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6
ROSE
I’m reviewing the code of one of our interns when I hear Kristy’s angry voice before she marches into my room with Oscar following her. “Oscar, you listen to me!”
“Hold on, Kris. I’m not forcing her to do anything.” Oscar turns to me, clearly irritated with my best friend.
“W-what’s happening?” I ask as Kristy shoots daggers at our boss and friend.
“It’s about the presentation you sent yesterday.” Oscar stands at the other side of the table.
“Is something not right?” I fix my glasses and scour for the email in the sent folder.
“No, the presentation is good.” He gives me a tight smile before rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s just… I’ve always tried to make sure you feel comfortable here, Rose. You know that right?”
I’m surprised by the sudden change of discussion but nod in confirmation. “Um, yeah, and I…really appreciate it. But you are…scaring me at this moment. Did I do…something?”
Before he can reply, Kristy saunters toward us and stands behind me.“Did you hear? You’re scaring her,” she yells, and I almost feel for Oscar.
“God, Kristy. You’re scaring me.” He shakes his head before turning my way. “Zander has requested that you present the slides to him.”
“But…” I grab the edge of the table.
Oscar takes the chair on my left and speaks softly, “I know.”
I glance at him and he smiles—the same kind smile with which he encourages me whenever I feel I’m falling short.
“I tried to tell Zander about you. I—”
“You told…him…about me.” My voice wobbles, and this time, for different reasons.
I don’t want Zander to know.
“No, he didn’t,” Kristy replies on his behalf, and I fall back in my chair, filled with an unexpected relief.
“But like I said before, I do want Zander to know what an asset we have in you here.” Oscar lightly pats my hand. “But no pressure. Say no, and I’ll talk Zander out if it.”
Does Oscar even have that kind of power? Zander is the CEO after all.
When I don’t reply immediately, he says, “It doesn’t have to be a formal presentation. Just show him your findings in your office. Use your computer.” He nods at my PC.
Before I can think more about his idea, there’s a knock on the door, and we all turn to find Zander leaning against the doorframe.
“Good morning, Ms. Marlin.”
He smiles and my eyes fix on his dimpled left cheek. It somehow looks different in real life.
“Good… good… morning.”
“If it’s all right, I’d like to discuss the project proposals with you. It’d be better than going back and forth with a third person in the middle.”
I glance between Kristy and Oscar before giving him a nod.“Um… okay.”
“Very well.” Zander walks inside as Oscar leaves with an uncooperative Kristy.
Before I have time to prepare myself for this unexpected endeavor, Zander slides into the chair just vacated by Oscar.
I’m immediately hit by a woodsy scent. Generally, strong smells give me nausea and a headache, especially the kind that some men prefer to wear—smelling like a walking perfumery. But this smell is fresh. It’s subtle and nice, like… a forest.
