As Alan and I descended to our usual smoking spot, something was different. Unlike the past instances where he'd taken a seat across from me, this time, he decided to sit right beside me. And not just beside me—closely, uncomfortably so. He was my boss, and this was crossing a line.

Alan was an attractive man, the sort one could easily find appealing. Tall, with a well-toned physique, chiseled legs, blonde hair, and captivating green eyes. It wasn't just his status as my boss that was drawing me towards him. Several other men at work held a similar allure, but this attraction was my own secret, known only to me.

At one point, Alan turned to me, a serious look on his face. "Tell me, are you gay?" he asked out of the blue. 

Taken aback, I denied, "No, why would you think that?" His question was personal, invasive, and I felt cornered. 

"I mean no harm. I just want to understand," he replied. "Your physique is quite feminine. I thought, perhaps, you might be bisexual, or something else."

I denied his assumptions, trying to keep my voice steady, even as I felt it waver. Alan noticed my unease and moved his hand towards my knee, his touch gentle yet somehow unnerving. "It's alright. Don't fret. I won't bite," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"We've been working together for two years now. Are you happy with your job here?" he asked, shifting the conversation back to safer ground.

(TO BE CONTINUED...)