Chapter Two

Clearing his throat to get everyone’s attention, Josh Stevenson began, “Good morning, everyone! I’m Josh Stevenson, your new boss. I’m thrilled to be here. By now, I’m sure you’ve observed the structural adjustments and staff changes we’ve implemented. Moving forward, over the next three months, it will be necessary for you to exert greater effort if you intend to remain a part of this organization.

“I will have individual meetings with each of you to discuss your roles and what is expected from you,” he continued. “If you don’t have any questions, that’s all for now.”

Sophia, looking very pleased, eagerly raised her hand, making me sigh inwardly. “It’s not a question,” she said. “I just wanted to officially welcome you to the company. We want you to know that we are fully committed to embracing and supporting your vision.”

“Thank you, Miss...?” Josh paused, asking for her name. 

“Sophia,” she responded, adding a flirtatious tone to her voice as she continued the conversation. 

With a look of contentment, he left the conference room after the meeting ended.

True to his word, my new boss began meeting with all the staff members. He hasn’t had a meeting with me yet, which I know will be uncomfortable, but I’ve committed to maintaining professionalism.

Later, Amelia entered my office. “Hey, baby girl, what’s up?” I greeted her. 

“How was your meeting?” I asked. 

“It was okay. He didn’t say much. We just exchanged ideas,” Amelia replied, expressing her disappointment. “That man doesn’t smile.”

Feeling resentful, I commented, “He’s too arrogant to smile, acting like he’s the best thing since pizza.”

Amelia chimed in, “I heard he’s still single.”

In a casual tone, I replied, “Oh, Sophia will be delighted to hear that.”

Suddenly, Josh stepped into my office, looking impeccable in his well-fitted suit. With his dark hair, handsome look, and piercing eyes radiating confidence and style, I caught myself admiring him for a brief moment. Instantly, I collected myself and put on a serious expression. “Good morning, sir.”

“Just call me Josh,” he replied.

“Good morning, Josh.”

“Morning,” he said. “I need to reschedule our meeting.”

“Okay, sir.”

Why the stress of coming to my office? He could have just emailed me, I thought to myself. I need to get used to seeing him around. He’s my arrogant boss who got me booted out of the gym. The scenario is still vivid in my mind.

“You need to step up your game, but we can talk about it further in the meeting,” he said condescendingly.

I was stunned by his words. I knew he was trying to provoke me, but I couldn’t let this slide. “Um, excuse me, sir, but I take a lot of pride in my work. I’ve successfully closed deals for this company and have demonstrated my competence. So, could you please explain what you mean by ‘stepping up my game’?”

“Let me explain. It seems like your emotions sometimes affect your decisions and how well you operate in this organization. I just spent three hours convincing one of our vital investors, whom you introduced to the firm, not to sever ties with us.”

Amelia, sensing the tense atmosphere, hurriedly left my office.

He’s starting to annoy me, I thought as I tried to stay calm.

As he was about to exit my office, I swiftly called out to him, making him pause and turn back. “Sir, I don’t think you fully understand the essence of my job. Do you realize the level of connection I establish with my clients and staff members? My work speaks for itself—I’m genuine and honest,” I said with a hint of frustration.

“I’m not questioning your business skills, but I ask you to please not try to demean me,” I continued, mixing determination with a touch of hurt. It seemed to me that this wasn’t just about work; it felt personal.

He turned to me, a sharp look of anger in his eyes. “Firstly, remember that I’m still your boss, so it’s important to choose your words carefully. Secondly, just because you’re rude to me doesn’t mean I have any ill intentions toward you. Lastly, you’re competent at your job, but let’s strive for greatness.”

I knew I needed to resolve this tension between us once and for all. “Sir, you bumped into me, raised your finger to silence me while you were on the phone, and even had me kicked out of the gym. And now you’re telling me to step up my game?” I said, turning to him.

He let out a sigh. “I apologize for my behavior. I deeply regret my words and actions. These past few weeks have been challenging for me, and unfortunately, you caught me at a particularly tough moment,” he expressed sincerely, stepping closer, his emotions on full display.

My eyes widened, and I didn’t know what to say for a moment. His words felt genuine, and I could see his sincerity. I furrowed my brows, trying to understand what was happening. His hasty remorse made me question why he was changing. Was this genuine or just a fleeting act?

After a brief pause, I managed to collect myself and respond. “Um... I appreciate your apology, Josh. It’s just... shocking, considering how we’ve been before,” I stuttered, still feeling cautious about fully trusting his apology.

He grinned and said, “I want you to understand that I’m not here to sabotage your work or what you’ve been doing. If we want the company to succeed, we need to work together as a team. And more than anyone else, I need your support,” he added, letting his defenses down, his emotions fully on display as he stepped closer to me.