Read Online BWWM Interracial Romance 1: Professional Relations by Elena Brown - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elena Brown
Tags: United States, Romance, Literature & Fiction, Women's Fiction, African American, Two Hours or More (65-100 Pages)
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drunk.” Regina chuckled as Rebecka rolled her eyes, interjecting that the real reason she had sprained her ankle was because of a loose piece of curb.
Regina’s unease began to abate with her first drink, and she found that her coworkers were actually interesting people in their own right—not just personalities she encountered in the office, but people with senses of humor, with interests that she would never have guessed. Regina noticed that Bradley wasn’t among them and didn’t quite ask, though it was on her mind over and over again to do so. If he didn’t like going out, that was his right, Regina thought. She decided to be grateful that he had decided not to come; she would feel even more awkward if he was there.
By the end of the evening, Regina had forged something of a rapport with her colleagues, telling them jokes that Abigail had taught her, and letting them lead her into talking about her interest in music. She talked about the time that she had been given an opportunity to design cover artwork for one of her favorite groups—but that she had been bilked of her pay for it, and couldn’t stand to listen to the album in question ever since. The others shared their stories of projects gone poorly, and Regina laughed and groaned along with them at the trials and tribulations of being a working designer.
She managed to sober up just enough to be able to get home safely, waving cheerily to her coworkers as she made her way carefully to her car in the dark. Regina thought as she drove home that as long as she didn’t find herself fired due to the efforts of whoever was sabotaging her, she could almost be thankful; she wouldn’t have had the impulse to socialize with her colleagues without the need to get to the bottom of her dilemma.
Apologies
Regina sat at her desk, trying to decide whether she could conceivably accomplish anything else or if it would be more worthwhile to go home. Since she had started socializing with her coworkers more, she had also worked even harder than she had when she came into the new position, documenting her time and putting in extra hours. She came in early; she left late; except on Fridays, she was a slave to the projects her team was working on.
She had been avoiding Bradley the entire time, as well. For over a month since Talitha had given her the news about the poison that was circulating about her in the ranks of the upper management, she had taken to only speaking with him officially, not even paying attention to his attempts at small talk. She emailed him after every meeting, confirming the minute discussions that they had; she dodged any questions he asked about her personally. In truth, she didn’t know what to think of him. If he was the one behind the bad feeling that was developing about her, she didn’t want anything to do with him—she didn’t even want to have to share the responsibility of the project. If he wasn’t behind it… Regina reminded herself, over and over again, that it was a bad idea to get involved with a coworker anyway.
She was startled out of her thoughts by a knock at her door. Regina frowned, staring and trying to think of who could possibly be in the office at such a late hour; deciding that it must be one of the janitors, she called out for the person to come in, bending over to retrieve her waste basket from underneath her desk. She had come to appreciate the night crew who cleaned the office during her late evenings trapped at her desk. They were all kind and considerate—even those whose grasp of English wasn’t very strong.
Instead of a janitor however, Bradley came into her office, a small box in his hands and his expression troubled. He closed the door behind him. “Regina,” he said, sitting down across from her and putting the box on her desk, “Whatever I’ve done to upset you, I’m sorry.”
Regina looked at him with surprise, sitting up and trying to dispel the surprise she felt at his sudden appearance.
Regina’s unease began to abate with her first drink, and she found that her coworkers were actually interesting people in their own right—not just personalities she encountered in the office, but people with senses of humor, with interests that she would never have guessed. Regina noticed that Bradley wasn’t among them and didn’t quite ask, though it was on her mind over and over again to do so. If he didn’t like going out, that was his right, Regina thought. She decided to be grateful that he had decided not to come; she would feel even more awkward if he was there.
By the end of the evening, Regina had forged something of a rapport with her colleagues, telling them jokes that Abigail had taught her, and letting them lead her into talking about her interest in music. She talked about the time that she had been given an opportunity to design cover artwork for one of her favorite groups—but that she had been bilked of her pay for it, and couldn’t stand to listen to the album in question ever since. The others shared their stories of projects gone poorly, and Regina laughed and groaned along with them at the trials and tribulations of being a working designer.
She managed to sober up just enough to be able to get home safely, waving cheerily to her coworkers as she made her way carefully to her car in the dark. Regina thought as she drove home that as long as she didn’t find herself fired due to the efforts of whoever was sabotaging her, she could almost be thankful; she wouldn’t have had the impulse to socialize with her colleagues without the need to get to the bottom of her dilemma.
Apologies
Regina sat at her desk, trying to decide whether she could conceivably accomplish anything else or if it would be more worthwhile to go home. Since she had started socializing with her coworkers more, she had also worked even harder than she had when she came into the new position, documenting her time and putting in extra hours. She came in early; she left late; except on Fridays, she was a slave to the projects her team was working on.
She had been avoiding Bradley the entire time, as well. For over a month since Talitha had given her the news about the poison that was circulating about her in the ranks of the upper management, she had taken to only speaking with him officially, not even paying attention to his attempts at small talk. She emailed him after every meeting, confirming the minute discussions that they had; she dodged any questions he asked about her personally. In truth, she didn’t know what to think of him. If he was the one behind the bad feeling that was developing about her, she didn’t want anything to do with him—she didn’t even want to have to share the responsibility of the project. If he wasn’t behind it… Regina reminded herself, over and over again, that it was a bad idea to get involved with a coworker anyway.
She was startled out of her thoughts by a knock at her door. Regina frowned, staring and trying to think of who could possibly be in the office at such a late hour; deciding that it must be one of the janitors, she called out for the person to come in, bending over to retrieve her waste basket from underneath her desk. She had come to appreciate the night crew who cleaned the office during her late evenings trapped at her desk. They were all kind and considerate—even those whose grasp of English wasn’t very strong.
Instead of a janitor however, Bradley came into her office, a small box in his hands and his expression troubled. He closed the door behind him. “Regina,” he said, sitting down across from her and putting the box on her desk, “Whatever I’ve done to upset you, I’m sorry.”
Regina looked at him with surprise, sitting up and trying to dispel the surprise she felt at his sudden appearance.
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