Page 3 of Unlocking my Boss's Heart

Her eyes brightened. “Thank you, Mr. Waltons. I’ll finish a few things, and then I'll leave.” She continued her typing as I left.

Fifteen minutes later, I pulled into the underground parking garage below my apartment building. The low hum of the engine fading in the quiet of the concrete space. As the elevator went up, I made a mental list of things I could do with my free time—a tedious task. I rarely got home while the sun was still up, so I wanted to take full advantage of this opportunity. I wouldindulge in a takeout with a bottle of wine, while watching the sunset from my balcony.

My mind drifted to the last time I enjoyed that view. It was a Sunday afternoon with Reeva, my girlfriend. The memory brought a pang of discontent. Our conversations had felt stale, I was growing distant after just five months together. We were never on the same page. When I disagreed with her, she would coax me into agreeing rather than trying to understand my perspective. And after a while, it felt as if I was in a relationship alone. Reeva’s presence no longer matched what I sought in a partner.

I reached my front door, finding it already opened.

Why was my door already open? Even if I had forgotten to lock it this morning, it would’ve latched shut. Cautiously, I stepped inside the foyer, bracing myself for a possible intruder. The chill of the air conditioning mixed with the unexpected stillness made me shiver. I moved forward warily. At first glance, nothing seemed out of place. Even Picasso’sFemme Assisestill hung on the east wall.

Then, I saw a Versace suitcase propped up next to the sofa, and garment bags and handbags flung over the cushions. My free evening had turned into a different kind of problem.

“Wow, way to ruin the surprise,” a feminine Southern voice drawled.

I turned to see Reeva, my girlfriend, striking a magazine pose with her mouth painted in bold red lipstick. Her glittery top clung to her curves, tucked into skinny blue jeans, and her high heels matched her lipstick perfectly. A glass of red wine in hand, she watched me with a playful glint in her eye.

“What are you doing here, Reeva?” I couldn’t mask my irritation.

In the five months we’d been casually dating, I’d learned that Reeva thrived on surprises, especially those that involvedusing my name for access to exclusive events and charging things to my tab. Was this her new favorite hobby: showing up unannounced?

Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she took a slow sip from her glass before setting it on the table with deliberate grace. “Surprise, darling! I wanted to make our evening special. I know you’ve had a rough day, so I thought I’d come over and give you a little treat.”

She walked toward me, her hips swaying deliberately. Her palm glided up my chest, fingers curling around my loosened tie, and then her lips met mine.

But the familiar heat of desire that used to ignite between us when we started dating didn’t rise within me. That spark, the one that would have made me want to sweep her off her feet, twirl her around, and kiss her passionately as we stumbled and rolled down a grassy hill without breaking the kiss, was missing.

I gently pulled away.

“Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?” I asked, stepping back.

She grinned. “I’m not sure you understand the definition of a surprise.”

I glanced around and my gaze landed on the wine glass. “Don’t tell me that’s Domaine….” I recognized the rusty red tone.

How could she waltz into my home, help herself to a bottle of one of the most expensive wines? All she was doing was annoying me. I didn’t care about the wine; it was about her blatant disregard for my space.

“We’re celebrating,” she said, reclaiming the glass from the table and handing it to me. I automatically took it but put it back down. She reached for my tie again and started to undo it, I peeled her hands from it.

“Celebrating what?” I asked, feeling frustrated. It wasn’t our anniversary yet, her birthday was two months ago, and mine was still months away.

She shrugged, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. “Guess,” she simpered with a teasing grin.

I sighed, talking myself into being patient. After the stressful day I’d just had at work, a guessing game was the last thing I wanted to play.

My eyes fell on the suitcase and other items she brought behind her. “You’re going somewhere?”

“Nowhere, silly, try again.”

Reeva loved spontaneous trips with her girlfriends, often at my expense. I should have seen this coming.

“You’re going somewhere. I don’t know,” I insisted.

She scoffed and swatted my shoulder playfully. “We’ve been dating for months now. Don’t you think it’s time we took this to the next level?” Her tone was light, but there was an unmistakable hint of expectation in it.

It hit me then. “What?” I couldn’t keep the bark out of my tone. She took a step back then recovered quickly and took a sip from the glass of wine.

“I’ve been thinking—this place is so spacious, and it’s just the two of us. Why not make it even cozier?”

I gazed at her incredulously. “We never discussed moving in together.”

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