Page 6 of The Office Guest
“I think you and I have spoken enough for one day, sir.”
His lips curve into a smile.
“Do you need to speak with me about anything, Mr. Reiss?” Mindy clears her throat from the hallway.
“No, Miss Sterling. I don’t have any issues with you.”
“Okay, great!” She smiles and saunters off as if his approval can be put in the bank.
Mr. Reiss waits until the elevator pings before turning his attention to me.
“I’m shocked my car hasn’t experienced a flat tire on any day this week,” he says.
“Me too.”
“There wasn’t a stranger rapping outside my office about how much he hates me either.”
“I guess he’s having issues communicating with his scheduler.”
“Oh, I’m suresheis.” He smirks. “Anyway, Human Resources told me that you’ve requested to go home for Christmas. Something about introducing a boyfriend to your family?”
“No, that’s not it.” I can’t believe I told them the truth. “It’s because someone I know passed away. I need to pay my respect.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He furrows his brow. “Who was it?”
“You don’t know her.”
“Tell me, please.”
“She’s the person I used to be,” I say.
“What?”
“She seems to have lost her mind and her way, so I need to go home and mourn her properly. Hopefully, it’s not too late for her to come back to life.”
“Please send her my deepest condolences.” He smiles. “Unfortunately, I’m not approving your request on such short notice.”
“Two months in advance isshort notice?”
“It is for something trivial as a boyfriend introduction,” he says. “I’ll consider letting you go home for New Year’s, though.”
“You let Mindy take off for Easter because she wanted to pet some bunnies in the park.”
“That was her first time requesting off in five years.”
“That’s…tragic. But, that’s still unfair and I have every reason to get an approved week off from this place.”
“You haven’t been dating Dante long enough for him to meet your family.”
“Excuse me?”
“You met him four months after you started working under me.”
“And?”
“That’s not long enough.”
“Thanks,Dad.” I roll my eyes. “Didn’t I update your calendar with a holiday vacation for you and your girlfriend, Amy, yesterday?”