I covered my mouth. I warily looked at him, shaking my head frantically.

Adam reached out. He pulled down my hand that was covering my mouth, and calmly said, "Speak."

"Yes."

"It seems like you've been cursing me a lot. What have you been saying?"

"Every day. I call you a dumbass boss, a control freak. You don't pay triple for overtime and bombard me with texts on holidays. You ask for files on Monday but start rushing me by Wednesday like you won't survive until then."

Adam's face darkened.

"This month's bonus is gone," Adam said before getting into his car and driving away.

He left me standing alone in the underground garage.

The next day, I arrived at the office early, hoping Adam hadn't taken my words from yesterday to heart.

Adam came to work with his usual expressionless face. He glanced at me without showing any extra emotion.

I walked into the office with the coffee I had bought.

"Mr. Smith, your favorite Americano." I placed the coffee in front of him with a smile.

He glanced at it. He took a sip and continued looking through his documents. His expression softened a bit, and said, "Hmm."

"So, about this month's bonus..." I said, hinting gently.

He lightly tapped the desk. He raised an eyebrow at me and then pushed the coffee aside. "I only drink freshly brewed coffee. Take it away."

I was stunned.

"You didn't seem to mind the coffee just now. This stingy boss is just looking for an excuse to dock my bonus!"

I was furious, but I couldn't show it.

"You don't seem too convinced, do you?"

"No," I instinctively denied it. But I forgot about my condition, and the truth slipped out. "Of course, I'm not convinced! Why should you dock my hard-earned money just because I cursed at you? What boss doesn't get cursed by their employees? When I'm off work, I do two jobs a day. I curse the security guards while delivering food during the day and curse the delivery drivers while being a security guard at night. Did I complain about that?"

When I realized what I had just said, I saw Adam looking at me. He was slightly stunned.

"Adam, my craziness is acting up. Please just ignore me."

But as soon as I opened my mouth, I said, "You're just a capitalist bloodsucker. You deserve every curse I throw at you. You really deserve to die!"

I covered my mouth. I determined not to let another word slip out. My eyes darted around nervously, avoiding Adam's gaze.

"Get out."

After a long silence, I only heard two words. It was suppressed with anger.

"Okay then." I quickly nodded, scrambling out of Adam's office and closing the door behind me.

But in my hurry, one of my shoes fell off inside.

I went back. I opened the door and met Adam's gaze. He was holding the coffee he had just rejected, with traces of it on his lips. He must have drunk some.

There was an awkward silence. I pointed at the shoe on the floor. "It fell."

"Oh."

Then I quickly put on my shoe and left the office, saying as I closed the door, "Adam, that coffee was 36 dollars."

The café had a buy-one-get-one-free deal this morning. The cup I drank was the free one, so Adam's was the one I bought.

I quickly received a 36-dollar transfer from Adam. But despite all this, he still hadn't reimbursed me for the 100 dollars I covered for his takeout last time.

I texted him the message: [Thanks, Mr. Smith.]

Adam replied: [Get out.]

I asked: [Mr. Smith, can I ask you a question? I know you're very busy, but this issue is troubling me. I think only you can offer some constructive advice.]

Adam replied: [Speak.]

I asked: [What would you do if someone owes you money but refuses to pay?]

Adam replied: [Court summons.]

I asked: [What if the amount is too small for a case?]

Adam replied: [The people I know aren't likely to owe such a small amount.]

I asked: [Is there any chance you owe someone money?]

Adam replied: [No.]

I asked: [How about you think carefully? One hundred dollars.]

Adam replied: [?]

I asked: [I mistakenly sent an extra hundred dollars. My input method messed up.]

Adam replied: [What exactly are you trying to say?]

I said: [You asked me to cover your takeout beforehand.]

After receiving the transfer from Adam, I felt a lot better.

That evening, I returned to the apartment I shared with Tiffany. I bought wine and ordered the burgers, planning to vent about the past few days.

"Tiffany, there's something wrong with me," I said seriously.

She replied casually, "I know. If you weren't, we wouldn't get along."

"No, I'm seriously not well!" Tiffany still thought I was joking.

"I get it. Who isn't a bit crazy from working?"

"Listen to me, I've caught a disease where I can only tell the truth!"

"What?"

I told her about how I'd been insulting Adam the past few days.

Tiffany stared at me. "Wow!"

"You help me figure something out now. If this keeps up, I'll be fired sooner or later." After all, my resentment toward Adam after two years of working for him is almost supernatural.

"But seriously, I think he likes you. Huh, you've been like this, and your boss hasn't fired you yet?"

"Pfft!" I spit out the wine before I could swallow it.

"Oh, the bossy CEO's sweet assistant." Tiffany started wiggling her eyebrows.

"Are you okay? Have you been reading too many novels?" I rolled my eyes.

"You read plenty of them back in school too!"

"Get real. There's no such thing as CEO romances in the real world. If this were a novel, I'd just be the overworked assistant. Besides, the boss is so cheap!" I paused. "Hey, maybe his mom will throw ten million dollars at me to leave him?"

"I have a friend who confessed to her boss. It didn't work out, but she started coming in late every day and slacked off for two months. Her boss was too embarrassed to fire her. Your boss is handsome and rich. If you confess and succeed, you get ten million dollars from his mom. If you fail, you get paid to slack off. It's a win-win!"

"I'm telling you, the only outcome is getting kicked out." I harshly interrupted her fantasy.

"Don't be so hard on yourself!"

"So I go up and say, 'Adam, I like you,' and he asks what I like about him. I say, 'I like your money.'

"Also, I admit Mr. Smith is good-looking. But when I see his face, I don't feel romantic. Most of the time, I just want to punch him."

"You've got a chance, but you just don't take it!" Tiffany said, taking a sip of wine.

"By the way, have you ever cursed me behind my back?"

I shook my head but didn't say a word.

Tiffany squinted her eyes. Her gaze turned dangerous. "Speak!"

"I have, I have."

"Why did you curse me? What did you say?"

"Because you like jerks. I called you a lovesick fool. Even zombies would laugh at you."

"Joanna, you've been single since birth, so you don't understand. You'll know when you're in a relationship."

"Thanks, but I'm not interested in marriage or kids."

"Down this bottle, and we'll still be friends."

"Cheers!"

...

After a few rounds, Tiffany and I were both a little drunk.

"Joanna."

"Yeah?"

"You're Adam's assistant, right? Can I ask you a few personal questions about him?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you think Adam washes his own socks?"

"Huh? I have no idea. Want me to ask?" I pulled out my phone and dialed his number.

"Hello?" A cool male voice answered.

"Mr. Smith, can I ask you a few personal questions? My friend is curious."

"Go ahead," he said.

"Do you wash your own underwear?"

He was speechless.

"Oh, is that too personal? Let me try another. Do you dislike women? Especially the ones with strong perfume? Or are you allergic to them?"

"No, but you're pretty annoying."

"Okay, next question. Do you have a stomach problem?"

"No."

"Mr. Smith, were you kidnapped as a child and saved by a little girl who became your first love?"

"Enough. I'm going to bed."

"Wait, Mr. Smith! You must have a young, handsome doctor friend, right? Can you send me his contact?"

He didn't reply.

"Hello? Mr. Smith, hello?" I looked at my phone. He hung up.

Tiffany hiccuped beside me. "Who's asking the questions here? Me or you?"

"Hey, besties share everything. Set the alarm for six. We'll shower and go to work tomorrow. Let's keep drinking."

"I hope you won't regret this when you sober up tomorrow," Tiffany muttered. She didn't even have time to stop me from making that call.