The Art Of Seducing My Boss

The key turned in the lock with a click that sounded more like a sigh of relief. Alexa pushed the door open to their apartment, greeted by the divine aroma of garlic, onions, and something cheesy. It was a scent that spelled home, a stark contrast to the sterile, lemon scented air of Hankook Tower.

She dumped her purse by the door, kicked off her heels with a groan of pure ecstasy, and padded into the living area in her stockinged feet.“In here, shell of a human!”. Marla’s voice floated from the tiny kitchen, followed by the rhythmic chop-chop-chop of a knife on a cutting board. Alexa found her best friend, a vibrant splash of color in their otherwise beige rental.

Marla, with her fiery red hair tied up in a messy bun and a smudge of tomato sauce on her cheek, was dancing slightly to a silent tune only she could hear as she cooked. She was the human embodiment of a warm hug.

“Rough day at the coal mine, my dear?” Marla asked without turning around, her tone laced with both teasing and deep understanding.

“The tyrant demanded a blood sacrifice, but settled for my soul and my lunch hour,” Alexa mumbled, collapsing onto a stool at the kitchen island. She rested her head on the cool countertop. “I hate him, Marla. I genuinely, truly hate him". Marla finally turned, her green eyes soft with sympathy. She wiped her hands on her apron which read ‘Kiss the Cook, Or Else’ and pushed a glass of red wine across the island towards Alexa.

The usual prescription. Administer immediately. Alexa took the glass and drank a large, unladylike gulp. The wine was cheap and fruity, but in that moment, it was the nectar of the gods.

“He’s a robot, an emotionally stunted, impossibly handsome robot sent from the future to crush my spirit", Alexa hissed.

"Not the ‘impossibly handsome’ part again", Marla sighed, turning back to stir a pot of bubbling pasta sauce. “That’s how you know it’s bad. You only acknowledge his face when he’s been particularly monstrous. It’s a scientific observation", Alexa insisted, her voice muffled by the counter. “Meant to highlight the injustice of it all. Why must evil be so well-packaged?”

After a few more minutes of wallowing, the promise of real food and real company pulled her from her misery. She dragged herself to the bathroom, shedding her constricting work clothes like a snake shedding its skin. A hot shower washed away the grime of the city and the lingering feeling of Philip's judgment. She emerged wrapped in a cloud of steam and her softest, most worn-out cotton pajamas faded flannel pants and an old university sweatshirt.

For the first time all day, she could breathe. Dinner was a chaotic, joyful affair. They ate at the small wooden table crammed into their living room, heaping plates of spaghetti carbonara in front of them.

“So", Marla said, twirling a forkful of pasta. “What’s the damage for the rest of the week? Do you have to go back tonight to shine his shoes?”.

“Worse,” Alexa said, swallowing a mouthful of food. “There’s some stupid, high-brow art gallery event. He was supposed to go, but apparently his RSVP was lost". She made air quotes with her fingers, rolling her eyes. “So now, I have to go. To represent the office". Marla’s eyes, which had been wide with mock concern, now lit up with genuine interest.

“An art gallery? Alexa, that’s a big deal! They have that new immersive exhibit everyone’s talking about! The one with the light installations and the classical music fusion! Of course". Marla, the struggling but brilliant freelance graphic designer, lived and breathed art. It was her passion, her language. While Alexa saw a gallery event as a corporate punishment, Marla saw it as a field trip to paradise.

Alexa looked at her best friend, at the unbridled excitement on her face, and an idea sparked. A way to turn this dreaded obligation into something… tolerable. Maybe even fun.

“You love that stuff, don’t you?” Alexa said, a slow smile spreading across her face.“Uh, only like I love oxygen and pizza", Marla deadpanned.

“Why?” Marla asked. “Well… he just said I had to attend. He didn’t say I had to attend alone". Alexa leaned forward, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. “Marla, do you want to go with me? You can be my… plus-one! My art interpreter! My emotional support human!”

Marla’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious? To the opening? Alexa, that’s black-tie! The tickets are impossible to get!”.

“Perks of being the tyrant’s secretary,” Alexa said with a wry smile. “I have his ticket. And I’m sure I can scrounge up a second one. So, what do you say? Want to crash a stuffy art gallery with me and save me from dying of boredom and social anxiety?”

Marla didn’t need to be asked twice. She let out a small squeal, clapping her hands. “Yes! A thousand times, yes! Oh my god, we have to figure out what to wear! I can do your makeup! This is going to be amazing!”

The rest of the dinner was filled with laughter and a renewed, buzzing energy and corporate takeovers. They finished the bottle of wine, and for the first time all day, Alexa’s laughter was real, unrestrained, and didn’t feel like it was being borrowed from a happier version of herself. As they washed the dishes together, Marla bumped her hip against Alexa’s.

“Hey, Lex? Thanks for this. For thinking of me. You didn’t have to".

Alexa looked at her best friend, her partner in crime against the dreariness of adult life.

“Of course I did. You’re my forever bestie. Who else would I want by my side while I’m secretly representing a multi-billion dollar company under the watchful ​ of my boss who may or may not be an android?”

Marla laughed, and the sound was like music. For tonight, there was just pasta, wine, and the promise of an adventure with her best friend. Alexa looked at Marla, already buzzing with sartorial ideas. “Okay,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Let’s figure out what I’m wearing. This has to be perfect.”

A/N: Yay for best friend goals! What about that mysterious email?! So many threads! Let me know your vote for Alexa’s outfit and your theories in the comments! Don’t forget to add this story to your library!