Professional Boundaries

by Jennifer Peel

  “Ian told me that I would be redoing your graphic designs.”

  I didn’t even hear what she said after that. My head flew up and met Mr. Greyson’s wide eyes and beet-red face. He pulled away from her grasp and stepped forward. I just stood my ground.

  “Ms. Bryant,” he stammered. “Alexa worked for me at IAG, and I’ve contracted with her to help us revamp the interface. She was the one who designed our new logo.”

  I was completely stunned. I didn’t know what to say. Not only was she a terrible designer, but she completely lacked any professionalism. She grabbed Mr. Greyson’s arm again, and it all made perfect sense. She was his personal matter and who he had mixed personal with business at IAG. I thought he said that was a mistake, but yet here she stood in all of her buxom blonde glory.

  All I could do was put on another close-lipped, fake smile. I turned and directly went to my office and slammed the door. I figured if he was no longer following professional boundaries, why should I?

  Alexa? I kept thinking. He called her Alexa, not Ms. Manselle. Probably because she was going to be the next Mrs. Greyson. Suddenly I felt nauseous.

  I sat at my desk stunned. I even forgot to turn on my computer. I only came out of my stupor because Delfia knocked on my door, and before I could say come in, she was in and the door was closed behind her. She looked angry. I had never seen her look angry. She sat on one of the leather chairs in front of my desk and threw the Bergman file on my desk.

  “What’s wrong?” I inquired.

  She just kept shaking her head, and with every turn, her face turned a darker shade of red.

  “Delfia?”

  “That woman!” she finally spat out.

  “What?” I asked.

  “She came in here, all over Mr. Greyson, and with hardly an introduction, she began giving me orders. Everything from the kind of bottled water she likes stocked to the temperature the conference room needed to be every day, and then she started spouting off how atrocious all of the office furniture was and how we really needed to work on that. Then she and Mr. Greyson disappeared into his office to do heaven knows what.”

  I put my hand up to stop her. I didn’t even want to think about what heaven knew about.

  “I’ll talk to Mr. Greyson. She’s not an employee, and I still manage this office. She has no authority over you.”

  Delfia gave me a half smile.

  “Thank you for the file,” I said as she got up and walked out of the door.

  I finally managed to get my laptop on, and the first thing I pulled up were my new designs for the interface. They were amazing, and apparently absolutely useless. I just shook my head and closed out the file. I looked up at the adjoining door and shook my head again. The conversations we had over the last two weeks had made me think that maybe I should move the credenza and that maybe, just maybe, we could have the working relationship that would allow for open doors. Now I was thinking of hiring a contractor to permanently remove the door and just make it a wall with no access.

  It didn’t take too long before I had another visitor. He looked tentative when he walked in. To say he was stepping on eggshells was an understatement. Landmines was more like it.

  I didn’t stand on ceremony. “Am I still the manager of this office, Mr. Greyson?”

  He stopped in front of my desk. “Of course.”

  “So why is it that an independent contractor was hired without my knowledge or consent?”

  He stood up taller. “As Director, I don’t have to run that by you.”

  I think my mouth may have dropped to the floor. I guess the whole team thing was big fat lie.

  “Fine! But you can tell your little plaything, I mean designer …”

  His eyes widened to the size of saucers. “What did you just call her?”

  “You heard me.”

  “I believe, Ms. Bryant, you’re under the wrong impression,” he spluttered back.

  I just smirked and interrupted him. “Please, Mr. Greyson, don’t insult my intelligence. Just tell her that, as an independent contractor, she has no say about what goes on in this office beyond the purview of what she was hired to do and that Delfia is not her personal assistant.”

  I turned back to my laptop and ignored him as he continued to stand there with his eyes ablaze. I had nothing more to say to him. He stood there for a good minute. I still didn’t look up. He finally stalked off and slammed my door. I heard his door slam a few seconds later.

  Welcome to Monday, I thought. Then a tiny tear escaped. What was wrong with me?

  I didn’t know, but I needed my sister. I called her and begged her to meet me for lunch. She readily agreed. She tried to get me to tell her what was wrong over the phone, but I told her I couldn’t talk about it. I just bided my time until noon, and then I rushed out of my office, but I couldn’t help but notice the two love birds together in the conference room looking at a monitor. Mr. Greyson looked up at me as I passed by and called out my name.

  “I’m late for an appointment.” I didn’t even stop or pass go, I just hurried down the stairs.

  I’m not sure how fast I drove to our favorite little deli down by the river walk, but it wasn’t fast enough. The whole drive over, all I could see was Alexa’s face. Sure, her makeup was way over done, but she was attractive and she obviously fit his type. She reminded me a lot of how his ex-wife looked. I had to say, I really was perplexed in his choice of women. They just didn’t seem to fit him, but why should I even care? He was just my boss.

  “I hate my boss.” Those were the first words out of my mouth when I sat down at our favorite booth in Carl’s Deli.

  Amanda shook her head at me and started to smile, but then I think she realized I was serious.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  I put my head down on what I hoped was a clean table. “Alexa Manselle, that’s what happened.”

  I felt Amanda stroke my hair. “Who’s Alexa Manselle?”

  “Mr. Greyson’s vixen that he hired to redo all of my graphics for my software and who knows what else.”

  “So, he has a girlfriend?” she sounded so surprised.

  “I told you there was a woman and it wasn’t me.” I sat up and looked at my stunned sister. “And now Mr. Professional Boundaries has brought her into my office, and she’s prancing around like she owns the place, and she can’t keep her hands off of him. It’s absolutely disgusting. Oh … and to top it off, she’s a horrible designer. But I guess when you’re sleeping with the boss, it doesn’t matter!”

  She grabbed my hands and cracked a smile. “You wouldn’t be jealous would you?”

  “Of course not! You know I would never sleep with him or anybody else for that matter.”

  She laughed at me. “Honey, I know you better than that. What I meant was, do you wish you were his girlfriend?”

  I shook my head at her. “How many times do we have to go through this? No! It’s just, I thought maybe things were going to be ok between us.” Then I divulged our two weeks of phone calls.

  That really made her smile. “Are you sure this woman is his girlfriend?”

  “Yes. It all makes sense. He said he had personal matters to take care of in Colorado, and he told me he had mixed business with pleasure at his own company, and guess what, she worked for him at IAG, and now she’s here, and he’s calling her by her first name, and she literally can’t keep her hands off of him.”

  She looked disappointed. “Well that’s surprising. I guess Zane and I were wrong.”

  “Thank you,” I said smugly.

  “And you know what the worst part is?” I asked.

  She just waited for me to answer.

  “I redesigned the interface and was planning on showing him today when he got back. I think it was my best work, and now it was for nothing.”

  “You should still show him,” she suggested.

  “No. He didn’t want me working on it anyway.”

  All she could say was she was sorry. I was sorr
y too.

  We spent the rest of our lunch talking about their upcoming vacation. Then she followed me back to my office; she wanted to see Alexa Manselle for herself. I’m not sure why, but it wasn’t unusual for my sister to visit me at the office, so I agreed to let her come up and take a peek. This way, too, she could see for herself, and she and Zane could once and for all quit implying that Mr. Greyson and I were supposed to end up together.

  As we walked up the stairs to the executive level, I stopped her on the landing. “Don’t say anything to embarrass me,” I whispered.

  She laughed mockingly. “Oh, Kelli Jelly, I would never.”

  “Ha!” I responded.

  At least she made me smile.

  We walked past the conference room, and there they were. Still together, sitting cozily eating lunch. How quaint, I thought.

  Mr. Greyson noticed us. “Amanda,” he called out.

  I’m surprised he didn’t call her Mrs. Culver.

  “Ian,” she answered back.

  He looked nervously at me. “Ms. Bryant.”

  I didn’t even respond, I just kind of grimaced. He frowned in response.

  “So how was your trip to Colorado?” Amanda asked.

  I refrained from rolling my eyes.

  “It was long,” he responded.

  It was an odd response.

  “Well …” Amanda said. “Kelli just loved it there, and I keep telling Zane we really should take a vacation there.”

  She was pushing it. Mr. Greyson looked at me and smiled.

  It was then his little plaything got tired of being ignored. She came and grabbed his arm. “You really should visit, it’s like the best place in the world.”

  I grabbed Amanda’s hand, because I could see she was about to bust out laughing as she eyed Alexa.

  Mr. Greyson cleared his throat. “Amanda, this is Alexa Manselle, she’ll be working here for a few weeks.”

  A few weeks. Someone please shoot me now.

  She playfully smacked him. “Or longer, silly.”

  Did she just call him silly and say she’d work here longer?

  That was it. I could see Amanda starting to shake. I grabbed her and pulled her toward my office.

  “It was nice to see you, Amanda,” Mr. Greyson called out.

  She couldn’t return the sentiment because she was about ready to lose it, and she did lose it as soon as we entered my office.

  “Well isn’t she special,” she said once she got her laughter under control.

  I shook my head and chuckled.

  “Are you sure they’re together? They just don’t seem to fit.”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “No they don’t, but doesn’t she remind you a lot of his ex-wife?” I said quietly.

  Dawning came across her face. “You’re right.”

  “Wow! I’m right twice in one day.”

  She smiled at me wryly. “Well, I guess I better get back to my domesticated life.”

  I sighed. She gave me a knowing look. “Someday you and I will be domestic divas together, but for now, you just continue to be Chandler’s rock star.”

  I hugged her tightly. “I love you, Manda Panda.”

  She squeezed back. “I know, Kelli Jelly.”

  She left me, and I went back to work feeling a little better. I really did love that girl. The rest of the day flew by as I focused on doing what I’ve always done, and that’s my best. I reminded myself it had been a mistake to think that Mr. Greyson and I could be friends and I needed to once again separate him from the man I once knew. It was clear that man didn’t exist anymore, and even if he did, I needed to remember he left me with no thought at all.

  Right before I was ready to leave for the day, there was a knock on my door. I figured it was Delfia saying goodbye, so I just said come in. It wasn’t her.

  I sighed in exasperation. “What can I do for you?”

  He just stood there at my door and stared for a few seconds before he walked in. “Lorelai is ready to sign the proposal you sent her.”

  “That’s great news,” I said dryly.

  His eyes narrowed. “But, she would like us to demo the product for her sales team before she signs on the dotted line. Are you available on Wednesday morning?”

  I pulled up my calendar and looked at it. Looked like I was free. I looked up to him. His eyes looked full of concern. I wasn’t sure why.

  “I’m available. What time?”

  “Ten.”

  I put it on my calendar and just said, “Ok.” I figured that was it, so I hit the power button on my computer to shut it down, but he didn’t leave like I expected him to.

  “Ms. Bryant.”

  I kept putting things away, getting ready to leave. I didn’t even look up at him when I responded, “Yes?”

  “I apologize for not at least giving you notice that I had hired a contractor.”

  I just shrugged my shoulders and closed my laptop. “You’re the boss, right?”

  “Ms. Bryant, please.”

  I just looked up at him and shook my head. “Goodnight, Mr. Greyson.”

  I grabbed my satchel and walked out, leaving him there staring after me. I ran straight into Alexa. “Do you know where Ian is? I’m so ready to leave,” she whined.

  I just pointed to my office and continued to walk away, thanking my lucky stars I wouldn’t have to see her again until tomorrow, even though that was way too soon. Actually, forever was too soon for my taste, but at least I had belly dancing to look forward to. I needed a serious endorphin boost.

  I needed one so bad, I only went home to change and drop off my laptop. I headed straight to the Y and ran on the track before my class. I was in such a mood, I kind of overdid it and dragged a little in my class, but it was well worth it. I was tired when I left, but it was the good kind of tired. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the kind that could sustain the scene I had waiting for me at my apartment complex. I returned just in time to see Mr. Greyson carrying what looked like Alexa’s designer luggage from his apartment across the courtyard. He froze when he saw me, and for some reason, I froze too.

  Alexa looked between the two of us and grinned wickedly. “Thanks for letting me stay the night last night,” she announced loudly.

  I just smiled and walked away. She wasn’t fooling me. I already figured she was sleeping with the boss, but why she thought that would bother me I found interesting, and I was happy to disappoint her. I didn’t even bother looking at my idiot boss’ reaction. He was the world’s biggest hypocrite. It made me wonder what I ever saw in him. I used to think he was such a stand-up guy.

  I walked into my apartment, and immediately my phone rang. It was the hypocritical idiot, so I just ignored it. I was off the clock, and I didn’t want to be friends with someone like him. I thought maybe we could after the last two weeks, but I was dead wrong.

  I decided the next day that I would start getting to work extra early, even before Delfia; this way I could be safely in my office with the door closed before anyone else showed up. My target time was ten minutes until seven. I didn’t think anyone got there before seven fifteen usually, but I was hedging my bets. Thankfully, it paid off.

  It was such a relief to walk into a quiet office devoid of those that were now making my professional life hellish. It was so sad to think that it wasn’t that long ago that I was happy to come into work every day. Now I felt on edge and even slightly uncomfortable. I felt like I was being spoofed and that, any day now, someone would say, “Just kidding,” and I could go back to the way it was before Mr. Greyson showed up.

  I reveled in the quiet as I responded to email and polished up my presentation for the next day. Delfia got there thirty minutes after me. She walked in, and we took turns bashing our new “contractor”. Apparently I’d missed out on most of the action as I stayed behind closed doors. I guess she followed Mr. Greyson around everywhere and complained constantly. The complaints ranged from the humidity to how long lunch took to arrive. Then Delfia perfectly imitated
her squeaky little voice, and we both broke out into hysterical laughter. I knew it wasn’t kind and it was quite unprofessional, but I needed the comic relief. At that point, it was either laugh or cry. I was proud of myself as I refrained from sharing my little news about them spending the night together. They were consenting adults and what they did in private, should stay private as far as I was concerned.

  I had a pleasant morning with just myself for company. It allowed me to get a ton done. If I wasn’t the manager, I would consider working from home, which reminded me, I really did need to come out of my sanctuary and go talk to the troops below. I freshened up, psyched myself up, and emerged to a smiling Delfia.

  “Is the coast clear?” I whispered.

  She looked both ways for me and whispered, “Hurry.”

  This was so ridiculous.

  I scooted out toward the stairs, but it was like he knew. Just as I passed his door, he opened it. “Ms. Bryant, could I please speak to you?”

  I hung my head in resignation and sighed. I’m pretty sure I heard Delfia laugh; that was until Mr. Greyson looked at her sternly.

  He looked back to me and pleasantly smiled and invited me into his office. I entered silently, and he closed the door behind us. I looked around and wished for Boss.

  “Please have a seat,” he said while motioning to the chairs in front of his desk.

  He sat next to me instead of behind his desk and just searched my face. His countenance was solemn. “I think we need to clear some things up. I know how things appeared last night.”

  I put my hand up. “Mr. Greyson, you owe me no explanation. Your personal life is just that, personal, but I find your and your girlfriend’s behavior in the office to be highly unprofessional.”

  “Girlfriend? Alexa’s not my girlfriend,” he spluttered.

  “Oh please, I don’t care what you call her, except I do find it hypocritical that you call her Alexa instead of Ms. Manselle. I guess professional boundaries are merely guidelines for you.”

  “Ms. Bryant, Alexa is not an employee, and I’ve known her for years.”

  “Like maybe thirteen or fourteen.” I didn’t add in that’s how long we had known each other, but by the drop in his face, I knew he got it.