The following day, I go to work, trying to forget what happened with my boss. I tried making sense of everything and why he acted the way he did, but kept coming up blank. I couldn’t get any sleep last night because of him, and I hope I won’t have a lot to do today at work. I’m already feeling tired, and my day just started. I stop at Starbucks to get coffee on my way. I feel like drinking coffee not made by me. I join the line when I enter the coffee shop and wait for my turn. I use my phone to pass the time. “Eleanor,” a voice says from in front of me. I raise my head up, and a smile graces my lips when I see who it is. “Alex,” I say, smiling. I’m happy to see him. We’ve been talking a lot on the phone since the day I sent him a thank you message for the flowers. He is a really fun person to chat with. “How’re you doing?” “I’m good, and you?” “I’m good. I can’t believe you’re here. This is one place I never thought I’d run into you.” “Why’s that?” “Because you are a billion
Later in the day, around three in the afternoon, I receive a call from Evan. “Hello, Eleanor,” he says when I answer. “How are you doing, Evan?” “I was doing great until my cousin called, yelling and asking me why I was distracting you at work with flowers.” “He did what?” I ask, shocked. “You heard me right, Eleanor, and you know what made it funnier?” “No,” I say, wondering what horrible thing Mr. Crawford said. I can't believe he called Evan yelling. How do flowers at work make me distracted? “It’s especially funny because I don't recall sending you flowers today. So I don't understand why he’s accusing me.” “I’m so sorry, Evan. I didn’t think he would call you about the flowers. I lied and used your name.” “It's fine, Eleanor. If you don't mind me asking, who would send you flowers that would make you have to lie?” “Alex.” “Alex? Alexander Lewis?” “Yes, him.” “Now it makes sense why you told him they were from me.” Evan must also know about the fallout between Alex a
A few days have gone by since Mr. Crawford's kindness toward me. I thought things were going to change after that day, but who was I kidding? I knew nothing was going to change, but I was still hoping it would. I need to stop thinking about Mr. Crawford. I’m on a date with Alex, and he should be the one on my mind, not my boss. “You like the food?” Alex asks, smiling. He has a charming smile. “I do. This place is beautiful,” I say, admiring the classy restaurant. We’re having dinner on a rooftop. He picked me up half an hour ago. I’m wearing a black plunge midi dress with a sweetheart neckline and a side split. “I’m happy you like it. Tell me more about yourself,” he sounds genuinely interested to know more about me. I give him a brief history, and he does the same. He tells me about how he and Mr. Crawford grew up together. They were best friends for more than ten years. He didn't tell me what caused them to stop being friends. It made me more curious to find out what caused the
It’s been a few hours since he yelled at me in his office and I haven’t seen or spoken to Mr. Crawford since. I’m more than grateful for the reprieve. I’m getting ready to go out and have lunch with Evan. He called earlier and said he’d be in the area, so he wanted to meet up. I’m getting up from my desk when I knock a file off accidentally. I bend down to pick it up, and someone speaks to me. “Where’re you going?” Vivienne asks. She must’ve seen my handbag on the table. I always keep my purse under my desk during working hours. I also hardly go out to lunch, opting instead to eat here at the office. We have a cafeteria, and the food isn’t bad. “I have a lunch date,” I say, lifting my head from under the table. Mr. Crawford is standing in front of my office and the glare he sends me makes me want to pee my pants. What did I say wrong now? “Who’s the unlucky man?” Vivienne asks. “It’s not that type of lunch date. We’re just friends going to lunch,” I hope Mr. Crawford believes me
Mr. Jason and I had a nice ride which was surprising to me. I don't know why he didn't let Evan take me on the ride instead, but at least he did not say or do anything annoying to me. I heard him mutter something to himself while we were riding, but his words didn't make any sense as always. He said,"I can't have another man close to you like that."If I didn't know better, I would say he sounds like a jealous boyfriend who wants no guy around his girlfriend.We are back in the stables. Mr. Jason is placing his horse, a black mustang, back in her place for the night. We are about to walk out of the stables when I hear voices outside. They belong to Amber and Evan, and it seems they are arguing about something. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I decide to stay back inside the stables and wait for them to finish discussing while listening to what they are saying."It was a mistake. You should forget about it," Amber says"I can't, and I kn
Amber and I are at the mall shopping. I know Mr. Jason would disapprove of the places I bought my clothes from today. As much as I like the store, he sent me too. I can’t go there to buy my everyday clothes.After shopping for a few hours, Amber and I head to the food court to find something to eat.“You seemed distracted while we were shopping. What is on your mind?” Amber says while eating her food. We ordered our food a few minutes ago and are seated eating.“I was thinking of Mr. Jason while we were shopping. That’s why I was distracted. His new weird behavior these days is making me go crazy. I can’t stop wondering what is causing him to behave the way he does these days.”“How is he behaving?”I tell Amber all the weird things Mr. Jason has been doing or saying to me these past few weeks.“Everything you just told me proves my point from last time. Your boss likes you.”
I rushed to work the following day because my laptop was misbehaving last night, so I haven't emailed the documents to Mr. Jason. Rushing to get to the elevator from the lobby, someone also rushing like me pushes me on their way out of the elevator and knocks out all the papers in my hands."Oh my God, Mr. Jason is going to kill me if I lose one of these documents," I say and quickly pick up the papers from the floor. While picking up the documents, I see a pair of men's shoes helping me, and I wonder who this kind gentleman is. With his help, I am able to get all the papers off the floor faster."Thank you," I say to the kind gentleman that helped me, but I take back my words once I see who he is."I won't kill you unless you are not done with what I asked you to do," Mr. Jason says, handing me the last piece of document.His words scared me to the bone. I swallowed a big lump that formed in my throat. I have only done half of the work he asked me
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” I ask when the waiter clears my plate and serves my dessert. I waited until after the main course to ask Alex what he wanted to tell me. “Nothing. I just needed an excuse to take you out,” he says, smiling because he has succeeded in his mission. “Really?” I don't know why but I think it’s cute he lied to get me to go out with him. I missed him. “Yes, and I’m not sorry I did. I missed you, and I wanted to see you by all means,” he says, taking my hand. He rubs smoothening patterns on it. I look at him, and I can tell he’s speaking the truth. “I’m sorry I’ve been avoiding you,” I say, smiling. It feels nice to know he missed me. “It's fine. Can you tell me what I did to cause it?” “As I said earlier, you didn't do anything wrong.” “I don't think that's possible. Things were great between us. Then suddenly you ghost me. I must’ve done something.” “Trust me, you didn't do anything wrong.” “Really?” “Yes, you didn't.” “If I didn't d