Page 31 of The Physical Attraction Seminar
It seems strange that Aspen wouldn’t want me working here, considering how close she is with everyone.
“No, it’s not like that.” She shakes her head. “It’s just that I’m hiring for an office manager position right now, and I think you’d be perfect for the job. I wish I would’ve had the chance to put my cards on the table and try to win you over.”
“Oh… oh,” I say with a hint of surprise laced in my tone. “I had no idea you were hiring.”
Sometimes, I wonder if I made a mistake by not looking for other job opportunities or accepting Elliot’soffer to make some calls for me. Then again, I wasn’t quite ready to step out onto my own, hesitant to leave the safety of my comfort zone. Even though it was a new place, staying at B.B.E. offered a lot of comfort that an entirely new job couldn’t. Camila is here, and I am still able to catch up with old coworkers from Solus when I stroll through the halls or spot them in the break room. It’s reassuring to have a safety blanket during such a big transition.
Once I found out Barrett was going to be my new boss, I should have made a swift exit. However, a small part of me resisted the idea of letting go of him again. I had already walked out once, and if I did it again, I don’t think he would be as welcoming if I tried to come back a third time. We probably wouldn’t be able to avoid each other forever, especially considering that my best friend in the entire world would’ve been working for him. If I wanted to drop by for lunch with her, there would always be a chance I could accidentally bump into him again.
For two hours after I verbally accepted his offer, I battled with uncertainty, questioning whether I would follow through with signing the paperwork. Then I opened my email and saw an official offer letter waiting for me, stating that the starting salary was nearly double what I earned at Solus. Despite my mixed emotions, I knew deep down that accepting the job offer, even if my employment here didn’t last long, was the right move.
It would’ve been nice to know that Aspen was hiring, though, since an office manager position would be a big step up from being an assistant. It wasdisheartening to realize I had the skills to handle the job and let it slip right under my radar.
I never imagined I would regret missing out on sunrise Pilates, but here I am. Maybe if I had shown up to class, she would’ve mentioned in passing that she was hiring. And if that were the case, perhaps in an alternate timeline, Barrett and I would have crossed paths in an elevator instead.
“Such a shame,” she sighs. “We missed out on the potential for greatness.”
A shared chuckle passes between us, and I swiftly take two muffins from her tray before we exchange our farewells and head in opposite directions.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve learned that Aspen and Nina are best friends, which makes sense, considering the two of them are one and the same. Their personalities remind me of a sunny summer day—warm, joyful, and vibrant.
They know everyone and everything, effortlessly flowing from one conversation to another without needing a moment to catch their breath. The two of them are privy to all the juicy gossip and rumors circulating about the building, and I can’t help but feel a tinge of anxiety around them. If there’s anyone in the building who can piece together the puzzle of what transpired between Barrett and me, it’s them.
It’s been about two weeks since our late-night heart-to-heart, and Barrett’s behavior has made a complete U-turn. For the most part, it’s been business as usual, which isexpected since it’s the busiest time of year for the commercial real estate industry. Most everyone has their heads down right now, but on the rare occasion that Barrett isn’t swamped with meetings, he’ll pop by my desk to say hello and ask what I’m working on. The emails we exchange have lost their robotic nature and now feel more like two friends chatting—although he’ll occasionally let a flirty message slip.
Whenever he does, I feel like a teenager having my first crush again. Every time, my heart hammers in my chest, and my brain goes fuzzy, distracting me from my work. Occasionally, when I walk by his office, I steal glances at him, admiring the way he furrows his brow while he paces back and forth on calls. I hate that I like him. And that I lie in bed at night, replaying our conversations. Even in the office, when I'm sitting at my desk, I rack my brain, searching for the perfect excuse to talk to him without seeming bothersome. I’m fully aware of how pitiful it sounds, but I’m too caught up in my feelings for him to care.
“Are you free?” I ask, poking my head into his office with my hands discreetly tucked behind my back.
“For you, yes. For others, no.”
With each step I take into his office, my smile widens. “Close your eyes and hold out your hand.”
“I hate surprises.”
“Why?” I tilt my head, trying to get a read on him.
“Last time someone said they had a surprise for me, my mother told my brothers and I that she was having an affair with our handy man and that she wasrunning away to live with him in South Jersey,” he says with a laugh, showing his detachment from the feelings.
“Yikes,” I trail off, unsure how to respond. “Well, I promise this isn’t anything like that, so just hold out your hand.”
He obliges, and I quickly place one of the warm muffins in his hands, the sight of its golden crust making my mouth water as I urge him to open his eyes. He releases a gratified groan and wastes no time tearing off the wrapper, devouring half of it in one bite. With his mouth still full, he asks, “I take it Aspen made these?”
“How do you know?”
“She’s always bringing in baked goods and passing them around to everyone. If shit ever hits the fan for her, she’d have a stellar career owning and operating her own bakery.”
“Right?” I add, crumbling my muffin wrapper in one hand, then tossing it into the trash can by Barrett’s desk. “I swear she’s like some kind of angel sent from above. I’ve never met someone so pure and wholesome in my life.”
Barrett nods. “It’s often broken people who have the kindest hearts.”
My heart stings, picking up on the hint that he knows more than I don’t.
“I have a big favor to ask if you’re up for it,” Barrett says, breaking our beat of silence.
“Sure. I’m happy to do whatever you need.”
“Would you mind staying late with me tomorrow night? I know it’s a Friday, but I’ve got to finalize thisproposal before we fly out on Monday morning, and I could use another set of eyes on it.”
