My Psychotic Boss

Pulling Heartstrings

At Seren's apartment, she had left all of Malrick's gifts in their boxes, just piling them up in the corner of her room. She didn't know what to do with them.

Malrick was kind... too kind, perhaps she had given him the wrong expression. He seemed fragile, like any wrong word might rip him apart. The debt she once owned him, where he only requested friendship. She felt that debt had already been paid. It was time... time to put some distance between them.

The next day at work she arrived early as she had always done. Another box, smaller this time. She sighed opening it up to find a simple but yet an expensive diamond ring inside. Her other co-worker's having seen this, they only snickered then whispered among each other. Seren shut the box with a thud.

It was time... She picked up the box and walked over to Malrick's office where he was typing away on his keyboard. She cleared her throat at first, but she kept it gentle yet firm, "You should stop giving me gifts, it's sending the wrong message."

Without looking up, "And which message would that be?" he spoke casually, his voice lower than usual.

"Just please... we're friends, right? would you stay my debt is settled."

"Owch!" Malrick grabbed his bandaged-up hand, which was cut by the mug from before. "It's throbbing again." He winced, his eyes still not meeting hers.

"Is it getting infected? have you checked on it?" She quickly leaned over in response, examining his hand with her eyes.

His lips slowly parted, "You're the only person... who cares about me. I don't open up to people the way I do with you. Any other women would have used me for my money... But you, you don't care about that, which is why I like to spoil you and share you with what I can offer..." His voice lingered slightly at the end.

Seren's heart pinged, she didn't know how to answer to that. Now she felt like the asshole in the situation. Somehow everything was reversed in a way she hadn't planned. "I feel happy when I give you what I can offer, I never thought having a friend would make my life feel worth living." That sentence had ripped Seren apart completely. She had thought of leaving him, of isolating him again...

going her separate way.

"I'm... I didn't mean what I said. I was just to overly flattered is all." Seren finally spoke,

"Do you not like being flattered? I messed up again didn't I... perhaps... the long silence that awaits me under the bridge-"

Seren interrupted hastily. "Don't say things like that, don't you have something to live for?"

Silence filled the office... Malrick sat there looking down at his keyboard.

"Then, how about you live for me?" She broke the silence.

Malrick finally looked up at Seren, his expression was unreadable. She couldn't understand him at all. Almost like what he thinks... isn't what he says.

Delancey who had been hiding around a corner, she had been ease dropping. Trying to understand her relationship with Malrick. She was seething, the thought Malrick was spoiling Seren like that, the fact Seren didn't even want it. It made Delancey even more enraged.

If only it could have been her from the start, who had gotten close to Malrick, who could have gotten showered in luxuries like that. She wouldn't have to work a day in her life... she could be free from everything. It wasn't fair Seren had that chance but was trying to reject it so casually. Like Seren thought she was better than everyone.

Malrick was a lonely guy, he needed love, support, and all Seren wanted to be was friends. Delancey dug her nicely polished nails into her palm she didn't realize she was even doing. Delancey had gained information on how to get to Malrick's heart. Her relationship with Malrick was oppressive. Malrick had said disturbing things to her before, resulting to her avoiding him, but with the understanding of who Malrick actually is. Delancey smirked, a new door had opened for her... and she will open it.