My boss, Alexander

The door opens and there standing in the doorway, towering above me, is my boss Alexander. He is wearing a suit, as fresh as the ones he wears to work. I can immediately smell the cologne coming off of him, so it must be my sense of smell being increased as a woman. “Come in,” he says, opening the door wider, allowing me inside.

I walk into the condo, past Alexander who I know has his eyes on my smaller frame. I hear him close the door and follow me as I walk further into the condo. It’s spacious and has a spectacular view of the city skyline, the many artificial lights shining in the darkness.

“That blue dress looks good on you…” he comments, trailing off so I could introduce myself.

“Charlene,” I say, turning around. “I’d like to discuss my father’s raise.”

Alexander offers, “Would you like a drink, to start? I’m thinking that your father sending you here to discuss his raise is rather peculiar.”

“Just a water is fine,” I say to him. “You didn’t really give him a choice in the matter.”

“A real man would flat out refuse than subject his family to such a demand,” he says, which makes my blood boil. I try not to let it show on my facial features. “He could’ve sent someone who wasn’t connected to him. Give him a clear conscience in the act.”

“Well, I’m here now and it was his choice. So, will you honor his choice in sending me?” I respond, trying to get to the heart of the matter.

Alexander plays with the other choices I could’ve made. “He could’ve sent your mother,” he states.

I lie, “Mom died when I was young. So, that choice wasn’t possible.”

“Sorry to hear that,” he gives his condolences.

“Thank you.”

My boss goes over to the cupboard and gets a glass and fills it with ice and pours filtered water into it. “Shall we sit? Here in the living room.” He gestures to a large sofa that is possibly custom-tailored. From afar it looks like a giant, cushioned boomerang, wrapping around a designer coffee table. He allows me to take a seat before giving me the glass of water. I receive it and take a sip.

“Let’s do away with the small talk and trivial matters, Charlene,” Alexander says as he takes a seat next to me. “I’m sure you want to get to business and discuss the terms of your father’s raise.”

“That would be preferable, yes,” I reply.

“Then, let’s make it official,” Alexander says and gets up, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “Give me a moment.” He disappears into a room in his condo. I stay put, not wanting to pry into his private areas. I can hear him preparing something, but I can’t quite make out what the noises could be. After several minutes, he returns with one of those modular tripods, the ones that can be used as a stabilizing handle for a camera. His phone is mounted on the tripod and even a ring light is installed, provided some illumination in the dim lighting in his condo. He places the tripod and phone on the table and on the screen, I’m clearly in frame and in focus. “Whatever we discuss, it will be recorded… for posterity.”

“Alright,” I say, with some nervousness. “What is required of my father, Mr. Alexander?”