Chapter 110.

“My relationship with you isn’t just a honey trap if that’s what you’re thinking.” 

“I first stumbled upon your resume by chance during my routine check-up on our HR department and the first thing I noticed was the name of your previous firm. Your firm was only one of several different reasons I had for hiring you. They became a potential business partner because I hired you. Due to your request to maintain confidentiality when contacting your references, I even personally made the call to your old firm rather than our HR department.”

“You actually contacted my references yourself rather than HR? Ugh. Just what sort of dirt did you get on me from them?”

“Nothing much really, but after speaking with your reference at the firm a bit, things took an unexpected turn towards talking business. That’s really all there was to it. Hiring you just happened to also lead to a potential business partnership. Your previous firm relied on you quite a bit from what I gathered. It would be a waste to let you slack off all the time by only repairing a few electronics.”

“Do I get a raise?”

“No.” Flat out rejection with no room for negotiation.

“Why would I accept this then?”

“You already agreed to anything, you can’t go back on your word.”

“What’s stopping me from quitting?”

“Your attachment to me?”

“Wouldn’t it be a honey trap if that was the case?”

“Well, the real reason you won’t quit is because I’d make certain you’re unable to find another employer in your field after that. You’d be left with no choice but to come back here”

“Aren’t you too evil?”

“When we talk business, I’m the devil. When we’re alone in bed, I’ll be your angel. How does that sound?”

“It sounds like a horrible proposition.”

“You’re quite the hard man to please.”

“You’re just too cheap to pay me for the extra work.”

“It’s called being frugal.”

“No, Boss, it’s called being a modern-day corporate slave.”

“Oh? You want to be my slave now? That isn’t quite appropriate to say in a working environment like this, Mr. Genovese. You should keep that to yourself for when we’re alone at night.”

“Don’t play dumb, you know exactly what I mean.”

“Anyway, prepare a presentation to show how a business partnership with our company would benefit your old firm. With your inside knowledge, knowing the firm’s ins and outs, your connections, and your relationship with them, it shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

“Isn’t this too much stress for someone who just got out of the hospital?”

“I just got out of the hospital too and I’m dealing with it, what’s your excuse for not being able to deal with it.”

“Just being in the hospital beside the person actually hospitalized isn’t the same thing!”

“What’s different? We both spent two weeks in the hospital. I stayed by your side looking over you worriedly the entire time, forgoing my business, which was what created this little mess. Take some responsibility, would you?”

“You were really worried about me?”

“Of course I was.”

“Sorry.”

Was she worried that if I wasn’t around she’d possibly lose money from a potential business partnership slipping through her fingers?

She shot me a glare like she knew exactly what I’d just thought.

“Again, sorry.”

She smiled menacingly. “Oh? What are you apologizing for this time?”

“For thinking you had an ulterior motive.”

“Well that’s fine, it’s not like there aren’t any ulterior motives after all. It’s just not the one you’re thinking of.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“This is probably why you have so many problems with women.”

“No. I don’t think anything I did had any direct impact on my exes turning out to be psychopaths.”

“It’s a joke. You’ll never be successful with a normal woman at this rate. By the way, how are things with your new neighbor? Were there any developments after I left your place?”

“No comment.”

“Hoh. Are you getting cocky with me?”

“I’d like to keep my private life separate from work.”

“You’re still saying things like that?”

“It’s normal to say things like this.”

“Are you trying to hide something? Did she work up the courage to actually ask you on a date or something?”

My heart momentarily froze in place when I noticed the interrogative look on her face.

“How suspicious. I take it that’s a no comment?”

“That’s correct.”

“Even if you don’t answer, you’re still easy enough for me to read you know. Why do you even try to hide anything from me anymore?”

“If you already knew, then why ask about it?”

“Because your reactions are cute. It’s fun to bully and tease my employee a bit every now and then. It’s a good way to relieve some stress.”

“Is this what you call every now and then? If it is, I definitely don’t want to see what a lot means to you.”

She bit her lips seductively and suggestively responded, “would you like to see what a lot looks like?”

Why do I have to have a boss who finds entertainment in giving guys blue balls?

Must resist... the urge to say yes. I’m not a masochist, so no thank you. She’s definitely the sadistic type, that much I’m certain of.

“What’s wrong, Mr. Genovese, why aren’t you responding? It’s as simple as yes or no? Should I take your silence as yes?”

She got up from her chair and moved closer to me. When our faces were mere centimeters apart, close enough that I could smell the sweet rosy scent of the perfume she had on, she let out a breath of hot air and asked again, “Well? Yes or no?”

“If I said yes, would I be fired?”

“Who knows? That depends on your ability, doesn’t it?”

“Can you please give me your definition of ability?”

“I cannot do that, Mr. Genovese.”

“Can you please use the word in a sentence?”

“I just did, but I’ll repeat it in case you didn’t hear the first time. It depends on your ability.”

“Can I have the language of origin?”

“Mr. Genovese, I’m not running a spelling bee here. Stop wasting my time or I really may just need to fire you. Yes or no? It’s as simple as that.”

“My answer is no.”

Her lips twitched as she burst into laughter to the point of nearly crying.

“You’re too much, Mr. Genovese. Even with that much, your will to resist is really quite the annoying brick wall.”

“I’ve got a presentation to take care of, don’t I? When would I find time to get it done if you increased the level of your teasing?”

“Hahaha. I see. I see. That’s just what I’d expect of you. That’s good I guess, but it’s also a bit of a shame though.”

“What’s a sha-”