When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 147: His Boss

Chapter 147: His Boss

Timmy chuckled, the sound breaking the silence of the night. "If you’re guessing, you’re scarily accurate."

Her smile widened. "Let’s just say I’ve learned to read people. Comes with the territory of my work."

Timmy looked at her, intrigued. "What kind of work do you do?"

She hesitated for a moment, seemingly weighing her response. "Let’s just say it’s a mix of management, problem-solving, and making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes."

"Sounds intense," Timmy said, nodding slowly. "A lot of responsibility."

"It is," she agreed, leaning back on the bench. "But I like it. Every day is different, and I get to meet all kinds of people."

"People like me?" Timmy asked, half-joking.

Ms. Aquila glanced at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Exactly like you," she teased, her voice light. "Though I don’t often end up sitting on benches with them late at night."

Timmy’s cheeks flushed slightly, but he laughed it off. "Guess I should feel honored then."

"You should," she replied, her tone playful, a small laugh escaping her lips.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the soft hum of the night around them. Then, Timmy sighed, stretching his legs. "You know, it’s kind of crazy working for my boss. He’s... well, he’s not your typical boss. Most people think he’s just cold and distant, but once you get to know him, it’s different."

Ms. Aquila raised an eyebrow, interested. "How different?"

Timmy leaned back, considering his words carefully. "It’s like... he’s always thinking about something. He’s got a million things running through his mind, and sometimes, he forgets to slow down. But when he cares about something, or someone, he’s all in."

Ms. Aquila nodded, her curiosity piqued. "That sounds like a lot of pressure."

Timmy chuckled again, his eyes drifting as he thought about the many times he’d seen his boss work late into the night or deal with difficult situations without even breaking a sweat. "It is. But it’s not all bad. The thing is, he doesn’t like showing vulnerability. He’s more likely to bury it under a stack of work than talk about it."

"Sounds like a tough shell to crack," she said, a knowing look in her eyes.

"You could say that," Timmy said, rubbing his neck. "But once you get through, he’s different. He cares about the people he works with... even if he’s not great at showing it."

Ms. Aquila nodded thoughtfully, glancing at him. "And what about you? Do you get along with him?"

Timmy grinned, shaking his head. "It’s a bit of a rollercoaster. There are times when I feel like I’m just there to pick up the pieces of his chaos, but then, he’s always got this way of surprising me. Like when he cooked for me last time just because he knew I was working late."

Ms. Aquila laughed lightly. "I’m guessing that’s a rare event?"

"You have no idea," Timmy said, his voice tinged with amusement. "But when he does something like that, it’s... it’s like a little glimpse of the person he really is underneath everything."

"You’re lucky then," she replied, her tone softer. "Most people don’t get to see that side of him."

Timmy leaned back and exhaled, feeling the weight of the conversation. "Yeah, maybe I am. But sometimes, I wish he’d let himself be more... human. You know, not always the boss, not always the perfect leader. I think it would be easier for him, if he did."

Ms. Aquila watched him for a moment, her eyes thoughtful. "Maybe he just doesn’t know how."

"Maybe," Timmy murmured, running a hand through his hair. "But you know what? I can’t help but want to make it easier for him. Even when he doesn’t ask for it."

She smiled gently. "It sounds like you really care about him."

"I do," Timmy said, his voice quiet. "But sometimes, it feels like I’m the only one who does. And it’s not easy, always being the one who has to keep things together."

Ms. Aquila was quiet for a moment, as if pondering his words. "You sound like you’ve been through a lot with him."

Timmy shrugged, his gaze distant. "More than I can count. But it’s not all bad. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned that sometimes, the people who need the most help are the ones who try the hardest to hide it. And maybe that’s why I stick around."

"Because he needs you," she said softly.

"Yeah," Timmy agreed, his voice full of conviction. "He might not show it, but he does. And that’s enough for me."

Ms. Aquila was quiet for a moment, absorbing what he had said. Finally, she broke the silence. "It sounds like you’ve got a complicated relationship."

Timmy gave a half-smile. "Yeah, that’s one way to put it."

Ms. Aquila laughed as she listened. "Your boss sounds like a piece of work."

Timmy grinned, shaking his head. "You have no idea. But that’s the thing, with him, it’s always all or nothing. Either he’s totally involved or he’s completely distant."

"I can see that," she said, nodding.

As the hours passed, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Timmy found himself telling Ms. Aquila more about his boss and his boss’s peculiar relationship with his fiancée, Zinnia.

"You know," Timmy began, "it’s kind of crazy how much my boss is secretly a fan of his fiancée."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Timmy chuckled. "Well, he actually runs a fan website for her. No one knows it’s him, though. He’s always been this massive supporter of all her online activities, following everything she posts without ever telling her. He even asked me to be the vice president of her fan club while he’s the president."

Lily blinked, surprised. "Seriously?"

"Yeah," Timmy confirmed, a hint of amusement in his voice. "It’s hilarious. In person, he acts all cold and distant around her, but when she’s not around, he’s a total simp. I swear, he’s like the most passionate fan in the world, and no one even knows it."

Lily laughed, shaking her head. "That’s... really something."