|Chapter 9| ✔

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Great. It's... Him.

She rolled her eyes and stepped in the office disregarding the gentleman smart comments.

Who does he think he is?

I, Kimberly Valerie Austin, can be late whenever I want!

She shot him a death glare. Then again, I better not. Because that's not really good work ethic to go by.

"Ms. Austin, You are not demonstrating good work ethics by being tardy." He closes the door and walked along with her as they settled in their seats.

Well dang!

He can read minds too?!

Her face twitched, ready to explode.

"Who are--"

It took every fiber she had, to calm herself down. I 'm gonna strangle this man! If he doesn't keep quiet. While she appreciates being part of the best of both worlds as an Afro Latina. It was easy to fall into the stereotype traps. Both black and Spaniards women are labeled as hot tempered, bitter, and mean as if it is impossible for another race to fall in that category.

"Let's get started, shall we?" Her assistant thankfully came to the rescue stopping the madness. Jacob soothed the situation that was on the edge of escalating by interrupting both Troy Sternberg and Kimberly in order to keep everyone in a good mood and prevent them from saying words that might cause them a lot of regrets.

After collecting herself mentally she breathes in and she sinks into her office chair that was linked with the dark wooden desk that made the room look a bit vintage while Jacob Turner and Mr. Sternberg sat side to side at the extra desk concentrating hard on their work with laptops.

But he's right because If I keep coming late. Everyone will be showing up whenever they feel like it. And I'm not having that nonsense.

She glanced at them, less towards her assistant, but more at the new employee, Troy Sternberg, as took a long sip of her coffee. Mr. Sternberg watched her with ease.

Oh no!

She quickly looks away, not until she gained a light chuckle from the man she was starting at. Might as well drink the whole the coffee, maybe that might aid her on how to deal with the very attractive man that's now working for her. Thinking about the kiss, she looks for an excuse to leave the room.

Oh, what's the matter with me? Why can't I stay in the same room with this man and not act like a school girl?!

"... I will be right back." She told Jacob as if he was the only one in the room.

"No problem, Ms. Austin. I will just work on the PowerPoints while you're gone."

She nodded, grabbing her purse.

Mr. Sternberg gets up also informing Jacob of his whereabouts as if he was the boss. "I will be back as well."

".... Sure." Jacob awkwardly replied, wondering why he was telling him instead of the owner of the company that stood along with him, yet he did not suspect a thing that two individuals were trying to hide. They left the big office going far away from where they cannot be seen.

"You can't keep ignoring me, Kimberly."

She challenged, "Oh yeah? Watch me."

Don't let him walk all over you

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Don't let him walk all over you. Show him who's boss!

Entering in the lunchroom that was completely empty in the result of everyone that had already gotten their breakfast. She took a plate filled it with delicious breakfast.

"Kimberly." He gently gripped her small wrist requiring her to face him. When she did. He did not withdraw from their intense gazes not even for a second as they aim to see through each other's soul.

Say it again.

The way her name escape his lips made her quiver and all of the good tingling feelings. Like the typical butterflies and goose bumps grew like a flower in her body. And she couldn't help but say his name too.

"Troy." She uttered softly, getting caught up in the moment as her brown eyes glued towards his.

Oh crap!

What had gotten into her? She rarely called her employees by their first names. The only employee that she called by that was Jacob because work wise Jacob knew her like an open book. While Mr. Sternberg knew nothing about her other than the company she owned. Which the place he now worked for.

And that's how it should remain. You're the boss, Kimberly. You can't show weakness!

She cleared her throat masking all of the emotions she had a moment ago. "I meant Mr. Sternberg. We don't know each other like that to be going by our first names, okay."

Troy was saddened to see the loving woman that he had just seen was now gone. Because she was back being the boss.

"Fine, Ms. Austin."

"Good, Mr. Sternberg. Now If you'll excuse me, I'm heading back to my office, now." She didn't know whether or not he was gonna try to stop her as he did before. So she stood there and waited as she tries to read his moves.

Mr. Sternberg made room for her to pass by as he followed after her. "I will join you." He added not losing hope.

Kimberly turned around and gazed at him weirdly.

"Why?"

He took the heavy loads of breakfast plates and carried it for her. "Because I need more details of what I will be working on."

"Mr. Turner will take care of that," she does not protest nor decline his good deed, and simply permitted him to be the gentleman he was attempting to be.

"But I want you to take care of it." He impersonated a pouting toddler.

She chuckled, amused by his childlike behavior.

"Well, too bad."

________

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