MY boss.

2. Late night and Sushi trays

8:30am
The reflection of a skin tight black mid dress hugging my body was unusual. It's weird to see myself looking so formal when normally I'm wearing short clothes and looking like a train wreck from the amount of alcohol I consume.

8:45
"Fuck" muttering to myself as I'm still standing in front of myself. Why do I care so much, I know he's my boss but I've never wanted to impress anyone before... so why now?

8:55
Approaching the newly familiar building my hands cling to the wheel of my car. What if I'm not up to the standards. Breathe in.. and out.. I finally get my shit together and I grab my purse and walk inside. Yet again the same face as yesterday greets me with envious eyes. I nod and pass her quickly.

9am
I pass through the matte black doors. 'Where is he?' Confused as to why he isn't in the leather chair like he was the day before. How funny of him to be the late one? I sit lightly on the chair before his desk and cross my legs while watching the time tick on the wall clock. Tick.. tock.. tick..

9:05am
Creaking behind me as the doors open and the devilish eyes meet mine as I stand up to face him.
"You're on time?" He grins looking at me, I can just see his high ego radiating off him. But god he looks good in that black tux. I shake my thoughts away.

"And you're late." I reply in a playful but subtly annoyed tone.

"Ah yes, I apologise I got caught up in a few.. business matters" his cheeks turn a slight red, Is he implying what I think he is?

"Well considering you're the one in charge" I laugh lightly unsure of what to do, say or think.

"Alright I want you to start by going through the submitted short stories and choosing one for the company to publish. Follow me and I'll show you to your office." Damien leads me to a smaller room down the hall from his office where the is a small white desk and a cup full of pens.

The resentful receptionist from earlier walks in "here you are Mr. Carter the papers you asked for earlier" she places a stack of sheets on my table and looks at Damien with lost eyes.

"You may go now Amber" his tone in voice changes into a careless tone, it makes me wonder if there is history and that is why she resents me? Amber huffs and turns away exiting my office.

"May I ask about the tension?" I look down regretting it immediately. God I shouldn't have asked. He probably thinks of me as a drama obsessed know-it-all.

"There's history there, but it didn't end the best. She was very.. possessive" his eyes roll back into head

"Clearly" I laugh.

"I want these to be read through and I want one story that you believe is worth publishing on my desk before you leave" Damien asks yet his voice sounded so stern and demanding.. kind of.. hot? I nod in agreement and he exits my door.

9pm
"Shit, that late already?" I yawn looking at the clock. Hearing footsteps approaching my door followed by a knock. "Yes?" I call back.

Damien opens the door and the smell of sushi drenched my room and my stomach rumbling breaks the silence followed by his snickering "so I'd take it you're hungry?"

"Yeah, I mean I wasn't expecting to be here this late but all these authors are so great it's hard to choose. I'm between two options" my eyes lit up talking about the work. I had always had a found love for literature which not many know because I'm more known for having a good time. Damien approaches my desk shaking his head with a smile that shows the dimples on his cheeks, he takes the last two folders on my desk and pushes them aside placing the trays of sushi in-front of me. The smell of teriyaki fills my nose as I look up at him.

"I thought we could eat together, I feel like we should both have a break.. and we are the last ones in the office" he looks away shyly his hand reaching up to scratch the back of his head. Is he nervous? My cheeks warm up but I try to conceal it.

"This was very thoughtful of you" my cheeks get hotter as I smile looking at him as he sits down. He looks exhausted, maybe this break will do him some good. He opens the trays taking two wooden sticks and picking up a piece and holding it up to my lips. I laugh at the sudden mood change, the room feels lighter but before I could speak the piece of chicken sushi was shoved in my mouth. His grin spreads going check to cheek.

"Hey!" I squeal and he looks at me with wide eyes.

He bursts out with laughter "what.. what what that noise?" I lean back feeling shameful.

"No no it was cute" he continues but before he can finish I one up him and shove a piece of sushi in his mouth declaring war. The room was filled with more laughter and before I could realise, all the anxiety filling my stomach was now replaced with butterflies. The room dies down a tad and we finish off eating

"Hey you have something on your cheek" he takes his thumb and rubs it against the left side of my cheek stopping halfway through.

"Go home, take a break and sleep in it. You've proved yourself a hard worker so give your final decision to me tomorrow" his reddened face sloped downward as his expression completely changed.

"Thank you Mr. Carter" I get up to retrieve my bag and he grabs my shoulder.

"Call me Damien"

12am
His words are lingering through my thoughts. 'Call me Damien' but no one is allowed to address him by his first name, why me? Was it just to rid of the awkwardness? I let out a deep breath and smother my face in my pillow. My eyes start to become heavy and I hope tomorrow will be just as amazing.