When I was younger, on the outside looking in, my home life looked perfect to others.

My dad owns a successful landscaping company and does very well for himself. Due to this, my mom was able to stay at home and not work and raise me and my sisters.

Growing up, I lived in a nice-sized, beautifully decorated home. It was beautifully decorated on the inside because of my mother's taste, and on the outside due to my father's landscaping.

Everything truly seemed perfect.

However, that couldn't be further from the truth.

Which is why it always bothers me when my parents try and act like things were all fine and dandy growing up.

They took me out to a really nice restaurant that Sunday night called Terrain, it was my mom, dad, Addison, and I.

My dad, who still has his successful business, said we could all order whatever we wanted on the menu.

Things are fine when we talk about light topics, such as what we are going to order off said menu, but when anything from my childhood gets brought up, it immediately strikes a chord.

"I think I'm going to get the filet," Addison said, looking at the menu, "Sounds delicious."

My mom smiled at Addison. My mom, who is 54 years old, does not look 54 due to all of the Botox and fillers she gets. I have her blue eyes, and she has light blonde hair and also tries to dress like she is fairly young.

"I remember when we went to Disney World when you girls were young," my mom started to say, "Addie, maybe you remember it, you had to be around eight years old, Ash had to be 9. We were out to dinner, and you wanted the filet on the menu so badly."

Addison chuckled, "What did I wind up getting, chicken fingers?"

"That's exactly what you got," my dad nodded.

My dad, who is 56 years old, looks more around his age, mostly due to the excessive drinking over the years. However, he does look healthier since he sobered up. He has hazel eyes and light brown hair and stands at around 6'1.

"I remember the whole ride back to the hotel, you wouldn't stop talking about how when you got older, you were going to get a filet every time you went out to dinner," my dad chuckled, looking at Addison.

Want to know what I remember about that drive back to the hotel, dad?

You swerving the car so much that I was terrified every second we were going to crash.

"When we got to the hotel room, Addie, you made sure to tell your sisters as well that you were going to one day be a grown up and order steak every chance you got," my mom looked at Addison fondly.

Yet all I can remember is my dad slapping me across the face for "giggling too loudly with my sisters."

I can still feel how much it stung.

I had to change the subject. I couldn't handle talking about childhood memories anymore.

"Addie, are you still seeing that guy you met from Hinge, what's his name, Drew?" I asked my sister.

I could tell that she knew I just wanted to change the subject, but she didn't make it obvious.

"I am," Addison smiled, "We've hung out maybe 5 times now? He's really great."

"He's the one that's a bit older than you, right?" my dad asked.

Well, that immediately makes me think of Kori.

Kori.

I can't stop thinking about her, in fact.

For the rest of dinner, I tried to keep the conversation as light as possible, and it wound up being a more enjoyable time that way.

When we all walked out to our cars, my parents each gave me a hug.

"Thank you for letting us take you out for your birthday, Ash," my dad said, "It means a lot."

"Of course," I hugged my dad back, "Thank you for taking me out. This was delicious."

On the drive back to my apartment, I choked up, as I usually do after spending time with my parents.

If only they could have been this way my whole life. Caring. Sober. Kind.

I couldn't help that my somewhat sour mood traveled into the next morning. It was a Monday, and I did not want to go to work.

However, one silver lining was that I was going to see Kori.

After her confession on Friday night, I had no idea what was going to happen next, but I hoped things would possibly progress.

Even though she's my boss who is 13 years older than me.

I tried to shake off my mood as I walked into work on Monday morning, and my colleagues said "hello" to me.

Kori was standing by Lewis's desk, talking to him, and she immediately caught my gaze.

I felt my face heat up as she looked at me, and I watched as she said something final to Lewis, and then made her way over to me.

"Ashley, come to my office in ten minutes or so," Kori said, glancing at me, "I'd like a word."

Before I could respond, she walked away briskly.

Well, this is obviously going to be about Friday.

My stomach flip-flopped for the next ten minutes, until I walked over to her office. I knocked on her door which was slightly open, and then went into her office and closed the door behind me.

She was sitting at her desk and looked up at me. I couldn't help but notice that she didn't look happy.

I walked up to her desk and stood near it, in front of her.

"You wanted to speak with me?" I started.

Kori nodded, and she said, "I need to apologize for Friday."

Fuck.

"Apologize?"

Kori nodded again, "Yes. Apologize. How I spoke to you was entirely inappropriate. Our...relationship has been entirely inappropriate."

Just like the last time, when Kori told me in a very firm tone that I couldn't tell anyone about her giving me a ride home from Glow, it felt like a slap in the face.

I was already not in the best mood from the night before, and everything that was on my mind with my family.

This was just about tipping me over the edge.

I wanted to tell Kori to stop fucking with me, pulling me in and then pushing me away, but she was my boss, I couldn't do that.

I couldn't dare.

Instead, I looked at her, my heart pounding.

"Okay," I said, "I don't find anything that you said inappropriate, but if you feel that way, then by all means, feel that way, Kori."

Kori looked a bit taken aback by my response.

She was probably expecting me to put up more of a fight.

But I'm exhausted.

Kori nodded slowly, "Very well. Things have to be strictly professional now. I mean that, Ashley."

I nodded, feeling my chest tighten, "Fine."

Kori looked up at me for a moment, and I could tell in her eyes she didn't mean a word she had said.

But she said it, and that's what I had to go by.

This is giving me whiplash.

"May I go?" I asked Kori.

"Yes," Kori nodded, "Shut the door on your way out. Thank you."

I did as Kori said, and felt tears start to prick my eyes.

What the fuck changed from Friday until now?

I immediately started making my way to the ladies' room, as the last thing I was going to do was cry in front of my colleagues.

When I walked into the ladies' room, I was relieved to see there was nobody else. I stood at one of the sinks, and a few tears escaped my eyes.

Fuck this.

I closed my eyes and let a few more escape, when the door opened to the restroom.

Immediately, I wiped my eyes and turned to see an attractive woman who looked to be my age walking in.

She was on the taller and slim side, and she had deep brown skin. Her dark hair was short, curly, and shaved on one side, and she wore a gray fitted blazer and black dress pants.

She flashed me a smile, "Hello."

"Hi," I said back, smiling as well to the best of my ability.

She cocked her head slightly and said, "Wait. You've been crying, haven't you?"

I shook my head and laughed sadly, "I'm not going to even try and hide it."

The woman looked at me for a moment, and then walked over and stood next to me at the sink, facing me.

"Ashley, right?" she asked me, "I remember you introducing yourself at the dinner last month."

I looked up at the woman, "I'm surprised you remember that."

She smiled, "I have a good memory. Plus, it's not often an ER nurse comes to work here."

Except for Kori.

Before I could say anything, she continued, "My name is Denae Hilton. What's got you down, is it work? I know it can be kind of hard to adjust here at times. What department are you in?"

"I'm in the IT Department," I said to Denae, "But it's not just work that has me down...it's life in general."

"Ah, Kori's department," Denae nodded, "I used to be there. Now I'm in Accounting."

Was there a slight edge to her tone when she said Kori's name, or am I imagining things now?

"Nice," I said, "You like it in Accounting?"

Denae shrugged, "As much as I can like a job, you know?"

I nodded, "I get it."

Denae looked at me for a moment, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was more than friendly. There was something about the way her eyes scanned over me that made me think...maybe?

No. You're definitely just imagining things now, Ashley.

"I'm sorry to hear that life has gotten you down. If you ever need someone to vent to, come down to Accounting and I've got you. I've been told I'm a great listener," Denae said to me.

I couldn't help but smile at her, "I'll keep that in mind."

"Please do," Denae smiled back at me.

I then realized that I had to get back to my department, but at least I wasn't crying anymore.

"I've got to get back to the IT department," I said, "But it was nice to meet you, Denae. Maybe I'll see you around?"

"Hopefully you'll see me around," Denae said to me with a playful hint to her tone.

I left the ladies room feeling a bit more uplifted than when I entered, even though the second I stopped talking to Denae, Kori's words kept running through my mind.

I got back to the department, and Grace walked up to my desk, cup of coffee in hand.

"Good morning, Ashley," she smiled at me, "It was fun hanging out with you on Friday."

"It was fun," I smiled back at Grace.

Grace then said, "Just a quick tip, I would avoid Kori today the best you can. I went into her office to make coffee, and she is in a mood. I can just tell. I wonder what's got her like that?"

I shrugged, "Probably just the stress of work. Plus, it's a Monday, I get it."

"I don't know, this seemed like more than that. She seemed genuinely pissed."

Hm. I wonder why.