He chuckled and leaned back against his desk.
“It does, but it also comes with an increased workload and demand on your time outside typical business hours.You’ll need to accompany me for site visits, after-hours business gatherings, and occasional business trips.”
“I’m fine with all of that, except the business trips until my mom’s cast is off.”
“Agreed.”
A soft knock sounded on the door before it opened.Marius entered with a tea.
“Thank you,” I said, accepting it.
He nodded and started to leave, but Konni stopped him.
“Marius, Ms.Elmantas agreed to join our team.Arrange another workstation for her as we discussed.Tell IT, I want it done by nine.”
Marius nodded and walked out, closing the door again.
“Every member of my secretariat has given me permission to call them by their first name,” Konni said, distracting me from my sip.“Does that mean I have permission to use yours now, too?”
The thought of him calling me by my first name made my heart skip a beat.
“I think, with the way the office views women who get close to you, having you use my first name would make me even more of a target, don’t you?”
“Or maybe, it would make you less of a target.Not many people like going against me.Only someone ignorant would dream of taking something I considered mine.”
A shiver ran through me.He saw it but didn’t comment.Hopefully, he thought I was cold.
“What should I do for the next hour then?”I asked.
“I’d like to keep you in here with me, but I know you care about perception.So, do you want to help Edi, Bomir, and Marius set up the new workstation configuration?”
“I do,” I said, standing.
He moved so fast, seating me in the chair and pressing his forehead against mine before I knew what he’d intended.His hand caged the back of my head, keeping me in place as his soft exhale teased my lips.
“Those are two words I’ve been dreaming of hearing from you, Sophia.Be careful with them.They test me.”
The words from Friday night rose again in my mind.The braver part of me wanted to repeat them and see just how much they tested him, but I didn’t.I was too smart for my own fun while I was sober.
“I should go,” I said instead.
He exhaled and slowly released me.
“Go.Settle in.We have time.”
The last bit made me nervous.The second he released me, I was out of the chair and power walking to the door.
Marius had packing boxes on each of the three chairs and was putting items from the desk into them.
“Can I help?”I asked.
“Please.We need to clear the desks so they can be reconfigured.”
I set aside my things and started packing up the belongings on a desk that wasn’t mine.While I didn’t mean to be nosy, I did learn that Marius and Bomir were probably a couple.Or maybe just really close friends who liked taking pictures, kissing each other’s cheeks.I hoped at least one of them loved fashion as much as I did.Common ground would give us a connection that I’d missed with the last group.
Edi and Bomir arrived as Marius and I were about to separate the tables.
“Wait.Let us,” Edi said, hurrying over to help.
