Chapter three

I walked into the office wearing my nude blazer, a brown camisole and a brown mini skirt, with my white socks and black high loafers.

I looked like a real time baddie, I had my hair up in a messy bun and attached my fake hair fringe clip.

I usually wear contact lenses but today I opted for my actual black ray ban medicated glasses. Maybe the glasses would hide my eyes from the first hand embarrassment I was feeling.

“Oh hi, good morning,” I greeted everybody I met on my way to my desk. I adjusted my outfit and hesitated before sitting.

Jamie slid his chair over to mine almost immediately.

“Hey girl, what's the tea... you and the boss?”

“Shush—tea?? What tea?”

I stopped him before he could even finish talking.

I froze on my chair. “Wha—what do you mean?”

“Girl chill, loll… I just meant did you get into the boss’s bad side yesterday, What did he come back for anyways?”

“Oh okay that… yeah, he came back for some papers, he left almost immediately after.”

“Oh really, he didn't seem like he came for paperwork though, he seemed bat shit high— hmm, weird—“

He went back to his desk and I breathe a sigh of relief. How long can I live with this guilt?

I looked over at Raf’s office and he wasn't there. I glanced at the conference room, he was having a meeting with a couple of investors.

“Hmm, that's where he's at”

I grabbed a mirror at the side of my desk and looked at my face, I hardly ever wore makeup but I wore a red lipstick today

I was extra cautious about my looks today and changed my outfit multiple times before deciding to go for basic but cute rather than overdoing it

“Hey Mia”, about five minutes later, Emily called out, walking to my desk, “the boss is at the conference room, your teams meeting was just moved up, he's only gonna spend half a day today, so if you're ready, you could go in now for your meeting”

“Oh yeah, sure. Thanks.”

“Jamie, Teressa, Lu—where’s Lucy please? Raf’s ready for us, Emily just told me we could go in for our meeting.”

We were in charge of the administration section at the office

We entered the conference room, but Raf was busy with his phone and didn't notice us walk in.

“Good morning boss , they all said as they walked in.”

“Good Morning sir.” I said.

I never addressed him as boss, I always addressed him as sir.

His thumb kept scrolling like I hadn’t entered the room at all or he didn’t hear my voice.

“Proceed with the meeting,” he said without raising his gaze.

Yes, he was back.

The Raf I knew was back. Not the alternate version of him that I encountered last night.

He raised his head, staring at Teressa as she explained the monthly quarter on her slide show and then looked back down at his phone.

I kept stealing side glances at him, very minor for others to notice, but he didn't look at me not even once.

There’s no way he could've forgotten, or is he just feigning ignorance.

I was up next to explain further from where Teressa stopped.

Raf kept that same straight face he had while Teressa was speaking. He was so demure.

He had this neither cold, nor warm look.

I explained my slide, feeling super confident till he asked me a question I didn't expect.

“How would this marginalized growth affect the company and its subsidiaries in five years?”

The question caught me off guard, my usual eloquent and smart self went straight out of the window.

“In five years,”— I stammered.

He didn’t look up at first, then just for a second he lifted his eyes. “Jamie, take over from Miss Mia.”

Heat crept up my face, spreading across my neck before I could stop it. My grip tightened around the folder I was holding. He had never treated me like this before. He’s treating me like I’ve done something wrong to him and I couldn't stand it.

My thoughts couldn’t line up with what I was seeing.

The meeting ended and I had to submit the minutes of the meeting to him, along with a report I was given earlier in the week to work on.

I knocked and waited for his response before walking in. “Hey Sir, sorry to disturb you, I just came to give you the minutes and my report that you requested for,” and i placed them on his desk.

He didn’t answer immediately. He picked up the report folder, flipped open a few pages then set it down again.

“Redo it.” No softness, no hesitation.

I stood there, waiting for what I felt I deserved, an explanation!. I opened my mouth. Nothing came out

Raf raised his head, and saw me standing there, his jaw tightened.

“Anything else he said,” cold, clean and professional

“That’ll be all.” I said.

I went back to my desk and set the report on the table. My brows furrowed in anger.

“M…, girl, he upset you, didn’t he?. This is why I want to start my own clothing brand. M, we should ditch this job an start together. What do you think?”

“Jamie, you are $5000 in debt, you can’t start anything right now.”

“Yeah you’re right,” he said, laughing. “I mean he pays the salary, so we should at least give him a little bit of grace, shouldn't we?”

I scoffed, “oh please, I’m not giving him nothing, annoying motherfucker, I’m so irritated.”

“Wanna grab lunch? Jamie added.”

“Yeah…sure. Let’s get Chinese— I’m seriously craving some stir fry noodles and orange chicken right now.”

“You’re buying anyways , for blowing me off yesterday.”

“Alright, I’m buying.”

Heading back in from lunch, Raf was having his usual meetings. Our eyes met, he looked away and so did I.

Now I feel even more stupid for falling for what felt like his vulnerability

I had always admired Raf, I liked the way he carried himself, but I left it at that. He wasn’t only my boss but he was connected to my brother, and I wasn’t trying to complicate things.

Actually no… there was nothing to complicate.

Maybe I’m the only one who hasn't moved on.

One thing I know for sure is Raf hadn't forgotten. He had just decided not to remember, and it felt intentional.