Divorce and Desire: Love with My Boss

After returning to the office, Noah dove into his responsibilities. He was contemplating resignation. James had texted him that he'd send someone to deliver the divorce papers to his place.

Even though the company treated him well and he had a great rapport with his colleagues, Noah felt that this divorce was an opportunity for a fresh start. He was on his own now—no need to chase stability. With a car, a house, and savings, he felt ready to embrace his true self.

Despite having a finance degree, Noah's passion was coffee. His mother had loved it too, and all the rewards from childhood to adulthood were tied to coffee. Its sweet taste always offered a temporary escape from the heaviness in his heart.

Everything seemed to align perfectly; the project he was overseeing was also nearing completion. He submitted his resignation to HR, but the reply stated that, according to labor law, he needed to stay for another 30 days.

"Thirty days?" Noah frowned at his phone. That felt too long. A quick search revealed that if the boss approved, he could leave immediately.

"Boss, I'd like to resign."

Noah approached Ethan, who was engrossed in paperwork. He was careful not to disturb him. To be honest, he felt a bit intimidated by Ethan. Standing at 6'2", with broad shoulders and a handsome face, Ethan had an aura that was both commanding and oppressive when he didn't speak.

Noah swallowed hard and distracted himself by examining Ethan's meticulously styled hair—how did he manage to keep so much volume with hairspray?

Finally, Ethan looked up, his keen phoenix-like eyes meeting Noah's, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Are you happy?"

"Uh?" Noah was taken aback by the sudden question, but he managed to stay relaxed. He'd prepared a response about his resignation, but he didn't have the chance to say it. Was he really that obviously happy? He glanced at his own reflection in the window—calm and composed. But today was indeed worth celebrating.

"Yes, boss. You seem in a good mood."

Ethan's gaze flicked to the bare ring finger of Noah's left hand before returning to his face. "Well, that's good to hear."

"I approve your resignation. You can go to HR to finalize the paperwork. No need to come in tomorrow." He added a common courtesy, "Have you wrapped up your work?"

"All done."

As Noah turned to leave, he bumped into Felix Anderson in the hallway, Ethan's assistant.

"Noah! Long time no see! What's up with Mr. Harrison?" Felix asked.

"I'm quitting."

Felix's face fell with regret. "No more coffee and pastries? The last ones you brought were so good—I barely got to taste one before it was gone!"

"No worries. I'm looking to open a coffee shop soon. When it opens, you have to come!"

"Really? That's awesome!" Felix grinned, throwing an arm around Noah's shoulders. "Count me in!"

The memory of that afternoon flashed in Noah's mind. Felix had come back from lunch with two bags of golden-brown bread, studded with nuts and cranberries.

"Did the cafeteria shortchange you?" Ethan had asked, eyeing the bread.

"Not at all! Our food is great. Noah from marketing gave me this, said I had to try it."

"Are you close with him?"

Felix scratched his head, confused by Ethan's interest but answered honestly. "Not really, but we worked on a contract together. He's pretty capable."

Ethan had stared at the bread, then replied, "I haven't had lunch yet."

"Then take it! I had a bite, and it's not sweet at all." Felix reluctantly offered it, knowing who he was dealing with.

"You're coming with me on this business trip," Ethan had decided, still focused on his documents.

"Wait, I thought I asked Sam to go with you?" Felix had wanted to use this day to dodge a family blind date.

"Do you not want to go?"

Feeling Ethan's cold gaze, Felix quickly backtracked, "No, of course not!"

Suddenly, he felt triumphant—perhaps Ethan thought he was more capable than Sam, and this could lead to a raise.

Striding back to his office with his head held high, Felix couldn't shake the feeling that he was shining in his boss's eyes.

When Sam walked in, he immediately noticed Felix's elation. "You look like you just won the lottery! What's going on?"

Felix puffed up his chest. "Ethan just told me I'm going on the business trip with him!"

"Seriously?" Sam's expression darkened. "Are you sure?"

Watching Sam's face drop only fueled Felix's delight. If he had a tail, it would be wagging.

"Absolutely! The president himself said so!"

Sam shot him a skeptical look before heading to Ethan's office, knocking on the door.

"Come in."

"Mr. Harrison, didn't you agree to let me accompany you on this trip?" Sam asked, trying to mask his frustration.

Ethan didn't look up. "I did, but Felix is better suited for this trip."

Sam glanced at the bread on Ethan's desk, recognizing it as the same one Felix had received.

Ethan casually rubbed his fingers over the plastic bag, making a soft sound. "Too bad; there should have been three."

Sam, unlike Felix, wasn't emotionally astute. He could charm clients, yet he remained oblivious to the fact that Ethan's mood had soured over a piece of bread.

"Got it, Mr. Harrison," Sam replied, trying to mask his disappointment.

Noah returned to his workstation, a sense of finality settling over him as he began to pack up his things. The familiar sights and sounds of the office felt bittersweet. 

"Noah, what are you doing?" Emma, a colleague from the marketing team, had just walked in and quickly lowered her voice, leaning closer to him. "Did you offend someone and get fired?!"

Noah chuckled, a smile breaking through his nervousness. "No one's targeting me. I want to leave. My colleagues are great, the atmosphere is supportive, and the treatment is good. Even the boss is decent."

Emma's eyebrows knitted together, curiosity etched on her face. "So you're just giving up this sweet job? What are you planning to do next?"

"I want to open a coffee shop and be my own boss. While I still have time, I want to do something I truly love." As he spoke, Noah's eyes sparkled with a fervent hope, as if the prospect of the future lit up his entire being.

Emma's expression softened, admiration clear in her gaze. "That sounds amazing, Noah! With your skills, you can definitely make it work." She watched him, feeling as if he had suddenly transformed from a clockwork puppet into a vibrant, living being full of dreams and aspirations.

Noah packed up the few items on his desk, the space around him quickly becoming bare. Once he was finished, he realized there was little to take with him. He had become accustomed to a certain aesthetic—one that was about to change. 

Feeling refreshed from his cold, which had completely recovered, Noah decided to take the next step. He drove to a nearby shopping mall, where he stopped at a local barbershop. The stylist trimmed his bangs, which had previously fallen over his eyebrows, and tidied up his sideburns, revealing his ears. 

He took a moment to appreciate the new look, feeling as if he was shedding layers of his old self. With thoughts of his black suits hanging in the closet—likely to gather dust—he realized he wouldn't have much occasion to wear them anymore. 

Looking at his backseat filled with belongings, he felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The darkening sky outside mirrored his thoughts, but he knew he was heading towards something brighter. 

When he returned home, the emptiness of the space struck him. The absence of familiar clutter felt significant, almost like a blank canvas waiting to be filled. Noah picked up his phone and started browsing recent listings for store and house transfers. 

He planned to sell his current house after settling the balance. The location was decent, and the layout had its perks; he had no doubt it wouldn't take long to find a buyer. 

Realizing he needed to expand his knowledge about coffee, he also looked for courses to enroll in. The list of preparations was growing, so he grabbed a piece of paper and began jotting down everything he needed to do. Suddenly, it dawned on him how impulsive his decisions felt. It was as if he were experiencing a late adolescence—fearless and ready to seize opportunities.

The doorbell rang, breaking his train of thought. 

"Hello, are you home now? The documents have arrived," came the voice on the other end.

"Yes, I'm here," Noah replied, and moments later, he heard a knock on the door. He opened it to find a delivery person holding a file bag.

"Thank you!" Noah took the bag and closed the door behind him. 

After a quick shower, he lay back on his bed, scrolling through messages on his phone. He was pondering the best locations for his coffee shop. He wanted a spot that wasn't overly crowded, yet still convenient. 

As he browsed, a familiar name caught his eye— a coffee shop just down the street from his office. He remembered how popular it was, always bustling with morning customers who needed their caffeine fix to kickstart the day. 

"Why is it being transferred?" he wondered aloud. The cozy ambiance and reasonable prices had made it a favorite spot. If he didn't act quickly, he could miss out on a golden opportunity.

Without hesitating, he dialed the number listed online. "Hello, is your shop still available for transfer?"

"Yes, it is. I'm transferring it because I have some issues back in my hometown and don't plan to develop it here anymore," came the reply.

"Sounds like a tough situation," Noah sympathized. "Would it be possible for us to meet at the shop tomorrow at nine?"

"Sure, see you then," the voice responded.

After hanging up, Noah felt a wave of relief wash over him. "I can't believe my luck," he thought, excitement bubbling in his chest. Picking up such a bargain felt almost too good to be true. 

He spent the rest of the evening preparing for his meeting, jotting down questions and thoughts about what he would need to know about the shop. Ideas for the coffee menu, interior design, and marketing strategies danced in his mind, each one more thrilling than the last.

As the night wore on, he could hardly contain his anticipation. For the first time in a long while, Noah felt genuinely optimistic about the future. He was ready to embrace this new chapter, filled with both challenges and the promise of fulfillment. 

With a heart full of dreams and a mind buzzing with ideas, Noah drifted off to sleep, eager to see what tomorrow would bring.