Office Desires

5. Tension

On Monday morning, Lou was determined to make a good impression on Debbie Ocean. She had spent the weekend studying the old manuscript Debbie wanted her to read and was ready to discuss it.

With a bag of freshly baked pastries and a hot cup of coffee in hand, Lou made her way to Debbie's office. She knocked on the door and waited for the invitation to enter.

"Come in," Debbie's voice called from inside the office.

Lou entered, finding Debbie already engrossed in her work. She placed the pastries and coffee on Debbie's desk.

Debbie looked up, surprise flickering across her face as she took in the unexpected breakfast. "Lou, what's all this?"

Lou offered a warm smile. "I thought we could discuss your manuscript over breakfast, as you wanted me to present it to you. So if you're not too busy..."

Debbie's stern exterior softened for a moment, and she nodded in appreciation. "Well... Thanks, Lou."

Lou started to present the manuscript to Debbie until the brunette interrupted her.

"Honestly, Lou... I don't need your presentation of this manuscript. It's a waste of your time. I just wanted to test you, to see if you were really dedicated..."

Debbie leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the polished desk. The early morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow that seemed in stark contrast to the chill in the air.

"So you're telling me I've wasted my weekend for you to test me?"

Debbie met Lou's gaze head-on.

"The work is never lost, Lou."

Lou sighed. "Well, still, I had other things to do." She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her frustration evident in her restless movements.

"Like what, going to bars with Amita?"

"No, like other manuscripts I wanted to read... And don't be condescending."

Debbie leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, I'm not condescending."

Her fingers finally stilled on the desk, her hands resting on the surface, a subtle sign of her focus.

"All due respect, Debbie, you are."

"Lou, I'm your boss, so watch your words."

"Yes, you're my boss, but you're only five years older than me. So you still ought to respect me."

"Respect is earned."

"Did I show you anything that didn't deserve respect?"

Lou sighed, her tension slowly ebbing away as Debbie's tone softened.

"Alright... You've made your point."

Debbie leaned back in her chair, her fingers resuming their rhythmic tapping on the desk. "So... you still want to do the presentation? Or we can work on this rather interesting manuscript."

Lou hesitated for a moment, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Well, I don't know. It's quite daunting to present you with something that I know will bore you deeply. You've wasted my time, so I'll waste yours."

Debbie raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching in amusement. "Really?"

Lou couldn't help but grin. "No, I'm kidding. I'd much rather work on the manuscript."

Debbie gave a nod of approval, her eyes locking onto Lou's with an intensity that hinted at the lingering tension between them. "Good choice. Let's dive into it then."