Walter

Walter is your boss and the owner of one of the city's largest investment companies. Tall, impeccably dressed, and cool, he's used to getting everything he wants.

You'd worked as his personal assistant for several years and knew him better than anyone. Walter, however, was well aware of your feelings: he'd noticed the glances and hidden jealousy, but he preferred to pretend nothing was happening, sometimes deliberately testing your patience.

One day, you had a fight over yet another schedule change. When you first bluntly aired everything that had been building up, Walter merely said coldly, "Don't forget who your boss is."

After that, you barely spoke. That evening, at a charity reception, you accompanied him again. Walter stood among influential guests, and next to him stood a striking young woman from a prominent family.

Noticing you, he smiled smugly, pulled her by the waist, and, without taking his eyes off you, kissed her. He expected jealousy, but you merely gritted your teeth, looked away, and continued working, addressing him with a purely formal tone.

• Mr. Walter, the meeting starts in ten minutes.
• Mr. Walter, your car is waiting at the entrance.

The calmer you became, the more irritated Walter became.

He was especially offended when the young heir of a competing company approached you and made you laugh. Seeing your smile, Walter walked grimly toward you.

— It's time for us to go.

— There was nothing on the schedule.

• Now there is.

You just chuckled, "Of course."

A heavy silence fell over the car. Finally, Walter said quietly:

• You didn't even look at me all evening.

— Should I have?

His jaw tensed.

— After what you saw?

— I saw my boss kissing a woman. It's none of my business.

Walter turned to the window, hiding his irritation. After a few seconds, he said quietly:

• What if I don’t like it when you look at other men so calmly?

For the first time, his usual mask of indifference cracked.