for it. After all, this is my job. I’m learning more about administrative work than I probably would anywhere else. It’s just that I’m not sure how I’m going to survive if this temporary stint turns into a permanent one.
How am I going to spend months…years, working for a man I am developing a crush on?
Is it unprofessional? Hell yes.
Should I just own up to it and quit before things get any further than this? Probably.
Am I going to?
I don’t have the answer to that question, and I don’t know what to do.
The last thing I was expecting was to have to quit a job because I like it too much.
Blaire has invited me over for dinner tonight, and I go there directly from work.
She’s making a stir-fry, and I help her set the table. We each have a glass of wine in our hands. Ever since that night at the bar when Tyler kissed me, things have been a little bit awkward between us.
She has apologized profusely to me for trying to hook us up and I’ve insisted that I don’t want to talk about it. But from the way she’s glancing at me tonight, it makes me think she’s going to bring it up again.
And she does. “Hey, Kim, are you sure you’re okay with everything? After the whole Tyler thing? I mean, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable around me.”
I sit down at the table while she brings the bowl of food over for serving.
“I’m trying to forget it and move past it. It was a drunken mistake. Neither of us would have acted in that way if we were sober.”
Blaire nods.
“Okay, I’ll shut up about it for now. How is work going?”
I can feel the back of my neck burning up. I was dreading this conversation. I’m not sure how to look her in her eyes and avoid blurting out that I have a crush on him. I force myself to smile at her.
“It’s actually going well. Everyone at the office is very nice.”
“You think Kirk is nice?” she exclaims with a chuckle of disbelief.
“I don’t interact with him at all, except for when absolutely necessary, so I don’t know what he’s like,” I reply, focusing on my food.
Blaire takes sips of her wine and sits back in her chair.
“Yeah, I bet he’s even forgotten you exist. He just has a vague idea there’s someone sitting at a desk somewhere who is getting things done behind the scenes. Don’t take it personally; that’s just who he is.”
I nod. “I don’t mind it. Even though he seems to be a perfectionist and needs things done on-time, I feel like I have a lot of freedom, and that I’m being treated professionally and with respect. You know? There’s no drama.”
Blaire is smiling. She reaches over to place a hand on mine.
“I’m so happy you’ve found a job that clicks. I knew you would be perfect for this role. You are both the no-nonsense types, and you’re made for each other.”
She really shouldn’t have said that! Now I’m blushing even harder with no control over the butterflies in my stomach. I know she means professionally, but I can’t help but imagine us together. Kirk and me. Kissing. Made for each other.
If only he wasn’t so hot!
“Why…why did you guys break up?” I ask in a faltering voice.
Blaire shrugs. “I told you, we were just not meant to be. Our personalities don’t match. We’re so similar. Besides, I’m not sure what kind of man I need. All I know is Kirk isn’t the one.”
While she continues eating, I feel a warmth spreading in my stomach. At least Blaire doesn’t still hold a candle for him. Not from what I can tell.
The next day at work, I try not to think about all the things Blaire said about him. She didn’t make him sound like a beast, of course, but the implication was that he is a difficult man to deal with.
I get him his breakfast and hand him a list of meetings and phone calls he needs to attend to today. He barely even looks at me, staring intently at his computer screen instead, the whole time.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Silvers?” I ask before I go. This is not the usual routine. I never just stand here asking him questions. He seems taken aback by the sudden departure from routine, too, and drags his gaze away from his computer to look at me.
His