16

-Maaaaax... he organized a video game evening with his friends and I have to clear the floor. So I decided that sir was going to bite his fingers when he sees us leave. I'm warning you Candice, Saturday night we won't be beautiful or sexy. No, we'll be super mega good. It will make her want to stay with her geeks the next time, she finishes by clicking her tongue.

- Female solidarity, I imagine that I have no right to refuse? Anyway, I really want to go out so count on me!

My best friend lets out a shrill cry that forces me to take my phone away from my ear, then we continue to chat for a few minutes. I do not speak to him of my adventures of this day, I do not know yet what I could say about it. I already don't know what to think...

The prospect of this girls' night does me the greatest good. I know that I will finally be able to release the pressure and have fun like crazy. At this thought, all my muscles that had been tense since this morning relax to offer me relief that I hope will last a long time. I haven't seen Cassiopeia for only a few days but I miss her madness. It's exactly what I need to have a good weekend. I know in advance that she will be able to make me forget my worries and clear my mind.

I'm comfortably settled on my sofa when I receive a group message from Cass inviting all her friends for her crazy evening. The answers are starting to come in and apparently I'm not the only one who's in the mood to party. Leaving the "Messages" application, I come across the last words that Gabriel and I exchanged. He warned me that he would be unreachable this week because he is going on a trip to a construction site in Spain and since he does not want to drag out this trip, he will not count his working hours. So I decide not to bother him with a message and anyway, I don't know what I would have told him.

For the first time since we started chatting, I haven't thought of him all day. I realize that I have absolutely no idea how I really feel about this man who pleasantly distracts me but that I have managed to get out of my mind for the past 24 hours. Again, I realize that my daily life has been completely turned upside down in recent weeks and that all these feelings are getting confused in my mind. Why am I so attracted to my boss? Why do I appreciate my exchanges with Gabriel so much when he is the antithesis of Mr Archer? Will I be able to get him out of my thoughts for good? Why did I manage to completely ignore Gabriel when I can't stop thinking about my boss every minute that passes?

The next day, I arrive at the office a little later than the previous days since Mr Archer left the day before with my file. I turn on my computer around 8:30 am and take care of myself as best I can before Marina arrives. As soon as I spot him digging into what I think is the Dior file, I sneak into his office and offer my help. We are working for the first time in pairs on a single file and I let her guide me.

When we hear commotion in the hallway, we guess it's time for the coffee break and we naturally join the sales team. I wonder when I will be able to get my file back and especially how my boss will behave when he returns it to me. Will I be entitled to salty comments regarding the quality of my work? Will he give me a look? Will I shiver under the heat of his fingers? Stop! Stop! Stop! I try somehow to refocus on the ongoing discussion between Marina and Alexander but nothing works, my thoughts wander unconditionally to the object of my fantasy. I want to meet him as much as avoid him.

On my return, I discover the Royal Beauty file, carelessly placed on my desk and annotated with small post-its. He came to drop it off in my absence and the mere thought that I might not see him today sends a wave of disappointment through me that I shouldn't feel. I swallow all these inappropriate feelings and give Marina a little wave to let her know that I'm going back to work on my file. I begin to detail Mr. Archer's annotations but instead of concentrating on the content, I wander off to study his handwriting.

He chose to write with a black ink pen, which doesn't surprise me at all. His writing is fine, straight and gives the impression of being assured. The words are written without hesitation or erasures. The lines fuse and I easily imagine her beautiful hands sliding on the paper while her pen dances under her fingers. For the first time in my life, I suddenly want to be a pen... Stop! Stop! Stop Candice! I shake my head slightly hoping to dismiss these thoughts and I have to concentrate all my strength to achieve serious work.

The notes from my superior are succinct but constructive and they help me identify areas for improvement. On the last page, I notice a larger post-it stuck in the center with the word “ok. ". I imagine that my work must have satisfied him and that is his way of telling me “good job, keep it up. ". I rejoice at this thought because even if his recent behavior turned my ideas upside down, I don't forget the ultimatum he gave me and especially the tone he used that day, as if he was absolutely convinced that I was going to fail and that he was going to be able to get rid of me.

Emboldened by this renewed confidence, I go up to the third floor to join the creation and development department and we work all day on my file. This brainstorming is absolutely fascinating. I, who have my mind focused on strategy and figures, am discovering a new way of working that combines creation, marketing and innovation. The people who work in these departments are all very friendly and open-minded and at the end of the day, I thank Mr Archer inwardly for wanting to kill me by entrusting me with this file. Thanks to him, I gained self-confidence and I discovered a lot of new avenues that will be very useful to me in my career, I'm sure.

I spend the whole weekend juggling between my office and those located one floor above mine. I see Marina only during lunch breaks during which we quickly discuss our respective files and when Friday afternoon arrives, while I am finalizing my report of the brainstorming sessions that we have carried out, Mrs Saint-Martin at my doorstep. Surprised by his visit, I get up to greet him as a touch of stress begins to overwhelm me. Why does my manager want to talk to me unexpectedly?

-Hello Miss Dumin, I'm disturbing you for a minute. Ethan...uh excuse me, Mr Archer gave me his appreciation for reading your work on the Royal Beauty dossier and apparently you made a strong impression on him. He told me about “quality and promising work”. And I assure you that it is not easy to extract compliments from him...so I just wanted to congratulate you for your involvement and to tell you again that I am delighted to have you on my team.

wow! I did not expect such compliments at all. My cheeks flush slightly and my smile instantly widens.

- Thank you for all these compliments which mean a lot to me. I do my best to succeed in the challenge entrusted to me and such encouragement undeniably boosts me.

-I believe it is important to take the time to say things when they are positive as well as when they are negative. And I know for a fact that it's not Mr. Archer who will take the step of coming to congratulate you, she told me, laughing. He was on the move this weekend but with him, be reassured when he doesn't give you a sign of life!

I sneer, telling myself that I really figured out my boss. I don't expect any less from him anyway and I'm content with his “ok. which motivated me this morning. My manager puts an end to this fortuitous interview by giving me encouragement again and it is with a heart swollen with pride and confidence that I end my week. I suddenly want to share this joy and I think for a moment to call my mother but I change my mind immediately.

She will get me off my cloud in no time at all and will always find something to criticize to bring me down, as she always does. Nothing finds favor in his eyes when it comes to me. I refuse to offer her this pleasure and dial my best friend's number instead. I don't know anyone who knows how to rejoice more in my happiness than Cassiopeia.

I leave the premises while calling him and when I enter the elevator, a wave of nostalgia tries to invade me but I push it away. I refuse to think back to that moment of bewilderment that took place earlier this week. I decided that I had to pull myself together and I intend to implement my good resolutions from now on. When my friend picks up, I don't give her time to answer and tell her:

-Cass, prepare yourself for a crazy evening tomorrow because I intend to celebrate my success with you! I promise you you won't recognize me, you who always blame me for not letting go enough...