Page 57 of Insufferable Boss

"What are you doing Thursday evening?" I asked Lena. "Do you have any plans?"

She turned around to look at me, surprised by the sudden question.

"I don't know yet," she replied. "Why? Is there something happening here?"

I noticed her emphasis on the word "here," indicating her desire to keep things strictly business between us.

"I'd like to introduce you to the city a bit more, specifically the social scene. I rarely go out, but once in a while, I receive rare invitations like tonight or on Thursday. A friend of mine is getting engaged, and I agreed to attend. Want to come along?"

"Come along or come with you?" she asked, and once again the distinction she wanted made was very clear.

“Whichever suits you,” I replied. Without even waiting for a response this time, I went straight back to work.

26

Lena

"So... are you going to attend?" Diana asked.

"He said, 'Whichever suits me best.' And neither of them suits me."

"So, you're not going to attend?"

"Nope, I'm going apartment hunting, and I imagine I'll be famished at the end."

"Oh," Diana said. "Alright. Valid-ish excuse, even though I know you being tired is a stretch."

I didn't respond to this. Instead, I silently sorted out my laundry to hand over to the hotel services.

"So, are you two on friendly terms now?" Diana asked, and I found myself stopping immediately.

At first, I was appalled by the question, but her extended explanation made me thoroughly think about it.

"You two seem to be on the same side, as opposed to your brother and his sister," she continued.

"Hmm," I said. "We kind of are, and we kind of aren't."

"What does that mean?"

"We're quite professional and astute when it comes to business and logical interaction, but then anything personal, and both of our defenses come up."

"You mean the walls come up," she said, and once again, I had to admit that she was right.

"Exactly."

"Why do you think this is?" she asked.

"I don't know," I replied as I pondered on the question. "The thing is, I don't want any sort of relationship with him, especially since my memory of him back then remains intact and aggravating. That sealed the fate for any future we could have together."

"But so far? Is he a dick?” she asked.

I was amused.

"Let's just say he's a logical dick."

"As opposed to?"

"An unreasonable one. Dylan’s an unreasonable dick. Definitely can't be attracted to that."

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