I Hate You, Mr. Boss-Man [18+]

003

As soon as I finished going over all the legal terms, I closed the folder, placing my feet firmly on the ground as I pushed myself outward. Grabbing the folder, I placed it under my arm and headed out of my office, straight to Mr. Thomas's. 

"Katherine!"  I halt in my path, glancing over my shoulder at a determined Karen heading my way. I groaned, shutting my eyes tight as I turned to face forward again. There was no way to outrun her, not in these shoes. 

"Hey Kar, what's up?" I breathed, plastering on a fake smile as my eyes flickered open, settling on her. 

"Did you, um..." She was hesitant, scratching her leg through her nylon tights with the tip of her heel. I bit the inside of my cheek, repeating Jen's words in my head. "Did you talk to your friend?" 

She finally said, her eyes filled with the hope I was dreading. I move the file from under my arm, holding it against my chest now. "I did," I reassured, trying to keep my answers simple. 

"Well?" Karen pressed, crossing her arms. "What did she say?" 

I broke eye contact, my eyes shifting to the potted plant at the beginning of the corridor to the break room off to the side. "Uhm..." I cleared my throat, swiping the tip of my nose with my index. 

"Oh no," She whispered, picking up on my tell. I hated lying, I was never good at it and there was always someone who picked up on it. "She thinks I'm weird, huh?" 

Quickly, I shook my head, tucking the folder under my arm once again as I placed both of my hands on either side of her shoulders. "No, no," I promised, "She thought you were...great." I finished, making her smile. 

"She asked me when you two can meet up again, the only problem was, she lost your number." I lied, and the guilt had started to settle and set up camp in the pit of my stomach. As I said, I hated lying but Jen gave me no choice. 

"Are you sure?" 

I nod, "Why would I lie? Look, I'm gonna give you her number," I said, taking the pen out of Karen's fiddling hands. I grab her palm and jot down Jennifer's number. "There ya go," I smiled, giving her back the pen. 

Karen smiles, her eyes scanning over the numbers as if she were trying to memorize them by heart. "Thanks, Kat." 

"Mmhm," I nod, "Listen, I gotta show the boss this, but let me know how it goes, okay?"

Before Karen could give me an answer, I zoomed down the hall and knocked on the double doors. Jen was going to kill me. 

"Come in." The sound of Mr. Thomas's voice reached my ears, his voice was soft, barely audible through the door but I heard it. 

Taking a breath, I hiked down my blazer and pushed one of the doors open, peeking my head in. "Mr. Thomas?" I whispered as I noticed he was on the phone. Waving his hand to beckon me inside, I obliged and closed the door behind me, waiting for him to finish the call. 

"I'll call you back in a minute, okay? Ciao, Mr. Glabello." He clicks off the call and turns to me, shoving his phone into his pocket. "Did you go over them?" He asks, walking over to his chair to take a seat. 

"I did," I said, walking closer to set the file in front of him. "What are they for?" I ask, sitting on one of the chairs as I scooted closer. 

"A business deal." He answered, dragging the folder closer to him as he opened it, his eyes scanning over the words again. "What do you think?" 

"Um..." 

 "Should I go through with it or just drop the whole thing?" He added, waiting for my response as he set the folder aside and folded his hands.