Matched with my boss

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Daphne

As soon as the video call ended, I spent a few seconds staring at my phone’s blank screen, processing everything that had just happened. My mind was a bit foggy, and my heart was pounding in my chest. There was something about the way Jake looked at me, in that smile and in every word, that filled my stomach with butterflies. I never thought someone could make me feel this way through a video call, and now I could only imagine what it would be like in person. The words “I can’t wait to see you tonight” kept swirling in my head, and though it made me a little nervous about what it might mean, the excitement was much stronger.

I was lost in these thoughts when I heard a couple of knocks on my cubicle door. I turned and saw Tommy, peeking in with a smile.

“Hey, Daphne, Navarro’s waiting for you in his office. He said it’s urgent,” he announced, in a serious tone, but his eyes held a hint of amusement. He had probably noticed that I’d been staring at my phone.

“Oh, yeah, sure. Thanks, Tommy,” I replied quickly, putting my phone away in the drawer and trying to regain my composure. I stood up, took a deep breath to center myself, and headed to Navarro’s office.

As I walked towards his office, my mind tried to switch gears, though thoughts of Jake lingered. I reached the door and knocked softly before hearing his usual “come in.”

Upon entering, Navarro looked at me with an appreciative expression and gave a slight nod.

“Daphne, thank you for coming so quickly,” he said with that mix of cordiality and authority that had always characterized him. “I need you to send the financial statements to the boss. He was looking for them last night and asked me to pass them on as soon as they’re ready.”

“Oh, yes, of course. I’ll have them ready and sent in about fifteen minutes,” I responded, trying to sound as professional as possible.

Navarro smiled, clearly pleased with my response.

“Excellent, Daphne. I appreciate your speed and dedication. Now get back to work, and have a good day.”

I returned his smile and left his office, feeling a strange mixture of nerves and pride. I knew the financial reports were important, especially since this was the first direct request from the boss. I walked back to my desk and, once seated, started organizing all the documents. Most of the analysis was already done; I just needed to review it, make sure every detail was in order, and prepare a clear, precise summary.

As I adjusted the final details, my mind occasionally drifted to the night ahead. The anticipation of the date with Jake made me smile involuntarily. If that morning’s call had left me spellbound, I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to see him in person, to have him in front of me, to hear his voice without a screen between us. His words, that line about “you’d look incredibly beautiful in anything,” kept echoing in my head. It had been such a simple, yet charming gesture, and just thinking about it made my heart race.

I shook my head and refocused on my work. I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes on these documents, especially since they were going directly to the head of the company. I checked every number, every decimal point, until I was sure everything was perfect. After a few minutes of concentration, I finally had everything ready. I double-checked that the file was complete and attached it to an email.

I typed a formal message:

“Dear Mr. Sidle,

Please find attached the requested financial analysis. I am available for any additional queries.”

I quickly reread the message, trying to sound professional without being overly formal. Still, I didn’t want any hint of nervousness to come through. I signed the email:

“Accounting Assistant, D.”

My heart raced as I pressed the “send” button. That’s when I realized my mistake. Nerves had made me forget to sign my full name! How embarrassing! I stared at the screen in disbelief. I only had one job, and I’d messed it up. I wanted to stand out to the boss, but signing only as “D” wasn’t exactly a good look.

How stupid.

“Daphne,” I corrected myself aloud, as if my computer could hear me and fix the error automatically. A blush of embarrassment washed over me. There was no going back now; the email was already in the outbox, and the boss would receive it as is. I closed my eyes for a second and let out a sigh, hoping that this small mistake would go unnoticed and not leave a bad impression.

Some time passed after I sent the financial analysis, and I tried to focus on other tasks, though I couldn’t help mentally going over the email I had sent and the ridiculous mistake of signing my own name wrong. I tried to convince myself it would be a minor detail, something that wouldn’t affect my image, but the blush of embarrassment lingered on my cheeks.

Just as I was beginning to calm down, a new email arrived in my inbox. I opened it immediately when I saw the sender: Jacob Sidle.

D,

Thank you for the analysis. I will review it and let you know if I find any comments or adjustments that need to be made. I appreciate your promptness and efficiency.

Best regards,

Jacob Sidle.

I felt a little jolt in my stomach. Had he noticed the error in my signature and, out of courtesy, decided to reply in the same way? I bit my lip, feeling a bit foolish. It was absurd that something as small as a typo affected me so much, but the perfectionist in me couldn’t let it go. I knew I had to be professional, and though he hadn’t said anything about it, the simple fact that he’d replied with “D” made me feel as if I had committed a significant misstep.

I tried to shake off that feeling and continued reviewing some accounts. I couldn’t let this distract me further, especially because I had other reports due next week, and the more I accomplished today, the easier my work would be later. But now and then, my mind drifted back to that night’s upcoming date.

Jake hadn’t written for the rest of the day, and I hadn’t had the courage to send him any message, either. My chest was filled with a mix of nerves and excitement, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking of me as much as I was thinking of him. Suddenly, I remembered that he had asked for my address so he could pick me up. I had been so distracted that I’d completely forgotten!

“Hi, Jake. Here’s my home address: 876 Park Avenue, apartment 7B.”

With my last task of the day completed and my message sent to Jake, I decided it was a good time to leave the office early. Thankfully, I had finished my work, and there was no reason to stay any longer. I was grateful that there weren’t too many people in the hallway as I headed towards the exit; I didn’t want anyone noticing my smile or slightly blushing cheeks—I was entirely thrilled about the night ahead.

When I got home, I dropped my bag on the couch and let the silence of the apartment envelop me. I kicked off my shoes and took a deep breath, allowing the feeling of being home to relax me. I had to prepare for the date, and I wanted to look perfect for Jake. He hadn’t implied it, but something inside me wanted this first in-person impression to be unforgettable.

I headed to the bathroom, took a shower where I made sure to shave all over, then took a moment to decide how I wanted to look tonight. I started by choosing my outfit. I opened my closet and ran my hand over several options, but none seemed quite right for the occasion. Finally, my eyes landed on a burgundy dress I had bought a while back. It was simple, yet had a special touch that made me feel confident and elegant. It was midi-length, fitted at the waist, with a V-neckline that was subtle enough not to be too revealing but attractive enough to draw attention.

With the dress chosen, I hung it on the closet door and set out to prepare my makeup. I wanted a look that would enhance my features but still appear natural, something that would blend with the soft night lighting and the intimate atmosphere Jake had mentioned for our date. I started by applying a light foundation, just enough to even out my skin tone, then added a bit of blush on my cheeks to give me a healthy glow. I opted for a subtle eyeliner, just a soft line to accentuate my lashes, and applied several layers of mascara to give them volume and length. Finally, I chose a nude lipstick, something that looked natural yet elegant.

Seeing myself in the mirror, I felt satisfied. It wasn’t a flashy makeup look, but it reflected my style. I looked like myself, but the best version. I then moved on to my hair. I’d thought of leaving it down, but I decided I wanted something a bit more special. I pulled my hair into a low, slightly messy bun, leaving a few loose strands at the sides. The result was a romantic, simple hairstyle that felt just right for the occasion. It reminded me of how Jake had seen me on the video call, and I remembered how he had looked at me when I wore it that way.

I went back to the bedroom and finally slipped into the dress. I looked at myself in the full-length mirror, adjusting the neckline and smoothing the fabric to make sure it fit perfectly. Shoes were the last choice. I opted for black heels, discreet yet elegant, giving the final touch to the ensemble without taking attention away from the dress.

Finally, all ready with the last touches of perfume and lip gloss, I looked at myself one last time in the mirror. This was me, prepared for the date I had been looking forward to all day.

I walked over to the sofa and sat down, trying to calm my nerves as I checked the time on my phone. Just a few minutes remained before he’d arrive, and I knew he could be here any moment. I took a deep breath, trying to convince myself that everything would go well. But just then, the phone vibrated in my hands with a new message.

I opened it, and when I saw his name on the screen, I felt my heart skip a beat.

Jake: "I'm downstairs. Whenever you're ready, I’ll be here waiting."

The message was simple, but it felt as if an entire zoo filled my stomach in that instant. All the butterflies and nerves I’d tried to keep at bay all day suddenly stirred. Jake was here! I was about to meet him in person, and everything felt incredibly real and exciting.

I stood up, gave myself a quick look in the mirror one last time, and took a breath. I was ready. With a mix of nerves and excitement, I walked toward the door to go meet Jake, feeling that, as I went down the stairs, I was about to step into an entirely new world.