Page 107 of My Boss

“I don’t have a fireplace or a carpet.”

I smile, shaking my head.

“I know, Jan.” I slap him on the buttocks. “Keep scrubbing, and I’ll go about getting the dough ready.”

*

Gosh, I’m totally stuffed. I stretch out in the chair and unbutton my pants.

“The chicken with vegetables was great.” I take a sip of wine. “Seemingly simple ingredients, but perfectly cooked. You really know how to cook.”

“This dish was actually fried and stewed, but yes, I can cook. When are we going to try your pie?” Jan reaches for the glass, not taking his eyes off me.

“It is still warm. Maybe I’ll put it outside. It will cool down faster.” And in the process, I’ll grab a quick smoke. As they say, no smoker ever forgets to smoke after a meal.

I get up from the table, hang my bag over my shoulder and reach for the pie.

“Why do you need a purse?” he asks.

Umm

Er…

“I have my cell phone in it. I want to call my friends. You know, wish them a Merry Christmas,” I lie brazenly because we exchanged Christmas wishes on Christmas Eve in the morning. But all in all, it’s a pretty good idea to ring someone. I don’t yet feel ready to reveal to Nina and Artie that my boss, whom I supposedly hate, fucked me in every possible way in less than two days and made me feel so good that I decided to spend Christmas with him in the mountains and fall in love. However, I’m always happy to talk to Toska. She won’t make fun of me. She’ll listen and ask how I’m feeling about everything, and then she’ll wish me luck and assure me that if something goes wrong, I should call her, and she’ll try to help as best she can. It’s good to have a friend who is a psychologist.

I put on my jacket and boots, go out in front of the house, put the pie against the wall, take out my phone and walk towards the trees.

While waiting for the call, I make sure Jan isn’t watching me, and as soon as I step into the darkened side of the lot, I take out a cigarette and light it up. Gosh, I love smoking in the cold air.

“Hi, sunshine; I was just thinking about you. How are you doing?” Toska greets me in a cheerful voice. In the background, I can hear the gurgle of her baby.

“Lots of things are happening. But first, let me know if you’re okay.”

“Perfect. We’re stuffed. We gained new pairs of socks, clothes, and teethers, about to take a bath, and then we’ll watch a Christmas movie. Maybe you feel like dropping in? We’ll watch it together.”

I’m guessing she’s asking out of politeness because she thinks I’m sitting alone at home in front of a screen, stuffing myself with chips.

But here comes a little surprise.

“Not now. I already have plans for the evening.”

“Well, well, well. Plans. Sounds interesting.”

“And it will be. I will only tell you that I’m in the mountains with my lover. And I’m also about to eat a delicious apple pie with my lover. Then I’ll drink wine, also with my lover. Then I’ll have heavenly sex, with my lover, of course. And then maybe I’ll actually watch a Christmas movie. Yes, you guessed right: with my lover.”

Toska laughs.

“Wonderful. So, who is the lover and why am I only finding out about him now?”

“And here’s a surprise. My lover is my boss, and you’re finding out about him now because he only became my lover yesterday.”

“Wait, wait,thatboss of yours?”

“Yes.”

“The one you can’t stand because he’s a stiff-necked boor and makes you stay after hours at work?”

“The same one. And he is not at all as horrible as I thought. Although he is certainly very peculiar.”

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