My Psychotic Boss

A Disappointing Outcome

Delaney tossed a playful remark at Rowan, nudging his arm with a flirtatious smirk. Rowan, laughing more freely now, leaned in and countered with a joke of his own, eyes bright with amusement. Their chemistry, light and easy, filled the space with energy that was starting to feel exclusive.

Seren watched them from her side of the booth, her smile soft but tight around the edges. Her hands rested loosely in her lap, her untouched glass of water beginning to sweat from the condensation. Her eyes flicked between the two of them, Delaney's animated expressions, Rowan's relaxed posture, the small way they leaned into each other like no one else was there. It wasn't jealousy, exactly. Not yet. It was more like something sharp and cold pressing at the edge of her heart. Something unspoken. Something slowly taking form.

She stifled a yawn behind her hand. "I think I'm going to head home," Seren said gently, her voice barely cutting through Delaney's laughter. "It's been a long day."

Delaney blinked, then tilted her head. "Already? But it's still early."

Seren smiled, polite and practiced. "Yeah, I'm just a little tired."

Rowan turned to her with a casual nod. "Alright. Get some rest, babe."

He didn't move to stand or walk her out. Delaney didn't either. They both stayed in their seats, clearly settling in for the rest of the evening.

Seren slipped her bag over her shoulder and stood up. Malrick didn't say anything, but he looked up at her, just briefly. His expression unreadable, a hint of that same odd smile ghosting his lips. He gave her the smallest nod, then returned to sipping whatever amber drink was still in his glass.

The door shut softly behind her as she left. The city was quieter now. Seren walked slowly, the cool night air brushing against her skin. Her thoughts were a blur of images: Rowan laughing with Delaney, Malrick's strange monologue, the eerie calm before he snapped. The tone in his voice still clung to her skin like static. She tried to shake it off, but it stayed.

By the time she got home and changed into pajamas, the weight of the evening sank into her bones. She crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to her chest, staring at the ceiling fan spinning in lazy circles.

What even was that conversation?

She thought about Malrick's words. The sudden shift in tone. The emotion he tried to express, twisted, vague, and then violently cut short. It felt like he was about to tell her something. Something important. But he had veered off just before revealing it. Like walking in circles around a pit but never jumping in.

And then the way he snapped at her. "Just shut up. JUST SHUT UP." Her stomach turned at the memory. She had never heard him speak like that before. Malrick was soft-spoken. Polite. Almost delicate in his approach. But tonight he had seemed... frayed. Like something inside him had cracked open, and she had seen a part of him he didn't mean to show. Was he just venting? Or was there something darker beneath the surface?

She didn't know.

And why did it feel like he was trying to confess something... but couldn't?

Seren sighed, rolling to her side. The image of Rowan and Delaney together crept back into her mind. Not just tonight, but every day lately. Laughing. Whispering. Sharing little moments she wasn't part of. She wanted to believe it was all innocent. That they were just friends who had known each other for a long time. But that gnawing feeling wouldn't go away.

Tonight was supposed to be their night. Instead, she was alone again. And worse, she had left feeling more disturbed than disappointed.

She closed her eyes, trying to sleep.

But her mind wouldn't quiet.