My hard boss

Chapter 6- The night

Elizabeth chuckled, “Oh, Helena, I was just kidding. Don’t take it to heart. I’ve been reading so many novels about billionaire heiresses with secret identities; it is just too entertaining. Now, on a serious note: your daughter, Jasmine, is indeed a gem—one of the finest young ladies I’ve ever known. However, no one will ever bully my grandson into marrying anyone, and that includes you. Our agreement can be broken the moment I sense any disrespect. So, Helena, be warned.” She stood up to leave.

***

Sally went to lunch in the cafeteria and sat with Derek. “Thank you, Derek, for having my back the other day.”

“You have thanked me before. Besides, what are friends for?” Derek replied.

After eating, she went to grab a cup of coffee and stood in line. When it was her turn, someone bumped her cup, causing it to fall to the ground. Sally looked up at the girl, “Hey, that was the wrong thing to do.”

The girl did not reply; instead, she placed her own cup under the coffee dispenser. “It is my turn,” Sally said.

The girl sighed, “Just who do you think you are? Is it because the boss has taken a shine to you that you think you can tell us what to do in this office? You are an employee like the rest of us. Do not let that big office deceive you. Deep down, you know you do not deserve it. You are new here, so let me give you some free advice: it’s not uncommon for Mr. Edmund Baxter to have affairs with his employees. He has done it many times. But I assure you, when he gets tired of you, he’ll dispose of you like all the others.” The girl walked away.

Sally lowered her eyes, wondering if the girl who had just spoken to her was one of Edmund’s many past lovers. Perhaps other women who wanted Edmund’s attention saw her as competition, which meant she would need to watch her back carefully for their attacks. If only they knew how much she hated him.

***

Sally was working on her computer when her phone rang. She picked it up and heard Edmund’s oily voice. “Sally, my office. Now!” He hung up abruptly.

Sally rolled her eyes, took a moment to eat a snack from her bag, and then walked to Edmund’s office, knocking on the door. He did not respond right away, so she entered.

“Slow and rude,” he chided.

“I knocked,” she replied.

“I did not ask you to come in, and you took ten extra minutes after my call to get here. Sometimes, I wish your office were on the other side of the building so you could run here when I call. Then, coming in ten minutes late might actually make sense,” he mocked.

She did not want to lash out. For some reason, she was having a headache today. “What do you want… boss?” she asked.

“You will be staying past closing time today. Some files need to be sorted,” Edmund said, his eyes glued to his computer.

“No! Not again,” Sally thought, feeling distressed. “I can’t, sir,” she blurted out.

“Excuse me?” Edmund exclaimed, finally looking at her with interest.

Sally felt herself shivering. What if she lost her job for refusing? She really needed this job, but she couldn’t let him treat her like a slave. Summoning her courage, she stated clearly, “I refuse to work past my closing time, which is 7 PM.”

“Don’t worry. I will be staying behind too. I need those documents delivered tomorrow, and I am facing some challenges,” Edmund replied.

“I still refuse. Besides, the last time I worked past closing, you did not pay me. I can’t spend my time here when I should be resting and getting nothing out of it.”

Sally was adamant, and Edmund smiled at her. He enjoyed how childish she looked whenever she was angry.

“If money is your concern, I will pay you. Now you may leave my office,” he said, waving his hand as if to dismiss her as he returned to his computer.

She did not leave. “How much?” she asked.

He looked up at her. “Is five hundred dollars good enough?”

Sally chuckled; what a stingy billionaire he was. “I thought you were rich. But I see your mind has peanuts in it. Three thousand dollars for the night.”

He smiled slyly. “Okay, three thousand dollars for the night.” There was something in the way he emphasized the word ‘night’ that made Sally reconsider.

He cleared her doubts with an uneasy grin, “You know, when I pay for the night, I usually pay for the most expensive and capable women. You are… very cheap, I must say. Will you be able to satisfy me? I tend to prefer more elegant women. You look like a plain Jane. But I suppose you will do… tonight.”

Sally felt nauseous. What kind of game was he playing? Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she turned the doorknob and exited his office.

Edmund found satisfaction in her embarrassment. Her flushed face and trembling hands were exactly the reaction he desired, and he could not help but laugh.

***

At sunset, they were still in the office. The documents were numerous, and Sally had a lot of sorting to do. Edmund was in his office with his sleeves rolled up, constantly on the move to cross-check files, make notes, or answer phone calls.

He kept calling Sally to come to his office to answer questions or pick up something. Eventually, Edmund told Sally, “Move your things to my office. We will work here together.”

“Excuse me?” Sally said, hesitant to comply.

“You are not deaf, are you? I said move your stuff here. Quit wasting time and go now!” he yelled, and she hurried to comply.

She sat at the far end of his office, wary of him, especially after hearing that Edmund had many flings. She put her earphones in and decided to focus on her computer instead. As she listened to music, she felt less bored and soon forgot where she was, even beginning to sing along.

Suddenly, she did not notice when Edmund walked up to her. He bent down, bringing his face close to hers, gazing into her eyes.

Her eyes widened in shock as he moved even closer. She felt her body freeze, her breath catching in her throat, and a strange dryness in her mouth.

She wanted to ask what he wanted, but the words would not come. She was paralyzed. She could smell his cologne and see the curve of his lips—was he smiling at her? Why were his eyes blinking slowly? She closed her eyes. Did she want this?