Page 14 of Bossy Grump's Secret

Either he is oblivious to my malice towards him or he is being sarcastically mature by giving me a tight-lipped smile when I acknowledge his presence.

The less we communicate, the better it is for me. Missing out on such a great opportunity to beef up my resumé would be dreadful if I got fired. Or worse still, they may punish me with grueling work for my misdeeds. Lily and I glued to each other until it's time to separate after the briefing.

"You know," she smirks, which doesn't suit her face, "I reckon you're more affected by my absence than I am by yours."

That's what Dylan said earlier.

"Maybe I'm too worried about letting you out of sight." I tighten my grip on her hands, making her roll her eyes.

"Yup. She's in love with me." The tiny girl huffs animatedly in beautiful sync with her cute face.

"You bet," I laugh. "See you later, then. I'm doing hall duty today." I give her distance, moving backwards.

"My break is two, so... see you then." She waves me off and turns to catch up with Matilde.

On my way to the elevator, I ponder what she said. Now, I feel like a mother having to let her preteen go to summer camp. I may need to lower my protectiveness and channel that energy into productivity.

On that note, my work today is simple. Every other hallway. The entire building. Take the cobwebs off the ceiling corners, report stains on the walls for re-coating where necessary, and many other minor tasks that combine into one hellish job, especially given that I am to do the entire building over the day.

It's just going to be me and my thoughts. That has definitely been a while. Ava and Ava. Alone. When I start out, a little goes on between us, not until Dylan does his routine patrol to ensure I stay awake in one of the guest lounge chairs.

He's something. Ava says.

"Of course he is. A glowing sign that says 'Avoid!' to everyone," I snort.

Don't you want to bring him to his knees? She asks me.

Definitely.

'Don't you just want him to look at you from that position, grab his hair roughly, and tilt his head with it so sharply it almost disconnects his skull from his vertebrae?'

I am thinking weirdly rough. I love it!

Don't just want to force his mouth open and make his face rub against yours...

"Okay! That's enough!" I shut my thoughts up.

There's no reason for me to think that far. I hate him.

Do you?

"Yes," I seethe under my breath. I must look like a crazy person talking to myself, and I am lucky no one has noticed me.

"Hey, lady?" I hear a voice draw from some doors down the hallway.

Speak about not being noticed. I turn around and peer down the hall to see a man poking his head out of his room.

"Good evening; how may I help you?" I ask as politely. I make my voice a tad lighter and beam a gracious smile. This part of me should be hidden.

"I just need a ‘lil something done for me here. Made a bit of a mess." His thick southern accent is a definitive part of his recognition. I kind of like it, though.

Feeling relaxed by his friendly appeal, I hastily approach the room. He opens his door fully to let me in. I see food spilled on the floor.

"Okay then, this shouldn't take long. Let me just grab my cleaning equipment outside." I turn back with a smile, only for it to vanish. He has a really creepy stare.

"Of course, sweetheart." His stare follows me outside, so I grab what I need from my trolley and go back inside, leaving the trolley at the door. "Ya real pretty, y' know? Could see you going places with that height too."

That is supposed to be a compliment, but his creepy, perverted stare ruins it.

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