Well Done

"Okay," he muttered with a longing glance toward the time clock.

"Have a seat," she instructed as she closed the door to her small office.

Dan looked around the neat and tidy workspace as he sat in one of the dented plastic chairs in front of a slanted wooden table with two books holding up one corner leg. Pictures of Ms. Carmen decorated the shelves behind her desk.

"I was impressed with your professionalism earlier," his boss remarked as she sat in the only new item in the room. Her leather chair creaked a little as she leaned back.

Dan studied the brunette woman in front of him. He'd worked with her before, mostly in the mornings, and respected her to some degree. She expected only what she'd do herself from all of her employees. The rumor mill around the breakroom was that Ms. Carmen had a mean streak as wide as the English Channel if you made her angry.

"Thank you, ma'am," he got out after a moment.

Ms. Carmen's petite chest rose and fell as she stared at him in silence for a time. Dan tried to not shift in his chair too much. She finally asked, "how would you like to become a leader?"

"Um, what?"

A small smile stretched across Ms. Carmen narrow face. "Would you be interested in moving up? I've been keeping an eye on you for some time. You've been late once in the last year you've worked for us. That was to go to your mother's doctor's appointment. You told us about it and we accidentally scheduled you to work. That being said, you still came into work. While you're here, you work hard and keep your head down. That means something to someone in my position. Don't answer me now, but think on it," she finished with a wider smile.

"Thank you, ma'am," Dan said, slightly stunned. He just came in and did his job. He wasn't looking to get promoted.

"Again, good work today. I'll try not to keep you too long. I know Customer Service isn't where you like to work, but sometimes I need someone who won't freak out on customers who are more annoying than normal."

"Ah, no problem."

"I'll keep you away from Customer Service for a bit. Unless I don't have a choice. Now, why did you laugh when that harlot called me an imported wench?"

Dan tried not to laugh and kept his face as neutral as he could. Something still slipped through.

"There's that expression again. Why?" Ms. Carmen demanded.

"I just think of a Ferrari or something whenever I hear the word import. Sorry, ma'am, but hearing her call you an import is just... amusing?" he tempered.

Ms. Carmen stared at him for a moment before rising from her chair. She moved around to the front of the desk and leaned against the edge without using the desk to hold up her bodyweight. Her pencil skirt was almost in Dan's face as he leaned back in his chair. The plastic groaned under him.

"I am not a Ferrari," she said in her clipped British accent. "I would be an Aston Martin," she quipped with a smirk. "Now, get up and go clock out. We're not paying you to sit around staring at your boss."

Dan realized he was staring at his boss. It was the first time she'd been this close to him and he realized how attractive she was. "Right," he muttered as he rose. "Thank you again," he said as he tried to get to the door.

Ms. Carmen place a hand on his arm and squeezed gently. "I was kidding," she laughed. "You do need to clock out, but consider my offer. You work when? Tomorrow?"

"The next day, ma'am."

"I just need an answer by the middle of next week, okay?"

"Thank you," Dan said again and headed for the door.