Assistant subculture is also full of arts majors and manager wannabes looking for the next step up.
For some reason subordinates think their boss's assistant, being of lower rank, is technically their subordinate. She's on HIS team, not yours. She hears the conversations, what the next big plan is, what's being cut, who cosying up to who. That's why there's a Secretary's Day, but there's no Nurse's Day or Fireman's Day. You might not like to know how much she's actually making compared to you.