Ayla took two days off work, Thursday and Friday. Her leg was painful, and she was not ready to be asked about Xavier and what happened after office hours.
Carrie had already sent her a message asking her, but she had opted to ignore it.
The weekend rolled in, and her leg felt so much better.
She now sat opposite Sammy, and told her everything that had happened. Sammy drank in every word that she said.
"That's it." When she was done telling Sammy everything that had happened.
"I think your boss truly likes you."
Ayla shook her head, "No, he wants me to remember about the one-night stand."
"Because he likes you, Ayla. Why can't you see that?"
Ayla knew that she and Sammy were looking at it from different perspectives. "Or maybe he is afraid that I will tell everyone."
"I don't think he would be treating you that way."
"He is punishing me, Sammy. He does all this knowing very well that everyone will be on my case."
"What does he gain from making you remember about that night?"
"Maybe it's all about power."
"What power?"
"Look at it this way, Sammy, he is used to getting what he wants. That's his power move, to control the narrative."
"I'm so lost as to how you are coming up with these conclusions."
"That is what I think."
"Then just ask him, Ayla."
"You know that I can't do that. That is not in my cards, work and private would never work."
"But you actually can. Think about it, Ayla, what is the worst that could happen?"
"I lose my job, and the cherry on the pie is me getting humiliated."
"He doesn't seem to be such a guy who would get a high from humiliating you. Not everyone is Derrick."
"You don't know him."
Something crossed her mind,
No, I got it, Sammy!"
"Yes?"
"Maybe it's a social experiment."
"What?"
"Yes, to see if coaxing me would work, and when I fall for it, boom, the rug is pulled from underneath my feet."
"You are way in over your head, Ayla."
"Work with me, Sammy."
"Fine, and Gabby?"
"Nothing, I just met her once when I bumped into her, well, also when she left."
"The coffee encounter was it?"
"Yes."
"How did she react to Xavier lifting you?"
"Didn't see her reaction as she was heading out."
"She didn't say anything."
"Not really, it seemed as if she wanted to say something, but Xavier told her to see herself out."
"Oh wow, he likes you!"
"No, why was he with Gabby? That is the question we should be asking Sammy."
"Fine, why was she there?"
"If you saw her, I wouldn't be surprised if they got back together."
"She must be a beauty."
"You are on her level. That's how beautiful she is."
"Are you calling me beautiful?" Sammy asked sappily.
"As if you don't know it."
"You flatter me."
"Oh, please, you know it."
"I'm playing."
They both laughed,
"I wish I were there to watch all of this; never would I imagine you would be in such a situation."
"Me either, I don't know what my next move should be, he said he is always watching me."
"I bet what I would do to be in your position, Ayla. I would take him on."
Ayla nodded. Sammy had a charm about her that made men lose their minds. "Trust me, I know that, maybe you can come seduce him so that there will be no more office drama."
"I think I might."
Ayla was tired. "Enough about me, what about you?"
"Well, you know me, I have a couple of suitors, but I haven't settled for one yet."
"What?"
"I need to taste different flavours of ice-cream before I settle on one for a long time."
"Do you have a hint as to which flavour you want?"
"Not really, I have to do a more in-depth taste test."
"Don't string them along, Sammy."
"I'm not, they are the ones that can't get enough of me."
"Sammy….."
"Fine, fine, I will make a decision soon."
"And I mean it."
"Yes, Mom."
"That's not a tone you take up with your mother, young lady!"
They both burst out laughing,
"Any work drama?"
Sammy pouted, "No, but I'm thinking of quitting my job and coming to work at yours, it seems more fun."
"I would welcome you with open arms."
"I know Ayla, and I would fight with anyone who bothers you."
She touched her heart dramatically, "I know you would fight till the end for me."
"Enough about work and all, let's now have some wine and a relaxing day."
Ayla smiled, "Now that sounds like a plan, sealing the whole day."
They spent the rest of the day lazing around, laughing, watching movies, and ordering food in.
The weekend passed in a blur, and Ayla was well-rested when Monday came.
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