My Psychotic Boss

A Love for Seren

Silence filled the room after Malrick's sudden outburst. More finger tapping filled the room once more. Rowan stood up from the chair, his back and butt was already sore from the tiny wooden chair. Rowan was finished with this conversation. "Did I allow you to stand up... " Malrick's voice dipped lower, in a predatory tone.

"We're done here... I won't take this further. I'm just done with this."

"Let's say one day I felt really lonely..." Malrick's voice dipped down lower, softer, casual in a way that sounded like a threat. "And me and Seren were the only people at my home... so, I ask her to watch a movie with me... and let's say while we watch this movie, she accidentally fell asleep on my lap... " Malrick begun to smirk as he watched Rowan's face contort to one of anger and disgust.

"Now... me being a nice guy and all, I won't wake her up from out of my lap... buuutttttt... I feel like since I'm being so kind. I-I deserve some kind of... I guess... reward from being so kind, you know what I mean..." Malrick's voice cracked a bit, "You think she'd be okay with giving me any kind of reward I wanted-"

"Stop" Rowan interrupted, "You are sick. You are a sick individual. Do not touch her. Do not even add her to your weird thoughts and sick fantasy's. She is good. She will never comply with anything you say." Malrick only grinned. "You should turn yourself in, to some mental institution, because that's where you belong." Rowan snickered at the thought of what Malrick could have been thinking.

Silence filled the room, tapping soon flooded the room. This tapping wasn't slow as before... this was a flickering induced tapping. Rushed. Rowan glanced down at his finger tapping against the arm rest. His brow furrowed intensely. "Stop doing that. You're stressing yourself out." He looked back at Malrick who's stare never wavered away from Rowan's face.

"I never liked you... "

"You don't have to like me. I don't work here to be liked by anyone. I shouldn't have recommended Seren as an employee... You were weird from the beginning, ever since you saw her image printed on her resume." Rowan reached for the doorknob, with a single twist, the door didn't open. Rowan quickly snapped his neck toward Malrick. He didn't see Malrick lock the door. When did Malrick lock the door? That's why Malrick remained seated even though I stood up and approached the door. That's why he's calm right now... Rowan thought to himself. He was in the lion's den...

"Heh..." Malrick's face went dull. Rowan couldn't read his expression.

"What do you want with me, say it now!" Rowan snapped.

"Knock, Knock." Someone had lightly knocked on Malrick's door followed by, "Hey... you guys had been in there for a while? I'm about to clock out for today... is everything okay?" Seren's voice could be heard behind the door. Rowan felt slightly eased knowing Seren was just right there...

"Our time is almost up, did you learn what you wanted from me... " Malrick spoke low and casual for Seren not to hear.

"I get it now. It's always been about Seren. That's why you threatened Delancey... that's why I'm here..." Rowan's eyes narrowed at Malrick. "I learned enough for now. I'm going to protect Delancey and Seren from you..."

Malrick fidgeted with the key, "What if I just ate this key, and we both can't get out of here... tell me? what would you do... break the door... throw yourself out the window... dig a hole in the floor."

"I'm not playing games with you, I'll shout for Seren to save me. Don't make me do that."

Malrick casually stood up finally, unwrapping his bandage from his wounded hand. Rowan narrowed his eyes down at the cut which was still healing on his hand. Malrick held his hand up to the small light streaks to see better, "Oh... it's healing quicker than I thought." With a quick motion he stabbed his pen violently into his wound, reopening the wound.

Rowan stepped back in shock watching as Malrick winced at the pain, it was clear Malrick could feel pain... but why did he do that?

Malrick rewrapped his wound just as it had been before. Rowan watched as his wound begun to bleed out, soaking through the fresh bandage. "Y-your insane... why did you do that?"

Malrick glanced up with a smile, Rowan stepped back as Malrick unlocked the door with the key. "And remember, I want your report on my desk by tomorrow. You're a great worker Rowan, keep up the good work!" Malrick's voice chirped as he stepped out of his office.

"Why was it dark inside your office?" Seren stood there, puzzled... suspicious.

"Oh, yeah the light went out half-way through our meeting, I'll have someone fix it by tomorrow don't worry." Malrick patted Rowan's back as Rowan emerged from the dark office. Seren glanced at Rowan. "Rowan is one of my best workers, Now... we're almost like brothers. I never knew your side of the story Rowan, if only I've known sooner we could have been closer. I guess you were right Seren... it's always great to open up to others. I wasn't alone as I thought I was... " Malrick's chirpy mood changed halfway more sympathetic as he finished speaking.

"I'm glad you both are doing great... I was worried for a moment." Seren spoke lower, like something had just been lifted off her shoulders. "What did you guys talk about, if you don't mind me asking."

"We got to know each other, he addressed the rumors. I corrected them. We spoke about brother hood. For Rowan's privacy I won't speak on his behalf." Malrick chuckled lightly.

"That's great. You have me and Rowan now. We're all friends now." Seren smiled before she noticed Malrick's bandage, "You're wound reopened. You have to be careful, you can't be doing a lot of hand motions with this hand." Seren grabbed his hand and looked up at him. "We need apply medicine again and rebandage it." Seren pulled him by his arm guiding him to the breakroom.

Malrick smirked at Rowan before he was pulled by Seren elsewhere. Rowan didn't fight back, didn't try to tell the truth... He knew Seren would believe Malrick, who would believe me... when I cheated on her with her best friend. Rowan sighed. Malrick is a seasoned liar, a master manipulator. He can twist words up like second nature.

I get it now... why he reopened his wound. It's the only way he could get Seren to touch him. Rowan's brow furrowed, this wasn't the end.

Delancey knows Malrick's true nature. He wasn't alone in that fact.