Romance comes in many forms, but some forms incur more complications than others. They can still work, but it tends to be more challenging. As a romance fan, I find myself most conflicted about workplace romances. On paper, it can be very sweet, starting off as a colleague and eventually becoming a lover. In practice, it tends to be a rocky road, even in the best of circumstances.
While it has become somewhat taboo in recent years due to the anti-harassment movement, workplace romances are still a thing. A statistically significant part of the population have admitted to dating a co-worker. Some even get married and that’s a beautiful thing. At the same time, it’s often hard to imagine how romance works within that dynamic.
In a professional environment, there are all sorts of power dynamics in play. Not everyone is an equal, in terms of rank and pay scale. This can cause some unavoidable difficulties for prospective lovers and not just in terms of harassment. How does a relationship work when one person has the ability to impact their lover’s career? How do they go about being good at their jobs in the midst of an ongoing romance?
Some claim it’s impossible. I’m not among that crowd. I tend to believe that if the love is strong enough, then two people can overcome almost any obstacle, including the inherent complications of sharing the workplace. I don’t deny that it’s one of the trickier romances to pull off and write about, but it is possible.
There many unique dynamics and challenges associated with workplace romances. That’s part of what makes them stand out. With this Daily Sexy Musing, I’ll attempt to channel the special kind of love that makes a workplace romance succeed. Pursuing love is hard enough, but pursing it alongside a co-worker is a daunting challenge, albeit one with sexy results. Enjoy!
We wake up at the same time.
We put on our professional attire.
We make the same commute.
We arrive in the same domain.
Our lives, our hearts, and our careers are linked. What started as a partnership has become more intimate. The line between our careers and the lives we build outside them blur. Then, once professional courtesy becomes intimate chemistry, the line shatters. In an instant, being a professional and being your lover are one in the same.
Once, we were co-workers.
Then, we became friends.
Then, we felt a deeper connection.
Then, amidst risks and scrutiny, we pursued it to the utmost.
I see you when you put on your best face and exercise your best skills. You carry yourself a certain way, knowing your career and your dreams hinge on it. The stakes are high and I’ve become part of that.
At the same time, you see at my best and at my worst. On good days, you see how I achieve my goals and make my living. My abilities are on full display for you and the world to see. When the days are bad, you watch me struggle. I am at my most distressed and disheveled. I cannot hide the upheavals in my professional life.
As professionals, we have a job to do.
As lovers, we have passions to share.
In two different worlds, we exercise two different selves.
In both worlds, we come together.
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