Quite Quitting

Only 30 Minutes

"I said an hour! You're late." Alex berated as I walked into the same conference room I started the morning in. Alex was also in the same position, feet up and back stretched on the chair.

"You're lucky I am here," I responded as I took my seat right next to Alex taking out my laptop. I had returned to my Brooklyn apartment, asking the uber to wait while I rushed in and grabbed my work bag. He was kind enough to drive back into Manhattan though I told him to complete the ride Ben had paid for so he didn't get charged extra.

"How was the date?" He asked, smirking.

"Fantastic, we are getting married next weekend. Will I get time off for that?" I sarcastically asked.

"Nope, I need you for the student outreach program." His smile broadened. "Guess you're going to have to postpone getting married."

"Great, I'll postpone having a life outside of you, shall I?" I quipped back.

"Perfect plan. I am a fan of it."

"Of course you are," I mumbled under my breath. "Can we prepare for this meeting now? When is it?"

"Oh, I canceled it. It's now tomorrow morning." He laughed. Actually laughed like a maniacal Disney villain. I wanted to choke him with my bare hands.

"I am going home!" I yelled, getting up from my seat, but he grabbed my hand and forced me to sit back down.

"Relax, I do need your help with the outreach program. That's more important now, my mother just called. She will be there."

"Oh my god, Sharon is coming!" I exclaimed. Alex's mother was the kindest human I had ever met. Despite being the wife of a wealthy billionaire, she was down to earth and always had a box of something freshly baked every time she visited or a small gift. "This made me think of you," She'd always say.

"Yup, I can't wait! However, she is not coming for a short visit. She wants to take over the outreach program." He informed me.

"Ok, does she know the details? Or do you want me to brief her? Do you want me to brief you?" I said with an air of superiority.

"No, I know the event is for getting young girls interested in science and technology." He defended.

"Yup, I found several college kids to volunteer and help develop some projects. We have a few cool projects lined up, and so far, all the girls that have signed up for the outreach are 11-15 years old." I explained as Alex's preliminary version covered only some of the work that went into setting this event up.

"Ok..." was all he said.

"Ok, so...what needs to be done for this today?" I asked, still confused as this guy uprooted my night.

"I need you to find something for my mother to do. She is coming with some girl, and I want to keep them both busy." He sighed.

"A girl, for you?" I asked.

"It's some girl from her village. I think she is trying to set me up. Thinks the girls I choose are not up to par." He sighed again. A ping of jealousy rang around my chest, not so much for Alex but more so for his mother. She always assured me that I was her favorite person out of all the people that surrounded her son, but maybe just not classy enough to date him. But, ugh, what was I even thinking? Alex didn't see me that way, so why would Sharon even consider me for this.

"Mother knows best, Alex. Not a bad idea to at least entertain the fact that this girl would be nice." I half-heartedly advised.

"Nah, I am staying away from anyone my mother approves of. They are time wasters."