My New Boss Is Worse

October was supposed to be a time for crisp air, pumpkin-spiced everything, and a bit of festive fun. But for Elk, it was just another month of grinding work and unbearable coworkers. His once faint hope that things might improve had all but vanished.

His days were filled with the same exhausting routine: coming into the office, being buried under everyone else's tasks, and dealing with his eccentric coworkers.

"Can you believe he dumped me again?" Yui whined loudly from her desk, her voice carrying across the entire office floor. She leaned dramatically on her chair, tapping her nails on her desk for effect. "I mean, seriously, men are trash."

Elk sighed, keeping his head down as he worked. He had heard the same story for months now—first about her boyfriend's mistakes, then about her hatred for men. She never seemed to tire of the topic, and it was becoming more grating by the day.

On the other side of the office, another coworker, Jun, was recounting his weekend escapades to a thoroughly uninterested group.

"Man, this new stuff I tried? It's a game-changer," Jun said, grinning ear to ear. "You ever hear of this? It's a mix of—"

Elk tuned him out, shaking his head. Somehow, despite openly discussing illegal activities, Jun managed to keep his job. Elk couldn't fathom how HR let it slide.

But all of this paled in comparison to his interactions with his new boss.

Her name was Haruka Asano, and at first glance, she seemed like a breath of fresh air. She was young, ambitious, and far more competent than their last manager. But it didn't take long for her true nature to reveal itself. Haruka was beautiful, with long, flowing dark hair, piercing eyes, and a confident air that demanded attention. Unfortunately, her professionalism was overshadowed by her relentless flirtation—and it was all directed at Elk.

"You're looking extra handsome today, Takeda," she said one morning, leaning casually on his desk. Her low-cut blouse didn't leave much to the imagination, and Elk found himself staring at his keyboard to avoid her gaze.

"Uh, thanks," he muttered awkwardly, trying to focus on the pile of reports in front of him. "But… as I've mentioned before, I'm married."

Haruka waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, I know, but your wife doesn't need to know about us, right?"

"There is no 'us,'" Elk said firmly, trying to keep his voice steady.

Haruka smirked and leaned closer, brushing her chest against his shoulder. "You're so cute when you're flustered."

Elk froze, his discomfort mounting. He wanted to say something, to push her away, but the power dynamic made it impossible. Instead, he gritted his teeth and endured it, counting the minutes until she walked away.

The harassment didn't stop there. Haruka found excuses to call him into her office for "meetings" that were little more than thinly veiled attempts to corner him. She would compliment him excessively, make suggestive remarks, and occasionally invade his personal space.

"Takeda, you really work too hard," she said one day, circling him like a predator. "Why don't you let me help you… relax?"

"I'm fine," Elk said quickly, standing stiffly and keeping his eyes glued to the door.

She laughed, the sound low and sultry. "You're so shy. It's adorable."

The breaking point came when she leaned against him during a staff meeting, her chest pressing against his back as she pretended to "review" a report he was holding. Elk could feel the eyes of his coworkers on him, but no one said anything.

When the meeting ended, he marched straight to HR, his frustration boiling over.

"I need to file a complaint," Elk said, his voice firm as he sat down with the HR representative.

The woman behind the desk raised an eyebrow. "What seems to be the issue?"

"It's my boss, Haruka," Elk said, his hands clenched into fists. "She's been sexually harassing me—touching me without consent, making inappropriate comments, ignoring the fact that I'm married… It's making it impossible to work."

The HR rep gave him a long, unreadable look before sighing and folding her hands on the desk.

"Mr. Takeda, I understand your concerns," she began, her tone carefully neutral. "But Ms. Asano is a high-performing manager, and these types of accusations can be… complicated. Are you sure you're not misinterpreting her actions?"

Elk stared at her in disbelief. "Misinterpreting? She's groped me in front of other employees!"

The HR rep winced slightly but didn't budge. "We'll take your concerns into consideration, but without concrete evidence or corroboration, it's difficult to take formal action. I suggest trying to set clear boundaries with her directly."

Elk left the office feeling even worse than before. It was clear that nothing would be done, and he was on his own.

That evening, when Elk returned home, he was visibly shaken. Celeste, ever observant, immediately noticed his distress.

"Darling," she said softly, wrapping her arms around him the moment he stepped inside. "What happened?"

Elk sighed, leaning into her embrace. "Work. It's… it's a mess. My coworkers, my boss… Everything feels out of control."

Celeste pulled back slightly, her glowing blue eyes scanning his face. "You are safe here, sweetie. No one can harm you while I am with you."

Her words brought him a small measure of comfort, and as she guided him to the couch, he felt a flicker of hope. No matter how difficult things were at work, Celeste was his anchor—his unwavering source of love and support.

Still, as he rested his head on her lap and felt her fingers gently comb through his hair, he couldn't shake the gnawing fear that his situation at work would only get worse.