HER

I KEPT MY COOL EVEN THOUGH I WANT TO SCREAM AT HIM. After all, he is still my boss.

"Ok, Sir. I will do it. When do you want the new blueprint?" I asked him in a resigned tone.

"Next week." He replied bluntly.

"What?! Are you kidding me? This is not a house. We are talking about building a new design for an entire hotel! Do you really expect me to finish it in one week? That is not possible!" I complained.

By now, he walked towards me. We are standing face to face with each other. I can smell his fresh masculine cologne. He always smells so good. I can feel my knees shaking but I tried to look tough in front of him.

"Why, you cannot do it, Architect Rivera? We are on a tight schedule here. By next week, I already have a meeting with engineers and building contractors. Your first design is still "on," but I just want to see if you can give me a different perspective on the hotel.

"Mr. Archer has great faith in you. He said that you can deliver. Aren't you the pride of this firm?" He said mockingly.

"Ok, I will try to give you the first draft of the new design next week."

"That will do. I want it by Wednesday at least so I can study your new design. My meeting will be on Friday morning." He replied.

"Tris, you are making this hard for me! You just said one week, and then now, you want it Wednesday! You are impossible!" I said frustrated.

"Did you just call me, Tris? I haven't heard somebody call me that for a long time." He teased me.

"Sorry, Mr. Montecarlo. It's just a slip of the tongue. It won't happen again. What if I cannot deliver on Wednesday?"

"Then, you better start looking for a new job." He said arrogantly.

I looked him straight in the eye. I keep on telling myself to be tough and not break down in front of him. I know he is doing this to get back at me. I will not let anybody put me down, especially him.

"If that is what you want, then, I am going to start looking for a new job. You will get my resignation letter this afternoon." I was about to turn around, but he suddenly grabbed my arm. That sent electric shocks all over my body. He still has that effect on me.

"Wait, Alecx! I did not really mean that." He let out a deep sigh and said, "Ok, what do you want? I am going to bargain with you. "

He was still holding my arm and I tried to snatch it away from him, but he did not let me. He was standing too close to me and it is making my heart beat faster, but I tried to keep a straight face.

"Give me one full week. I will give you the first draft Friday morning. Take it or leave it. You can have the whole morning to study the new design layout. Push your meeting in the afternoon. After all, you are the boss, right? You can do whatever you want." I said sarcastically.

His eyes squinted and I could see him clench his teeth. We were staring at each other, nobody wanted to give in. After a couple of seconds, I saw his face mellowed down and he nodded stating I won.

"Ok, Friday it is. Have it ready first thing in the morning." He said in a resigned tone.

I snatched my arm from him and turned around. I stepped out of the room without even looking back at him.