Page 84 of The Boss and the Wedding Mess
"And if she wasn’t married?" I ask. My heart beats faster. Is he secretly in love with her?
“Nothing would happen then either. She’s just not my type. Even before, she was more like a little sister to me.” He says it so indifferently that I almost believe him. But then he grins and asks: “Areyou jealous?”
"This ends now, Alex. I'm never sleeping with you again, is that clear? I want to do my job, and I want to do it well. Do you understand that? I need this job. Unlike you, I can't afford to be unemployed. Getting into bed with you was a stupid idea. Today was the last time. Please, let’s just keep this professional. You’re my boss. I’m your assistant. Nothing more.” Saying it hurts terribly. So much that tears spring to my eyes again. “Okay? Can you please treat me fairly when we’re at work tomorrow?”
I think Alexander finally realizes I’m serious.
“Of course.” He straightens and looks thoughtful.
“Thank you.” I take a deep breath and open the car door wider so I can get in. The engine is still running, so I only need to close the door and fasten my seatbelt. Alexander steps aside to let me drive away and only then do I allow myself to cry again.
No—this feels wrong. But just because my heart feels this way doesn’t mean it’s right. I need to listen to my head, and it’s telling me to drive home. Alone.
Once in my apartment, I immediately call Vanessa. We still have quite a lot to discuss.
“I’m so glad I can talk to you about this,” I sob, curling up on the couch under a blanket. Even though it’s far too warm, it feels like it’s hugging me.
“What will you do if things get awkward at work?” she asks.
“I should probably start looking for a new job now,” I admit. “This is only going to cause problems; I can feel it. And the probation period isn’t long. He could fire me any day.”
“How much have you saved?”
“Enough. I could live off my savings for two or three years, but that’s not what they’re for.” I sigh. “I’d better start looking at job listings now. It’s always smart to have a Plan B.”
“Sad but true. But hey, look at it this way: You’re damn good at your job, and in an interview, you can easily explain why you want to leave. The old boss was great, but his son unfortunately isn’t. If it were still your old boss, it probably wouldn’t sound convincing. But thanks to the change, I think your explanation makes perfect sense.”
“Yes, you’re right.” I pull my laptop out from under the coffee table and open it. “I’ll get back to you when I find something good.”
“And if anything else comes up, call me, okay? Or text.”
“I will, I promise.”
Without Vanessa, I would be completely helpless and lost. She’s the only one I can talk to about these things.
I spend the entire evening searching through companies. As it turns out, there are four current openings that might work. One pays less, but it’s close to where I live and the hours are good. Two are similar to my current position, and the fourth pays significantly more but also demands much more work.
On impulse, I update my application documents and submit them to all four companies just after midnight.
I feel much better now.
After that, I go to bed. The day has been long enough, and I’ve cried twice. Probably just because it’s Monday.
Has anything good ever happened on a Monday?
The next morning, I arrive at the office a little earlier. When Alexander comes in, everything feels calm, polite, and formal. We greet each other, I bring him coffee and sort his documents. There’s no sign of yesterday in his behavior, which reassures me at first.
The day passes smoothly. I spend lunch alone, and in the late afternoon Mr. Blackthorn Senior stops by for a few meetings with the department heads.
Since I’m on my phone, I check my emails occasionally. No replies yet, but I don’t want to stress myself about it.
The days pass, and by the end of the week there’s still no response. But things between Alexander and me remain calm and professional. I’ve already helped him several times and started organizing apartments and houses for his employees from the States. The lists are ready, so I’m in contact with each of them and now know exactly what they’re looking for. Handling all of this is genuinely fun, and even Alexander has had nothing but praise. His employees have already spoken positively about me, saying how well cared for they feel—well, that’s nice to hear.
“Ah, that would be wonderful,” says one of the programmers I’m in touch with because of her dog. “And I was already thinking he’d have to be in quarantine for weeks.” She breathes a sigh of relief.
“No, it won’t take long—just a few hours, as long as all the documents are ready.” I’m genuinely happy for her.
“My husband and I have already looked at the options you found for us, and we’re thrilled. Also, a little scared and nervous, but really thrilled. It’s going to change a lot and turn our lives upside down, but…” She hesitates briefly. “Did you know that none of us on the team have ever worked at a big company?”
