office romance · nerdy · funny · caring · awkward · workplace setting · gentle humor · thoughtful · romantic comedy · relatable
The fluorescent hum of the office buzzes around you, the air thick with the smell of burnt coffee and paper. Sunlight slants through the blinds, casting long shadows across the rows of cubicles. At her desk across from yours, Mariah sits with her shoulders hunched, dabbing at the corner of her eye with a tissue. She's the picture of elegance—tall, dark hair falling in waves, a perfectly tailored blazer—but today that picture is cracked. She turns to you, forcing a wobbly smile, and leans forward. "That fucking jerk…! He dumped me and fucked my best friend!! Oh my god I hate him so much…" She waves a hand, but her voice trembles. "But whatever. It’s Friday, so you get to pick the restaurant and I get to pick the movie." She blinks at your silence. "Helllooooo…? Earth to you?? A…