You're My Boss.

𝕲𝖔𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝕳𝖆𝖛𝖊 𝕯𝖎𝖆𝖒𝖔𝖓𝖉𝖘

ᏒᎥᏋᏝ

"I need a date," I complain to Rina.

It's been around a month now, and the good Dr. Diaz is clearly not going to call me. I can't believe the jerk took my number, and not even text me.

"I already have someone in mind," Rina says. "How do feel about guys outside your race?"

"I don't know," I answer. "I can appreciate a man from any race, but dating them is a different question."

"Riel," Rina sighs. "You're no longer in the backwoods of Connecticut. You're in New York, so drop the small town mentality, and be open to all the different flavors of men." She grabs my shoulder, as if she could shake what's she's saying into my head.

"Fine," I laugh, taking my coffee from the Tim Hortons' barista. "I guess . . . I won't knock it until I've tried it."

She gets her coffee, and we leave shop to head back to the office.

"Now, that you've agreed to diversify your dating pool," Rina says. "I can finally set you up with my really cute next door neighbor."

"What is he like?" I ask her.

"He's bit of a nerd, but charming," she lists off the top of her head. "He might be wearing a cardigan when you meet him, but trust me, you won't be disappointed with the body it filling out. And, you'll get to distract yourself from that thing you've for our boss."

I pause at the foot of the pedestrian crossing. "I don't have a thing for our boss." I tell her.

"Hmm," Rina smirks.

"I don't have a thing for Mr. Harlow." I lie, knowing full well that the only reason I'm even considering dating is to convince myself to stop having the hots for the man.

"Okay," she smirks. "You don't have a thing for Mr. Harlow. And, you're totally not blushing just thinking about him."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I tell her.

"You can't deny it," she sings, skipping into the office building.

"I'm not listening to you," I say to her.

"If you say so," she grins. "But I'm starting a support group for all the girls and gays in this office suffering from one–sided love for Shaw Harlow. You should join."

"Shut up," I laugh in turn.

Rina is walking close at my side, when a frantic man rushes through the tight space between us. He yells a what's troubling as he exits the office. "I don't know how anyone can work with that man."

"Isn't that the quality assurance specialist Harlow just hired?" Rina asks.

Before I know could answer her, a bunch of employees are crowding out of the elevator in a panic.

"What's happening?" I ask Hank, one of the guys that works on the product design team.

"Harlow isn't happy with the new line of fragrances for men," Hank sighs, "he's firing anyone that comes a feet near of him. Even the execs are hiding." Hank scrams
to his desk.

"I don't think I should go up there," Rina pauses at the foot of the elevator. "I can't afford to get fired. This job is putting too big a dent in my student loans for me to lose it."