Page 7 of Bossalicious Bad Boy

"Good night, Mr. Blaese," she says, her voice filled with promise.

"Good night, Clara."

My office seems quieter now, more still, as I watch her leave. Instead of feeling lonely amidst the silence, I find comfort in the knowledge that our connection has grown stronger today. For the first time in years, I allow myself to hope that maybe I'll rediscover the warmth of human connection.

3

CLARA

"Clara! Over here!" Ruby hollers, waving me over to her desk.

It's been two weeks since I started working at this marketing firm as a junior marketing executive. Every day feels like an exciting new adventure.

"Hey, Ruby," I say, walking over to her with a smile. "What's up?"

"Here's that report you asked for," she hands me a neatly stapled packet, her nails freshly painted a vibrant shade of fuchsia. "You're catching on fast around here."

"Thanks," I reply, taking the papers from her. "I've had a lot of help from everyone, especially you."

"Of course!" she grins. "We're all in this together, right?"

As I return to my own desk, I can't help but feel a growing sense of comfort in my new role. The first few days had been intimidating, being fresh out of college and thrown into the fast-paced world of marketing, but I've quickly found my footing. The team has welcomed me with open arms, and I'm starting to learn the ropes of my job.

"Clara, what do you think of this tagline?" Michael asks, the copywriter for our latest campaign.

He leans over my shoulder, a friendly gesture that I've come to appreciate from my coworkers.

"Let me see..." I read the line he's pointing to, then glance back at him. "It's punchy, but maybe we could try something more direct? Like this?"

I offer a suggestion, and Michael nods thoughtfully.

"Good idea," he agrees, scribbling down my input. "Thanks."

"Any time," I reply, feeling a surge of pride.

I'm really starting to prove myself as a valuable member of the team.

"Alright, everybody, meeting in five!" our manager announces.

We all scramble to gather our notes and head to the conference room. I take a deep breath, ready for another day of challenges and triumphs in my new role.

In the two weeks since I started, I've gotten to know some of my colleagues fairly well, including Mr. Johnson, the head of the department. His firm but fair approach has earned him respect from everyone in the office. My immediate supervisor, Ms. Lee, is a no-nonsense woman with a sharp eye for detail and an even sharper tongue.

"Morning, Clara," Ruby greets me with a warm smile as I take a seat at my desk, right next to hers.

She's been working at the marketing firm longer than I have. Her quick wit and friendly demeanor made her one of the most popular employees here.

"Hey, Ruby," I reply, giving her a nod as I power up my computer. "How was your weekend?"

"Fantastic! Went for a hike with my family. You?"

"Good, just caught up on some Netflix shows," I admit with a small laugh.

Our conversations usually start like this, and I appreciate the camaraderie. It makes the workplace feel more like a second home.

"Ooh, what were you watching? Any good recommendations?" Ruby inquires, leaning over slightly.

Our shared taste in entertainment might deepen an already budding friendship.

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