Page 19 of Written By a Woman

If I had stumbled into Signe Lange on the street, outside of the office, would I have tried to talk to her? To get to know her?

Yes.

Absolutely, how could I not?

That question didn’t require a lot of further thought.

Would I have wanted to ask her out after getting to know her?

Also, yes.

I wanted to ask her to dinner currently, and that was just based on professionally interacting with her at the office for the past year, but I couldn’t. Because I was her superior, and the ethics of the situation made it obvious where that line was.

Raina started talking again, but I held a hand up as I stared at my car behind my two sisters. She stopped talking, and I could feel both of their stares impatiently waiting for me to gather my thoughts.

But…if Signe wanted to quit, then she would no longer be my employee…

“I could fire her…” I mumbled, making Raina’s eyebrows shoot up with surprise.

“Or…?” She pressed, because, clearly, I was trying to think through some other options.

“…Or, I could justwaitfor her to quit.” I felt my lips turn up a little at the thought and before my hand could block the movement, my sisters practically jumped on me.

“What?” Salma gasped.

“Why?” Raina grabbed one of my arms, and I quickly shrugged her off before gently walking around the two women and making my way towards my car.

“Thank you for the intel,” I waved a hand dismissively at them as I opened the door and made my way into the car.

“Intel?” Salma asked, waddling over to the car, and placing a hand on the hood as I shut my door. I rolled the window down so that I could hear her talk because clearly, she wasn’t ready to let me go yet, “Intel for what? This isn’t a problem for you?”

Weirdly, no.

I knew it should. Logically, I knew that part of me should be disturbed that my employee was writing a romance novel with a man based on what I looked like. However, that wasn’t what I focused on.

Instead, I felt flattered.

I guessed it was true what they said, how attraction really did determine if someone’s actions were considered unsettling or endearing.

“I’ll keep you posted.” I waved to my sisters before rolling up my car window. Salma took the hint and released her hold on the hood, stepping back with Raina as the two stared at me with wide eyes as I drove off.

My blood was rushing in my veins.

It was an indescribable high I had, knowing that I was the inspiration for Signe’s project. Aromancenovel.

I had originally intended to get as much sleep as possible that night, but now I had other plans. Plans that included scouring the internet for every word that Signe Lange had typed. If this is what she did outside of work, I was desperate for every crumb. Every detail. What made her choose me? Was it entirely my physique? Was it the way I held myself in the office?

I felt my face heat again at the thought of her observing me in such a way.

I wasn’t a prude by any means, but I did get a thrill knowing thatthatwoman appreciated what she saw. I wasn’t flashy like other men, though I liked to wear nice clothing, thanks to my sister’s encouragement. I wasn’t out every weekend trying to get laid. As far as I knew, I didn’t have a natural charisma that drew women in. I was more reserved and dedicated to work as of late. Envious of the partnerships that my sisters had found and the family that Salma was creating.

But this knowledge my sisters gave me changed some things. Within the span of one evening, brushing off my attraction to the office manager as pointless was no longer necessary. Especially if Signe wanted to eventually quit her job at Sun Steer to pursue her own goals, anyway. Now, I felt like I just needed to be patient, spend this time getting to know her better, and maybe work on putting myself out there without making her suspicious that I knew her little secret.

I imagined what it would be like to have Signe truly reciprocate my attraction, to earn those flirty little looks she gave everyone who passed her desk at the office. To earn her wide smiles outside of work, to spend one-on-one time with her. To see little pieces of her glowing personality for myself.

To finally, possibly, know for myself what those tempting lips of hers taste like.

As I turned into my condominium and parked my car, I sat in thought about my mother’s pressing questions at dinner tonight. How I wanted to eventually settle down.

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