14
Amanda stared at her phone, heart pounding a little too fast for what was supposed to be a casual text.
Still alive?
It was simple. Nonchalant. Too casual for Ericka Matthews.
Samantha was practically vibrating with curiosity. "You gonna answer her, or are we gonna sit here while you have a full-blown existential crisis?"
Amanda blinked, tearing her gaze from the screen. "I don't... get it. Why would she text me?"
Samantha snatched the phone from her hand before she could react. "I dunno, maybe because she lowkey cares about you?"
Amanda grabbed it back. "She does not care about me."
Samantha wiggled her brows. "Mmm... bosses don't usually check in on their assistants after work. Especially not at 11 PM on a Friday."
Amanda bit her lip, staring at the message again.
Was Ericka checking in?
Was she just being funny?
Or was there something else in that still alive?
Samantha nudged her. "You're overthinking. Just text her back."
Amanda sighed, fingers hovering over the keyboard. She couldn't ignore it—not without it looking weird. And, for some reason, she didn't want to.
Finally, she typed:
Barely. Tequila may or may not have won tonight.
She hit send before she could psychoanalyze her own response.
Samantha read over her shoulder. "Okay, that's solid. Flirty but not flirty. Casual but not too casual."
Amanda shot her a look. "I wasn't trying to be flirty."
Samantha smirked. "Honey, you literally just invited her to imagine you tipsy and having the time of your life."
Amanda groaned. "You make everything sound worse than it is."
Samantha twirled her straw in her drink. "I just call it like I see it."
Amanda was about to argue when her phone buzzed again.
She and Samantha both froze.
Amanda took a breath and looked at the screen.
Ericka: I take it you won't be in at 8 AM sharp then?
Amanda bit her lip. Was that a joke? Was Ericka actually teasing her?
Samantha gasped. "She's joking with you! Oh my God. She never jokes. What is happening right now?"
Amanda's fingers flew over her keyboard before she could stop herself.
Amanda: I will absolutely be there. Maybe just a little less alive than usual.
She hit send, and Samantha grabbed her arm. "Okay, I need to know—are we still partying, or are you gonna sit here and have a mental breakdown over the fact that your boss might actually be a person?"
Amanda laughed, finally tucking her phone away. "No mental breakdowns tonight. Let's dance."
And just like that, she let the music pull her back in.
But even as she lost herself in the night again, the text messages lingered.
And so did the strange little thrill in her chest.
Amanda let herself sink back into the music, the rhythm pulling her into the moment. Samantha cheered as they danced, completely lost in the wild energy of the club.
For a while, it worked. For a while, she forgot.
But then—every time her phone buzzed in her clutch, her mind immediately went to Ericka.
Every time a dark-haired woman passed by in the club, her mind immediately went to Ericka.
It was annoying how much space her boss was taking up in her head.
It's just a text. A stupid, casual, harmless text.
And yet—she had never known Ericka to send harmless texts.
Samantha twirled into her, snapping her fingers in front of Amanda's face. "Hey! Earth to Amanda. You're zoning out."
Amanda shook her head. "I'm fine."
Samantha gave her a knowing look. "If by fine, you mean thinking about your CEO when you're supposed to be having the night of your life, then sure."
Amanda groaned, covering her face. "I hate you."
Samantha smirked. "You love me."
Before Amanda could argue, a guy slid up beside them, clearly interested. "Ladies, can I buy you a drink?"
Samantha immediately beamed at Amanda. "Ohhh, perfect distraction. You should let him."
Amanda hesitated. Normally, she'd be all in for a fun, meaningless flirtation. But tonight?
Tonight, it didn't feel right.
Not because the guy wasn't attractive. Not because she wasn't interested in a drink.
Because someone else was on her mind.
Someone who absolutely should not be.
She forced a polite smile. "I'm good, thanks."
Samantha blinked at her like she had grown two heads.
The guy shrugged and turned his attention to Samantha instead, who had zero issues accepting free alcohol.
Once he was gone, Samantha grabbed Amanda's wrist, dragging her toward the bar.
"Okay," she hissed. "Now I know something's up. You just turned down free alcohol from a hot guy in a club. That is a crime against nightlife."
Amanda groaned. "I just wasn't feeling it."
Samantha narrowed her eyes. "Or... you weren't feeling him."
Amanda didn't answer.
Samantha's jaw dropped. "Oh my God. It's her."
Amanda choked on her drink. "Sam, I swear to God—"
"It is her!" Samantha smacked her arm. "I was kidding before, but now? Babe. You are in trouble."
Amanda rubbed her temples. "Can we just—not?"
Samantha grinned wickedly. "Oh, we're talking about it."
Amanda opened her mouth to protest, but her phone buzzed again.
Her breath caught.
Another message.
Ericka: Try not to let tequila win too hard. See you Monday.
Amanda just stared.
Because that? That was definitely something.
Samantha snatched the phone from her hand. "Oh. My. God."
Amanda snatched it back. "Sam—"
"BABE." Samantha grabbed her shoulders. "This woman does not text anyone like this. You have broken the Ericka Matthews firewall."
Amanda's face was burning. She quickly typed out a response before she could think too hard.
Amanda: No promises. Enjoy your very exciting Friday night, Matthews.
She hit send and tossed her phone back into her clutch.
Samantha was watching her like a hawk. "That's it? That's what you're gonna say?"
Amanda groaned. "I'm not doing this with you tonight."
Samantha smirked, throwing her arm over Amanda's shoulders. "Oh, honey. Whether you like it or not, you are absolutely doing this."
Amanda wanted to argue, wanted to tell Samantha she was making something out of nothing.
But deep down, she knew.
This wasn't nothing.
Amanda felt her pulse jump when her phone buzzed again.
She swore to herself she wouldn't look.
She was done thinking about Ericka tonight. Done.
But the second Samantha caught sight of the screen, her face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Oooh, babe. She texted back."
Amanda groaned, squeezing her eyes shut. "Don't. Say. Anything."
Samantha ignored her completely, leaning in to read the message.
Ericka: Very exciting.
Amanda blinked. That was... vague.
And yet, somehow, not vague at all.
Before she could react, Samantha snatched her phone right out of her hand.
Amanda's stomach dropped. "Samantha, NO."
Samantha's wicked grin said everything.
Amanda lunged, but it was too late.
Samantha's thumbs flew across the screen. "Just helping move things along, bestie."
Amanda's heart stopped.
"SAM, I SWEAR TO—"
Samantha yanked the phone away, laughing hysterically. "Aaaand sent."
Amanda snatched it back, eyes wide with horror as she read what Samantha had just texted Ericka Matthews, CEO of Matthews Couture.
Amanda: You should try something exciting for once, Matthews. Might be a good look on you ??.
Amanda almost dropped her phone.
Her entire soul left her body.
"SAMANTHA!" she whisper-screamed, shaking her best friend's arm violently. "WHAT DID YOU DO?"
Samantha was cackling like an evil mastermind. "Oh my God, babe, this is the best thing I've ever done."
Amanda wanted to die. Right there on the club floor.
"I CAN'T UNSEND IT!" she panicked, shaking her phone as if it would undo Samantha's crimes.
Samantha grabbed her drink, still giggling. "No take-backs, honey. Let's just see how your boss responds to some light flirting."
Flirting?!
Amanda's brain short-circuited.
"This is my BOSS, Sam! My very powerful, intimidating, terrifyingly competent boss."
Samantha shrugged, sipping her cocktail. "Uh-huh. And?"
"And you just made it look like I was flirting with her!"
Samantha's grin was unstoppable. "Babe. You are flirting with her."
Amanda slammed her forehead against the bar. "I'm going to be unemployed."
But then—
Her phone buzzed.
Amanda froze.
Samantha squealed. "OH. MY. GOD."
Amanda stared at the screen.
Ericka: Is that an invitation, Amanda?
Her breath hitched.
Samantha grabbed her arm, shaking her violently. "SHE DID NOT JUST SAY THAT."
Amanda had never been so close to passing out in her life.
This was not happening.
Except—it was.