Professional Boundaries (17 page)

I sighed in exasperation. “What can I do for you?”

He just stood there at my door and stared for a few seconds before he walked in. “Lorelai is ready to sign the proposal you sent her.”

“That’s great news,” I said dryly.

His eyes narrowed. “But, she would like us to demo the product for her sales team before she signs on the dotted line. Are you available on Wednesday morning?”

I pulled up my calendar and looked at it. Looked like I was free. I looked up to him. His eyes looked full of concern. I wasn’t sure why.

“I’m available. What time?”

“Ten.”

I put it on my calendar and just said, “Ok.” I figured that was it, so I hit the power button on my computer to shut it down, but he didn’t leave like I expected him to.

“Ms. Bryant.”

I kept putting things away, getting ready to leave. I didn’t even look up at him when I responded, “Yes?”

“I apologize for not at least giving you notice that I had hired a contractor.”

I just shrugged my shoulders and closed my laptop. “You’re the boss, right?”

“Ms. Bryant, please.”

I just looked up at him and shook my head. “Goodnight, Mr. Greyson.”

I grabbed my satchel and walked out, leaving him there staring after me. I ran straight into Alexa. “Do you know where Ian is? I’m so ready to leave,” she whined.

I just pointed to my office and continued to walk away, thanking my lucky stars I wouldn’t have to see her again until tomorrow, even though that was way too soon. Actually, forever was too soon for my taste, but at least I had belly dancing to look forward to. I needed a serious endorphin boost.

I needed one so bad, I only went home to change and drop off my laptop. I headed straight to the Y and ran on the track before my class. I was in such a mood, I kind of overdid it and dragged a little in my class, but it was well worth it. I was tired when I left, but it was the good kind of tired. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the kind that could sustain the scene I had waiting for me at my apartment complex. I returned just in time to see Mr. Greyson carrying what looked like Alexa’s designer luggage from his apartment across the courtyard. He froze when he saw me, and for some reason, I froze too.

 Alexa looked between the two of us and grinned wickedly. “Thanks for letting me stay the night last night,” she announced loudly.

I just smiled and walked away. She wasn’t fooling me. I already figured she was sleeping with the boss, but why she thought that would bother me I found interesting, and I was happy to disappoint her. I didn’t even bother looking at my idiot boss’ reaction. He was the world’s biggest hypocrite. It made me wonder what I ever saw in him. I used to think he was such a stand-up guy.

I walked into my apartment, and immediately my phone rang. It was the hypocritical idiot, so I just ignored it. I was off the clock, and I didn’t want to be friends with someone like him. I thought maybe we could after the last two weeks, but I was dead wrong.

I decided the next day that I would start getting to work extra early, even before Delfia; this way I could be safely in my office with the door closed before anyone else showed up. My target time was ten minutes until seven. I didn’t think anyone got there before seven fifteen usually, but I was hedging my bets. Thankfully, it paid off.

It was such a relief to walk into a quiet office devoid of those that were now making my professional life hellish. It was so sad to think that it wasn’t that long ago that I was happy to come into work every day. Now I felt on edge and even slightly uncomfortable. I felt like I was being spoofed and that, any day now, someone would say, “Just kidding,” and I could go back to the way it was before Mr. Greyson showed up.

I reveled in the quiet as I responded to email and polished up my presentation for the next day. Delfia got there thirty minutes after me. She walked in, and we took turns bashing our new “contractor”. Apparently I’d missed out on most of the action as I stayed behind closed doors. I guess she followed Mr. Greyson around everywhere and complained constantly. The complaints ranged from the humidity to how long lunch took to arrive. Then Delfia perfectly imitated her squeaky little voice, and we both broke out into hysterical laughter. I knew it wasn’t kind and it was quite unprofessional, but I needed the comic relief. At that point, it was either laugh or cry. I was proud of myself as I refrained from sharing my little news about them spending the night together. They were consenting adults and what they did in private, should stay private as far as I was concerned.

I had a pleasant morning with just myself for company. It allowed me to get a ton done. If I wasn’t the manager, I would consider working from home, which reminded me, I really did need to come out of my sanctuary and go talk to the troops below. I freshened up, psyched myself up, and emerged to a smiling Delfia.

“Is the coast clear?” I whispered.

She looked both ways for me and whispered, “Hurry.”

This was so ridiculous.

I scooted out toward the stairs, but it was like he knew. Just as I passed his door, he opened it. “Ms. Bryant, could I please speak to you?”

I hung my head in resignation and sighed. I’m pretty sure I heard Delfia laugh; that was until Mr. Greyson looked at her sternly.

He looked back to me and pleasantly smiled and invited me into his office. I entered silently, and he closed the door behind us. I looked around and wished for Boss.

“Please have a seat,” he said while motioning to the chairs in front of his desk.

He sat next to me instead of behind his desk and just searched my face. His countenance was solemn. “I think we need to clear some things up. I know how things appeared last night.”

I put my hand up. “Mr. Greyson, you owe me no explanation. Your personal life is just that, personal, but I find your and your girlfriend’s behavior in the office to be highly unprofessional.”

 “Girlfriend? Alexa’s not my girlfriend,” he spluttered.

“Oh please, I don’t care what you call her, except I do find it hypocritical that you call her Alexa instead of Ms. Manselle. I guess professional boundaries are merely guidelines for you.”

“Ms. Bryant, Alexa is not an employee, and I’ve known her for years.”

“Like maybe thirteen or fourteen.” I didn’t add in that’s how long we had known each other, but by the drop in his face, I knew he got it.

“No … not that long,” he said quietly. “But regardless, she’s not an employee.”

I stood up. “I need to go. I have an office to run.”

He stood up, too, and this time he didn’t hesitate, he gently touched my arm. “Ms. Bryant, please.”

“Please what?” I looked up into those chocolate eyes of his.

“I thought that when I got back things would be … different.”

I did too, but I didn’t repeat the sentiment, and I didn’t have to say anything more. Alexa just came barging in without knocking. Mr. Greyson dropped his hand, and I took that as my cue to leave.

“Oh, did I interrupt something?” she said insincerely.

“Not at all, Ms. Manselle.”

“Oh haha. Call me Alexa, silly.”

I looked at Mr. Greyson like,
this is the best you could do,
and then I walked out. I heard her ask, “So where are we going to lunch?” as I closed the door.

I looked at Delfia who was shaking her head. That’s all I felt like doing too.
Why her?
I kept thinking.

Thankfully, I was able to spend the rest of my day working with our account managers and going over sales goals. I actually waited for Mr. Greyson to leave before I went back upstairs. I ended up being the last one there. It was one very long day, so much so it was take-out, PJ’s, and remote in hand for the rest of the night.

Again, I was the first one there the next morning. If I kept this up, I would be more than caught up on all my work for the next month at least. Around a quarter after nine, Mr. Greyson opened my door. “Are you ready to leave?”

I barely looked up. “Yes, I’ll meet you there.”

“We’re not driving together?” he asked.

 I smirked at him. “No. I know where I’m going.”

He just kept looking at me in disbelief.

“I’ll see you there,” I said, like that settled it.

He just shook his head and shut my door harder than was necessary. I smiled to myself. Irritating him was my new hobby. I walked out to find Alexa asking if she shouldn’t go and present her mock ups. If she was going, there was no way I was. And I hadn’t even seen the mock ups, and neither had Matt.

I had to throw in my two cents, I didn’t care who the boss was. “We shouldn’t be showing our clients mock-ups until they have gone through an extensive internal review process.”

I think she
tchted
at me. My eyes widened. How old was she?

Mr. Greyson surprisingly agreed with me. As she continued her whining, I walked away. I didn’t need this, and it was getting to the point that I would be demanding she work somewhere else. As a contractor, she didn’t need to be in house, especially my house.

Mr. Greyson caught up to me on the stairs. “Are you sure you don’t want to drive together?”

“Positive.” 

“Ok. How about lunch afterward?”

I laughed.

“What?” he asked.

“No thanks. I could only imagine how that would make your girlfriend whine.”

“Ms. Bryant, I told you, she’s not my girlfriend.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well whatever your arrangement is, the answer is still no.”

“Why?”

I stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked at him. He was still on the last step, so he hovered over me a bit. “Aren’t you the one who said you weren’t here to make friends?” Then I amended, “But I guess that is unless they’re ‘contractors.’”

He wickedly grinned. “You really don’t like her do you?”

“Oh, you can read people after all,” I responded as I threw open the door and marched out to my car.

The whole drive over I reproved myself for my own unprofessionalism. It was like all of the sudden I was back in high school or transported into a really bad soap opera. I pulled into the parking lot and tried to expunge my mind of Alexa and Mr. Greyson. I needed to be on my A game. This account was a big deal, and I didn’t want to be the one to blow it. I took a deep breath in and then let it out slowly. It was show time.

Mr. Greyson met me at my car door and opened it for me. “Are you ready?” he asked.

I just shook my head yes.

He began spouting off pointers, and I just let him. It was weird, but I needed that. That was normal.

We walked into a large conference room that was filled to capacity. Lorelai and Nicholas greeted us warmly at the entrance. I would say Nicholas’ greeting was overly warm as he spoke to me. I could tell it annoyed my boss. He was such a hypocrite. Unfortunately, I let that thought take hold and responded too warmly in return. Fortunately, they were running on a tight schedule so we had to begin right away. This was one of my favorite parts of my job, and it’s where I shined. Thankfully today was no exception. Mr. Greyson, didn’t even jump in once. When I finished, the chatter and commentary was extremely positive; I could tell their sales team was salivating at the possibilities our software afforded. There was no doubt we were leaving with a signature on the dotted line.

“Well done, Ms. Bryant,” Mr. Greyson whispered as I was packing away my laptop.

“Thanks.” I smiled.

After their sales staff left, it was just Mr. Greyson, myself, Lorelai, and Nicholas. We met at one end of the large conference table and finalized the deal. As I watched Lorelai sign, I reminded myself this is why I hadn’t quit again. My baby had just barely begun to see the light of day, and I wanted to see it through even if it meant I had to put up with nonsense.

As we walked out, I could tell I wasn’t the only one elated. Mr. Greyson’s eyes sparkled. That was until someone called out after me.

I turned to find it was Nicholas. “Kelli, wait up.”

I wasn’t the only one to stop.

Nicholas looked between both of us and just shrugged his shoulders and ignored my boss. “How about dinner tonight to celebrate?”

Oh. This was awkward. I had never been asked out in front of my boss before. Where was Boss when I needed him?

I bit my lip as I looked into his deep blue eyes and dimpled face. He really was a handsome guy, but I also knew his type. But then I thought,
Am I sure?
Maybe that was my problem: I judged too quickly. What if I kept missing out on Mr. Right?

He smiled as he watched me hesitate. “How about Pierre’s at seven?” he asked.

I smiled. “Ok, but I’ll meet you there.” I was serious about not letting strange men into my apartment or letting them know where I live.

He grinned. “See you then, gorgeous.”

I think I was blushing. I sure felt warm all of a sudden.

Someone else looked like they were warm too. When Nicholas left, I looked up at Mr. Greyson, and he looked furious. I wasn’t sure why. The deal was signed, so having dinner with him would have no effect on the sale positively or negatively.

“I’ll see you at the office.” It was all I could think of to say.

I began to leave again. Mr. Greyson followed suit, but as soon as we were outside, he stopped me. “I thought you said you wouldn’t date someone like him?”

“It’s just dinner,” I replied in my defense.

“The guy is hoping for more than dinner.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why do you care?”

He just stared at me blankly.

I waited patiently for a reply.

“You did well. I’ll see you at the office,” was his only response. 

“Thanks,” I said again.

I watched him stalk off and shook my head in confusion.

As soon as I got in my car, I put my sister on Bluetooth. “Hi sis. I have a date tonight.”

“With Ian?”

“No! Why would you say that? Never mind, don’t answer that.”

I just told her who it was. She wasn’t as excited as I thought she would be, but she gave me suggestions on what I should wear to Pierre’s. It was a predictable restaurant for Nicholas; it was overpriced and fancy, but at least the food was good.

I left the office early, and to my great delight, without having to see either Mr. Greyson or Alexa. I came home and sank into a bath, shaved my legs, and just took my time getting ready. It had been too long since I’d been on a date, so I took extra care and tried to just enjoy the experience. I wore my new red bandage dress and some killer heels. I looked in the mirror and thought,
Not bad for my almost thirty-two-year-old self
. The belly dancing was definitely doing its job.