Page 3 of The Sweetmate
“Simpleton.” He gives me a cocky grin.
I loathe that nickname. He started calling me that after he determined I was a ‘simple girl.’ However apt the name is since I dress and live a simple life, I still find it insulting. There’s nothing wrong with the fact that I get overstimulated by clutter and outfits with too many patterns. One might argue that instead of being simple, it’s called being a minimalist.Jerk.
“Good morning, Mr. Pharms,” I say cheerily, as though he didn’t just offend me.
“Why do you insist on calling me Mr. Pharms? We’re family.”
How could I forget? This is today’s second reminder.
“We’re at work,” I tell him with a strained smile.
“You know, at first I was into it, the whole Mr. Pharms thing, but now I realize you say it in an… almost condescending manner. It’s too formal. It’s like you’re fucking ashamed to know me.”
My eyebrows pull together as I try to find the logic in what he’s saying. He’s completely misunderstood me and I can’t grasp where he’s even coming from with these accusations. The whole being into me calling him by his last name is even more confusing, because that’s being respectful and a completely normal thing to do in the workplace.
“It’d be inappropriate to call you by your first name.”
Kind of like how inappropriate it is that he calls meSimpletonand uses foul language at work.
“Inappropriate,” he murmurs.
I try to appease him. “Disrespectful to your position as manager.”
His body relaxes and a smile tugs at the corner of his lips. I want to snarl and ask him who’s the simpleton now. All it tookto calm him down was feeding his ego. I’ve yet to understand why he’s fixated on us having a friendly relationship. It’s not as though we come from a close family. I barely know Hadassah, so why form a bond with her husband? Did Mom call him, too?
He crosses his arms and leans forward on the partition of my cubicle. “You are so determined not to step outside of your little box. But it’d only benefit you. In multiple ways.”
“Pardon me?”
“You’re so smart yet so dense.” He shakes his head and scoffs. “Such a simpleton,” he says before he strolls away.
I settle in for another dull morning of responding to emails when Sterling, the guy whose cubicle I share a partition with, pops his head over.
“This is painful, and I can’t take another day of you being oblivious.”
I’m not bothering anyone, why is everyone determined to insult my intelligence today? “Pardon?”
“He’s trying to sleep with you.”
“Ew. No. You’re mistaken. He’s…” I don’t want to say I’m connected to the manager in any way, but I don’t want salacious rumors spreading. “He’s married to my cousin.”
Heat spreads across my face as he looks at me with sympathy—or is that pity? “Wow. You’re precious. But be as that may, he still wants to have sex with you, married or not. Kourt has slept with plenty of people in this office. He’s not going to promote you until he’s slept with you. You’ve only made this more fun for him. That man loves a challenge.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I listen to conversations in the break room. I can give you a list of the ones who got their promotions and how. Being related to his wifeandan employee, you’re doubly forbidden. Plus, you’ve resisted him for longer than anyone else ever has. Congratulations, you’ve become his greatest challenge.”
Kourt has being having affairs? That’s not my business. Like I said, we’re not close. But standing in the way of my promotion? No.No, no, no.This can’t be true. I’m his in-law. This is an abuse of authority. Betrayal to the family. Nobody is that disgusting and manipulative.
My chair rolls back as I stand up. “Well, that’s not how I’m going to get my promotion.”
Sterling shrugs but doesn’t look convinced.
“I’ll quit before that,” I tell him. “Worst case, I’ll see about getting a transfer to a different department.”
Sterling raises his eyebrows and looks at me like I’m a five-year-old who just told him I’m going to do a trick. “Good luck. Kourt Pharms has been here a long time and holds a lot of influence.”
I hurry down the corridor to Kourt’s office. It’s not in my nature to be rude, but I storm past his secretary without even casting her a glance. I barge into his office and stand in front of his desk with my hands clasped in front of me.
