Chapter 29. IS THIS APPROPRIATE WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR?
********************************
Alex’s POV;
*************
No wonder I was late for my work the next morning.
The early meeting I had got postponed so I relaxed a little bit….. or so I thought, in reality I relaxed a little too much which led to me running in the morning, almost colliding head first with a few people on my way as I hastened to get to my office.
With sore feet and still drowsy eyes, I rushed out of the elevator only to come to a screeching halt in the middle of the hallway where apparently a brawl had broken out.
Of course some dumbass thought it was perfectly okay to ruin people’s morning with their unnecessarily loud opinions.
“How long do you plan to play dirty Jensen? If you wanna stay in this industry you better quit your stupid mind games!” A vaguely familiar voice boomed around the whole floor.
His back was facing me as he spat his words towards Jensen who looked straight at the man with his usual composure, but his eyes glared icily.
Kate and Nick stood beside Jensen looking worried and panicked. Other agents were gathered around seeming unsure.
The back of the man’s head looked familiar, I thought. Before I could waste any brain cells on guessing who this idiot was, Jensen provided me with an answer.
“Stop blaming me for your reputation Carson! You lost the deal, fair and square.” Said Jensen.
Carson! Of course, It’s brick-brain Brian. This brought back memories, not very pleasant ones, because this moron was my former boss, Brian Carson, CEO of Carson Industries.
“Good thing you know my reputation, at least it won’t come as a shock when I’ll sue you Black.” He threatened, pointing at Jensen as if there were five of him.
A few people gasped, while I rolled my eyes. Brian is all talk, I can vouch for it.
“Your lawyer’s office is seven blocks to the left, you might wanna leave now if you want to beat the traffic.” Jensen checked his wrist watch as he spoke, looking least bothered by Brian’s empty threat.
I smirked, while Kate and Nick paled visibly, as if watching someone poking at a lion’s eye.
“Now, if you need assistance leaving the building, the security will escort you out.” Jensen added when Brian stood there fuming.
“This isn’t over…” He gritted out and turned around only to face me. His frown deepened recognition crossing his expressions, I was about to greet him sarcastically for old times sake but he beat me to it.
“Of course you work with him.” Brian scoffed viciously and walked off towards the elevator.
“Yes, the employees benefits are much better, and I don’t have to deal with morons like you.” I scowled at his back and shot him with a finger gun, and then blew at the fake smoke before slipping my fake gun in my bag.
I turned back around and noticed Kate face-palming, Nick confused as always and Jensen smiling ever so slightly. I saw a few other smiling faces in the crowd that had gathered.
Everyone dispersed and went back to their work, Jensen turned around to walk back to his office and I followed.
Kate threw me a disapproving look as I passed her, she was mumbling “Is that appropriate workplace behavior-”
“Later…” I didn’t wait around to listen or talk back as I followed Jensen right into his office and the door closed behind us.
“Good morning.” I greeted him happily.
“It could have been.” He replied, clearly talking about what happened moments ago, as he tugged at his tie to loosen it around his collar. He then sat in his chair and looked up at me with a worried frown. “You look tired.” Jensen noted.
“I know, which is why I believe there should be an official off day for employees who partied a little too hard the day before.” I said, completely serious.
He smiled as he got out of his seat and rounded the table to stand in front of me, leaning against his desk. “The HR will have to think about that, sounds like a legit problem.” He humored.
I raised an eyebrow, “My boss is a lot more understanding than I thought he’d be.” I joked.
“Only for you…” He winked, making me blush.
“Favouritism already….. This is not a good sign.” I chuckled.
“As if I care…” Jensen replied, as he stepped closer to me and reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers together. My heartbeat rose and my stomach was filled with butterflies fluttering as he pulled me to his chest. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” he admitted in a breathy whisper making me shiver.
“Behave yourself Mr. Black, Is this appropriate workplace behavior?” I scolded jokingly with Kate’s words, as I playfully pushed him back to gather my bearings. Jensen watched me and then laughed when he realised I was impersonating his secretary. I couldn’t stop smiling.
“Anyway, what was that drama in the hallway, why was Brian Carson here? And does he have to yell?” I questioned as I walked back closer to him.
“Well, for one…he was here to whine about the merger he lost with Celestrium industries, and two, yes he apparently has to yell.” Jensen finished.
“The last question was rhetorical.” I replied flatly, making him crack a wider smile. “So he lost the deal with Mr Smith, but why would he threaten to sue us?” I frowned. That part didn’t add up.
“Because Carson offered him more money but Mr. Smith still signed with us, simply because Carson is known for tearing apart companies and selling them separately for more profits, and Mr. Smith didn’t wish that, Carson is now convinced I manipulated him somehow.” Jensen explained.
Of course that greedy monster only chased profit, nothing’s changed. Wise decision on Mr. Smith’s part.
“How do you know Carson? What you did back in the hallway was indicative of an old dispute.” Jensen voiced.
I rolled my eyes, “that was just my dislike for brick-brain Brian, he was my boss back when I worked at the Carson industries. He’s a real piece of work.” I shrugged, amusing Jensen.
“Do you give mean nicknames to all your bosses?” He asked, clearly amused.
I shrugged. “Only if they deserve it.” Jensen rolled his eyes playfully.
“He wanted me to pretend like I couldn’t see the shady business that went on around the company so I quit.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Jensen said.
“Seems like nothing has changed.” I commented.
He was being very suspicious with the company funds and if I had stayed there I’m sure I would have gotten arrested for embezzlement or forgery. I have so much intel on him, that I can expose him. He should be careful not to run his mouth.
“Let’s not talk about him…” Jensen said.
I looked at him to see a mischievous smirk on his face, “What do you wanna talk about?” I asked with slight caution.
He reached for my hand again, warmth enclosed my wrist as he gently held it, “I don’t know… maybe about what you said to me last night.” He suggested.
“What about it?” I asked, pretending like the mention of it wasn’t making me want to hide.
“Since when did you….?” He trailed off and I had a pretty good idea what he wanted to know. As if I’ll tell him how quickly I fell for him.
I reached forward and adjusted his tie that needed slight adjustments and to change the subject I said, “You’re pretty good with ties, yet you wanted me to do it for you?”
“Quit trying to change the topic…” He saw right through me. I remained silent.
“Alright tell me this, I was thinking of asking someone out, is there a chance she’ll say yes?”
I tugged his tie pulling him closer as I decided to mess with him, he leaned in, offering no resistance, and my lips ghosted over his ear as I whispered, “I don’t think she will…” I let go of his tie and stepped away, “she must be busy with the reports and presentations and she needs to prepare for the upcoming business trip, her schedule is quite packed…the odds are not in your favour right now.”
His smiled dropped
“That reminds me, I have a meeting soon and I should prepare for it, I’ll see you later Mr. Black.” I smiled politely as I stepped away and saluted before I walked out of his room barely managing to hold in my laughter at his shocked expression.
********************************
The meeting ran late into the afternoon and by the time everything was wrapped up I was tired as hell.
I sat in my office chair going through some reports when Kate walked in. “When were you going to tell me about you and Jensen?”
My eyes widened. “Keep it down will you?”
She suddenly smiled, “So it’s true?!”
I nodded sheepishly.
“I knew it! I….so knew it!” Kate exclaimed mega-loudly. What part of Keep it down did she not understand?
Good for you, now you can happily pursue your dream of becoming a psychic. I wanted to say but instead I quickly said “It’s not official or anything…” and I asked “How did you find out?”
“He was asking me about your likes and dislikes on dinner dates…It wasn’t hard to put two and two together.” She smirked. “Now, tell me everything!” She exclaimed and then planted herself in a chair, as she looked at me eagerly.
I had no choice but to tell her all about the pendent he got me and then how he told me he wanted to date me, how he danced with me and held me close like he cared about nothing else, I told her everything.
Kate squealed and swooned and smiled creepily, “oh my god, you guys are so sickeningly sweet I’m gonna get diabetes but I’m so happy for you” she sighed. “Finally I’m able to live vicariously through your love life.”
“Stop being weird Kate, and get your own love life…” I rolled my eyes and looked down at the papers I was reading.
“So when’s the big date?” She asked.
“We don’t have time for that, tomorrow we have to catch a flight to Paris, there’s too much work, we are both busy.” I answered flatly.
“In short you’re both boring people and have no time for romance, I swear you’re becoming a workaholic like Jensen.” Kate muttered, when I didn’t reply she asked another question. “So, ready for the business trip huh?”
“Yeah, kind of, I need to pack some more and all, it’s stressful,” I said as I closed the files in my hand and kept it aside, giving myself a much-needed break.
“You’ll have fun… plus the city is beautiful, you can go site-seeing after work to relax,” she assured me.
“I hope I get time for that, apparently we need to attend some boring business party as well.” I told her.
“You’ll have to put on a dress again, how traumatic,” Kate said sarcastically.
“Traumatic indeed.” I sighed.
When conversations lapsed I struggled to bring up the one thing that was sitting in the back of my head. I didn’t understand how to breach the topic about Sam.
“Kate, tell me something, did you ever think Sam had feelings for me?” I came up and asked her right out.
“Sam?” She looked shocked, but then she took a deep breath in and said, “to be honest, I thought he liked you a few years ago, during college times, but lately he was flirting around with everyone and seemed less attached to you so I thought he had moved on. Why are you asking me this suddenly?”
How could I be so blind? “He confessed his feelings to me last night.”
Kate’s eyes widened, “He what-?”
“It was so awkward after he told me and of course I didn’t feel the same so now I don’t really know where we stand. I feel so guilty…” I rubbed my hands down my face.
“Damn, I had some doubt he still felt this way, he’s damn good at hiding it, though,” Kate said. “Do you think Kyle knows?”
“I don’t know, I don’t wanna know….” I said honestly, I hope their friendship won’t suffer because of this.
Kate looked thoughtful and empathetic, about the whole story. In fact, she looked sad and I wondered what was going through her mind. As much as I know Kate she’s very open about everything but her romantic life. She seldom talks about the guys she had dated much less who she’s interested in, I don’t push her, I had in the past but she’s not one to budge.
Nick walked in at that moment and said, “why is the mood weird in here?”
“It’s nothing, what’s up?” I asked, trying to sound cheerful but didn’t quite manage it.
“Uh… ” He looked a little suspicious but then said, “Carrie emailed you some files, she said she wanted you to review them urgently.”
I nodded, “Sure…” I said and clicked on my mail looking at the computer screen.
“Oh and… can someone tell me why Mr Black was looking for you like a lost puppy?” He asked, making me freeze.
*********************************
Comment