Page 19 of Like a Boss

By letting go, I’ve never felt freer. I’ve never felt happier because much as I hate to admit it, Scott cheating on me didn’t come as a surprise. Yes, the person he cheated on me with was a surprise, but the action itself was long overdue. We were kids when we got together, and I could see him losing interest in us every day.

Still lost in thought, I don’t hear my phone chime but rather feel it vibrate against my leg. Reaching for it, I see I have a text from Mr. Fox.

How are those files coming along?

I jolt up in my seat, almost falling onto my ass. Quickly looking from left to right, I let out a sigh of relief when I see that the coast is clear.

Almost done.

Which is a complete lie.

He replies almost instantly.

I’m most pleased. Ensure the Cheing file goes out first thing tomorrow morning. 7 am.

I salute at his demand, thankful he can’t see me. Or can he?

He responds a moment later.

Thank you

I’m beyond paranoid being in here, as I’m afraid he’ll decide to pay me an impromptu visit to ensure I’m not snooping on his personal belongings—which is exactly what I’m doing.

Carefully wheeling his chair back to where it was sitting, I rearrange the files so they’re sitting perfectly straight. Takingone last look around the sterile office, which smells like the inside of a citrus cleaning spray bottle, I have an idea.

Creeping across the soft beige carpet, I stop at his bookshelf and run my finger over the spines of the alphabetically placed volumes. Tiger needs to let go and live. Being this disciplined is so boring.

Closing my eyes, I whisper under my breath, “Eeny…” Blindly running my finger along the spines of leathered books, I begin my devious scheme. “Meeny… miny…” I squiggle my finger downward and stop at a random book. “Moe.”

My eyes snap open as I’m curious to see what my finger landed on. I can’t help but chuckle when I see the book in question isMoby Dick.

Carefully pulling it out, I scan through the other various tedious titles, deciding thatMoby Dickshould be acquainted with Edward and Bella. Defiantly, I run over to my desk and riffle through my bag to find my tattered copy ofTwilight.

Skipping back into his office, I slide the book into the place whereMoby Dickonce sat. “You need a little revolt in your perfect, organized life,sir.” I grin, pleased with my uprising. I wonder how long it’ll take for Tiger to sniff out the anarchy.

And more importantly, what he’ll do once he does.

The next morning, I walk into Fox Technologies nursing my tall cappuccino like it’s my lifeline. It took me half the night, but I did it. I got everything Mr. Fox wanted done, and I totally aced it.

I vaguely listen to Hannah as she suggests we go out Friday night for drinks with a few coworkers. “Sure, Han, sounds fun.”

She latches on to my arm while I almost trip over my heels. When she touches my forehead, I shrink away. “Quit it.”

I laugh quietly, looking around the office to ensure no one saw.

“Sorry, I was just making sure you felt okay.”

“Ha, ha, very funny,” I mock, stopping outside my office.

“I’ll see you for lunch?”

“If I’m allowed out of my prison, then yes,” I tease, half joking.

Hannah smirks. She turns to leave but stops. “Oh, nice shoes.”

Looking down at my shoes, which have been dubbed “the shoes,” I can’t keep the banter from my tone when I reply, “They keep me on my toes.”

“That they do,” she responds with a wink.

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