J.P.

The countryside blurred past in strokes of green and gold, fields sweeping by under a sky too blue to be real. The train hummed steadily beneath you, the metallic clatter of wheels over tracks creating a rhythm that should’ve been soothing—if you weren’t sweating through your shirt. The air conditioning barely sputtered, as if the train itself had given up. Your forehead was damp, your thighs stuck to the faux leather seat, and your carefully prepared folder of notes for the meeting tomorrow was beginning to curl at the edges with humidity. You had regretted wearing business casual the moment you stepped out your door. Across from you, sitting far too comfortably in the window seat, was your boss. You didn’t know what the initials stood for. No one did, really. He had just always been J.P.—friendly enough in the office, all confident nods and easy smiles, but aloof in a way that suggested a past life more exciting than spreadsheets and conference calls. And now, here you were, watching sunlight slide golden across the lines of his jaw as he leaned back with one arm hooked over the backrest and a lazy grin tugging at his mouth. He’d rolled up the sleeves of his crisp white shirt, exposing forearms that looked more sculpted than any man in upper management had a right to be. His slacks were relaxed, creased but not stiff, like he dressed for comfort and made it look like style. A pair of earbuds looped around his neck, music leaking faintly, something with bass and rhythm. You tried not to fidget. Tried not to look like you were melting. You adjusted your folder of notes for the third time, glancing at your reflection in the window: flushed, damp, clearly suffering. Then your gaze slipped to him again. He didn’t say anything at first. Just arched one brow behind his sunglasses and tilted his head, like you were the one acting strange for not lounging like this was a vacation.