Chapter 1
Sam traced the cold surface of her black mug. The coffee in it long gone, but its brown traces remained like a reminder of the work her team must submit before the end of the week.
She breathed out. The cold air touching her skin should've made her feel at ease, comfortable even yet she felt suffocated. She gently massaged her temple as she resumed with her task.
It was already 11:30 in the evening, and she began drafting the to-dos she'll pass on her team to work on first thing tomorrow, so they could catch up and her Managers would stop choking her with deadlines.
When she finished, she stayed for a bit opening her phone and automatically went to Instagram, checking if her ig/tiktok crush have uploaded anything. Sure enough, she saw the girl's profile picture highlighted with gradient instagram color, she posted a story.
A sigh escaped her lips, the simple story painting a weary smile on her face, as if it could absorb all the day's stress.
She tapped on the girl's picture to see the story. It was a question - 'what's on your mind?'.
Sam's brows arched. A slow, private smile tugged . Her smile widening and her dimples showing, painting a charming beam as she replied a flirty, yet classy - 'you, actually.' Chuckling to herself as she rose from her office chair calling it a day. She put her dark grey coat on, a stark contrast to her white tshirt underneath, then jiggled her keys as she exited her office.
Once she reached her old white Suzuki Samurai car, she immediately opened her Instagram to check if her happy crush had responded. Sure enough, there is a subtly flirty response - 'hmm, maybe that's the reason why I am so tired lately'
Sam let out a hearty chuckle as she tapped on the heart button. She started her car, and began her drive to her apartment.
Her hearty laugh was replaced by a wide contented smile. Having someone to crush on is a breath of fresh air in her mundane world. The loud engine of her car filled her ears, she rolled down the window and allowed the air to touch her face, her hair flowing softly, she switched the radio on, fiddling with the cheap FM Transmitter plugged into the dash until the static gave way to to the familiar intro of Twice's Moonlight Sunrise. A small cheer escaped her lips.
She's been living alone as soon as she got a job in the city, and she is thankful that she was able to climb up the corporate ladder faster than anyone else that she was able to afford her own place, a modest one but she does not need something lavish to live on to, she needs something that does its job. Just like this vintage Suzuki samurai car, a hand-me-down from her father.
She arrived at her studio-type apartment a few minutes later. Nicole, her neighbor and best friend, was waiting by the door, "Hey you're late." She feigned annoyance, while carrying the black Tuxedo cat, Sam owns.
"I'm so sorry, Nics. I'll make it up to you, extra pay, I promise," Sam said apologetically, as she took her black Dr. Marten's shoes off.
"It's fine, don't worry about it." Nicole smiled. Two years younger than Sam, Nicole taught high school at the international school across the street.
"You sure?" Sam asked, putting her shoes inside the dark oak shoe rack behind the door.
"Yeah, Timmy has been a good boy." The younger girl remarked kissing the cat's head, before handing it to Sam.
The cat purred softly as he rubbed his head on his owner's chin.
"Aw, you've been a good boy?" Sam cooed, rocking the cat softly before handing him back for one last cuddle with her friend, "I know you're exhausted, Ms. High school Teacher." She uttered in a high pitch tone, while she softly wiggled Timmy's paw.
Nicole, who lived just down the hall, brushed the exhaustion off with a small smiled. "Anyway, I'll head home now. I still have a 9am class tomorrow. Don't worry about the money, I already stole a bag of your good coffee beans, consider that as your extra pay for the evening."
Sam simply smiled at the comment, "You can sleepover if you want." She offered instead, taking a mental note to buy more of that coffee bean as Nicole seems to like it so much.
"Yeah... next time." Nicole stated with a tired voice.
"Well, okay. Thanks, Nicks. I owe you a lot." Sam stated genuinely grateful for her friend.
"Ah." Nicole rolled her eyes, as to hide the shyness that is bubbling under her stomach. "Im already inlove with Timmy, and I love spending time with him." She said, as she put on her flipflops, before turning back to Sam. "Plus I get to watch tons of movies in your netflix, so... it's a big win for me." The younger girl shrugged as she beamed.
"Okay." Sam chuckled.
Sam's work schedule starts at 12 noon, and Nicole comes to hangout with Timmy at 6 in the evening. So the pet is pretty much alone between 12PM until 6PM, but Sam monitors him through her CCTV, and leaves him with enough food and water before Nicole comes.
"Goodnight, Nics. Thanks again." Sam stated as the girl gave her a one sided hug.
"Nighty, Night, Sammy." The younger girl singsonged, which made Sam giggle.
Once the door clicked closed, Sam put down Timmy whom quickly went to his food bowl, knowing exactly what would happen next - Treat time!
Cooing the cat, Sam grabbed her cat's favorite treat inside her coat, a bag of PureBites chicken!
The cat delightfully rubbed Sam's shin before he proceeded to devouring his treat. She gently pats the cat's head, before leaving him to his meal.
She proceeded to her bedroom, painted with dark grey notes, and accentuated by the dark brown furnitures, looking clean as ever. This is Sam's definition of calm.
Discarding her work clothes, she stepped inside the bathroom to wash all the day's stress away.
Once done, Sam wrapped herself in her black bathrobe. The soft meows of her cat can be heard from the other side of the door, which made her chuckle as she twisted the towel up her hair, and opened her bedroom door for her cute, tuxedo cat.
"Hello there, mister." She greeted as the cat meows back, while marching towards the bed. "I know it's bedtime, sorry mommy took too long at the shower." Sam cooed as she picked up the cat and laid him down on the bed beside her, purring loudly Timmy settled on the small soft white bed.
Sam stared at her cat for a couple seconds, admiring its shiny black coat, and the way it looks like a cute gentleman in his tuxedo pattern. She gently rubbed the cat's forehead by her finger, before she began her skincare routine, which is pretty much just some cleanser and moisturizer. Once done, she was ready to call it a day and laid beside her beloved cat, Timmy.
-
Madison Beer's bittersweet plays softly as the sun's morning rays travel across Cyrill's bedroom.
The girl, 22 years of age, just got accepted on her first project. Ecstatic, nervous, yet purely overjoyed, she tapped her lower lip to set her cherry colored lipstick.
Cyrill breathe out as she flashed a smile at the mirror, "You got this, you got this, you got this." She uttered, raising her fists affirming herself that everything will be okay.
Actually, she's nervous about her boss, she met their Team Leaders, and Managers at work but her actual Boss? Not yet, they said the woman's name was Samantha Denise Lopez, strict, extremely career-oriented, efficient, and she wants her people to be efficient too, and as someone new in the workfield, Cyrill knew she's got the right qualities, unless she wouldn't get the job, but she's extremely intimidated when it comes to female bosses, those who exudes alpha female aura, those who knows what they want, how they want, and how to get what they want.
She does not know why, but she could automatically relate the correlation to her being attracted to these kinds of women... because she's just a baby lesbian whose type are these strong independent women.
Cyrill gulped. Gosh, she haven't even met her boss, yet here she is thinking if she'll have those BossXEmployee stories you read on wattpad.
'Can my gay ass calm down for a second?' She thought, shaking her head as she grabbed her bag, then checking her phone.
Her brows raised as she noticed a notification from instagram, it's a message. She tilts her head, contemplating if she'll open it. The username is kind of familiar, _samlovespenguins007.
Cyrill furrowed her brow, thinking where she saw the username. Without accepting the message she navigated to search, as she exited her bedroom. She typed in the username and saw the familiar profile picture, a picture of a cute tuxedo cat.
Her lips automatically curved in a smile, yeah she does remember her. Who wouldn't? This person is commenting cute, flirty, sweet nothings, in her tiktok, and instagram. She stood out because of her witty, and respectful remarks, that Cyrill likes, she's also intrigued by the person's myteriousness... actually for three months the person has been consistent, that Cyrill thinks the person do really have a crush on her, and sometimes she wonders how does this person look like.
Feeling a sense of familiarity, Cyrill opened the message. It read 'Good morning, pretty. I'm sorry I might come off as a creep who keeps chatting you like this, but I am really not, I promise hehe. I just want to say Good morning, and may you have a great day, ahead!'
The message made Cyrill chuckle, and strangely energized for the day, she chose not to reply, but sent a heart reaction towards the cute stranger. This is the first time in months that she reacted to that person's message. Probably because she's in a good mood?
"Cy, it is your first day at that project of yours and you're already glued to your phone? Hurry, it's already 7:30!" Her father called.
Cyrill's breath hitched when she realized the time. She quickly made her way down the living room, greeting her mother and father at the kitchen, bidding them goodbye, then she proceeded to kiss her cat, Snowy, who has white big fur, and a grumpy expression, maybe because she's already a senior cat, but still, Cyrill loves her the most.
"Bye mama, papa. See you later." Cyrill waved as she rushed out, her mother was about to invite her to grab a quick breakfast but the girl had stormed out of the house already.
-
Sam almost spat out her coffee when she received the notification that _cy_g reacted to her message.
She wanted to reply, she wanted to tell her that that simple heart reaction is enough to brighten her routinely-boring day.
But she held herself back. In a way, she don't want to appear overly excited and creepy, yet it was so tempting.
"Timmy, timmy, look!" She exclaimed as she dropped to her knees to show her phone to her cat who's busily eating his breakfast and could not careless about a dm from instagram.
"You're going to have a new mommy!" She singsoned, jumping up and down her small apartment, until she dropped at the soft black couch.
She opened the message again, and savour the feeling of getting a reaction from her intagram crush, her pretty, adorable, instagram crush.
With a big smile plastered across her face, she tapped on the girl's story. Eyes wideing at the caption, 'first day at the project, wish me luck.' Paired with a mirror selfie.
Cyrill looked divine in the white ensemble, and Sam just wished the girl works at their company so she'll get a chance to see that pretty face everyday.
Obviously, she liked the story and was about to send the girl another encouraging message, when she heard a knock from her door. Sam groaned internally as she almost forcefully get the door, knowing exactly who it was.
"What's that look kn your face?" Nicole noted as soon as Sam openes the door.
"I was about to send the most crucial message of my life." Sam replied dramatically, but Nicole just shrugged.
"You'll send her a dm again? Sam, just go find some girl in real life." Nicole chuckled as she greeted Timmy with a head scratch, which the cat clearly loved.
"But I like her, she's the one I want." Sam whined.
"You're deluded by the illusion of her." Nicole countered with a laugh, before handing her a homecooked caldereta, "Here, I cooked more than I need."
Sam's eyes sparked at the food, "Thanks, Nics! You know this is my favorite." Nicole cooks one of the best caldereta Sam have ever tasted, if she have to rank it, it could be number two, since her mom's will always be number one.
"I know." The girl smiled softly, before clearing her throat and changing her stance back to being the tough bestfriend, "Anyway, I got to go now." Nicole said fixing her bag, "See you later."
"Yeah, have a nice day at work." Sam replied
"And you be a good boss, Sammy." The younger woman joked, while Sam just laughed.
"Timmy, bye. See you later, handsome," Nicole cooed, eyeing the tuxedo cat who is now sitting just beside Sam, and offered a high-pitched meow which caused the women to laugh.
"Bye, thanks again for the caldereta. I'll bring this at work," Sam stated before closing the door.
-
Big revolving doors greeted Cyrill as she entered the 40-story, sleek, corporate building. It isn't her first time here, she had finished her one month training, before she got deployed to this project wherein she haven't met her actual boss yet. But still, this building never fails to intimidate her.
She tapped her badge, and quickly made her way towards the elevator, pressing the number 17. She glanced at her reflection, eyeing if she look 'okay' or 'neat' enough to meet her boss.
She ran her hand through her thick auburn hair, making sure there's no tangles left. She fixed her posture, and stood tall, showing off her 5'6" stance. Her white pencil skirt neatly matches her cream white coat, and white polo. She twirld slightly, and once satisfied, she settled at the corner of the elevator, waiting as the numbers went up.
15
Cyrill's thoughts remain on how will she greet her Boss, should she say 'hi?' Ofcourse she must say hi, it would be rude of her to not say hi.
16
'How old is she? 40? 35? Probably somewhere in between, no? She's a boss she probably stayed at the company longer than anyone else hence the position.'
17
The elevator's ding ringed loudly insdie Cyrill's head, as her heart began to beat in a nervous manner. She could feel her palm getting sweaty, and her knees shaking slightly as she stepped out the elevator.
'Oh my gosh! I just hope she's not rude, or not the grumpy type of boss. I hope she's the rational type. I hope she's the cute type...' eh? Cyrill wanted to smack herself in the head, could she for once stop with her lesbian fantasy? She shook her head and tapped the badge by the door.
"Ms. Gonzales." A familiar voice called her.
Cyrill plastered a practiced 'professional' smile as she approached the Manager, "Good morning, Sir."
"Good morning. You're early." The man in his fifties remarked. "Didn't Gian tell you about the shift?"
The shift? What she's not supposed to come at the office at 8am?
"Uh-" oh shit... right! She completely forgot! Their shift starts at 12 noon.
"Well, I guess he forgot to tell you. Anyway, since you're here already, and I'm on my way to my office, I'll guide you to your desk." The manager stated as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Uh, It must've slipped my mind, Sir." Cyrill let out a shy smile as her cheeks began to flush, "It's not Gian's fault at all." She stated, her words coming out faster than usual.
The man nodded and gestured her to follow him, which the girl quickly obliged to. She eyed the big office. It was dead silent, and there are just a few people working.
"Well, your team's shift starts at 12 noon. Gian your Team Lead, occupies that office." The manager stated, pointing at a small secluded room at the other end of the hall. "While Samantha, your immediate boss, and our Senior Analyst occupies that room." The manager pointed at a slightly smaller office, which is facing three adjacent cubicles, "And this is your spot." The manager smiled as he tapped the left most cubicle, the one beside the aisle.
"Thanks, Sir." Cyrill stated as she puts her bag down.
"So, just wait for your team here, and well I'll leave you to your device. I believe Gian have already briefed you, and you'll meet Samantha later to tell you about your tasks. So for now, you go ahead and chill, buy some coffee... or I don't know. Welcome to the team." The manager chuckled, "Anyway, my office is that big one. So if ever Samantha becomes rude or extremely annoying to you, don't hesitate to report." He stated, before leaving.
And Cyrill couldn't help but overthink a little, is her Boss that rude to have her Manager warn her about rude behaviors?
-
Cyrill bit her lip as she glanced at her wristwatch, 11:59AM. She tapped her feet anxiously on the ground. She should've just taken an early lunch at 10AM instead of queing at 11:30AM. She had all the time in the world earlier, now she's here stuck in this queue just to get her lunch. She knew her boss would be there at exactly 12 noon, and she did not want to appear late, so Cyrill decided... damn it, she'll just skip lunch.
Rushing towards her cubicle, she immediately spotted two of her co-workers whom she assumes are Jennie, and Leslie... though she does not know who's who yet.
"Cyrill, there you are!" The voice of her Team Lead caught her attention.
"Sir, sorry-"
"Oh, just call me Gian." He stated with a wide smile across his face. Despite his untrimmed, and slightly messy beard he has that kind look on his face, that makes him appear super approachable. "Anyway, let me introduce you to the team. This is Jennie, she's an Analyst." The Team Lead pointed at the girl with the pink sweater, and a bubly smile on her face, the girl mouthed a small 'hi' before Gian introduced her to the next person, whom she assumes is Leslie, "..and this is Leslie, also an Analyst." Cyrill waved at the woman, who looks like the polar opposite of Jennie, with her black sweater, and black pants, plus, she is obviously a masc lesbian, considering the mullet haircut, plus the stance. She hopes Leslie and her could get along... though it is impossible not to get along especially if you're working side by side each other every single day.
"This is Cyrill, our new associate. So these two are currently working on our supply chain applications, and infrasturcture, which Sam oversees. While you'll be working closely with Sam in our cloud applications, meaning you'll help her build it. All of you are under Sam, and Sam is under me, but since I am overseeing a lot of Teams, Sam is your immediate lead. Got it, Cy?" Gian eyed her, and Cyrill nods, though her heart is beating loudly already. "Well, let's leave Jennie, and Leslie alone, and I'll introduce you to Sam."
Cyrill held her breath as they approach the office. The door was made of frosted glass, blurring the fugure inside into a vague shadow of black and white. With every step, the thrum of her heart grew louder, echoing in her ears like a drum.
"Don't be nervous about Sam," Gian said, leaning in with a conspirational whisper. "She's just strict but she's extremely... nice? I guess... Eh, she's nice. Just super introverted." He chuckled, then rapped his knuckles against the glass, "It's Gian, Sammy."
"Come in."
The voice sent shivers down Cyrill's spine. It was lower that she expected. Smooth, authhoritative, but with a delicate softness that made the air in the hallway suddenly very thin. Just by hearing her voice she could already see the contrast between her two bosses.
Gian pushed the door open. For Cyrill, the world seemed to slow to a crawl. Her eyes landed first on the desk, dark, polished oak, and then on the woman seated behind it.
Cyrill's breath hitched. She felt an immediate, traiterous heat crawl up her neck. Her gay heart panicking a little... although 'a little' might be an unnderstatement. She couldn't quite comprehend how gorgeous the woman is. The woman wasn't just a boss, she's a masterpiece.
Sam was dressed in a white leather jacket over a black shirt, a combination that made her milk-chocolate skin look radiant. Her hair was raven-dark, and her eyes, feline and sharp, were currently locked onto Cyrill with an intensity that felt like a physical touch.
"Ms. Gonzales." Gian called, pulling Cyrill out of her trance.
"H-huh?" She stammered, her brain momentarilly rebooting.
"This is your boss." Gian reiterated, clearly holding his laughter. Eyeing Cyrill's stunned expression with pure amusement.
"Oh, r-right."
"Welcome to the team Ms. Gonzales." Sam said. She stood up, and Cyrill's head screamed.
'Gosh, she's tall! What's her height? It must be atleast 5'10, right... or more?' As Cyrill walked forward to take the extend hand, she felt tiny despite her 5'6" frame.
"A-ah.. n-nice to meet you, Ms. Lopez." Cyrill uttered, her hands trembling hard.
Upclose, she could clearly see that this girl looks 25ish, or late twenty something. Cyrill's mind raced. How had someone who looked barely older than her climbed the ladder this high? Sam wasn't just a boss, she was a prodigy.
Sam's mouth curved in a smile, showing her dimples, and Cyrill felt her heart slammed against her chest. Gosh, how will she survive working in here when her Boss looks like a freaking goddess that her gay ass for sure will not be able to handle.
"Just call me, Sam." The boss stated, gesturing for Cyrill to take a seat as she settle back into her leather chair.
"Well, I'll hand her over to you Sam. Bye Cy, you're in good hands." Gian said as he tapped Cyrill's shoulder then offering a mock salute to Sam, which she waved off with a playfull roll of eyes.
"C'mon Gian, you're my lead, act like it." She joked.
Once the door clicked shut, thensilence in the romm felt heavy. Sam clicked her mouse, her gaze returning to Cyrill. The younger girl was staring at her as if she were a ghost.
"We'll discuss your tasks now. Are you okay with that?" Sam asked.
Hearing the word 'tasks' snapped something inside Cyrill's brain and brought her back to life, "Uh... y-yes, Ma'am, I mean... Sam." She tried to offer a professional smile, but her heart was srill doing the gymnastics.
Sam paused. She furrowed her brows, her feline eyes squinting as she moved forward, scanning Cyrill's face. "Are you okay?"
"H-huh?"
"You look a little pale." Sam noted, her voice softer, "Have you eaten lunch yet?"
