I Hardly Know You

"What?" Roland stared at Anna confusedly.

"What do you mean 'what'? I told you the other day that Veronica is Nightingale, and yet now you're dating her! Putting aside the fact that I thought there could be something between us, she's a criminal; why haven't you punished her?"

Veronica was about to say something, but Roland raised a hand, signaling to let him handle it.

He stepped forward to confront Anna, the expression on his face becoming livid.

"Firstly, as your boss and CEO of the company, never talk to me like that again. My personal life is none of your business, and how I deal with complaints and concerns is also left to my own discretion," he said in a low, cold voice. Anna looked like she wanted to say something, but he didn't give her the chance.

"Secondly, I can tell you now that your accusations are baseless. Veronica is useless with computers; I should know, I've been fixing hers for years.

"I don't know if it was a mistake on your part or intentional, but I won't have you spreading rumors anymore."

He paused to catch his breath.

"Thirdly, and finally, 'something between us'? Where did you get that? I'll be honest, I was sweet on you before, but frankly, we're barely more than strangers. You've been working under me for practically no time at all.

"For you to think I would trust your word over Veronica's is simply moronic. Anna, I hardly know you, and from how you've acted recently, I'm not sure I've ever really gotten to know you…"

As his voice trailed off, he grabbed Veronica's hand, and they stepped past her and into the elevator. Anna simply stood there, her jaw almost touching the floor. She was too shocked to be upset.

'I— Um— Er— W-what?

'What in the world just happened?

'Did I screw up?

'Or was he being unreasonable?'

Obviously, Barov and the other office workers heard the commotion. As soon as the elevator doors closed, they hurried over to Anna's side. They ushered her over to her seat, and someone passed her a mug of coffee.

"Did I overstep my bounds? Or was it him who was unreasonable?" she asked in a hoarse voice.

"Um, that's a difficult question," answered Barov. "Obviously, you shouldn't comment on your boss' relationships, but if you've raised valid concerns, he should be taking them seriously…

"Why don't you tell us about what you said to him previously? How are Miss Gilen and Nightingale involved?"

Anna's eyes lit up when she heard that, and she immediately started explaining everything from the start with zeal.

…

In the elevator, Roland leaned heavily against the wall as soon as the elevator doors shut.

"What the hell is wrong with her?" he fumed. "That was f*cking outrageous! To speak to a superior like that, her direct superior and company owner no less! F*ck! I could fire her for that. I don't want to though. I guess I'll see how things are after lunch."