Page 21 of Melted by a Man

“Yes, there is a need,” I decided to lean into being a chicken and dropped my eyes to the carpeted floor instead. Eye contact when I was anxious, was nearly impossible for me to maintain, “I offended you last time we spoke.”

“…I’m pretty sure I offended you,” Leo countered.

“You did,” I nodded, “I thought you were messing with me. I thought that you were reminding me of…” I copied Mariam’s waving hand movement to the side of me, before dropping my arm, “You know. How we met.”

Leo was silent, but I still didn’t look up at him. I was anxious, I thought my heart was going to race out of my chest. I might even throw up.

“I wouldn’t want to do that, Jacqueline,” Leo’s voice was lower, softer. I nodded once, an attempt to validate him.

“I know,” I sighed, “I didn’t know in the moment, obviously. I assumed you were out to get me. But I thought about it after the fact, and I can see that I was overreacting.” I glanced up at him, sitting still at his desk with his hand lingering on the mouse. His other arm rested on the table as he studied me, “When I asked you ‘why does a man ever try to humiliate a woman’ I implied that you were the kind of man whoenjoyedhumiliating women...I shouldn’t have done that. That wasn’t fair of me, at all.”

My lip trembled. I hated the fact that I was an anxious crier, and bit my lip to keep the tears in. I didn’t want to cry through my apology, I didn’t want to come off as someone who manipulated forgiveness from others. I either deserved forgiveness, or I didn’t.

“When I asked that,” I continued, “I was trying to explain why I was suspicious of your comment. My perspective as a woman in the office. I didn’t see in the moment howaccusatorythose words are in that context. But I know now. I don’t want you to think that I think that…I know you’re not like that, Leo. I was just being unfair to you.”

I finally dropped my gaze again, right when I heard the creak of Leo’s office chair indicating that he adjusted his seat, “Thank you…we’re good.”

I looked up at him, wiping my clammy palms on the thighs of my jeans, “You don’t have to forgive me so easily. I…didn’t exactly forgive you as easily.”

“I know,” Leo lifted a shoulder, “But I understand your perspective now, which makes the words you said sting a little less.” I winced as he scooted back from his desk and stood, tapping something on his keyboard to lock his computer screen, and pulled his phone out of his pocket, “Wanna go get some lunch?”

I flinched, “Are you asking me out?”

I couldn’t believe this.

It was so inappropriate; I was literally the entirety of the Human Resources department.

Leo halted, both of his dark eyebrows raised, “No…Mary and I were going to try this new burger place down the road…I was wondering if you wanted to join us…”

My cheeks burned with embarrassment, my veins feeling a little cold from the fact that I once again assumed things, not even seconds after apologizing for assuming things, “I’m sorry, I just…no, I brought my lunch today.”

Leo shrugged, “Maybe next time.” He shoved his phone in his back pocket and snagged his keys off of his desk before approaching me, “I know how we met makes this a little…odd.” His eyes met mine then, and I was immediately taken back to that night.

How kind and confident he looked sitting next to me at the bar.

How he knew that I was trying to go home with him immediately.

I remembered it all as if it was yesterday.

“It’ssoweird,” I admitted on an exhale, “I hate it.”

Leo quirked his lips to the side, his brows lowering over his handsome face, but he didn’t look super offended, so I didn’t apologize for my choice of words. Because Ididhate it, I wished I could move past it. I wished he was just some other employee who hadn’t seen me naked and vulnerable, making obscene noises.

He was currently the only person on Earth who knew both what I looked and sounded like when I came, and I had to work with him every day.

“I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t think it was the best choice for me. I…I didn’t accept the position just to fuck with you.” Leo spoke, pulling me from my thoughts.

I nodded and frowned, “Language.”

“Shit, you’re right,” Leo sighed.

“Leo,” I warned.

“Sorry, sorry,” Leo smirked a bit, and I noticed myself focusing on that expression a little more than I should have. How I felt a bit of relief from seeing him in a better mood, “If you’ll excuse me.”

I gave him a confused look, before his gaze flicked over my shoulder toward the door I was still standing in front of.

“Oh,” I jumped and opened the door, no longer trapping us in his office as we stepped through the threshold, “My bad.”

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