Nessa's POV
I yawn a bit as I keep folding clothes, hoping for my shift to end soon as I look around at other people working
Alex's POV
tonight is such an exhausting night and I have so much on my plate, the last thing I need is my employees not doing their jobs, so I look up at Vaness- uhm, Vanessa, I forgot I told myself I was gonna call her that now to be more professional with her, I need the distance. when I look up at her she is literally yawning as if folding clothes is the most tiring task on earth, I keep my eyes on her to let her know I saw her
Nessa's POV
As I'm looking around, my eyes catch boss' eyes, looking at me like I did something wrong aGAIN 'sorry I yawned god it's almost midnight' I thought as I went back to looking at the shirt I'm folding and soon enough like always she goes back to running around. I roll my eyes thinking about how she was probably looking at if I was doing my job again, she is so annoying, it's pissing me off. like leave me alone god. I look up again, still annoyed as I look at her moving boxes around and telling people where to go and what to do 'why does she have to be so rude with me and then she is out there laughing and smiling with others like seriously...' I think to myself, not stopping to fold clothes as I do so, knowing I'd be dead if I did
Alex's POV
I went to tell other employees what to do and they seem to have understood well so I'm glad, my mind comes back to earlier though, she is probably wondering why I'm harsher on her than on others, but it's better if she thinks I'm just rude, everything is better for her to know than the truth, I knew I had to distance myself from her when I started to like her just a little bit too much, I had to stop that right there, and I did, I don't care if she thinks I'm a horrible boss or even person, it's better this way. I keep walking around making sure everything is okay and I go back to where I was earlier working on moving some stuff to rearrange the clothes section, which is where she's working right now, I put her there tonight, I really didn't think this through
Nessa's POV
I kept folding until I was done with the side of the table I was at and slowly walked to the other side of it with my cart to fold the rest. I swear I hate people, why do they put the clothes in such a mess, what's the reason? I sigh, maybe a bit too loud I realize too late and look around seeing Alex looking up at me like I murdered someone. I don't make a big deal out of it as I don't like confrontation, but this is starting to really get on my nerves, like I can't even breathe when she is around. I keep going though and don't look up for a while, scared the second I do she'll just be there trying to find another reason to scold me again. I don't know what her problem is with me, but I swear if she keeps going, I'm going to snap at her one day, I don't care if I lose my job, this is so disrespectful and unfair towards me. I know I'm doing a really good job at work, and she doesn't even thank me or make me feel appreciated for it.
I shake my head trying to stop thinking about this as it's just making me mad and annoyed, thinking about what I'm gonna eat after work instead as I am SOOO hungry
Alex's POV
she sighed and I looked up at her, it's annoying how everything she does catches my attention, I think she thinks I was making sure she was working again, I wasn't this time, she looks annoyed, I get it, I'm on her case a lot, but I just have to keep that extra professional distance between us, I just- I have to. I feel bad that she's so annoyed right now, and I felt even worse when I heard people say I made her cry the other night, I should really go say something, it's not a good idea but I feel like I'm doing too much. I finish moving my palette and start walking towards where she's working with my usual power walk
Nessa's POV
I look up at her as she walks towards me, hoping she isn't coming to talk to me as I just know the "conversation", if we can call our interactions that, won't put me in a good mood. I try to look back down and ignore the fact that she is walking towards me as I keep folding, but as a very anxious person, I keep looking back up trying to check if she is really coming towards me or just walking by, knowing if I have to be mentally ready for a talk with her or not
Alex's POV
she keeps looking up at me like she's scared, damn now I really feel bad, I didn't know my behaviour was affecting her that much, anyway, no time to think about that kinda stuff, I just need to make things slightly better and then go on with my night, I walk past her and go check the table she just finished folding, inspecting it
Nessa's POV
I keep folding, clearly noticing how she is inspecting my work. I better not be told that I fold like crap and that I need to work better, because I swear, I will quit. Why even does she have to check my work? she doesn't do that with anyone else, why does she have to be so extremely strict with me. I look up at her, thinking about if I should say something or not but finally decide not to. I should just try the most I can to ignore her and not interact with her, I think to myself looking back down hoping she didn't catch me stare
Alex's POV
I can feel her looking at me, probably wondering why I'm checking her work, in reality I just needed an excuse to come talk to her. I finish inspecting the table, she did good work obviously, and turn around towards her, "hey", I say strongly but not rudely
Nessa's POV
I quickly look up as she talks to me "hi!" I answer back, my voice steady and confident despite my fear and follow up rather quickly with "is the table, okay? I can re-do some parts if needed"
Alex's POV
"no, don't worry, you did a great job with the table, just make sure you do just as well with this one, after that we'll be pretty much done tonight, we'll not me but you guys yeah" I say, starting to ramble but stopping myself 'like seriously get a hold of yourself a little' I think to myself
Nessa's POV
I nod with a quick smile as she mentions that I've done a good job but am not surprised when she specifies to me to make sure I do well with the rest of it "yes of course I'll make sure it's done well before I leave" I answer her and notice how she stopped herself from talking more. it saddens me as I feel like she doesn't want to talk with me, like with other employees sometimes she'll joke around and have fun, but with me it's always business and not one more word. I understand I'm new and she needs to make sure I'm well trained and all, but I would hope she'd be more casual with me sometimes, it'd make the work nicer... "if you need me to stay longer than my shift I can stay done more time to help" I add as I caught how she mentioned not being able to leave at the same time as us, thinking of this as a nice gesture, but internally hoping she won't say yes
Alex's POV
she looked very annoyed and tired earlier making me confused when she proposes to stay longer than her shift, I can't risk being just with her in the clothes even if the supervisors are staying a bit later tonight too, "it wouldn't look good if I gave you more hours and told everybody they could leave, you understand, it wouldn't be very professional, plus you looked very tired earlier", I say referring to her yawning, "you should go rest to be in shape for tomorrow, plus I don't have a lot to do left you know just some moving this stuff around and-" I had started to ramble again while looking at the clothes section, getting way too invested in this conversation "I'm sorry" I say looking back at her "you don't even need to know any of this" I say more professionally putting myself back together
Nessa's POV
"I understand yeah, I was offering in case you needed some more hands to finish up, but I'll gladly take that time to go rest yeah" I say with a small laugh, actually enjoying the conversation, but hoping it doesn't turn against me as I could feel her getting colder by the end as if the second it got somewhat casual she would stop herself, I find it weird but I assume it's because of her status "thank you for letting me know, so I finish this table and I can go after then?"
Alex's POV
"yeah exactly, you're free to go" I say more coldly, "just make sure it's well done, I won't come back to check it before you leave" I go to turn around and leave but I stop myself "come see me before you leave" I pause and she seems to be confused, "so I can let you out" I continue, clarifying what I had just said
Nessa's POV
I nod "alright" I answer simply with a small half smile after she clarified herself at the end. I thought she meant she wanted to talk to me before I left, god that was stressful. It really feels though like she doesn't trust my work when she says stuff like "make sure it's well done", like she's seen that I always do so, but she still says that, it's annoying but whatever. I get back to folding, doing it much faster than I did before, wanting to get off work as soon as I can
Alex's POV
I walk away pretty much in my thoughts; I know she always does great work, which is why I push her, I don't want her getting reprehended by another manager or supervisor, I want her work to be irreproachable. anyway, enough thinking about her, I have work to do, as I look up and get out of my thoughts I stop in my track as I hear the beeping of the lift at the last moment before it comes out of the aisle and almost hits me, the driver makes sure I'm okay and I give him a thumbs up, I really need to get my head focused, this is nonsense
Nessa's POV
I look up at the sound of the lift beeping, it always makes me jump. What I didn't expect when I looked up was seeing Alex almost get hit by it. It made my heart stop for a second, but I relaxed seeing that she was okay. she may be rude and sometimes mean to me, but I wouldn't want her to get hurt- well I wouldn't want anyone to get hit by a lift, even to my worst enemy, like that seems to be extremely painful and life threatening. As I keep thinking about all of this and as my thoughts drift to diverse subjects, I'm soon enough done with the table, so I go look for Alex to tell her I'm done before getting ready to leave
Alex's POV
I put my head back in my work and I'm getting pretty advanced with the work I had tonight, enough that I think I could let everybody go home at the same time, I don't do it often, but I myself don't feel like I'm in the best working state tonight and could use a good night of sleep, I think while finishing up my work
Nessa's POV
I finally find her and walk up toward her "hey Alex, I'm done with the table" I simply say not too loud as she seemed really focused on what she was doing, hoping I didn't scare her
Alex's POV
I turn around pretty quickly as I head vaness's- vanessa's voice, bringing me out of my thoughts as I was giving a final look at my work of the night "mmh?" I manage to get out as I didn't hear what she said
Nessa's POV
"I'm sorry, sorry, I don't wanna bother you, I just said that I'm done with the table, you asked me to come see you when I was done?" I say, not sounding sure of myself and hating it, I don't like the way I sound around her, it's like I can't just be confident, she makes me anxious or something I don't know it's weird
Alex's POV
"yeah, no don't worry, I'm actually gonna head out at the same time as you, I'm letting everybody go, they did great work tonight" I tell her, realizing how that might've sounded, "you did a good job too" I say and manage to smile. I tell Marvin and Gilles that we're heading out and start walking towards the front of the store
Nessa's POV
I nod at what she says and smile back at her, appreciating her acknowledging my work "thank you" I answer, and I head towards my locker taking my stuff and wait for her and the other bosses to come open the door for us to leave. my eyes catch her walking towards me as I'm waiting and I immediately think about how tired she looks even though she doesn't let it show. I wonder if she is okay, maybe there is a reason why she is so harsh with me, and I shouldn't be too fast to judge
Alex's POV
I go get my stuff in the office, and wait at the frame while everybody gets out, while everybody has passed, I take one last look at the store and start walking towards the door. there she is again, not out yet as she's finishing closing her locker door, I give the guy at the door a sign saying I'll lock in behind me and he leaves, I keep walking towards the door giving her the time to get ready to leave. I start to realize how tired I actually am and how I miss my bed, knowing full well I won't be able to sleep because of the stress, still, I miss the comfort of my bed, I also think about how I wish I could let myself be more casual with her, but I know I can't, I tried in the beginning and well, let's just say it's not a good idea
Nessa's POV
I finish closing up my locker and turn around again, realizing I'm the only one left and Alex is waiting for me to leave too "I'm sorry" I laugh nervously "I'm so slow" I say shaking my head jokingly trying to make the atmosphere lighter as we start walking out
Alex's POV
I look up at the sound of her voice "don't worry about it, I'm not in a hurry" I say looking back down at my keys and forcing a half smile that probably doesn't reach my eyes
Nessa's POV
I notice again how tired she looks as we walk towards the door. she smiles at me as she talks which I answer back with a smile, but I can see how it's forced... I feel like maybe it's because she doesn't like me and she is trying to be nice, but I try not to think too much of it. "You're not like impatient to get home?" I ask confused as to why she isn't feeling hurried to get to her house but immediately feel bad to ask and worry I shouldn't have. maybe this is too casual? what if she gets mad at me for being intrusive? ughhh I keep messing up
Alex's POV
I'm surprised at her question and I would usually find a way to ignore it but I couldn't really ask her to go fold clothes or help in the food, plus I was tired and thought might as well, a casual conversation wouldn't hurt; "no not really, I know I'll be here first thing tomorrow and won't get much sleep anyway so", I trail off shrugging it off and unlocking the door letting her step outside
Nessa's POV
I step outside while frowning at her answer, confused and starting to be worried about her wellbeing "well I hope you get more sleep than you think you will tonight, after all you work so much, it would only be well deserved" I say with care, as I look at her waiting for her to lock the door
Alex's POV
"you don't need to worry about my sleep schedule, it's fine" I try to say nicely but of course it comes out a little rude, "sorry, I didn't mean it like that, but really it's fine, I love my job" I say starting to walk towards the parking fidgeting with my keys trying to find my car key
Nessa's POV
"right of course, I didn't want to intrude, I'm sorry if I'm over stepping here" I quickly said nervously, assuming this was making her feel uncomfortable "I'm someone that needs to sleep a lot so it's difficult to believe some people can actually survive on such few hours of sleep compared to me" I say joking around a little trying to make this situation less awkward as we walk in the same direction. I look around realizing my mom wasn't there yet to pick me up and sigh to myself
Alex's POV
"don't worry about it" I simply say. I hear her sigh and look at her "is everything okay?"
Nessa's POV
mmh?" I simply say as I was checking my phone trying to check if my mom was on her way "oh uh yeah sorry, it's just that my mom is supposed to be picking me up, but she isn't here yet" I say, looking around
Alex's POV
"oh, did you call her?" I say starting to tell myself I can't just leave her here there's nobody else here
Nessa's POV
"I didn't but I'll do that right now" I say and put my phone to my ear as it starts ringing. I play with the gravel with my foot as it keeps ringing, no answer coming as it falls to voicemail. I sigh and hang up but try again, getting the same result "you can go don't worry, I'm sure she'll be here soon" I say and smile but not really as I'm very much annoyed at my mom, knowing she probably fell asleep like the hundred times before that
Alex's POV
"I would, but it's 10 past midnight and as grown up as you look, I still don't feel comfortable leaving you here" I say knowing I'll regret it with every word coming out of my mouth "where do you live? I'll drive you"
Nessa's POV
I get taken aback by her words "you really don't have to it's okay, I'm sure she is going to be here soon" I say as I text my mom again and again getting no answer, guessing the worst again which is that she fell asleep "or I can walk too, I live like 5 minutes away, it's really nothing"
Alex's POV
"where do you live?" I ask again not giving her a choice, I walk to my car trying to act professional, but this really isn't a setting where I can do that
Nessa's POV
I sigh in defeat following her "I live on 145, Paré" I answer, following her, still feeling really bad for this knowing how exhausted she must be and how annoying it must be to have to deal with lifting one of her employees
Alex's POV
"that's not far at all" I say unlocking my car and getting in; I know I'll regret driving her, so much for telling myself to keep a professional distance between us, I shake my head visibly
Nessa's POV
I hesitantly get in the car with her, seeing how uncomfortable she is at how she is shaking her head and talking to me "thank you..." I say, my voice low and nervous as it's shaking a little "I really appreciate this, you really don't have to do so like really, I don't want to overstep on any kind of boundaries or anything" I ramble, feeling really bad to do this to her, I'm sure all she wants is to get home right now
Alex's POV
I look up at her, she looks nervous, seriously that's not how I want anybody to feel around me; "hey" I say a lot more softly than usual and more softly than I intended, I clear my throat, I look at her and then down at her sitting on my passenger seat for a bit too long so I look back up at her forcing myself out of my staring, "I promise it's no trouble, don't worry about it at all" I smile a little
Nessa's POV
I nod a bit too many times as I reassure myself that she is being honest and that I should stop overthinking this and simply accept her help "thank you, it's really appreciated" I say more calmly now and smile back at her as I look up, still fidgeting with my fingers because of the stress
Alex's POV
my eyes go on her hands fidgeting and I look up serious at her before I clear my throat again and put my car on reverse before driving out of the parking lot
Nessa's POV
I look around as she starts driving, the silence making me nervous "do you need me to give you directions as where to go?" I ask her, looking at her as she is getting out of the parking
Alex's POV
"just for your house, I actually know how to get on your street" I say simply, then think about what I said "sorry that sounded creepy, I know your street cause one of my g- one of my friends lived there before" I say almost slipping up
Nessa's POV
"oh, that's surprising! I don't know anyone who actually knows my street" I say laughing not realizing her slip up "maybe I know your friend, who knows" I say with a smile
Alex's POV
"I don't think so, she moved away a while ago" I say with a small smile trying not to look sad in any way
Nessa's POV
"ahh I'm really sorry to hear so, I know how hard it can be when friends or close ones move away, it's never easy" I say, empathizing with her, not feeling as nervous as I was earlier the more, we talked
Alex's POV
"it's fine, we weren't that close" I say simply, lying of course but focusing on the road, we come to a red light and I stop the car, I take a second to look at her, she's pretty, I'm not gonna lie, especially with the streetlights, I really shouldn't be thinking about that though, I look at the road again
Nessa's POV
I look at the road ahead as she drives and as the light turns to green, I turn to look at her but quickly look away again as I see her staring at the road, her stance making me nervous, my hands fidgeting again as my brain actually realizes that my boss is driving me to my place
Alex's POV
"left or right?" I ask her getting to the stop sign leading to her street
Nessa's POV
"right" I simply answer "and it's the first house there on the right" I say as I point to my house. I look at her, taking all my stuff in my hands "thank you again so much for giving me a ride home, this is really nice from you" I say, smiling genuinely at her
Alex's POV
"yeah, don't worry about it, I can actually be nice sometimes" I say laughing a little, feeling bad and looking back up at her
Nessa's POV
I frown a little while smiling at what she said "I didn't doubt that you could be nice, I can see that you are, I understand why work is a harder place to demonstrate that as you're the boss" I say despite my mixed feelings about how she acts with me at work, deep down I meant what I said anyway, I'm sure she is a really nice person out of work "again thank you so much" I say as I put my hand on the car handle about to open the door
Alex's POV
"just-" I say before she opens the door, she looks back at me and I change my mind "have a goodnight" I say smiling and start the car again
Nessa's POV
"have a good night too" I say smiling back at her, really glad this went well and that I got the chance to talk with her out of work context. maybe this is going to help our work relationship, maybe she won't be as rude to me, I think as I open the door and close it back softly watching her starting to leave before walking to my house
Alex's POV
I drive away thinking about how this can never happen again, I'll have to put even more professional distance between us at work now. I get home a little more than 10 minutes after, I don't live very far obviously, my mind starts drifting to the night I just had; I was doing so well at work and then of course I had to go talk to her, and then drive her home? what was up with me, I mean, no, it was the processional thing to do, right? I mean I'm her boss I couldn't leave her there alone I the parking lot at midnight? no it was the right thing to do. but then I got all sentimental in the car, I really should've just kept my mouth shut. I need to bring myself back into my old mindset and stay there. I go take a quick shower and go to bed, knowing I won't be sleeping but it is a very comfortable place to be, my hair is still damp, so it'll probably be a mess tomorrow, I sigh and get under my covers, getting ready for a long night of staring contest between me and my wall
Nessa's POV
as I get home, I know I won't be going to sleep anytime soon as I'm still under the work adrenaline, so I change and take some snacks to eat while I watch an episode of my current tv show. Soon enough it's almost 2am so I finally decide to get ready for sleep and go back in my bed but thinking about my day at work. Surprisingly today wasn't so bad and I actually enjoyed some of the time I spent there. Alex was nice to me aND talked to me, my brain still can't process that. As I slowly start feeling sleepy by the minute, I catch myself thinking about Alex more and more, about the way she walks, the way her hair moves- wait why am I thinking about this? Stop this Nessa, you hate her, she was mean to you so many times for no reason I think to myself. I sigh and turn around in my bed looking at my ceiling as I try to stop thinking about her. she isn't so bad after all though... maybe I shouldn't hate her, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. tomorrow is a new day, let's just hope it's not horrible I think and with that I slowly drift off to sleep