My Psychotic Boss

A Turned Leaf

It was very slow. Everything always happened slowly... before you begin to realize...

At the office, Seren had walked out to the breakroom to grab some coffee, something sweet, something energized to survive the rest of the day. Rowan who had been watching her, waiting for a chance to speak with her, even for just a moment. He had quickly followed her. "W-wait!" Rowan had shouted as he caught up with Seren at the entrance of the breakroom.

Malrick who had already been in the room, hand washing his mug. He didn't turn around, but he knew what was about to happen. Nobody had noticed Malrick in the back at the sink. Malrick's other hand hovered above the mug holding a sponge, he waited. He was listening. "Seren... I-I don't believe what they are saying about you. I have to be honest with you." Rowan started, he was hunched over, his face disappointed. Desperate.

She turned around slowly, "What." She spoke concerned but confused. She had stopped putting thought in any of this drama. She knew she was better than this.

"I just, want you to know... I don't love Delancey like that. I-It's always been-" Before Rowan could finish his sentence a loud crashing sound could be heard from the back of the breakroom. The sound shattered and spilt the room, causing nothing but silence.

Seren and Rowan looked toward the back to see Malrick standing there with half a mug in his hand, the rest was shattered all over the ground. Malrick softly smiled, "My bad, I dropped my mug." He only shrugged.

"You're bleeding Malrick!" Seren quickly rushed over to him, grabbing paper towels to wrap against his hand. She removed the broken half from his other hand and placed it in the trash. "D-doesn't it hurt?" She put pressure on the paper towel which she had wrapped around his hand.

Rowan was too stunned to speak, to see Seren quickly rush and aide him. Malrick kept his eyes on Rowan... He was smiling directly at Rowan, a smile which said, "I won." Rowan's stomach turned over as he watched Malrick quickly change.

"Oww, it hurts so much Seren. I can't believe I dropped my favorite mug." Malrick begun as Seren sympathized with him.

"This cut is so deep, how did the mug manage to do this much?" Seren spoke concerned as she begun dabbing his wound with rubbing alcohol.

Malrick quickly glanced over at Rowan who was still watching in silence, his eyes pierced right through Rowan's. Rowan clenched his fists and walked away back to the office where Delancey was still showing her off her new ring while acting overly flattered and humble while complimented. Delancey was only meant to spice things up, he never took her that seriously. Seren was supposed to be end game. Seren was the one.

Seren was the type of woman you take home to your family and be proud of. Delancey... he wasn't even sure she could even cook. Something about Malrick's smirk twisted Rowan's stomach the wrong way. Everything about Malrick now... seemed, narcissistic. Rowan had known Malrick the longest in terms of work, Malrick had always been isolated. Cold. Rude even. Why does Malrick suddenly care about Seren?

Now that he thought about it, Seren had started wearing brand names he knew she couldn't afford. Seren's face had cleared up. Had it all been true? had Seren been seeing Malrick behind his back? Rowan sat down at his desk where Delancey had popped out of nowhere. "Hey baby!" she spoke softly and cutely, like a child. Too childish. "When do I get to meet your parents?" she asked.

"I'll ask them for their schedule, I'm sure they will be more than happy to meet you." Rowan spoke tired, he was exhausted. Everything exhausted him now. Delancey's overly cheerful act was starting to drain him. He missed the soft, low, casual talk Seren spoke to him with before.

He knew it was his fault. He knew he had to make things right... he just hadn't figured out how.