Free My White Boss by Aaliyah Jackson Page B

outside and upstairs to my office.
    Once I finally sat down on my desk, I leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief. Whether or not I would be fired, at least that was over. I tried to focus on work for the rest of the day, but I couldn’t help but look at the clock every ten minutes. Occasionally I would see a co-worker who was in the café walk by, and I would duck my head and act busy, praying they wouldn’t say anything to me. The day dragged on for what seemed like forever, but eventually it was five minutes before my meeting with Maxwell and I stood up to walk to the elevator, feeling nervous as I desperately tried to rehearse what I was going to say in my head.
    As I approached his office, I paused hesitantly. Raising my hand up high, I listened for any sounds before knocking. His voice boomed loudly through the door, inviting me in with the dominant attitude he always had.
    As I opened the door I inhaled deeply. This was my first time in his office, and I wasn’t expecting it to be as lavish as it was. He had glass walls the entire way around his corner office, showing a stunning view of the city. I quickly drew my attention back to him as he stared at me from behind his desk, adjusting his suit cuffs the same way he did before the fight.
    Straight away, I rushed forward to apologize.
    “I’m so, so, so sorry. I tried my best to stop him from coming but he did anyway, it’s just that he’s a part of my past not a part of who I am now…”
    He stopped me from finishing my apology with a raised hand.
    “There’s no need to keep apologizing.” He said. I looked down at the floor, waiting for him to tell me to leave the building.
    He paused.
    “There’s no need to keep apologizing, because I understand completely. I saw the way he talked to you, and I know a smart woman like you wouldn’t be with a man like that unless it was an old mistake. Let me guess, high school sweethearts?”
    I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, but I was so glad I was hearing it.
    “Yes. We’ve been together on and off since high school but while I tried to move on with my life, he was stuck in his ways and holding me back. When I got a job here I finally worked up the courage to take him aside and tell him that I was finished – for good. He didn’t take it too well.”
    Maxwell leaned back in his seat and laughed. “Well, I think that’s obvious, but to be honest I can’t blame him. A woman like you only comes by once in a while.”
    I couldn’t help but smile at his words. I could feel my excitement mounting as I talked to him properly for the first time, after admiring him from afar for the past few weeks.
    “You don’t need to lie…” I replied playfully, trying to lighten the mood. His expression remained serious.
    “I’m not lying, Tanya. You should never let a man – if you could call him a man – talk to you like that. You’re an intelligent woman, not to mention beautiful. I mean your face, your beautiful black skin, your…” His voice trailed off, and I was suddenly aware of his eyes roaming my body. I felt my heart rate pick up and it seemed like I had forgotten how to breathe.
    He stood up suddenly, walking fast around the desk towards the wall where he grabbed his coat off of the rack.
    “You know what? I think it’s time we went out for a few drinks. Throughout the day we hardly say a word to each other, and it’s obvious I’m not aware enough about what’s going on in your life. Even though I’m your boss, you don’t need to be shy around me. If you had just explained the situation to me, there wouldn’t have been an issue since I could have simply shown a picture of him to the security guards and they wouldn’t have let him anywhere near the building. You need to trust me, Tanya.”
    He stepped forward and grabbed me by the hand. I could feel shivers running down my spine as he held my hand in his and smiled at me. He seemed to radiate power, and something about him made me feel