My Tyrant Boss Was My Roommate

My supervisor ambushed me during the all-hands meeting.

My face was plastered on the giant screen for the entire company to see.

The charge? "Poor work attitude."

She demanded an explanation. Right now.

A digital witch hunt. In front of 500 people.

Just as I was scrambling for words, my boss’s face leaned into my camera's view.

“So,” he drawled, “what’s the issue here?”

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1

“Attention, all residents. This is an emergency announcement. Due to a severe blizzard, all roads in and out of the community are now closed. Please remain indoors. Do not attempt to travel. I repeat…”

The automated voice droned on as I stood frozen before my boss Alexander Kane’s front door. After a long moment of hesitation, I finally worked up the nerve to ring the bell.

The door swung open to reveal Alexander in a plush bathrobe, impatience etched on his handsome face. “What is it now?”

I’d already dragged him out of the shower an hour ago for a document signature. Now, I was about to invade his personal time for a second round.

My eyes darted to the chiseled lines of his chest peeking from the gap in his robe. I swallowed hard. “Uh, Mr. Kane,” I stammered, “the community just announced a total lockdown. The blizzard. No one can get in or out.”

Alexander raised a perfect eyebrow. “And?”

I forced a brittle smile. “Well, Mr. Kane, I was wondering… if I could possibly crash here for a few days?”

The only hotel recommended by the management of this ultra-luxe community, Windsor Estates, charged an astronomical nightly rate that would bankrupt me.

Sure, being near Alexander was nerve-wracking, but when weighed against a crippling hotel bill, even his icy scowl started to look downright welcoming.

“No.”

His refusal was flat and cold as he moved to shut the door in my face.

My hand shot out, clamping onto the doorknob. “You can’t just leave me out here!” I pleaded, my voice cracking. “I dedicate my life to this company! You can’t just abandon me in a blizzard—”

Just then, a neighbor out walking a small, yapping dog happened to pass by. He couldn’t resist chiming in, “Hey, young man, you need to take some responsibility! Don’t leave the poor girl out in the cold!”

Through the narrow gap I was desperately holding open, I saw a flicker of profound annoyance cross Alexander’s face.

Perhaps unwilling to endure the neighbor’s public shaming, he finally sighed and pulled the door open, letting me in.

I perched on the edge of the living room sofa. Alexander, now in sweats and a t-shirt, sat across from me, his entire posture radiating disapproval.

“You can stay,” he said, his expression still grim. “But not for free.”

“My usual housekeeper is also snowed in.”

“From now on, you’re handling all the cooking and cleaning.”

I nodded eagerly, relieved. “Okay, no problem! You can count on me!”