Obsessed With My Father’s Boss

Waiting To Be Noticed

Rhea’s POV

Well, the disturbing noise continued all through the night. I barely slept a wink before the chatterbox Zoe came bouncing in to invite me for breakfast.

And after I took a good amount of time getting ready, hoping, convincing myself that this would be the morning I finally saw him at that table, I sat alone. Just me, the oversized furniture staring back at me and Zoe crackling away in the background like a broken radio. He never showed.

And so it continued. Night after night I lay there listening to the muffled sounds of him through the walls, his grunts and moans drifting through and making sleep impossible. I told myself I wasn’t listening. I was lying.

I stood outside every day like a fool waiting to be noticed. The cold bit into my skin some nights and I still stayed, smoothing down my nightie, rehearsing words I never got to say. The helps around were starting to give me looks and I hated every single one of them for it. I even made it as far as his corridor once, and that was as far as I got. There was always someone. Always a laugh or a voice that wasn’t mine floating out from behind that door.

I had exhausted every nightie I owned. Every single one.

At least school gave my mind somewhere else to go. And driving the car his Noona gifted me softened the sting just enough. The stares and the wows it pulled every time I pulled into the lot were small victories.

One afternoon after a particularly tedious lecture, Lyra and I dragged ourselves to the café. She was already in high spirits by the time we settled into our chairs, grinning at her tray like I had done her a personal favor.

“Woo, my rich bestie got me lunch.” She said happily.

“At least I could use his card, since I can’t use his d**k,” I said, and we both dissolved into laughter.

Lyra recovered first, leaning forward with that look she gets. “Come on girl, I was expecting some good news. You got your man within reach.”

I chewed my fries slowly, the frustration settling back in where the laughter had briefly chased it out. “The supermodels and hot chicks wouldn’t let him be,” I muttered.

“Come on, this is not the Rhea I know.” Lyra set her drink down. “You have had a crush on this man for years and now you finally have him within reach, and you are sitting here letting those chicks have their way?”

I shook my head. I wished it were that simple. That I could just walk up to his door, drag those women out one by one, and slot myself in their place without blinking.

“It is not that easy,” I said quietly. “I have exhausted all my nighties, stood outside in the cold, and even made it to his corridor. I could not even pass through. He has a type, Lyra. And I am starting to think I am not it.”

Lyra went still. Then she looked at me the way she does when she is genuinely offended on my behalf, like I had just said something unforgivable.

“Girl.” She said slowly. “Have you seen yourself. Like have you actually looked in the mirror recently? Do you know how many guys in our class would lose their minds just for you to glance at them? Mr Rowan would be the luckiest man alive to have you. So do not you dare sit here and question yourself like that.” The sternness in her voice caught me off guard.

I swallowed hard and nodded. Then I shoved my chips and chicken down in silence until lunch was over.

We had a few more lectures after that, then drifted toward the parking lot. Lyra stepped in front of me before I could reach the door.

“I will drive.” She said.

I gave her that look but handed over the keys without a fight. “Okay.”

It took me less than five minutes to notice she was not heading toward her place or mine. The streets were becoming unfamiliar in a way that suggested she had a specific place in mind.

“Are we going somewhere?” I asked.

She glanced over at me and flashed that smile. The mischievous one that meant I was already in trouble. “Well. If he will not come to you, then you go to him.”

I blinked.

“Don’t worry.” She said. “Trust me.”

I sat back and swallowed whatever argument was forming in my throat.

Our first stop was the shopping mall. We spent what felt like half a lifetime moving through racks while Lyra rejected everything I touched. A pretty blouse, no. A fitted skirt, no. A cute co-ord, absolutely not. She finally stopped at a black dress that had no business calling itself a dress.

I stared at my reflection and felt my eyes go wide. My booty was nearly out. My cleavage was announcing itself loudly.

“I am not wearing this. I look like a slut.” I said flatly.

“Oh yes, you are one tonight.” She said cheerfully, already reaching for something disturbingly similar in her own size.

We got dolled up at the makeup counter after that, and when I finally saw the finished version of myself in the mirror I understood what Lyra had been engineering all afternoon. I looked good. I knew I did. But knowing it and feeling it were still catching up to each other.

I did not need her to tell me where we were headed next. And sure enough, we stopped right in front of his club.

“I am not going in,” I said immediately. I did not want it to look like I was trying too hard. Like I was desperate enough to chase him into his own space.

“Oh yes, you are.” Lyra was already climbing out. “It is the weekend and two ladies are going out to have fun. That is all this is.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me forward before I could argue further.

Inside it was exactly as rowdy as it should have been. Smoke hung thick in the air and the music swallowed everything, faces blurring into each other under the strobing lights. Lyra pulled me straight toward the VIP section and as we climbed the stairs my eyes found him without even trying.

Rowan.

Our eyes locked instantly.

I nearly stopped walking. My whole body wanted to turn around, but Lyra’s grip on my wrist had other ideas and I was pulled forward whether I was ready or not.

We took a table close to his. Close enough. I kept stealing glances back, but he had looked away. He had women draped around him like decoration

I sat back, the hope quietly deflating. “This is not working, Lyra. He is not even looking this way.” I said.

She smiled like she knew something I didn’t. “The night is still young, bestie. Many things yet to unfold.”

The drinks started coming and we took shots, loosening up by degrees. Then two shirtless men appeared, wearing nothing but thongs, moving deliberately in our direction. I looked at Lyra. She was already grinning from ear to ear.

This girl was going to be the death of me.

“Let us see how long before our dear Mr Rowan gets jealous.” She said, winking.