Part 1

She had only been at the job for a very short time and she was doing well as junior in accountant in the prestigious accounting firm. In prior positions she always fit in easily with most of the staff. This time she felt so alone. She just couldn't figure out how to build a bridge.

A colleque leaned into her office and asked Rosie a question, Rosie looked up and smiled sweetly answering the woman fully. The woman nodded briskly and left with barely a civil "Thank you," floating over a stiff shoulder on her way out of the door again.

Rosie rolled her eyes and pulled back from her desk leaning deeply into her comfortable chair. 'What the hell have I done to warrant this treatment?' She thought as she got up, took her purse off the hook by the door and left the office, quietly telling her only friend, Britt the receptionist, that she was going out to get a cup of coffee.

She briskly walked down the street to Starbucks mad as hell. She tried to keep it in, But she never felt so picked on in her life. She knew she shouldn't take it personally but she couldn't help but feel hurt. She walked up to the counter her face a mask of civility but her green eyes were ablaze in frustrated anger.

She ordered her coffee and sat down. She breathed deeply trying to calm herself down. When her name was called she hopped up got her coffee and sat down at her table again. She was in a corner and sipped her coffee savoring each sip as she slowly calmed herself down.

A tall shadow fell over her and she looked up into kind sky blue eyes. "Is this seat taken?" The beautiful stranger asked her with a smile.

Rosie was very surprised; She wasn't exactly giving off vibes of person inviting a guest. Also there were other seats available.

"You look like you could use a friend." The tall woman said quietly with a sweet smile.

Rosie suddenly found tears falling down her cheeks as nodded her head, "Yes, I do."

The other woman gracefully sat down and took a small delicate hand into her own elegant larger one, "Why are you crying?"

Rosie shook her head and tried to withdraw her hand but found it caught in a very strong grip.

"No, I'm not going to let you go yet. Please let me help you."The taller woman said calmly gently stroking the back of the distraught woman's hand.

Rosie swallowed a gulp of anxiety and look through teary eyes into the kind woman's warm blue eyes and then down to where her hand was gently be held and caressed, "Why?"

The other woman smiled sweetly and shrugged good naturally, "Why not?"

This for some unknown reason struck Rosie as funny. She laughed quietly and shook her head as if she were trying to clear it. Finally, to the other woman's amusement she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Yea, Why not? Um...you'll find it very childish..."

"I doubt you'd be so upset if this was a childish reaction to something."

Rosie nodded and took a breath, "I don't know why but I've been at my new job for 6 weeks and I'm still treated like a stranger. Not just a stranger but an intruder. I'm as nice to them as I can be and they still treat me like I don't exist...I...It hurts." She said lowering her head.

A gentle finger lifted the little chin and when she had the girls attention she suggested, "Maybe there jealous of you?"

"Why? I have nothing to be jealous of. Why on earth would they be jealous?"

"Oh, I think I see a few reasons why they could be jealous. You're smart and pretty to start with, and you're very good at your job on top of that. You work hard and you don't play office politics or games. That is someone to admire and unfortunately that creates jealousy. I... think your quite special." The woman finished with an embarrassed smile.

Rosie's mouth was wide open. She slowly started to close it and swallowed, "How could you know all that? You don't know me."

"True, but... I know your work, Rosie...Um...My name is Robin Peters and I own Peters and associates. We haven't met yet but.... I do know you." She finished and leaned over gently closing the mouth that had fallen open again with a sweet smile.

"How...I....How...."

Robin shook her head and her smile broadened, "I've been out of the country for three months. I heard alot of good things about you. When I returned yesterday I quietly observed the staff meeting from the back of the room. I saw how my staff was treating its newest member. I saw you storm out this morning and I decided to follow you. Please don't let petty jealously stop you from being yourself. You are a wonderful young woman with alot to offer and I'm very proud to have you on my staff." Robin finished with a large lopsided grin.

"Wow." Was all Rosie could say.

Robin laughed and said, "finish your coffee and well go the office together. I want you to be my new assistant, Rosie. There will be new responsibilities, And I'm afraid you will have to deal with me on a regular basis. Do you think you could do that? Would you want to?"There was an unconscience tension in Robin's question that even she was not aware of at the moment.

"Yes Ma'am." Rosie answered with a huge smile on her pretty face.

"Good girl, Now relax and tell me more about yourself. Anything you want, I'm interested in anything your willing to tell me." Robin leaned back into the booth and listened to Rosie launch into a mini-autobiography of herself. The young woman had a beautiful delighted smile on her face. Robin had a matching grin and listened to the soothing voice of her new employee and hopefully friend. 'Yep I'm going to enjoy getting to know her better.'

Robin Peters was relaxing in her plush apartment thinking about the last 24 hours. Only one thing she did was out of character but that one thing truly amazed her. She hired an assistant. She would never of admitted that she needed help under normal circumstances. These weren't normal circumstances. She had an unnamed deep need to keep Rosie close to her and that was the best she could think of under fire to come up quickly with an idea. This was the best and most professional way.

Her smile widened and she sipped her tea, 'Well not entirely professional' She thought to herself as she let the peach tea soothe her restless spirit.

The moment she saw how jealous staff was of the young blonde her instinct was to help and protect her. She put the brakes on herself from taking immediate action. She just watched as the down hearted young girl was treated like a respected leper.

She admired her strength and her ability to keep her grief private. Robin could see the hurt in sea green eyes and broke her heart. She was more then a little angry at her staff. She was out of sight in the back of the room as not only Rosie's suggestions were ignored but she was not even acknowledged by her coworkers. She decided that she would not put up with this. She watched the down hearted girl head to her office, her head down as if she had done something wrong.

Robin walked straight to Fred Brewer her manager and said briskly, "My office, now." Then she turned her back on him and strode into her palatial office with out another word.

Fred knocked and then entered Robin's office, "Hey Robin. I didn't even know you were back..."His voice trailed off as he saw the fire blazing in her ice blue eyes.

"Would you mind telling me why a qualified member of my staff is being treated like a leper?"

"What?" Robin breathed in a few calming breaths of air, "Not you personally, Fred, but why is Rosie Obrien being treated like she is some kind of disease and the rest of the staff are anti-bodies?"

"I...Uh...didn't notice." Fred stuttered embarrassed by his unusual treatment from his usually casual boss.

"Why the hell not? "The blue eyes flashed deepening to violet.

"I don't know. She does her job, she doesn't cause trouble. She didn't say any thing, Robin. I'm not a mind reader..."

"Don't you observe? What is the poor kid suppose to do? It's a new job. Is she suppose to say the other kids didn't want to play with her? Damn it, Fred. That's a talented woman. We'll lose her if this keeps up..."

"I'll call a staff meeting..." "No, you won't. You want to embarrass her further? No, let me handle it." She said turning toward her computer briskly. Uncharacteristically dismissing her manager with out a word.

Robin smiled as she took her tea cup and brought it into her kitchen. She knew she was already hooked then, She had never spoken to Fred that way before.

Then the next day she told the receptionist she wanted to speak to Rosie only to be told that the young woman had headed out for a cup of coffee.

She left briskly and she arrived at Starbucks to watch the angry young woman claim her coffee and take her seat. Robin shook her head at the irony of it all. The only thing she wanted to do was to keep her as an employee; To ask her to become her assistant came from pure impulse of the moment. She shut the dish washer and headed toward her bedroom to change into her bathing suit.

After she changed she slipped into the hot tub and relaxed. She tilted her head up and looked at the stars. She saw Rosie's face sparkling back at her in her imagination and she suddenly felt content for the first time in a long time. After seeing the young woman finally break down she knew she had to help her. The thumping of her heart as she held her in arms told her she wanted this girl close. So she made a quick excutive decision, against everything she stood for she did what she had to do, she asked the girl to become her assistant. She had no idea exactly what she was going to do with her, and yet, she knew deep inside that this abrupt decision was the best one she ever made in her whole life.

Rosie entered Peters and Associates a nervous wreck. She had only spent an hour and half with the CEO but she knew she would devote herself to the older woman's well being. She felt a deep connection with her and she was not capable of resisting its pull; to be honest she didn't want to. It was a strange but extremely wonderful feeling and she was glad it claimed her. So her butterflies today were born out of a deep desire to please her new boss instead of the feelings of rejection she had suffered from the day before.

She went through the lobby and headed toward her office only to be stopped by the receptionist,"Miss Obrien, Thats not your office anymore." Rosie looked like she was going to faint so the receptionist hurriedly followed her instructions, " Ms. Peters has reassigned your office. You are now in the office next to hers. Follow me, Ma'am."Rosie expression shifted form shock to astonishment. What Rosie didn't know was that Robin moved her into that office after she shuffled three officers of the company out of they're's to suitable ones till she was able to wangle the office next hers free for her new assistant. She wanted her new friend as close to her as possible, at all times.

Rosie shook her head as she peered through the door way at the huge room. "This can't be my office, Brit. Its too...too..."

"Beautiful, gorgeous, fantastic..stop me when I get close."Brit said with a smile at her shy friend. One of the few people that Rosie made a connection was the bright and cheerful receptionist who couldn't understand the rest of the staff's reaction to her sweet and shy friend. Robin had conspired with Brittany to get the office complete before the shy young woman showed up for work today. "What are you complaining about..."

"I'm not complaining, Brit. I'm simply overwhelmed. Its so...so...wow!"

"Your descriptive powers never fails to amaze me, my friend,"Said a quiet voice from behind them. There was an obvious smile in that tone.

"Oh Ma'am," Said Rosie blushing. Brit quickly excused herself leaving them alone in Rosie's new office. Robin smiled brightly and closed the door turning back she motioned with her arms, "Well, Do you like it?"

Rosie nodded her head, "Of course, I think its....well a bit...too nice for me. I mean I'm just a flunky and this..."

"You are not a flunky!" Robin said in low growl, There was dangerous tone of anger and the smile vanished off her face. "You are my excutive assistant, my right hand. I will not even allow you to think such horrid things about yourself."

"I...It...I'm so sorry." She stuttered as tears fell down the delicate cheeks," See I already messed up, Ma'am. I'm not right for this. I better resign..."

"Woa...wait," Robin was across the room and embracing the young woman in seconds. She stroked her hair and said quietly, "I'm not mad you. I don't want to you to leave. Please stop crying...I just can't stand to hear you put yourself down. Please stop, Rosie...Please," Robin pleaded as she felt tears going down her own cheeks. This astonished the CEO she hadn't cried in years.

Rosie did hear her words and started to breath deeply to calm to herself. She was more then comforted in the older woman's embrace she felt at peace in her arms. "I feel better. I'm sorry Ma'am..."

"First off call me Robin,"She said pulling back and using her hand to gently wipe the tears from the pretty green eyes. She smiled sweetly and said, "Secondly, I want you to know exactly what your getting yourself into here take a seat behind your new desk."

Before Robin could let go, Rosie hesitated and then gently wiped the tears from the pretty blue eyes with her hand and they smiled warmly at each other with out really knowing why. Rosie then withdrew reluctantly from the embrace and sat in her new desk chair. She was stunned by how comfortable it was and Robin's smiled broadened at the surprised look on her friends face.

"Comfy?" She asked in a teasing tone.

Rosie smile and nodded.

"Ok, Good," Robin began to pace resembling a sleek and sophisticated panther, "You are now my excutive assistant, you are no longer a simple accountant. I am grooming you for high management. Not manger, I mean a Vice President or a directorship of the company. I will now be your only boss. There is no one else that you will accept instructions from. I'm it. You are now my right arm and you will do all my liaison work. I will be trusting you with great responsibility. I know you will make mistakes. Don't worry I expect it your a human being. Your suppose to make mistakes what I want is that you learn from them. I want and expect you to come to me with questions. Only me. Do not , I repeat do not be afraid to admit you don't know something. I know that there will be things that will be completely new and will throw you."

Robin turned to look at Rosie and she had that expression again. The one of a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck. "Come on Rosie, You'll be fine. In fact I know you'll be more then fine, you'll be a natural."

Robin gracefully walked over to the guest chair and sat down and smiled at her pretty assistant and friend, "Now about me. I'm going to tell you right up front, my friend I'm a royal pain in the ass. I am moody and I have too quick a temper, but... I really believe in you and even if I'm angry with you for the moment please know its not real anger. Its pure reaction. Do you think you will be able to deal with that my young friend ? Oh and what ever you decide I want you to remain my friend, I mean it Rosie. Even if you don't work for me I want you to be my friend, What do you say?"

"I say yes...You really think of me as a friend?" She asked stunned.

"Yes, I really do."Robin replied with a shy smile.

"Wow."Robin chuckled and said, "Come on my friend, Lets get to work."

The next order of business was a staff meeting that Robin had called that morning. Rosie automatically walked to her customary place of leaning against the back wall. A strong hand wrapped itself around her arm gently holding her in place.

"Paul move over, "Said Robin indicating the empty chair next to the excutive. "Rosie, sit here," Rosie looked up at Robin in confusion,"Its now your permanent seat."Rosie nodded and sat down quietly folding her hands looking only at Robin. She really didn't want to see the rest of the staffs reactions to the CEO's directions.

Robin did watch everyone with narrowed ice blue eyes. The warmth that had been in them only seconds ago had now vanished. She sat down at the head of the conference table and her demeanor was now power and strength. All eyes turned to the boss and she saw confusion in all their eyes and anger in some too. 'Too bad,' She thought as she focused on the group that she was about to address. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I arrived home early this week to witness this weeks usual staff meeting. Do you know what I saw?"She looked directly in the eyes of each and every person who had patronized or ignored Rosie they flinched and she smiled feraly. Their boss was in a terminator mode and they all knew it. "I saw a member of my staff so badly mistreated that it mad me so mad I took my anger out on an innocent victim. I'm sorry Fred I really didn't mean to take it out on you." She smiled apologetically at Fred and he returned it and nodded. The smile just as swiftly disappeared as she continued, "Do you know what really had my blood boiling people? All her suggestions which you ignored were excellent. And instead of thanking her and using these excellent ideas you acted she wasn't even in the room!"

Robin stood now and began to pace, her voice got deeper and louder as she continued, "I can not and will not tolerate such disrespect. I have decided to do something about it. First Rosie Obrien is no longer a regular accountant she is now my excutive assistant. That basically means boys and girls the kid you were picking on now has the power to order you around." Robin's eyes strayed to Rosie who seemed to find her own hands fascinating. Inwardly her heart went out to her shy friend but this was necessary she wasn't going to allow Rosie to be treated that way anymore. "She won't treat you that way of course because its not a part of her character. She will be kind and fair, But please remember children when Rosie tells you do something you will do it. She now speaks for me and she answers only to me. If she tells you to jump off a cliff you will say "Yes Ma'am," She is now at that level. If I hear one of you question her authority then...Well lets just say it won't be Rosie who you will then be dealing with. Have I made myself clear, boys and girls?"

Nods all around the conference room led Robins to smile sweetly and say,"Good...Dismissed." She stood at the head of the table while everyone but she and Rosie left the room. The blonde had not looked up once during the meeting. Once the room cleared Robin walked over and closed and locked the door. She then walked over to Rosie and lifted her chin till she could see her eyes,"Hey, Come on look at me," Said Robin gently.

Rosie opened her eyes and Robin was faced with two red tear-filled green eyes, looking up at her. Robin now warm blue eyes held hers concern, "Get up please?"

Rosie got up and Robin sat down and patted her lap. Rosie's eyes widened and Robin smiled sweetly, "Come on, I want to comfort you and I was hurting my knees on the floor."Rosie nodded shyly and timidly sat in the taller woman's lap. Robin embraced the smaller woman and gently wiped the tears. She then pulled her closer and stroked her hair, she whispered quietly into the ear by her mouth, "Its ok to cry, but could you tell me why?"

Rosie felt so comforted that she slowly stopped crying. She answered her friend in voice choked with emotion,"You did all that for me, Why? I don't understand what you see in me that no one else does. I'm grateful but I'm confused...I'm also nervous about facing all those people..."

"They're the ones who are nervous, my friend. They do not want to face my wrath. Believe me you have only seen a tiny touch of it. You probably will never face my full wrath but they know the full force of it. As for the other part... I already told you, I see a smart, talented, creative woman with great ideas. This woman has a heart the size of the Grand Canyon and for some strange reason has compassion toward people who treated her like crap. You are something else, Rosie Obrien, I'm glad your on my team and I'm even more grateful that your my friend."

The little blonde turned her head and teary green eyes met sweet blue ones, "Wow."

Robin laughed and hugged Rosie even tighter, "Those descriptive powers are at work again. Come on my friend, I have a bunch of new projects to get started on..." She was interrupted as Rosie brought her closer and whispered in her ear, "Thank you for every thing....especially for being my friend."

"Best friend," Said Robin stroking the blonde hair.

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Wow," Robin laughed and pulled back. She smiled into gentle green eyes and kissed her forehead. "Come on, Lets get to work."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Yeash, Robin." "Yeash Robin, not just Robin?"

"Smart Alec," Robin replied chuckling, delighted her friend was starting to relax enough to tease her. She then opened the door and indicated with her head that she should go first, "Thats much better by the way, keep up the good work,"She said as she lead her best friend toward the excutive suite with a huge smile on her face.

To Be Continued...