Page 10 of Unlocking my Boss's Heart

“I wouldn’t say that. You’re the oldest, so naturally she wants you to do everything first,” Johan said, clearly enjoying this.

“We’re all adults now. At thirty-one, you should be feeling the marriage pressure too,” I countered, but deep down, I knew my brother was right. Our mother had her sight set on me, and I hadn’t yet figured out how to change that.

“Why not settle down? Or are you planning to pull a George Clooney?” Johan teased. “Your biological clock is ticking.”

I rolled my eyes. “Men don’t have biological clocks, Han,” I said.

The familiar childhood nickname softened our banter. Johan, shortened like Han Solo fromStar Wars, had always been my go-to name for my brother during these playful exchanges.

We hung up. I closed my eyes for a second to reset.

Though I appreciated my family’s privilege, I wanted to be known more than a Waltons. That was why I carved my own path, separated from my father’s towering tech corporation. Law was my calling, and I threw myself into it, building my firm from the ground up. I didn’t need to work this hard, many in my position would’ve been content to bask in the family wealth and globe-trot without care. But I wanted more, something on my own that no one could take away.

A sudden beep interrupted my thoughts. I glanced at my phone screen and saw that it was Reeva. I scrolled to her name, my thumb hovering over the screen. With a firm tap, I blocked her number. Relief washed over me. She was gone when I got home last night, but her relentless calls and texts since had left me uneasy. I knew deep down, she wouldn’t let go easily.

My father’s warning echoed in my mind then, his old-fashioned values clear as day. He was never one for casual flings. He believed in intentions and commitments. Not that Iwas one to sleep around, but even a confirmed bachelor like me needs company every now and then. Reeva was the shortest relationship I’d ever had, a whirlwind that ended as quickly as it began.

Coming home to an empty apartment could be suffocating but being with Reeva lost its charm fast. After we’d made love, she became possessive, wanting me not for who I was, but for what I represented. I couldn’t fault her entirely—we’d both played our parts. But now, it is over. I could only hope she would move on as swiftly as she’d entered my life.

The office line rang, jolting me out of my thoughts.

I was never this distracted.

“Yes?” The answer came out harsher than intended, betraying the simmering tension that Reeva had stirred within me.

“Human Resources has completed the initial screening of applicants from the job posting,” Olivia sounded on the other end, steady and composed.

“I need a shortlist of ten candidates here this afternoon,” I instructed with a softened tone, as I rained in my emotions.

“Today?” She gasped in surprise.

“Yes. The candidates are aware. Schedule interviews starting at two.”

Time was of the essence. The sooner I filled the vacancy, the sooner the firm could balance the overwhelming workload that John departure had left in its wake. I wasn’t about to let our team falter and give John the satisfaction of seeing us trip up due to his hasty exit.

After a quick stop at the courthouse, I returned to work after lunch. The familiar click of my shoes on the marble floor felt oddly comforting after the chaotic rush of the traffic. A few unfamiliar faces sat uncomfortably in the lobby, waiting.

I strode past them and entered the elevator. When I stepped out on the office floor, Olivia handed me a cup of black coffee. “Thank you.” I took it, grateful she could read my mind. I took a sip, savoring the rich bitter warmth aroma, as it cut through the fog of my tiredness.

“How did your meeting go?” Olivia asked cheerily, walking beside me with a clipboard.

“They agreed to settle out of court,” I replied.

“That’s wonderful news, sir,” Olivia beamed, and I nodded appreciating her enthusiasm.

My client, Eucalyptia Pharmaceuticals, had violated their contract by deviating from the agreed dosage in their consent. The alteration caused no adverse effects, but when the test subjects found out, they sued. My job was to make them settle out of court for two hundred thousand dollars. They were too stubborn initially but eventually changed their minds.

We walked into my office, and I sat heavily in my chair. Olivia placed messages on the desk. I scanned them as she explained, “None of these are urgent.”

I nodded, thumbing through the rest of the messages. Nothing that wouldn’t wait until tomorrow. “Thank you, Olivia,” I mumbled.

She returned to her desk. A reassuring silence settled over my office. Though tired, I needed to find a replacement for John. I always conducted the final interviews myself, and the firm’s success proved the effort was warranted.

I sipped my coffee and called out through the intercom to Olivia, “In five minutes, send in the first candidate.”

The first applicant was an older woman who had graduated from a renowned law program and seemed competent. After a few questions about her former employers, I noticed she avoided the topic. I concluded the interview then and there. As she closed the door, I dumped her file on the floor. She didn’t want me to know what happened at her former firm, and I couldn’t bring more drama into the office. One was enough.

The second applicant was a young, eager man. I grilled him about his school and past employers and found out he currently worked at another law firm but wanted a higher salary. I narrowed my eyes at that. If he was here just for the paycheck, that didn’t speak well of his loyalty. I couldn’t afford another volatile employee who didn’t care about their work so long as they got paid.

---