Page 19 of Submitting to Them
“Hey Grant,” I say after I take care of the bill, “do you mind heading back now?There are a couple of things I want to go over with Kristin.”
“Yeah, sure,” he says.“See you two later.”
He takes off, and I face Kristin.To her credit, she looks ashamed.
“It’s not ever going to happen between us, is it?”she says.
“No, it’s not.”
With a little shrug, she flicks her brown, wavy hair over her shoulder.“Well, you can’t blame a girl for trying.”
Actually, I can, but I’m going to let it go because it’s weird enough already.Still, I can’t keep completely quiet on this.“Kristin, you’re extremely talented.That’s why you’re in the office you have, working these long hours, putting in the work.But if you ever make a physical pass at me or any employee of Tyler Analytics again, you won’t have a job for long.”
She nods and looks down, all teasing gone from her face.“I’m sorry.”
I’m not going to tell her it’s okay, because it isn’t, but I do say, “I am going to report this to HR.Not to punish you, but to protect myself and let them know what’s going on.Please feel free to submit your own version of events.”
Pursing her lips, she says, “I understand, and it won’t happen again, I promise.I got the wrong impression…I’ve seen you at Vice, and Margot said you’re a good guy.”
She knows the owner of Vice, she’s seen me there, so she probably suspects I’m kinky.If she does—
“Do you think I’m submissive?”I ask her.
“Aren’t you?”
Given the way she’s been acting around me, lightly ordering me around for items on the table, or hinting she needs them done for her, it’s all starting to make sense.I laugh.“No.Not at all.”
“Well, shit,” she says.“A lot of times, a man in your position wants tonotbe in charge in the bedroom.”
“I could say the same for a woman in your position,” I say.
She leans back in her chair.“Well, report me to HR all you want.It definitely won’t be happening again.Regardless of your needs, it wouldn’t have, anyway, when you said no so bluntly.I apologize for my behavior.We wouldn’t match, anyway.”
“I appreciate that.Thank you.”
She gives me a quick smile and stands to go.
I let out a heavy breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.My shoulders loosen with relief.This has been a low-key stressor for weeks now.Half the time, I thought I was reading the situation incorrectly.The other half, I was always another step away from having this awkward conversation with her.
Now that we’re clear, it’s one less thing to worry about.
Unfortunately, the issue of the hacking attempt remains.And the bomb threat.What fresh hell will visit my company next?
Ella
Although I’ve hung out with Sebastian a couple of times and we’ve exchanged lots of messages, I’ve barely heard from Kingston all week.Just a few texts here and there.I tried calling him twice this morning, hoping to catch him during a break, but he didn’t answer either time, and he didn’t call me back, either.
It’s easy enough not to think about it while I’m working, which is why I’m currently glad to be at Bartleby’s.
Even if stupid Nicholas is still managing in Kevin’s absence.
“Ella, the restrooms need attention,” Nicholas says from behind the bar.
I look pointedly at my full tray of sandwiches and fries that I’m about to take out to one of my tables, and then at Nicholas.He’s just standing there, watching the dining room.He’s not even pouring drinks, because we have a new, temporary bartender while Kevin is still out.
“So, go take care of them,” I say, starting forward.
“Don’t talk to me like that,” he says.
