Chapter 23—I Like You

              They talked, unrelated to work and mostly about her. He listened intently while replenishing her wine now and then—signaling the server to let him do the pouring. She told him of her friends, social circles and their youthful manners. She told him of what she dreamt of when she was a child, then as a teenager. She told him how proud she was of her job … and of him. As more wine was poured, she became more confident and bubblier, and instead of being daunted as she usually was, she enjoyed the undivided attention her boss gave her. Then she said,

              "I like you. Very much."

              Her glass was empty, and so was the bottle.

              The Boss, for the first ti