’s a strong woman, who knows what she wants, and where she’s heading! I correct her.

You go for strong women, don’t you, pet? Mom is also my best friend and she knew I was gay, before even, I think, I did.

She’s straight, Mom – getting married to a guy. That’s one of the reasons she’s hiring, so you have no worries there! She does worry about me, though, no matter how much I reassure her.

Even better. Did you tell her you can speak French? Mom asks, because I told her of the French connection.

I tell her, No, it never came up, but it’s in my CV, and from what she said, I think she studied it well, before the interview.

With Mom reassured, and happy for me, I sit at my laptop and type my resignation letter, to hand in first thing tomorrow – I don’t know how my boss will take it – he’s an odd one, difficult to predict, and I just want to have my letter available, just in case. I shall sleep well tonight, as I feel I have the world at my feet...

Mr Jenkins – we never did get on first name terms, must be in a bad mood, which isn’t helped by my resignation, and he tells me to clear my desk immediately, and he will post anything I’m due including my P45. I feared he might take it like this – apparently, he did with his last secretary, too, and she only lasted six months, before she couldn’t stand it anymore. At least I have over a year’s service to my credit, and I do mean, credit. Mr Jenkins wasn’t an easy man to work for, even without believing some of the stories that abound, about him.

Mom’s happy to have me home early on a Friday, and she knows all about my awkward boss, albeit from what I have told her and the number of times he made me work late doing things, he should have done. The house-phone rings, and Mom likes to field all the calls, so I let her.

It’s for you dear, someone called, Portman! She hands me the receiver.

My face drops in case it’s bad news – I haven’t that much self-confidence, out of the work environment,

Hello, Blake – is everything alright? I ask.

Hi Cassie, yes – everything’s fine. I just wondered if you might be free tomorrow? I have an urgent meeting in Paris that’s popped up, out of the blue, and I wondered if you might be free to accompany me? We should be there and back in a day, and if not, it’s no hardship having to spend a night in the City of Lights, is it?

I’m hoping I can remember where to find my passport, Yes, that would be wonderful. What else could I say?

Great, I’ll send my car to pick you up at eight am tomorrow. See you then!

I was a bit down after the affair with my boss, but suddenly I’m almost floating – I’m so high. I fill Mom in and yes, she knows where my passport is – the only thing she can say is,

You call your new boss, Blake?

I have much to do between now and the morning – making sure my best outfit is pressed and ready, and I better pack a bag, just in case...

It’s no chore to be up and ready when Blake’s car arrives and she is waiting inside.

Thank-you for doing this – I thought it might give you a chance to see my business first hand, and for us to get to know each other, better, in pleasant surroundings. Are you still okay for a week on Monday, to start? She enquires.

Actually, my old boss didn’t take kindly to my resignation and he had me clear my desk, right away. I wondered if I should have been so honest in case, she thinks