Ransome doesn’t say anything and his expression doesn’t change. He simply nods so slightly it’s nearly impossible to detect.
But I can see it. I can feel it. And I can practically hear him saying the words,Good girl.Not out loud, of course. But his posture says it. That’s enough for me.
“Anything else?” I ask as he gets closer. I’m hoping to slow him down. Hoping he smells the Sweet Seduction. Hoping it’s enough to make him react. Even if it’s in the slightest way, I’ll know, and that’s all I want. Just a tiny bit of it. A quarter smile, if I’m lucky.
Ransome stops walking.
And I stop breathing.
I swear I see him take in a breath of the perfume. A breath of me.
But he doesn’t turn his head like before.
“No,” he says. “That’ll be all.”
ELECTRA: Have you fucked your boss yet?
My best friend’s text pops up on my phone screen the moment I sit down for lunch. When I ordered Ransome’s favorite Russian dish earlier, I DoorDashed a Cobb salad from the deli aroundthe corner for myself. Despite usually being allotted an hour for lunch every day, I never leave the office to eat. With how often Ransome’s schedule changes, depending on the many responsibilities that come with running half the country’s energy industry, I like to work through my lunch break to make sure he has an updated itinerary if needed.
Today, things are relatively quiet. At least they were, until Electra slid into my DMs with her signature subtlety and graceful nuance.
AMARA: For the thousandth time. I have no plans to fuck my boss.
ELECTRA: But why not? He’s hot af. All that dommy energy needs an outlet. That man is just screaming mommy issues. Maybe he grew up in a house of toxic masculinity. I’m sure he likes to unwind in the bedroom. Let go a little. Blow off some steam. Maybe you should blow off his steam, you know what I’m saying?
She adds a tongue-out emoji, just in case she hadn’t beaten the dead horse quite dead enough yet.
AMARA: What Ransome does in his bedroom is none of my business.
I’m not lying through my teeth if I’m typing it instead of saying it, right?
ELECTRA: What about WHO he does in his bedroom? Do you ever think about that?
I don’t like to think about that. In fact, I make a point ofneverthinking about it. Not unless it’s a fantasy and I’m the one he’s taking his workday stress out on…
AMARA: Is there a real reason you’re texting me?
ELECTRA: Sadly, yes. I wanted to see if you are free for lunch this weekend. I miss you.
AMARA: I miss you too.
ELECTRA: Perfect. Deangelos at one on Saturday. I would say earlier but I have a date Friday night and I’m sure I’m going to be hungover af.
AMARA: Another date? Same guy as last time?
ELECTRA: Hell no! That guy ghosted. Which is fine. He was a bit of a weirdo anyways. I think he worked for pest control. Very passionate about termites.
I sigh, shaking my head and taking a sip of the iced latte I picked up when I got Ransome’s order on my way into the office today. It’s been a few hours since then, so it’s not as cold. But it’s still coffee and caramel and it’s still good.
AMARA: Okay, ew to Mr. Termites. Which app did you meet this new guy on?
ELECTRA: I didn’t! I met him at the bar when I was on the date with the last guy. He offered to buy me a drink when Bug Boy dipped.
AMARA: Classy.
ELECTRA: Always. I’ll see you Saturday. Try to fuck your boss before then so you have something to talk about too! LOL
I slide my phone to the other side of the desk and reach for my salad. Electra has always been a little bit… wild. That’s putting it very nicely. It’s one area where we are very, very different. Yet somehow, as most best-friends-since-high-school stories go, we’ve stayed close even though our lives in no way align.
