Say NO like this…….

….and if you follow it up by doing something that will make his opinion of you change in a hurry. Do that too !
So I’m having a normal day at work and my Boss took me by surprise.
Let’s go back to the beginning of the day when I found out that my Boss was angry because I took a short leave and came in to work for half the day. This is after I informed all the necessary people that I would be coming in late to work on account of official work that couldn’t be put off for another day. ( Since I’m still on a probation, this doesn’t sit lightly with anyone) Unfortunately, apart from me the only other person who manages and does all the administrative duties chose the same day to take a sick leave.
I’m sure that was unintentional (Or was it? More on that later). But while I let PSL (Phony Sick Lady) know that I would be in late that day. She decides not to come to work ( I’m suspicious here because she looked perfectly fine when she came into work the very next day.No doctor’s appointment too. And after I asked her if she was doing OK, she says sometimes she wants to know how the office would run without her. say WHAT again? ) I have to bring to light here that I took her job and do all administrative duties that she used to do earlier. Stay with me on this alright? She works in a different department presently.
Moving ON. So I come in late as planned and the Man ( a.k.a ‘ Fire-breathing dragon’ and ‘Smoking up a Storm’) rants and raves and tells me never to put him in a situation where he is forced to fire me. I sat silently through all of his explosions and told him that I had informed HR and all the other departments that I would be in late that morning since he was in another country.
To make a long story short. I sat down with my Boss the next day(after working hours) and had a little chat with him. He’s great to talk to, when he knows that you are apologetic or have something important to say to him. He is from Iraq and like most Arab men have loud voices and dramatic use of their language when riled into a temper. He is one of them. But I’ve seen the worst. I live with my father who has a temper that can match Hitler on his worst day. So it doesn’t faze me at all.
While we got to talking after I apologized profusely for putting him in a difficult situation. What do I have to lose, right? I need the job. If it pleases him that I apologize, I will do so. I don’t really know when being in his favor might come in handy. So we talk and then we move from work to family and each other’s native countries. Out of the blue while I’m talking he says :
Boss-Man : Darling, how old are you?
Me : I’m 25
Boss-Man : Oh. For someone you’re age, you are really very young to be so wise. I’m asking you because I have a son…
Me : ( I hope my face doesn’t show my complete and utter disbelief) …….
Boss-Man : …and we are looking for a girl for her. Would you be interested? What would your family say? Do you marry outside your community too?
Me : ( Breathe. Don’t laugh. Answer wisely – he’s your FREAKING BOSS!! )
Me : I’m not really interested in marriage anytime soon, I’m sorry. My family has a mix of different races and includes americans and dutch. I think we have to be one of the most multi-cultural families across the three continents that we are spread out in.
Boss-Man : Oh never mind then. But when you do get a boy-friend, he needs to see me if he has to marry you. He needs to take my permission I mean.
Me : I will invite him over to work one day then. You can see for yourself and then be a guest of honor at the wedding.
Boss-Man : I would absolutely love to be invited to an Indian wedding.
( Talk then steers towards safer topics like cultural differences when it comes to marriage)
So that’s the whole story. I google searched ways of getting myself out of a question like that. And I swear I think I’m going to be the first person to write something like this. SO bizarre. It feels unreal to even write about it.
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