I walk into the office, swing my bags on to my desk with a plop and take a seat in my swivel chair.
I gaze at Daniel across the desk. He looks incredibly smart in a crisp white shirt and dark red tie. It brings out his tan which in turn makes his green eyes pop brilliantly. Everything about him shines status and perfection, right down to his cuff links and Rolex.
But those green eyes are completely glued to the computer in front of him without so much as a blink as I walk in.
I wait patiently for him to notice me.
That's actually a downright lie. I am not waiting patiently. I hate it when Daniel takes more than five seconds to acknowledge me. Especially when I dressed particularly well. Not that he ever notices, but I keep my hopes up. And today I dressed particularly well. Slim fitted pants, high heels, a slick red button down tucked in...it was one of my better looks. Not to mention the fact that we inadvertently matched each other on color choice.
"Good morning, Veronica," he finally says, not bothering to look up.
"Morning," I mutter. I glare at him, willing him to look at me and pay attention.
"Do you need something else?" he asks, finally looking up from his computer.
I swallow, there are many things I need and none of them I want to admit to him. I need to know what it feels like to comb through his short dark hair with my fingers. I need to know how it feels to have my curves pressed up the musculature that his crisp white shirt did nothing to hide. More than all I need him to not be my married boss and not be my boyfriend's best friend.
"Nikki?" he asks again.
I flush as I realize I hadn't answered him, yet my heart still skips a beat at the sound of my nickname from his lips.
"Yes," I say, trying to pull myself together quickly. "I just needed you to look over a couple papers." I hand him a stack of things that need his attention. "And the back two need your signature as well," I add.
I can tell Daniel is in his own world. His brow furrows as he examines the stack of papers I hand him.
"If Jenks asks me for a third day off this week one more time, I swear to god I'm firing his ass," he sighs, skimming the papers. "No way we are going to be able to get everything done, let alone without him. Actually," he paused, "I'm going to let you fire him. Good learning experience."
"Um, okay."
Most of the time I enjoyed the fact that Daniel took time to mentor me. Sometimes—this time included—I couldn't help but think that my position in lower management really sucked. I usually felt like I was a pretty good manager, learning a lot and well on my way to being someone like Daniel but when all he makes me do is his dirty work, I don't feel so useful. At 21 I'm the youngest person in management with the company, but that doesn't mean that Daniel has ever given me a break. If anything he just drives me harder.
I sigh and jot down a few notes he had for me before going about my daily work.
"How was work, babe?" Jace asks as I walk through the door. He is already standing at the stove stirring something that smells amazing.
"Daniel's a dick," I gripe, taking a seat at the counter.
"Didn't I tell you that going into this?" he asks.
He was right, of course. Jace had worked with Daniel for a long time before finally leaving the company and letting me take his place. It hadn't come without a fair share of warnings though. Daniel had a reputation and everyone who found out that I was going to be his new protégé didn't hesitate to inform me. A lot of people told me I wouldn't be the first to leave the company because of how harsh he is. Other people told me he was a slacker. But between the two sides of the story one thing always stayed the same. He may be married but that never stopped him when it came to the ladies.
This fact I'm sure would have been concerning to Jace had he not already made it very clear to Daniel that I was taken. I am glad that he had made sure that I wouldn't have to deal with that distraction but there is definitely part of me that is still lost in fantasy. Not that I don't love Jace. But there has always been something about the way Daniel looks at me like he can see right through me that sends shivers up my spine every time.
"He isn't hitting on you, is he?" Jace asks.
"No," I sigh. "Just making me do his dirty work."
"Not too dirty I hope," he winks.
"Shut up," I say playfully. "I don't go for married guys."
"You went for me," he points out.
Unfortunately he is right. A lapse of judgment in my late teens had led to me falling head over heels for my sexy, brilliant, and very married boss—Jace. I was fortunate that no one found out about the affair and luckier still that his marriage had ended without having anything to do with me. But you couldn't pay me enough to go on that rollercoaster again.
"You're my exception," I smiled. "What do you want to do for your birthday, babe? I know a week isn't much time to plan things but we could do a little party here if you want."
"You know I don't want a party," he frowned.
"You love getting drunk with your friends."
"Not when I'll be mourning being over the hill."
"31 is not over the hill."
I wake up blearily to a phone call in the morning.
"What?" I say groggily.
"I'm sorry to wake you, Nikki baby, but I won't be able to call you later. We are slammed at work today. Can you make sure you pick up some milk today, you know the nonfat I like—"
"Yes, babe." I tuned out as Jace proceeds to list other things that I should really do around the house.
I hate going to the grocery store on my day off. And I hate cleaning frying pans, although it is a small price I pay for have a boyfriend who is a stellar cook. None the less, all I really want to do is go back to sleep.
"Okay, love you," he says before hanging up the phone.
I roll over and burry myself in the blankets, craving just a couple more hours of sleep.
My phone beeps again.
"Are you kidding me?" I say grumpily, grabbing my phone off the night stand again. I am even more annoyed when I see that it's from Daniel.
-You hanging in there?
My first thought is to wonder if this is some kind of ploy to get me to come into work. Daniel rarely ever texts non work related things. I reply anyway.
-
Better if I wasn't awake right now but I'm doing okay. Yesterday was rough after you left.
-Sorry if I woke you...
-
It wasn't you, no worries.
-You workin today?
-
No. Worked late last night and get the day off today.
Which he would know if he looked at the schedule or paid any attention to me when I was at work.
-Me too!
-Then why are you awake so early?
-It's my home alone day.
-Me too. Trying to figure out what to do with my day of freedom.
-Call me.
I pause for a moment, wondering what he wants.
-Work related.
He adds.
At this point I doubt its work related but I call him anyway.
"What's up?" I ask.
"First I just want to apologize, I know we probably shouldn't be texting back and forth and I'm sorry if I over stepped my bounds. I want you to know that I really respect you as an individual and an employee. And I don't want you to get in trouble."
"Oh, it's okay. I know you do and I'm not too worried about trouble."
I know Jace trusts me indefinitely but deep down I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't like me talking to Daniel outside of work. In fact, he's made it perfectly clear to me that if anything were to happen between Daniel and myself he wouldn't speak to either of us again. I am used to that kind of thing from Jace though. We fell hard and fast for each other and it would crush him if I ruined that with someone else.
"I think I'm more worried about myself getting in trouble," he admits.
"Well if you're talking about Jace, I'd be more worried about myself than you."
"Fair enough," he pauses. "So what are you up to today?"
"Lying around enjoying the day off, but it's off to a boring early start."
"I'm not gonna lie...I'm pretty bored too. And I've had a couple drinks."
"Already?" I ask. "It's not even nine yet!"
That's Daniel though. A smooth talking 37 year old who is drunk every time his wife isn't around and wishes he was when she was around. I know many men like him.
"Hey it's my one day alone, I gotta take advantage of it while I have it."
"Fair enough," I agree.
"I just want you to know how happy I am with your progress too. I mean, during the interview I knew that you had so much potential but you have truly exceeded my expectations and I'm so happy to see you growing. You should know that you got this promotion totally on your own. It wasn't because of Jace leaving or our friendship."
"Thank you." I'm not sure what else to say. Daniel is never like this at work with me—he borders on abrasive even.
"Anyway I don't want you get the wrong message or anything but if you aren't doing anything today and get bored you're welcome to call me or stop by or whatever."
"Alright well I'll keep that in mind. I'll probably call you later or stop by or whatever."
"Cool, I'll talk to you later then."
"Sounds good. Later."
I hang up the phone. I'm not tired anymore. I pull myself out of bed and go to take a shower.
My mind is whirling. I had hoped that a hot shower would knock some sense into me and clear my head, I was wrong.
I know what I should do. And I know what I want to do. And I'm disgusted that they aren't the same thing. I shouldn't go see Daniel. Absolutely not. But playing with fire tempts me and I want to...just for curiosities sake. They say history repeats itself, but I just like to think that I am adventurous and friendly.
When I get out of the shower I see another text from Daniel.
-I'm still bored.
-You and me both. I showered cause I'm definitely too awake to sleep more.
-You're welcome to come downtown.
-I might. What are you up to?
-Same thing I was earlier.
-Bored and drinking?
-Whatever. Doesn't sound like you're doing much either.
-Hey I'm not judging. I'm sitting around trying to get dressed and ready for the day. And I should do laundry, but that seems like a lot of work.
-Already done here, proud to say.
-Yeah I gotta get my housewifing on. Laundry and dishes.
-Come clean my place?
-I am pretty good at cleaning. Still bored?
I shouldn't even ask him. I should put down my phone. I should go clean the house. I should go grocery shopping. I should do anything but talk to Daniel right now.
