Chapter 49: The Photos Came Out Well, Didn’t They?

Chapter 49: 49: The Photos Came Out Well, Didn’t They?

I followed Manager Selena and Rhea like some seriously suspicious stalker.

They were coming out of the café in the lobby with coffees in hand.

"Crap."

They looked like they were headed this way, so I ducked out of sight.

"Thank you... Manager Selena."

"You looked upset, so I bought you one. That doesn’t mean I can let thirty minutes of tardiness slide."

"Yes. I understand."

"Drink that and take a few minutes before we go back up."

Manager Selena gave Rhea a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Wait. Had Manager Selena always been like that?

I’d expected her to drag Rhea off somewhere private, calmly dig up every old mistake she’d ever made, and tear her apart one by one. This was surprisingly gentle.

If she could comfort a team member like that, she could’ve shown me a little kindness too.

The more I thought about it, the more annoyed I got.

The two of them sat side by side on a bench near the lobby and sipped their coffee.

I crept closer and listened from somewhere they couldn’t see me.

People passing by gave me some extremely suspicious looks, but I ignored them.

Mind your own business. I’m doing something important here.

"Rhea, this may be a little personal, but... is it about a man?"

"...How did you know?"

"I may not know much about dating, but I’m not oblivious."

Manager Selena glanced at Rhea as she spoke.

For all I knew, she’d caught the scent of my cum on Rhea and figured it out that way.

"Are you dating him? Is he your boyfriend?"

"He’s... not my boyfriend. Um... He’s more like someone I might be seeing?"

"Not someone you’re seeing, but someone you might be seeing?"

"I don’t know either. It’s hard to say what we are."

I wasn’t oblivious either. There was a ninety-nine percent chance they were talking about me.

From Rhea’s perspective, she’d met a faceless stranger and fucked him until morning, so I could see why she felt strange about it.

Still, it had been a one-night stand between two people with secret accounts.

Wasn’t "someone I might be seeing" a weird way to put it? She didn’t even know my face.

"An undefined relationship, then?"

"It might sound strange to you, but... I barely even know what he looks like."

"And you still like him?"

"...Mm. I don’t know that either."

What the hell was anyone supposed to do with that answer?

Manager Selena only nodded as though she understood.

"That can happen. I understand."

"You do?"

"You can feel it even if you can’t explain it, can’t you? Like... this person might finally give me what I need."

"...I think I know what you mean."

Well, I didn’t.

"Manager Selena, could I ask...?"

"Yes?"

"Is that person for you... Ed?"

Selena flinched and went perfectly still.

I could only see her from behind, so I had no idea what expression she was making.

A long silence passed before she finally answered.

"...No."

"He isn’t...? But I was sure you and Ed—"

"No. It really isn’t him, Rhea. Ed is..."

Selena trailed off, then lowered her voice to a whisper.

"...different."

"Oh."

Manager Selena.

Saying it like that was practically admitting there was something between us.

Granted, that "something" was just a fuck-buddy arrangement built around blackmail roleplay.

If she was going to deny it, she needed to deny it properly. Honestly. Amateur hour.

"Why did you think that, Rhea?"

"Think what?"

"About Ed and me."

"Oh, that? No reason, really. It just seems like you and Ed have been going off somewhere together a lot lately."

"...Does it?"

Had we been that obvious?

From inside the office, I supposed it probably did look like Manager Selena and I kept disappearing alone together. We always left separately, though.

Maybe it stood out more because Rhea already suspected us and had been paying close attention.

Perhaps we should tone it down a little...

No, there was no need.

Rhea’s turn was coming soon anyway.

"I figured Ed was so bad at his job that you kept dragging him away to scold him."

"His work, you mean."

"I mean, honestly. He didn’t even major in this field. Didn’t he say he studied acting?"

"Theater and Film."

"Oh, right. That was it. Hm? You know a lot about him, Manager Selena."

"...He’s my subordinate. That’s all."

"Anyway, even though we joined at the same time, he’s kind of... beneath the standard? Or maybe just lacking? I don’t really care for him. I figured you’d know exactly what I mean."

This fucking bitch.

Talking shit the moment I wasn’t around? To Manager Selena, no less?

Manager Selena seemed pretty fond of me lately, so she’d shut this down right—

"...I know what you mean."

"Right?"

She agreed?

I’m a little disappointed in you, Manager Selena.

Later, I’d have to teach both of them very thoroughly which one of us was beneath whom.

"Even as a man... I mean, most of the men at our company are nothing special, but Ed is different. There’s just nothing about him that inspires any respect, you know?"

"Respect?"

"You know how someone needs at least one impressive thing about them? Something that makes you think, Fine, I’ll give him that. Ed doesn’t even have that."

"Mm... Is that so?"

Selena seemed to consider it seriously before murmuring, "...I think he does."

"What?"

"Nothing. I was talking to myself."

Selena cleared her throat and turned away.

What exactly did Manager Selena respect about me?

I had a vague idea.

I glanced down at my crotch.

Some middle-aged man passing by looked over. What are you staring at, old man? I shot him a look, and he immediately turned away.

"Anyway, someone like Ed is definitely not my type. Ah. Was that an awkward thing to say in front of you?"

"...No. It’s fine. You’re allowed to feel that way."

"Right? I knew you’d understand, Manager Selena. Seriously, though. His face is average, his height is average, and there’s nothing remarkable about him. It makes you look down on him without even meaning to."

"...Don’t go too far."

"Oh? You’re defending him now. Come on, Manager Selena. Is it because you really do have something going on?"

"No. I just don’t want conflict between members of my team."

"Mm... I don’t know. It still sounds like maybe you—"

"We should get going, Rhea."

Selena shot to her feet.

She must have finished her coffee already, because she quietly dropped the cup into a nearby trash can.

Were they coming this way? I quickly moved to another blind spot.

After throwing away their cups, they headed toward me.

"Manager Selena... You’re not angry, are you?"

"I told you I’m not. Don’t misunderstand."

"Really? Whew. That’s a relief."

"Still, you shouldn’t talk about people so carelessly. Someone might hear—"

They made eye contact with me.

I hadn’t failed to hide. I’d stepped out on purpose.

"E-Ed?"

"Oh. Manager Selena. Rhea."

I greeted them as casually as I could.

"Did you... hear all of that?"

"Hear what?"

"Nothing! Never mind."

Rhea immediately pretended nothing had happened.

"What are you doing here, Ed? It’s working hours."

"Oh, I came because I needed to speak to Rhea. Someone told me she was down here."

"...Rhea?"

Manager Selena glanced at her.

Rhea mouthed, Me? and pointed to herself.

Yes. You, bitch.

Manager Selena looked between the two of us, then sighed.

"Fine. I’ll head back up first. Don’t waste too much time. Come in soon."

"Yes, Manager Selena."

"Ah... Yes! Thank you for the coffee, Manager Selena!"

Rhea suddenly became the picture of a polite junior employee.

Where had the chatterbox who’d spent the past ten minutes trash-talking me gone?

Neither of us spoke until Manager Selena stepped into the elevator and the doors closed behind her.

"...So what do you want, Ed?"

Wow. Look at that scowl.

How much did she hate me?

"It’s work-related. Why don’t we talk somewhere else?"

"...What is it? Make it quick."

Don’t worry. I would.

I meant I’d quickly put an end to this sharp-tongued attitude of hers.

I led Rhea around to the back of the company building.

The area near the freight elevator was used for loading and unloading. It was dim, deserted, and looked like the perfect place people used to sneak cigarettes.

"What is this, seriously? Did we really have to come all the way out here to talk?"

"We did. This is the only place I can discuss it."

"...?"

Rhea frowned and looked me up and down.

"...Your voice just now..."

"Yes?"

"No. Nothing. Let’s get this over with."

"It’s nothing serious. I need you to review some photos for the report you asked me to prepare."

"Photos? Couldn’t you just send them to me once we’re back in the office?"

"No. You need to check them here."

"...?"

I opened the gallery on my phone and held it out to her.

"...Give me that."

Rhea snatched the phone away and flicked through the images.

They really were photos for the report.

The videos and pictures I’d taken last night just happened to be in the same gallery.

And if she kept swiping that fast...

"..."

Stop.

Her finger froze in the middle of another swipe.

I spoke as casually as though I had no idea what she’d found.

"You asked for several angles, so I took a variety. Let me know whether any of them are usable. If there aren’t enough, I can take more."

"Ah..."

"Rhea?"

Swipe.

Swipe.

Swipe.

She didn’t seem to hear me.

Now she moved more slowly, studying each image carefully before going to the next.

The hand holding my phone trembled. So did the finger on the screen.

Still pretending not to know, I called her again.

"Rhea? Rhea?"

"...Ngh."

Her shaking finger stopped. Slowly, she lifted her head.

"...Yes?"

"What did you think?"

"Off... of what?"

"The photos. The ones you asked for."

"Ah..."

The instant our eyes met, she jerked her head away. Her entire face had gone bright red.

I leaned in close and lowered my voice to a whisper.

"How did the photos look to you, Rhea? Are you satisfied with my work?"

Her lips trembled.