Page 24 of My Forbidden Boss

“Don’t worry, it’s a common misconception. Lots of people make the same mistake. When Darwin said, ‘survival of the fittest,’ he wasn’t talking about strength or how fast you could run. First of all, evolution doesn’t have anything to do with the individual. One person can’t be more physically fit than another, not on an evolutionary basis, because it’s all about the species, not the individuals within it. People don’t evolve – only a species can. It’s about changes in generations, not individuals.”

I paused but could see that I should just get it over with.

“That ties into the next part: Darwin wasn’t talking about physical fitness. Not at all, actually. ‘Fitness’ in the evolutionary sense, is all about reproduction. Survival of the fittest has nothing to do with the survival or success of the strongest or the fastest. It’s the survival of the strongest reproducers, the fastest reproducers. The species that reproduces the best will survive.”

Hollis was understandably quiet as he first processed what I was saying, then tried to double back to what he had initially said.

I was curious to see what his reaction would be. Yes, he was obviously an attractive man… When he brought up his love of working out, I would be lying if I hadn’t glanced over his figure, not minding one millisecond wasted in the meantime. But, no matter how godlike his barrel chest and broad shoulders might be, his arrogance and careless self-importance were too much for a first meeting. He had acted like I was expected to fall at his feet, worshiping him – because he was a good boss? Because the owner of the company I worked for was easy on the eyes? I was curious to see how that initial impression changed when he was faced with a different kind of mirror… one for humility, not hubris.

I was surprised as his expression ultimately changed. He smiled warmly and looked up from the desk, catching my eye with a look of humor and embarrassment, but also respect and intensity.

“Alice was right about you.”

The concept, coming from him, completely caught me off guard. “What? What do you mean, she was right about me?”

He shrugged, totally relaxed as he laced his big hands behind his head and swiveled in his chair, stretching out his legs and crossing his ankles beside the desk.

“She was right that I would want to meet you. You are more than qualified for your position here and will probably excel beyond every expectation as long as we all stay out of your way… that you are both brilliant and genuine, unafraid to step on anyone’s toes, regardless of their supposed superiority… and she apparently was right that you don’t much care if anyone likes you, but somehow they end up doing so anyway.”

My chest pounded heavier and heavier as his big brown eyes stared into mine as he spoke. Everything Hollis said was unexpected but understandable. That was, until his last statement. His meaning was so weighted, especially the way he was looking at me, that the air became trapped in my chest and, for a long stretch after, I could not breathe.

I turned away, afraid of the sudden warmth and closeness filling the room between us. It was reflexive, a feeling of danger having nothing at all to do with him personally. Quietly I gasped as my lungs filled once more. It was like walking outside and seeing a flash of lightning – my instincts begged me to turn back inside. It wasn’t worth the risk.

Hollis

“So, then I tell her: ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.’ And, anyway, she was the one pointing out how wrong I was. So, I say, ‘I guess that I will have to add some biology lectures and audiobooks to one of my gym playlists.’”

My heart drummed as I thought back to the way she looked at me. Hours later, I was still getting goosebumps.

Charlie gulped at his glass and belched, looking bored. “Alright… and then what? Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Hollis, you’ve been going on and on about this broad ever since we got here. Get to the good part already or please, for the love of God, can we talk about something else?”

I was completely confused, nowhere close to understanding what he could mean.

“What do you mean, ‘the good part?’ Thisisthe good part. The whole damn thing was the good part.”

“Okay, I get it. You haven’t had a good lay in a while. Whatever, just get to the sex already. What’d she do that was so mind-blowing?”

I squinted at him across the table. “Were you even listening? Which part of what I said made it seem in any way like we had sex? Jesus, Charlie… I just met her. And it was at work! I mean, Christ… The closest thing you could compare it to would be an interview.”

He looked disturbed. “You mean that I’ve been sitting here, listening to you write a fucking screenplay about this girl for over an hour, and you didn’t even fuck her? What the hell are you going on about then?!”

I suddenly felt cornered. “I mean… She’s really something, you know? And she’s smart, too. And she got this attitude. I’ve never been so intimidated by a woman before.”

“Yes, yes. You’ve told me a dozen times. She’s the full package. So why didn’t you make a move?”

“I did! Well, not the way you might have, but I’m telling you, if you tried your way of making a move on her, she would’ve chewed you up and spat you out whole. This girl is different.”

He waved for another beer and turned back to me. “Whatever you say, man. I have statistics on my side. My techniques are tried and tested, proven to work as much as humanly possible. But whatever, please inform me of your masterful strategy. It better be good.”

I paused, wishing the bar would catch fire. Anything would be better than having to answer Charlie at that moment with the truth.

“I… uh… asked her to lunch.”

He had just taken the first pull from his fresh pint. In a flash of spit and spray, I was wiping flecks of beer off of my face.

I cut him off while he was still choking, not in the mood to hear the hounding Charlie was about to unleash.

“She said no, alright? And that’s not even the worst part.”

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