Page 24 of My Boss

“You were supposed to dress up for the banquet. In an evening gown. And this is not an evening gown.”

“That’s right, it’s not an evening gown. You have sharp eyesight. However, I’m worried about your hearing, I clearly told you earlier that I was going to change. I didn’t mention anythingabout an evening gown.” I cross my arms, which is probably not a good move because Jan’s gaze slides to my breasts again. He swallows in a way that makes his Adam’s apple pop out. He looks at my cleavage intensely, even lustfully. My nipples begin to tingle. My breathing speeds up. I feel a pulsing in my abdomen.

Jesus Mary and Joseph, am I just getting aroused about my boss staring at my boobs!

Stop. Stop. Stop! Right now!

I immediately rest my hands on my hips.

“Can you hear me well?” My pronunciation is loud and exaggerated, as if I were checking the function of a hearing aid on an eighty-year-old.

Jan immediately lifts his eyes. He catches my gaze.

Well, this is definitely better. Or is it not? I involuntarily suck in the air. Jan’s eyes are piercing and insatiable. God, why is he looking at me like that?

“I can hear you,” he replies in a low, hoarse voice that makes my skin get goosebumps.

Oh no, no. Maria, stop shivering. Cover your shoulders, step into the heated oven and set yourself on fire. Do anything, just don’t freak out. This is Jan Engler, after all. Pinocchio had more verve in him than he did. How many more times do you need to be told?

Just take it easy. I’m wrapping it up. It’s nothing like that. I’ll fix it right away.

I stare at Jan and he stares at me. I try with all my might to start up a combative attitude. To change my point of view. There is no devilishly handsome guy here, there is no man sitting here looking at me so indecently that it makes my panties wet. The appearance of this male specimen is only a pretense, a camouflage, a sham, a mask. Underneath this façade there is a man whom I sincerely dislike, who makes me stay after hours,who is judgmental and treats me as if I were just a nobody, who orders me to work on the weekend. On the weekend!

“Mr. Engler,” I start in a polite tone and adjust the bag on my shoulder. “I made it clear to you that I have today off. And I already have other plans. I’m going to the pond in the park. If you haven’t noticed, it’s beautiful weather, the weekend, and I intend to take full advantage of it.”

Jan’s eyes narrow a bit, causing wrinkles to appear at their corners.

“And I said that this is an exceptional situation and you have to work today. In return, you will get a day off.”

“And I want to get it today. I’m not going.”

“Are you pregnant?”

What’s this, is he crazy! Let him spit out the word!

“No.” I answer without thinking. And only after a while do I realize that, after all, Jan has no right to ask me such things. And I don’t have to answer him. But oh, well. It happened, emotions took over. But where did such a question even come from?

“Are you raising a child under the age of four?”

Aha. I already know where he’s going with this. Asshole.

“You know very well that I don’t.”

“So I would like to remind you that according to the Labor Code, if you do not carry out my business trip order, I have every right to fire you.”

Dickhead.

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’m taking a leave of absence on demand.”

Jan squints his eyes.

“I am not granting your request.”

God, I’m about to murder him.

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