Professional Boundaries

by Jennifer Peel

  “No … not that long,” he said quietly. “But regardless, she’s not an employee.”

  I stood up. “I need to go. I have an office to run.”

  He stood up, too, and this time he didn’t hesitate, he gently touched my arm. “Ms. Bryant, please.”

  “Please what?” I looked up into those chocolate eyes of his.

  “I thought that when I got back things would be … different.”

  I did too, but I didn’t repeat the sentiment, and I didn’t have to say anything more. Alexa just came barging in without knocking. Mr. Greyson dropped his hand, and I took that as my cue to leave.

  “Oh, did I interrupt something?” she said insincerely.

  “Not at all, Ms. Manselle.”

  “Oh haha. Call me Alexa, silly.”

  I looked at Mr. Greyson like, this is the best you could do, and then I walked out. I heard her ask, “So where are we going to lunch?” as I closed the door.

  I looked at Delfia who was shaking her head. That’s all I felt like doing too. Why her? I kept thinking.

  Thankfully, I was able to spend the rest of my day working with our account managers and going over sales goals. I actually waited for Mr. Greyson to leave before I went back upstairs. I ended up being the last one there. It was one very long day, so much so it was take-out, PJ’s, and remote in hand for the rest of the night.

  Again, I was the first one there the next morning. If I kept this up, I would be more than caught up on all my work for the next month at least. Around a quarter after nine, Mr. Greyson opened my door. “Are you ready to leave?”

  I barely looked up. “Yes, I’ll meet you there.”

  “We’re not driving together?” he asked.

  I smirked at him. “No. I know where I’m going.”

  He just kept looking at me in disbelief.

  “I’ll see you there,” I said, like that settled it.

  He just shook his head and shut my door harder than was necessary. I smiled to myself. Irritating him was my new hobby. I walked out to find Alexa asking if she shouldn’t go and present her mock ups. If she was going, there was no way I was. And I hadn’t even seen the mock ups, and neither had Matt.

  I had to throw in my two cents, I didn’t care who the boss was. “We shouldn’t be showing our clients mock-ups until they have gone through an extensive internal review process.”

  I think she tchted at me. My eyes widened. How old was she?

  Mr. Greyson surprisingly agreed with me. As she continued her whining, I walked away. I didn’t need this, and it was getting to the point that I would be demanding she work somewhere else. As a contractor, she didn’t need to be in house, especially my house.

  Mr. Greyson caught up to me on the stairs. “Are you sure you don’t want to drive together?”

  “Positive.”

  “Ok. How about lunch afterward?”

  I laughed.

  “What?” he asked.

  “No thanks. I could only imagine how that would make your girlfriend whine.”

  “Ms. Bryant, I told you, she’s not my girlfriend.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Well whatever your arrangement is, the answer is still no.”

  “Why?”

  I stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked at him. He was still on the last step, so he hovered over me a bit. “Aren’t you the one who said you weren’t here to make friends?” Then I amended, “But I guess that is unless they’re ‘contractors.’”

  He wickedly grinned. “You really don’t like her do you?”

  “Oh, you can read people after all,” I responded as I threw open the door and marched out to my car.

  The whole drive over I reproved myself for my own unprofessionalism. It was like all of the sudden I was back in high school or transported into a really bad soap opera. I pulled into the parking lot and tried to expunge my mind of Alexa and Mr. Greyson. I needed to be on my A game. This account was a big deal, and I didn’t want to be the one to blow it. I took a deep breath in and then let it out slowly. It was show time.

  Mr. Greyson met me at my car door and opened it for me. “Are you ready?” he asked.

  I just shook my head yes.

  He began spouting off pointers, and I just let him. It was weird, but I needed that. That was normal.

  We walked into a large conference room that was filled to capacity. Lorelai and Nicholas greeted us warmly at the entrance. I would say Nicholas’ greeting was overly warm as he spoke to me. I could tell it annoyed my boss. He was such a hypocrite. Unfortunately, I let that thought take hold and responded too warmly in return. Fortunately, they were running on a tight schedule so we had to begin right away. This was one of my favorite parts of my job, and it’s where I shined. Thankfully today was no exception. Mr. Greyson, didn’t even jump in once. When I finished, the chatter and commentary was extremely positive; I could tell their sales team was salivating at the possibilities our software afforded. There was no doubt we were leaving with a signature on the dotted line.

  “Well done, Ms. Bryant,” Mr. Greyson whispered as I was packing away my laptop.

  “Thanks.” I smiled.

  After their sales staff left, it was just Mr. Greyson, myself, Lorelai, and Nicholas. We met at one end of the large conference table and finalized the deal. As I watched Lorelai sign, I reminded myself this is why I hadn’t quit again. My baby had just barely begun to see the light of day, and I wanted to see it through even if it meant I had to put up with nonsense.

  As we walked out, I could tell I wasn’t the only one elated. Mr. Greyson’s eyes sparkled. That was until someone called out after me.

  I turned to find it was Nicholas. “Kelli, wait up.”

  I wasn’t the only one to stop.

  Nicholas looked between both of us and just shrugged his shoulders and ignored my boss. “How about dinner tonight to celebrate?”

  Oh. This was awkward. I had never been asked out in front of my boss before. Where was Boss when I needed him?

  I bit my lip as I looked into his deep blue eyes and dimpled face. He really was a handsome guy, but I also knew his type. But then I thought, Am I sure? Maybe that was my problem: I judged too quickly. What if I kept missing out on Mr. Right?

  He smiled as he watched me hesitate. “How about Pierre’s at seven?” he asked.

  I smiled. “Ok, but I’ll meet you there.” I was serious about not letting strange men into my apartment or letting them know where I live.

  He grinned. “See you then, gorgeous.”

  I think I was blushing. I sure felt warm all of a sudden.

  Someone else looked like they were warm too. When Nicholas left, I looked up at Mr. Greyson, and he looked furious. I wasn’t sure why. The deal was signed, so having dinner with him would have no effect on the sale positively or negatively.

  “I’ll see you at the office.” It was all I could think of to say.

  I began to leave again. Mr. Greyson followed suit, but as soon as we were outside, he stopped me. “I thought you said you wouldn’t date someone like him?”

  “It’s just dinner,” I replied in my defense.

  “The guy is hoping for more than dinner.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why do you care?”

  He just stared at me blankly.

  I waited patiently for a reply.

  “You did well. I’ll see you at the office,” was his only response.

  “Thanks,” I said again.

  I watched him stalk off and shook my head in confusion.

  As soon as I got in my car, I put my sister on Bluetooth. “Hi sis. I have a date tonight.”

  “With Ian?”

  “No! Why would you say that? Never mind, don’t answer that.”

  I just told her who it was. She wasn’t as excited as I thought she would be, but she gave me suggestions on what I should wear to Pierre’s. It was a predictable restaurant for Nicholas; it was overpriced and fancy, but at least the food was good.

  I left the offic
e early, and to my great delight, without having to see either Mr. Greyson or Alexa. I came home and sank into a bath, shaved my legs, and just took my time getting ready. It had been too long since I’d been on a date, so I took extra care and tried to just enjoy the experience. I wore my new red bandage dress and some killer heels. I looked in the mirror and thought, Not bad for my almost thirty-two-year-old self. The belly dancing was definitely doing its job.

  I walked out into the slightly cool air with a spring in my step. I almost put the top down on my car, but I decided against messing up my hair; the evenings were still a little cool too. But regardless, I felt energized when I reached Pierre’s right on time. I didn’t know what kind of car Nicholas drove, so I wasn’t sure if he was there, but I went right in anyway.

  Pierre’s screamed high price from the moment I walked in, from the tuxedo clad host, to the white linens and low lighting, to the string quartet playing. It was lovely, but I would still take the park and peanut butter and jam sandwiches. Oh well, Enjoy the moment, I told myself.

  Practically upon entering, I spotted Nicholas. He stood up, and I walked over to him. As he eyed me from head to toe and back up again, his grin widened. He met me at my chair and pulled it out. “You’re breathtaking,” he said as I sat down.

  “Thank you.”

  I told him he looked well too. And he did. He wore a black suit and a gray tie. I’m sure the suit was tailored as it fit his physique perfectly.

  He just kept smiling at me until our waiter came and delivered the menus and told us what tonight’s specials were. He also gave us a wine list. Of course Nicholas pointed to the most expensive offering on the list and asked my opinion. “I don’t drink,” I politely informed him. That news seemed to disappoint him, but he still ordered a glass for himself. I was about to tell our waiter what I would have to drink, but I found I didn’t have to.

  “The lady will have water, with orange slices if you have them.”

  I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry at his presence, but I could tell my date sure wasn’t amused as he looked up to him and glared. Mr. Greyson didn’t let that bother him at all. He smiled at him and then over to me.

  “That’s what you still drink, isn’t it, Kelli?”

  “Why yes, Mr. Greyson, how kind of you to remember,” I said in mock sincerity, because just outright mocking would be in poor form at this moment. But he knew, and it made him smile even more.

  “Ian, what are you doing here?” Nicholas asked. He didn’t sound pleased at all.

  “My brother-in-law, Sean, is in town for the evening on business,” he pointed over to him. I looked at him at the bar, curious to see who Noelle had married. He waved at me. I waved back. He looked like a nice guy. “And I heard this was one of the best places in town.”

  “It is,” Nicholas responded dryly.

  I took that as my cue. “Well, have a nice evening, Mr. Greyson.”

  He winked at me. “You too, Kelli.”

  It took everything I had in me not to roll my eyes, especially when he had parting words for my date. “Don’t have her out too late, it’s a school night after all.”

  Nicholas didn’t even respond to that ridiculous statement as Ian walked away, laughing to himself.

  I turned my attention back to my unhappy date. “Sorry about that.” I smiled in hopes to smooth it over.

  He wasn’t smiling back. “So do you guys have like a thing?”

  “No. He’s my boss,” I said indignantly.

  He smirked. “Because that would be unheard of.”

  “I think we should change the subject.”

  Nicholas had no problem with that, but unfortunately my first impression of him was dead on. He loved to talk about himself. I was treated to the highlight reel of his ‘fascinating’ life. I didn’t even need to speak, I just sat there and smiled, and the only reason I smiled was because someone besides my date kept staring my way from the bar. Several times I caught both he and his brother-in-law staring my way and either smiling or waving. Then it got interesting when the table next to us freed up. Guess who came to occupy it?

  It was comical in a way, and it at least made my date take a breath and shut up. He was just starting in on his days as a star basketball player for the University of Tennessee, and I, for one, wasn’t interested at all. The new table arrangement also allowed me to be introduced to Noelle’s husband, and I really wanted to meet him.

  Mr. Greyson, with no regard, interrupted Nicholas. “Kelli, this is my very lucky brother-in-law, Sean Nixon.” My first thought was, That was kind of sweet. He and Noelle had been close, and by how he introduced Sean, I could tell that was still the case. My second thought was, I bet Noelle didn’t love having Nixon for a last name, but I bet she loved Sean; I could just sense he was a nice guy. He wore a goofy smile that fit his red hair and freckles perfectly. He looked like the sweet boy next door. I bet Noelle kept him on his toes.

  Sean held out his hand as the introduction was made. “It is a pleasure to meet you. Noelle will be jealous.”

  “How is Noelle?” I asked eagerly as I took his hand.

  His eyes lit up at the mention of her name. What a good husband, I thought. I was having holy envy again. Not that I was attracted to Sean at all, but I hoped to someday have a husband who lit up at the mention of my name.

  He grinned like he really was the luckiest man. “She’s Noelle.”

  “Please tell her hello for me.”

  “I’ll do one better.” He took out his phone and mischievously grinned. “Ian, stand by Kelli. Mr. Greyson immediately joined me and held his hand out to help me stand up. Just his touch made me wish … well … never mind. To make matters worse (or better, depending how you looked at it), he put his arm around my waist. I looked up to him; he just grinned like a fool, and foolishly, I liked it. We smiled for a picture, and I immediately sat down. It was then I noticed how very unhappy my date was. I tried smiling again to smooth it over, but he wasn’t buying it. I just shrugged. I wasn’t having that good of a time anyway.

  The rest of my date pretty much ended up with me trying to talk to three men, all who seemed to be clamoring for my attention. I even had a phone call from Noelle; we caught up briefly. “You look beautiful, Kelli, especially paired with my brother,” she commented on the photo her husband had sent her. I’m sure I blushed. We didn’t hang up until we had swapped numbers and promised to catch up more later on. We all stayed until closing time, and we all walked out together. Weird didn’t even begin to describe this night.

  I said my goodbyes to Mr. Greyson and Sean, who both seemed reluctant to leave me; in fact, I noticed they walked to Ian’s car, but they didn’t go anywhere. I let Nicholas walk me to my car. He seemed out of sorts. I guess I couldn’t blame him. I thought it was a good thing Lorelai had signed those papers already.

  When we arrived at my car, Nicholas kissed my cheek. “Maybe next time we could do this alone.”

  I smiled at him. There wouldn’t be a next time.

  “Thank you for dinner,” I responded.

  He looked down at me and wickedly grinned. “How about dessert?”

  I had a feeling he wasn’t talking about food.

  “Goodnight, Nicholas.”

  “Maybe next time.”

  I got in my car quickly and sped away. I really hated being right sometimes.

  Chapter 13

  Saturday morning found me watching my nieces while my traitorous brother-in-law played golf with my annoying boss. What was he playing at anyway, interrupting my date? Ok, sure, I enjoyed talking to him and Sean more than my date, and I kind of appreciated that they waited for Nicholas to leave before they left. Not that I thought Nicholas would try anything, per se, but it was nice all the same, especially since my first instincts were spot on. I longingly looked at my list on my refrigerator. Really, was it that hard to find a guy that met all those criteria?

  I tried not to dwell on it as the girls and I spent an enjoyable couple of hours at the
pool. Well, it was enjoyable until Mr. Greyson showed up in his plaid shorts and well-fitting polo. I swear he looked like he had just done a photo shoot for J Crew. I looked down at my black swimsuit as I sat on the edge of the pool with my legs dangling in the warm water. I wasn’t sure I wanted him to see me like this.

  His eyes lit up as he strutted over to me with golf clubs slung over his shoulder. I turned from him and watched my nieces. That didn’t deter him. The idiot came right over and sat next to me after he deposited his clubs near one of the lounge chairs. He even surprised me by taking his shoes and socks off and dipping his legs in the pool too.

  “You’re looking well today, Kelli.”

  I just rolled my eyes at him.

  He grinned. “But not as well as you looked last night. That red dress, stunning,” he said quietly and close enough to me that goose bumps erupted.

  Where was a dumb breeze when you needed one? He knew those bumps didn’t appear because I was cold, and he seemed quite delighted by it.

  “Why did you go to Pierre’s last night?”

  “I told you last night. I heard it was the best place in town, and Sean was only here for the night.”

  I scowled at him. “Your Greyson white lies don’t work on me anymore.”

  He grinned wickedly. “So what does work on you? I see Nicholas sure didn’t seem to do it for you.”

  “Yes, thanks for ruining my date, by the way.”

  “I’d like to take the credit, but I think you and I know better.”

  I turned my attention back toward the girls. He was right, but I wasn’t admitting it.

  “I know men like Nicholas, too, and I was …”

  I looked back over to him, and he sweetly smiled. Why did he have to look and act like Ian?

  “I just wanted to make sure you were treated like you deserve.”

  I was completely taken back. I wasn’t sure how to respond. “Well, thanks, but I don’t think that’s part of your job description.”

  “Have you actually seen my employment contract?” he teased.

  “You’re in a mood today.”

  He smiled down at me. “Maybe it has something to do with the Nashville scenery.”