Matched with my boss

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Daphne

"Those small doubts, those moments of hesitation, were signs that something within me was beginning to change, that maybe I deserved something more."

When I reach my office on the 15th floor, like every morning, the air is filled with that familiar mix of freshly brewed coffee and the hum of keystrokes. The sound has become something I consider part of my routine, as much as the screen that casts a slight blue glow over my desk. I settle into my chair, glance at the papers I left unfinished yesterday, and power on my computer. Before I even start crunching numbers, I hear the faint buzz of my phone vibrating inside my bag. I reach for it, expecting little more than the usual notifications at this hour.

But when I unlock the screen, I see the message. Jake.

"I hope you have a wonderful day, Daphne. And that you smile a lot because that smile of yours can brighten the worst of days."

I can’t help it a smile spreads across my face. It’s automatic. How does he make me feel this way with so little? Just a few words and a winking emoji at the end... damn Jake. He gives me butterflies, even though I know all this is just a bit of light-hearted flirting, nothing serious, just a way to make the day a bit less monotonous.

Even so, I can't ignore that warm feeling in my chest. It’s the kind of message that makes you think of him all day, a little spark that brightens the work shift before it truly begins. With slightly nervous fingers, I reply:

"Thank you, Jake. I'll try to smile a lot today, promise. Hope you have a good day too."

I send the message and exhale. I should focus. The reports won’t write themselves, yet my mind lingers on him a little longer. At least until one of my colleagues, Susan, pops her head over the edge of my cubicle, her eyes shining with curiosity.

"Daphne! Did you hear?" she says, as if the world is about to end. "The new boss is here."

I look up, blinking. New boss? That takes me by surprise, especially since I’d heard rumors days ago, but nothing solid.

"The new boss?" I repeat, trying to bring my focus back to my screen. "I had no idea today was the day."

Susan nods energetically, like a kid sharing the juiciest gossip during recess.

"Yeah, he’s up on the 28th floor right now. There’s a meeting with all the department heads. He’s returned to lead the company."

I sit up a bit straighter, interested despite myself. There’s always something exciting about changes within a company, especially when it involves a new boss. And the fact that he’s part of the founding family, someone who’s been away, makes it even more intriguing, like a story everyone knows but no one knows the ending to.

"Really?" I murmur, glancing toward the hallway door as if I could see up to the 28th floor from my spot. "Well, I guess it’s a big deal for everyone upstairs."

Susan shrugs, a playful smile on her face.

"Sure, but you know how it is, changes eventually affect all of us. I just hope he’s a good guy... although they say he’s quite attractive," she teases, winking.

I chuckle, shaking my head.

"Well, we’ll see. For now, I just hope they don’t dump more work on us."

Susan walks away after a few more comments about the "mysterious boss," and I try to refocus on my reports, but my mind drifts. I wonder what he’ll be like. Not the attractive man they talk about, but the leader. People often change when they have power in their hands, and it’s not always for the better.

My phone buzzes again, and for a second, I hope it’s another message from Jake, one of his little jokes, but it’s just a notification from the internal email app. Yes, I definitely need to concentrate. The numbers start to blur on the screen as I open the spreadsheet.

***

I’m focused on reviewing some reports when I hear footsteps stop right in front of my cubicle. I look up and find Professor Navarro. His figure is imposing, though his smile always brings a sense of calm.

"Good morning, Daphne," he greets me, and I smile back, allowing myself to relax a bit in my chair.

"Good morning, Professor Navarro. How’s everything?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

"Remember, I’m no longer your college professor here. And, everything’s going well, quite interesting, actually," he replies, crossing his arms as he observes the office activity. "The new boss has finally arrived, taking up his new role. I think it’s going to be very positive for the company."

I nod, curious. The new boss has been the topic of the day, and everyone seems to have something to say. However, Navarro’s words carry a certain weight, making them sound more important.

"Yeah, I’ve heard a bit about that," I tell him. "They say he’s the founder’s son, right?"

Navarro nods with an almost nostalgic smile.

"Yes. I’ve known Jacob since he was a child. I’ve always seen great potential in him. He’s a young man with a lot of experience, despite being away for so long. I’m not afraid of the changes he might bring; I know they’ll be for the better."

Jacob. The name resonates in my mind, though it holds no special meaning for me. Just the name of the new boss, someone probably around forty, as Navarro described. Someone who’s lived a lot, someone bringing experience to the game. That’s a good thing, I suppose. Less chance of impulsive decisions that could complicate work for those of us down here.

"That sounds good," I reply, smiling. "I hope everything runs smoothly without too many surprises for us."

Navarro nods and places a hand on my shoulder for a moment, a fatherly gesture.

"I’m sure everything will be fine, Daphne. I trust him, and I trust you all as well. Let’s keep doing our work as usual."

I watch him walk down the hall with his steady, calm stride, and I feel the office atmosphere ease a bit. The tension that comes with a new boss’s arrival can be exhausting, but Professor Navarro’s words seem to calm the entire team. Somehow, if he trusts Jacob, that’s enough for all of us.

As the hours pass, the atmosphere becomes warm and familiar. We lose ourselves in the usual routine: reviewing reports, correcting calculations, sending emails. The hustle of accounting doesn’t stop, but it’s not overwhelming either. The whole team works in harmony, almost without speaking too much, but communicating in that silent way that develops when everyone knows their role well.

When lunchtime arrives, I decide to take a break in the small break room on our floor. Sunlight streams through the windows, filling the space with a golden light that comforts me after a somewhat hectic morning. I pull my phone out of my pocket, hoping for messages from my friends or some other insignificant notification. However, the first thing I see is messages from Jake.

"Today has been a bit rough, something changed here at work," I read on the screen, and I pause, feeling a mix of curiosity and concern. He doesn’t say much more, and for a moment, I wonder if I should ask what happened. But before I can decide, I see another message:

"But I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I wonder if you'd like to go out with me sometime soon."

My heart skips a little beat. At first, excitement fills me, but almost immediately, a series of doubts take over. It's been so long since I’ve been on a date that the idea feels almost out of place. What if I'm not interesting enough? What if it all ends up being awkward? I look at the message and take a deep breath, trying to sort through my thoughts. Somehow, the idea of a date feels terrifying and thrilling at the same time, like opening a door I’m not entirely sure I want to cross.

I decide to text my best friend. She always knows what to say when I feel like this, lost in my own thoughts, and it was her idea to set me up with a dating app account in the first place. I quickly type into the chat:

"Sofia, Jake just asked me out... I don’t know what to do. I’m super nervous; I haven’t gone on a date in ages. What if he doesn’t like me? What if it’s all weird?"

Sofia’s reply comes in no time. I can practically imagine her rolling her eyes as she types:

"Daphne, for God’s sake! Of course, you should say yes. It’s just a date, nothing more. Besides, you deserve to have some fun. Jake sounds like a nice guy, and I know you've been smiling like an i***t every time he texts you. Stop overthinking and enjoy yourself, will you?"

I smile as I read Sofia’s message. Her words have a way of getting to me, of calming me. She’s right, after all. It’s just a date. It doesn’t mean I’m committing my future or making an irreversible decision. It’s simply about spending some time with someone I like, someone who, apparently, likes me back.

I still feel a little insecure, but I try to focus on the positive. I take a deep breath and read Jake's message once more, letting that warm feeling in my chest fill me. Yes, I want to get to know him better. I want to give this a chance, even if it scares me.

Finally, I decide to respond. My fingers glide across the screen as I type:

"Hope your day gets better, Jake. Of course, I’d love to go out with you. Just let me know when and where."

I send the message and lean back in my chair, releasing a sigh filled with emotions. I still feel a bit nervous, but just knowing that Jake wants to see me, that he thinks about me during his day, makes this solitary lunch feel a little less lonely.

As I watch my coworkers come and go in the small break room, I realize that, without noticing, Jake has started to occupy a significant place in my life. I haven’t seen him in person, yet he’s present—even more than some people I see every day. It’s strange, exciting, and a little scary, but I decide not to overthink it.

Finally, when the clock marks the end of my break, I put my phone away and get back to work. There’s still much to be done, but the thought of a possible date makes the rest of the day feel much easier. Navarro passes by our section again, offering everyone a smile before disappearing into his office, and I simply return to my numbers, feeling that, after all, this day hasn’t been so bad.

At the end of the day, I gather my things, shut down my computer, and stretch, letting the tension leave my shoulders. As I head to the elevator, Susan and Tommy call to me from their cubicle.

"Hey, Daphne! Want to grab a drink with us after work?"

I think about it for a moment but then shake my head, smiling.

"Not today, Susan. I think I have something interesting to plan."

Susan gives me a curious look but then smiles knowingly.

"Oh, I see! Well, don’t leave us out; we want all the details afterward."

"Sure, sure," I reply as the elevator doors close in front of me.

The ride to the lobby is quiet, but my mind is filled with thoughts of Jake and of that date we might have. The doors open, and I step out into the bustling city, feeling the fresh wind on my face and smiling, unable to help it.