My Psychotic Boss

Lunch Date

The following Friday, Seren's calendar had a bright yellow star on it, a lunch date with Malrick. Not a date date, of course, but the first real social outing with her boss since joining Velvore. Rowan was coming too, as invited, and Seren had been oddly looking forward to it. Malrick, while quiet and reserved, had always struck her as thoughtful beneath the awkwardness. She figured it would be good for all of them to get to know one another outside the sterile glow of the office lights.

They met at a cozy little restaurant just a block away from Velvore, somewhere with exposed brick walls, hanging plants, and soft indie music playing overhead. Malrick had already reserved a table, and when Seren and Rowan arrived, he stood quickly, smoothing the front of his blazer. "Thank you... both for coming," he said, his voice low but steady. "I thought... it might be nice to connect."

Seren smiled brightly. "We're glad you invited us, Malrick."

Rowan nodded in agreement. "It's a great idea. Been a busy week."

The three of them had just sat down and started browsing the menu when the bell above the restaurant door jingled. "Hey, fancy seeing you all here!" came a familiar, chirpy voice. Seren looked up to see Delaney, wearing a lemon-yellow skirt and a cardigan covered in embroidered strawberries. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "What's this? A work lunch without me?" Before anyone could answer, she was already pulling out the empty chair next to Rowan and plopping herself down. "Don't mind if I do," she grinned.

Malrick blinked, visibly stiffening. "I... I didn't realize you were coming."

"I wasn't! But now I am," Delaney said, unapologetically. "I was just walking by and saw you all through the window. Thought I'd join in."

Seren laughed softly, brushing off the awkward tension. This was just Delaney being Delaney, spontaneous, bold, always in the center of whatever was happening. She had known Rowan and Delaney had been friends long before she came into the picture. It wasn't unusual for them to joke or banter. Still, something about the way Delaney leaned in toward Rowan now, resting her chin in her hand and hanging on his every word, made Seren's smile waver for just a moment.

Rowan didn't seem bothered. He answered Delaney's rapid-fire questions about a new branding project with a calm, easy tone. "Yeah, we're going with a cleaner design. Less clutter, more focus on product."

"Ooh, so minimalist," Delaney teased, nudging his arm. "You always did like that sleek, quiet vibe."

Seren sipped her water, watching the exchange. It didn't feel flirtatious exactly, just... intimate in that old-friend sort of way. Still, the way Delaney was looking at Rowan, how she kept interrupting Malrick's attempts to speak, how her chair had inched ever closer to Rowan's, it was all a little much.

Malrick, for his part, had retreated further into his usual stillness. He barely looked at Delaney, even when she asked him directly what he thought of the new snack packaging. "I don't... usually get involved with design," he said softly, barely audible. "But I trust the team." Delaney didn't seem to notice the flatness in his tone. She was too busy laughing at something Rowan said, her fingers brushing his arm again as she reached for her drink.

Seren forced a smile and joined the conversation where she could, though it felt more like being a guest at someone else's table than a lunch in her honor. But she reminded herself, Rowan and Delaney were old friends. She'd always known they were close. She couldn't fault that.

Still, as she watched Rowan lean in to hear something Delaney whispered with a giggle, Seren's hand tightened just slightly around her fork.