Uh-oh.

This is the first time I’ve approached him since our fight on Sunday and he gives me attitude? I thought we could defuse the situation and at least try to be civil to each other. After this morning, I have a deeper appreciation of the trust Richard has put in me. Sadly, only professionally. I’ve also realized I love the work I’m doing here and that I want to keep doing it regardless of my personal feelings for the boss. But if he wants to give me attitude, I can give attitude right back.

“What do you want?” Richard fires at me.

“Hello, good afternoon to you, too,” I snap back.

“Yeah, exactly. Afternoon. Glad you finally decided to show up.”

“I texted you to say I needed the morning off.”

He pierces me with an angry look. “And why was that?”

I stare at him, frozen.

Does he know about the job interview? How could he?

I’m still not talking, so Richard scoffs. “That’s what I thought.”

We glare at each other for a few more seconds before he adds, “Are you handing in your notice?”

He knows. “No, I’m not. Yeah, I went to an interview, but I didn’t accept the offer.” That seems to throw him a little. “So you can take your self-righteousness and stick it… well, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you where.”

“The great Blair Walker will be staying with us another day. How exciting.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I just told you I didn’t take the job. Why do you have to be a dick about it?”

“Because since the first day you signed your contract, you’ve been waiting for the moment you could get out.”

“That’s not true. I’ve busted my ass off to create something from nothing for this magazine and I’ve given it one-hundred percent. You can’t deny that. And, yes, Northwestern offered me a job at a magazine with a better name, better pay, and better benefits. So I went and listened to what they had to say. Shoot me.” I raise my hands in surrender. “But I turned the offer down because I believe in what we’re building.”

My volume has gone up a notch and I’m uncomfortably aware that everyone outside must be able to hear us. If our body language wasn’t already clear enough. Stupid glass walls!

“If you say so.”

Richard’s dismissive attitude sparks more anger and frustration. He wants to pretend nothing has happened between us? He wants to ignore his feelings? I’ve let him so far, but now he’s pushed all the wrong buttons and I’m furious enough to tackle the real problem between us.

“Are you mad at me for the job offer, or are you mad at yourself because you can’t admit what’s really bothering you?”

“And what would that be?” Richard sneers.

“That you got scared you’d lose me for good, and you’re too afraid to admit you have feelings for me.”

“That’s a bit presumptuous on your part.”