Coffee Mess

Disrespect

"U really shouldn't have done that, it's not like you would never see me again" I tell Ian, going closer and taking my jacket

"It's not the only reason I came..."

"No kidding..." I say ironically

"Are u avoiding me because of what happened last night?"

"What? No"

"Are you sure? Because Fred told me you invoked personal reasons in order not to come tonight"

"Meaning very personal reasons"

"Isn't what we did last night very personal?"

"It is, but it's not why I can't come today"

"Now I'm curious..." Gosh, this guy is like a dog with a bone

"I got my period early, ok? I always take the day off the first day of my period, it usually comes the day I expect it, but this time it came early and I'm practically sedated right now from the painkillers I've taken and it still hurts. Happy?" I explain, kinda irritated, and it's visible he regrets asking instantly

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I just wanted to make sure us having sex wouldn't get in the way of our professional relationship"

"We were clear on what that was, so, no. It's not gonna get in the way, as long as it doesn't get weird or cross boundaries. I may be young, but I know how to separate my personal life from my professional one"

"Good. I'm glad to hear that"

"So, can I get u anything? First time at my house..."

"No, it's not necessary, I'll leave. I won't bother u, especially since you're saying you're in pain"

"Yeah, ok. And I'm sorry for yelling before knowing it's you, but people keep waking me up" I say, rubbing my forehead

"I'm sorry to hear that. I called but- what happened to your hand?" he asks concerned, seeing my knuckles, making me look at my hand too

"Oh, right. Not a big deal, I knocked Thomas unconscious last night- well, this morning actually, it was after 4, I guess"

"What? What happened?" He asks, his expression turning dark

"Well, he tried to sneak up on me as I was about to get in the building when I came home in the morning, but he barely touched me; you should be more worried about him"

"That bastard! I thought I had scared him enough"

"Oh, right! I just remembered why I was mad at u last night: What made u think I needed u to scare him off, huh?" I ask kinda angrily, putting my hands on my hips

"Well, from what Fred told me, the guy is a total tool that wouldn't stop harassing u, so I thought it'd be best for me to get involved, you know, since I'm your boss and all"

"Ok, all y'all guys have to stop trying to protect me, ok? My dad was a marine, so I know all about self-defense, I've been a kickboxer for 10 years, I've won 5 national matches and I don't remember asking u to protect me"

"You don't have to ask, Sandra. We're just trying to make your life easier"

"No, you're just trying to prove that you have the power to stop another man. And the screwed-up part is that it's actually true; He only stopped hitting on me because 1. Fred scolded him, 2.he found out I have something going on with Logan and 3. he got threatened by you  Not because I repeatedly told him to stop"

"See? That's why you needed us to protect you" he argues

"Sorry to break it to y'all, but I don't need anyone, ok? Even my dad has stopped trying to protect me, because he knows I can protect myself. I have footage that proves that"

"Sandra, he's a cop. He's not just some guy. He can get away with anything if he wants"

"So? I will have to have you as my private bodyguard just because he's a cop?"

"Not just because he's a cop, but also because he can have anyone come and hurt you. And it might be more than one"

"Oh, come on, you're watching too much TV. He won't have anyone come hurt an 18-year-old girl, especially after the damage I did to him. But even if he does, it's not your fucking job to protect me. You're just my boss and a guy I happened to fuck last night. You're not my dad, my bodyguard, my boyfriend, not even my friend. You have no right to meddle in my personal life. The only thing you need to do is make sure I'm safe inside my workplace, pay me and occasionally fuck me if it comes down to it again"

"Hey! Watch your tone with me, alright? As u said, we're not friends or anything" he barks. Veins have started popping from his neck and temple

"So? You made it perfectly clear that there are no boundaries between us. You can threaten people on my behalf, so why can't I talk to you like that? The lines are so thin"

"There's a difference between being comfortable with each either and being disrespectful"

"Oh, so I'm being disrespectful?"

"Very"

"Whatcha gonna do about it? Huh?"

"Don't provoke me, you know I can't do anything right now, especially with your dad in the next room"

"So, once again, the only thing that can stop a man is another man. You're just proving my point, dude"

"You really think you can protect yourself without any help?" He looks like he's about to burst, but so am I. We both know this fight won't end well

"I don't think it, I know it"

"Just because you punched a guy half my size?"

"I knocked him out. He was barely conscious when I left him. What's your point exactly?"

"That if he was about my size, you would be all kinds of hurt right now"

"And if my mom wasn't a bitch, maybe I wouldn't be as damaged as I am now. Either way, it's all just conjecture. If he was as big as you, maybe I would have asked for help, but he isn't and I didn't" I retort and he scoffs

"Maybe your dad was right, you are an ungrateful bitch" he says and I immediately slap him