For the rest of the weekend, I was less upset than I thought I would be about seeing Gabby hooking up with someone else.

I knew that was because of one reason.

Kori.

I wasn't sure what would happen when I saw her at work on Monday, and I felt a bit apprehensive about it.

On Monday morning, I once woke up later than I needed to, but I had enough time to get ready and make an espresso.

When I got to work, I said "hello" to Francine at the front desk, and went up the elevator to the third floor.

When I got to the IT Department, Grace immediately approached me.

"Hi, Ashley!" she said, "How was Glow this weekend?"

"It was a lot of fun," I lied, "I think you'd really enjoy it there."

"I'm totally going," Grace smiled, "Oh, Kori wanted to speak with you, she said to find her in her office when you have a chance."

My brow furrowed, "I wonder what it's about."

"She didn't seem mad or anything. She probably wants to know how you're feeling about the department."

"The seems correct," I said, not really meaning it.

I walked down the hallway to Kori's office, and her door was slightly open.

I knocked and said, "Good morning, it's Ashley."

"Come in and close the door behind you, please."

I did as Kori asked, and then faced her. She was standing in front of her large, dark wooden desk, her back leaning against it. I couldn't help but notice that she had bags under her eyes.

I took a few steps forward toward Kori.

"Grace said you needed to see me?" I asked her, heart already starting to pound.

Kori nodded and spoke in a low voice, "I wanted to talk to you about Saturday."

I swallowed nervously, "Okay. Thank you again for it."

"You can't speak a single word of it to anyone," Kori said in a calm, but very firm tone.

Okay. If she uses that tone, I can see how intimidating she is.

"I won't," I reassured her, "I wasn't going to."

Kori looked right at me, "It probably shouldn't have happened."

Ouch.

I tried to conceal how I was feeling as I said to Kori, "I understand why you say that. I'm sorry if it's something you regret doing."

Kori cocked her head to the side a bit and said, still in a firm tone, "Did I say I regretted it?"

"Well, no-"

"I don't," Kori replied, "I don't regret it...at all. You just can't speak a word of it. Understood?"

I nodded, "Understood."

"Alright, thank you. I'll see you later."

Kori went back to sitting at her desk, seemingly dismissing me.

I left Kori's office feeling like a kid who just got scolded, and felt like that for the remainder of the day.

When I got home from work that day, I was surprised to see Trey at home, sitting on the couch in front of the TV, wrapped in a blanket.

"You're not going to work tonight?" I asked him, "Usually you'd be getting ready now."

"I'm just...simply not in the mood," Trey said, "I need a mental health day. I got a coworker to cover for me. Take a seat next to me. I'll order us food."

"I understand," I said, sitting near Trey on the couch, "Can we order Dominos?"

"Ash, you know I was already looking at Dominos," Trey said, looking at his phone.

Trey and I ordered our pizzas, and we sat on the couch.

Trey sighed, "How was work today?"

"Not the best," I said, "Work itself wasn't too bad, but I don't think my boss is happy about picking me up on Saturday."

"Tell me how that even happened. I couldn't hear your phone conversation."

I told Trey how I accidentally called Kori when I meant to call Addison.

"Wait," Trey said, "She's the one that asked if you needed a ride. You didn't call her asking for one."

"Even though she said she didn't regret it, I think she might. She said today that I can't tell anyone, and she said it harshly. I was going to anyway, but it almost felt like I got in trouble or something?"

"I mean, I get why she doesn't want anyone knowing. Do you think she could be attracted to you too? Obviously, you think she's hot."

"I honestly don't know. I mean, she is 13 years older than me."

"That doesn't mean anything."

"I feel like she's just going to be cold to me for now on," I said, "I think I just have to accept that she's my boss and nothing will happen."

Trey gave me a sly smile, "Yeah, we'll see about that."

For the rest of the week, I didn't see Kori all that much. She simply nodded to me when she saw me, but she didn't come around to the IT Department often in general. I knew how busy she was.

On Friday, the day before my birthday, I walked into work and my desk was decorated with a "Happy Birthday balloon and some confetti.

Sweet of them when I haven't been working here for long.

"Thank you for this," I said to my coworkers, "Really sweet of you all."

I also noticed there was a Tupperware box with cupcakes.

Grace pulled a chair up to my desk.

"I made the cupcakes. Hope you like funfetti!"

I laughed, "I definitely do. Thank you so much for these."

"Are you doing anything for your birthday this weekend?" she asked me.

I nodded, "Just going out to a nice dinner with my two best friends, sister, and my other sister and her husband. I'm looking forward to it."

Grace smiled at me, "That's so nice! I hope you have fun. You know you have the same birthday as Kori, right?"

I nodded, "Yes, she told me."

"From what I know, she doesn't really give a fuck about her birthday, but I just found it funny."

I smiled at Grace, "I agree."

For lunch, I decided to go to the coffee shop right nearby and get a sandwich and an iced latte. Why not treat myself on my birthday?

The barista behind me at the counter smiled and asked, "What can I get you today, Miss?"

"Hi, I'll get a medium iced vanilla oat milk latte and a caprese sandwich to go. Thank you."

"Of course, that'll be $10.68."

I reached into my blazer pocket for my wallet, but a voice behind me said, "I've got it."

I turned around to see Kori behind me, holding a Platinum Amex out.

"Kori, hi," I said, "You don't have to pay for me."

"I insist," she said, "It's your birthday tomorrow."

"It's your birthday tomorrow as well. Can I pay for yours?" I asked her.

"No," she said simply, and then stepped up to the barista, "Can you please add a small black coffee with a splash of cream to that order?"

The barista looked between us and said, "Of course. That'll be $13.80."

Kori paid, and I noticed she tipped $2 as well.

We stepped aside to the bar where the drinks would be served, and I turned to her, "Thank you. You really didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to," Kori turned to look at me, "Also, come by my office at around 3 today. Thank you."

Is it something bad?

"Of course," I nodded, "I will."

The drinks and my toasted sandwich were served at the bar, and Kori said, "I'm staying here for a little while to do some work. Sometimes I like a change of scenery. I'll see you back at the office."

"See you there. Thanks again," I said to Kori.

As I walked back to the office, I didn't realize that my heart had been thumping the whole time.

I ate my sandwich and drank about half of my coffee in my car for the remainder of lunch, and I then went back to my desk.

I sat down, and my phone vibrated.

I looked down and felt a chill go down my spine when I saw it was Gabby.

What the fuck does she want?

I looked down at the message quickly.

It said: Hey. Just wanted to wish you a happy birthday.

You're a day too early, Gab.

Do I respond to this?

Do I not?

I think I'm going to protect my peace and not respond.

I was doing okay without Gabby. Even after seeing her making out with another woman at Glow.

When I thought back to the last 6 or so months, it wasn't like we did much. She didn't take me out on any dates. I would go over to her apartment, hang out, and fuck.

I worked, checking the time until I saw 2:58 PM. I got up and made my way over to Kori's office.

The door was closed, and per usual, I knocked.

"Come in," Kori said.

I walked into her office and closed the door behind me.

She looked up at me from behind her desk, which had a bunch of balloons attached to it, and I also noticed some confetti on the desk and floor. also visible on the desk was a Tupperware of the same cupcakes Grace had made me.

"Thank you again for getting my coffee and sandwich at lunch," I said to Kori, suddenly nervous by her gaze on me.

"Don't mention it."

I shifted a bit on my feet, "You wanted to see me, is everything alright?"

Kori waved me over, and I walked up to her desk. She grabbed a small, pink cardboard box that had a plastic screen on top of it.

I looked at it as she handed the box to me, and immediately noticed it was a red velvet cupcake. It looked absolutely delicious, with a perfect icing swirl and some cupcake crumbs on top.

Before I could say anything, I looked at Kori, and she looked at me and spoke, "Every week I get fresh baked bread from a bakery right near my condo. I noticed that they had jumbo cupcakes and saw a red velvet one. I remembered you saying to me in the car you liked red velvet."

I immediately felt my face grow warm and I said, "This was beyond thoughtful of you, Kori. Thank you. I feel bad that I don't have anything for you."

Kori brushed that last comment off, "Please, Ashley. Don't worry about that. I just thought it was something you might enjoy."

"Oh, I'll definitely enjoy it," I reassured Kori, and she chuckled.

She then said in a more serious tone, "I also wanted to bring up what I spoke to you about on Monday, I'm sorry that I said it probably shouldn't have happened. While I somewhat stand by that, that doesn't mean I'm not...glad it happened."

"I understand why you said that" I said softly to Kori, "I just feel bad, like I made you do something you didn't want to do."

Kori's green eyes bore into me as she said, "You most definitely did not make me do something I didn't want to do. On the contrary."

"Okay," I nodded, "Good to know."

Kori looked hesitant for a second, like she shouldn't say what was on her mind, but she wound up saying, "If you ever find yourself needing a ride again, you have my number."

I felt my heart pound and my mouth go dry, "That's...very good to know."

Kori simply nodded, and I asked her, not wanting to leave her office yet, "Are you doing anything fun for your birthday this weekend?"

"Eh, I don't do much for my birthday. I'm going to be 40, it doesn't really concern me. My brother-in-law is a Chef, so I will likely go to my sister's house for dinner and to see my niece and nephew."

No mention of a significant other.

"That sounds really nice," I said to Kori, and before she could say anything to me, I found myself asking, "Are you married or anything?"

Kori raised her eyebrows, and I immediately regretted asking her that.

"Sorry, that wasn't appropriate to- "

"I'm not married. I'm single," Kori said matter of fact.

I nodded, "I'm sorry. I was just...curious."

Kori looked amused as she smiled slightly and said, "Curious, huh?"

At this point, my cheeks were on fire, and I felt like I could crawl under her desk. I knew I had to be blushing.

"Yes," I nodded, "Curious."

"Got it. I mean, I know you're single."

Kori was looking right at me as she said this, and I nodded.

"That I am. Guess we're just two single people."

Fuck, I am so attracted to her.

Before Kori could respond, there was a knock on the door, and we were both startled.

"Kori, I need your help," Lewis, one of my co-workers said from the other side of the door.

"I'll go," I said to Kori, "Thank you, again."

"You're welcome, Ashley," Kori said as I turned to the door.

As I left Kori's office, my heart was thumping.

Is something going to happen here?