The surrogate boss next door.

ter

Mr. Adam, Alex's dad, asked in a de

, his straight face unreada

ng project progressin

lex replied,

, then." He wiped his

up a date for you with the Minist

you'll like her. And if things go well, she

kfast. I'll take my leave now.

king, young man," h

e stop making decisions for me. I'm old enough to handle my life

emotional distance. His parents were always absorbed in their work, leaving him in

ssful lives, rather than a beloved child. His emotional needs wer

*****

mansion, phone in hand,

voice firm. "I'm moving in tonight. I can't st

a response and slid into his ca

frustration simmered. His parents' man

******

me a breakdown by the end of

his desk, wondering how she'd complete the tas

say?" Alex asked, noticing

, sir," Emi

work, rather than standing there li

logized, gathering the

d, she collided with Ethan, scat

God, wh

he saw it was Ethan. "Hey, Eth

is," Ethan apologized, help

ip with Alex, Emily had always

m?" Emily wondered silently. Alex

ss you're in another

"Not really, he just ne

Ethan smiled. "O

m walk away. She wished she could work u

chided herself. "You have work t

*****

he files onto her desk. She leaned back

face. "Hey, babe, what's up? What did you

usly, why do you guys think t

on. You know every time you're called

hat? I was called because he had some w

all this work; this is punishment." Sh

a puppy-like expression, s

. It won't work on me," Sarah said w

such a brat. What kin

ck, "Help yours

mmediately dropping it. "Haaa, fuck, I hate my life." She l

*****

ting down the last file for the day. She stretched

to that brat," Emily

e asked from behind,

Ethan. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

What are you doing here? I

so I'm waiting to take

y sure doesn't have a conscience,

d, "What a

to avoid a mess with y

her, "My boss i

with a dull look

huckled

y?" Emily as

u don't like Alex,

m; I just don't like the fact tha

bad; he just needs someo

that's the issue, or does

ing, "He sure does

lex called o

rned to see Alex w

u doing here

iss Emily. Are you re

lied, "Y

then left to get the car ready. Emily smiled at the gesture, a

ing the assignment you gave me."Alex asked, "This l

ended?" Emily retorted under her breath, "An

, "Working ho

he future so I know how to fasten my seatbel

a entry for those files, and I hope to ge

aimed soft

specific enough this time. Have a goo

being lousy or my boss for bei

ed from the long day. As she settled into her cozy apar

working on the data entry task Alex had assigned. The only thing that dissipated her frustration was the joy of the coffee candy Etha