4. Evander
Evander
“Lilian,” I hear Mireille call out, her voice filled with surprise. “What brings you here?”
“You haven’t been in today and I know how much you need your fix of hot chocolate for lunch, besides, I’m also here to get volunteers—” I pause mid-sentence in my email, overhearing the conversation outside my office door.
Lilian, from the coffee shop, is here, apparently trying to rope Mireille into some volunteer work.
I'm about to tune it out and return to my work when I hear my name mentioned.
"Oh, come on, Lil," Mireille says with a laugh. "There's no way Evander would agree to that. You know how he is about these town events."
"Which is precisely why he needs to participate!" Lilian insists. "It'll be good for him to get out and mingle with the community. Plus, I bet he'd look adorable trying to fly a kite."
I can practically hear Mireille rolling her eyes. "Evander Prescott and 'adorable' don't exactly go hand in hand, Lil."
"You never know," Lilian says slyly. "Maybe he'd surprise you."
There's a pause, and I find myself leaning closer to the door, straining to hear Mireille's response.
"Well," she says finally, her voice softer now. "He has been full of surprises lately..."
I feel an unexpected warmth in my chest at her words. Before I can overthink it, I stand up and move to the door, opening it just as Lilian is saying, "See? Now all we have to do is convince him-"
"Convince me of what?" I ask, causing both women to jump slightly.
Lilian recovers first, flashing me a bright smile. "Mr. Prescott! Just the man I wanted to see. How would you like to participate in Starlight Bay's National Kite Flying Day?"
I raise an eyebrow, glancing at Mireille who looks like she wants to sink into the floor. "Is that what all this fuss is about?"
Lilian nods enthusiastically. "It's for a good cause. All proceeds go to the local children's hospital. Plus, it's a great way to bond with the community."
I'm about to decline politely when I catch sight of Mireille's face. She's looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and... something else. Hope, maybe? The memory of her words “He has been full of surprises lately," echoes in my mind.
Before I can second-guess myself, I hear myself saying, "Alright, I'm in."
The shock on both women's faces would be comical if I wasn't feeling so off-balance myself.
"Really?" Lilian asks, recovering quickly. "That's wonderful! I'll put you and Miri down for the couples' kite flying competition."
"Couples' what now?" Mireille sputters, her cheeks flushing pink.
I clear my throat, suddenly feeling awkward. "I'm sure that's not necessary-"
"Nonsense!" Lilian interrupts with a glint in her eyes. "It'll be fun! Plus, you two already work so well together, I'm sure you'll be naturals at tandem kite flying."
I glance at Mireille, who looks as flustered as I feel. Part of me wants to backtrack, to bow out of this ridiculous situation. But another part, a part I'm not entirely comfortable acknowledging, is intrigued by the idea of spending time with Mireille outside of work in a more relaxed setting.
"Well," I say, trying to maintain my usual composure, "if Mireille is willing, I suppose we could give it a try."
Mireille's eyes widen in surprise. "I... yes, of course. If you're sure, Evander."
Lilian claps her hands together, beaming. "Excellent! The event is this Saturday at Starlight Bay Beach. Be there at ten am sharp. I'll have your kites ready!"
With that, she bustles out of the office, leaving Mireille and me in a somewhat awkward silence.
"So," Mireille says finally, a small smile playing on her lips. "Kite flying, huh? I never would have pegged you for the type."
I shrug, feeling oddly defensive. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Mireille."
"Clearly," she says, her smile widening. "I'm looking forward to finding out more."
There's something in her tone, something warm and inviting, that makes my heart rate pick up slightly. I clear my throat, trying to regain my professional demeanor.
"Yes, well. It's for a good cause, after all. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to finish."
Mireille nods, still smiling. "Of course. I'll get back to work too. But Evander?"
I pause at my office door. "Yes?"
"Thank you for agreeing to this. I know that Lilian does a lot for the children’s hospital and it means a lot."
I find myself returning her smile. "We'll see about that. Just don't expect me to be any good at it."
She laughs, a sound that sends an unexpected warmth through me. "Don't worry, I'll be there to keep you from getting tangled up in the strings."
As I close my office door behind me, I can't help but think that I might already be tangled up in something far more complicated than kite strings. And for once, I'm not entirely sure I want to extricate myself.
I sit back down at my desk, trying to focus on the email I was writing before this interruption.
But my mind keeps wandering to thoughts of Saturday—standing on the beach with Mireille, attempting to fly a kite together.
It's so different to what we usually do, how we usually are together that I’m not sure what to make of it.
And yet, there's a part of me that's looking forward to it. A part that wants to see Mireille outside of work and see what she’s like while relaxed.
As I try to refocus on my work, a loud crash from outside my office makes me jump. I'm on my feet instantly, striding to the door and yanking it open.
"Mireille?" I call out, my heart racing.
She's sprawled on the floor beside her desk, surrounded by a broken glass and what looks like the remnants of a potted plant. My stomach drops when I see her cradling her arm, her face contorted in pain.
"I'm fine," she says through gritted teeth, but I can see she's anything but.
I'm at her side in an instant, kneeling down next to her. "What happened?"
She winces as she tries to move. "I was trying to water the plant, and I lost my balance. It's nothing, really. I'm just clumsy as usual."
But as she attempts to stand, she lets out a sharp gasp of pain. I instinctively reach out to steady her, my hand on her waist.
"You're not fine," I say firmly. "Let me see your arm."
Reluctantly, she extends her arm towards me. Even through her sleeve, I can see swelling starting to form.
"We need to get you to a doctor," I say, my voice leaving no room for argument. "This could be a fracture."
Mireille shakes her head. "No, no, I can't. There's too much work to do and?—"
"Mireille," I cut her off, my tone softening. "Your health is more important than any work. I'm taking you to the hospital myself."
She looks up at me, surprise evident in her green eyes. "You don't have to do that, Evander. I can call a cab or?—"
"I want to," I interrupt, surprising myself with the sincerity in my voice. "Please, let me help you."
For a moment, we just look at each other, an unspoken understanding passing between us. Then Mireille nods slowly.
"Okay," she says softly. "Thank you."
As I help her to her feet, careful not to jostle her injured arm, I can't help but feel a surge of protectiveness. Seeing her hurt has stirred something in me, something I'm not quite ready to name.
But as we make our way out of the office, Mireille leaning against me for support, I know one thing for certain: my feelings for my clumsy, brilliant assistant are far more complicated than I ever imagined.