8. Maddox
EIGHT
MADDOX
Damn. I didn’t even need to be watching diligently. Pretty sure that squeaky-ass cart could’ve woken me from a dead sleep.
Instead of jumping out of my chair, I fight my chaser instincts and stay put.
Both times I’ve seen this girl, she’s bolted. Run away like a frightened little bunny.
And I don’t want to scare her. I want to… get to know her.
A few people glance her way, looking for the source of the noise, but she keeps her gaze on the ground.
I chose this spot because I can see the entirety of the long front desk. I assumed that’s what she did here. It hadn’t even occurred to me she could do something else. But this? This is perfect. Because now I can talk to her one-on-one. I don’t have to stand at the desk with all her coworkers listening to our every word.
I look over to the desk and catch that same girl from before staring at me. The one who acted like I was invisible.
I almost smile, betting she went and found my girl to give her a heads-up.
But it doesn’t matter if Bunny knows I’m here. I’m not trying to be sneaky. I’m also not going to give up.
The squeak stops, and I turn my attention back to my mystery girl.
From twenty feet away, I watch the side of her mouth pull down into a little frown. Then she steps around her cart and presses the button to call the elevator.
I sit forward.
The elevator doors slide open.
I set down the magazine I was pretending to read.
She pushes her noisy-ass cart forward.
I stand.
She turns around and presses the button for the floor she wants.
I take a step forward.
Her eyes lift. And meet mine.
The elevator doors slide shut.