Chapter Seventeen
Lily
? “Breathin” - Ariana Grande ?
I decided to wear the only white button-down blouse I have, paired with a black pencil skirt and three-inch heels. My hair is slicked back into a clean bun, and I kept my makeup extra light. It’s the perfect “I have a big girl job” outfit.
My eyes roam around the building, seeing only men. All wearing suits, carrying briefcases, either typing or talking on their phones. On command, my fingers start to rub on the portion of my untucked blouse.
This was a mistake.
I put my head down, ready to head out the front door. I’ll call a cab to take me home and far away from this place.
“Lily!”
I turn to see Mateo waving his hand in the middle of the lobby.
My heart falls to the scorching coffee residue that is lingering in my stomach, my feet planted to the floor underneath me as I stare and watch him stride my way.
I am closer to the exit. I can turn around and pretend I never saw him and continue to work at the club.
“Sorry I’m late. This morning has been hectic. Let me show you to your floor.”
Mateo is wearing a cashmere two-piece suit. His hair is parted down the middle, yet out of his face with rimless glasses barely on the tip of his nose. I lick at my dry lips, feeling as if I am being swallowed whole. My heart pounds in my chest and I’m sweating from every pore in my body.
“Hey. Hey!” His arms reach out, grabbing onto my shoulders.
“Look, I know it looks crazy right now, but I promise you, your floor is more... calm. I know you’re worried, but you’re going to do great.
” He gives me a small smile, his thumb rubbing along my collar bone.
His tone makes my heart beat a little less fast. I take a large breath and lift my shoulders back and chin up.
The elevators open to the fourth floor. White cubicles surround every square inch, with greyish blue carpets and whitewashed walls. Mateo’s hand wraps around my bicep as he leads me to an empty cubicle that only has one computer, one notepad, and one pen.
“This one is yours. I know it looks—”
“Like stale bread,” I interrupt. The only thing that is missing is the poster of a cat hanging onto a tree branch that says, Hang in there.
Mateo’s shoulders bob up and down with laughter. “I will be right here at twelve o’clock to meet you for lunch.”
I turn around to face him, his cinnamon eyes shining as he stares at me. I give him a nod and set my purse down on my L shaped desk and pull my chair out. When I turn back to him, he is already gone.
I don’t even know what I am doing, what am I supposed to be working on? When I open the computer, a loud bang hits my desk, papers scattering everywhere.
“Hey."
I swivel my chair around to see a woman maybe around my age, standing behind me. Her curly hair is in a top bun, and she is wearing sweats, a large T-shirt, and slip-on shoes.
“We need these done by the end of the week,” she says.
“I’m sorry—” I look back to the paperwork, my eyebrows scrunched together. “I’m new here, I wasn’t really told much—” I close my mouth when she lets out a loud annoyed sigh and rubs at her eyes.
“I know you’re new. It’s easy. You just have to add all the numbers into the charts. That’s it.” She waves her hands in the air and walks away.
I keep blinking, trying to moisten my dry eyes. I can feel the carpel tunnel already settling within my bones. I’ve barely made a dent in the stack of papers. She wasn’t wrong, it is easy, but she could have mentioned this laptop is as old as dinosaurs. It’s worse than mine at home.
By the time I look at the clock, three hours have passed.
I peek my head from above my cubical at the sound of the elevator ding to see Mateo walking toward me.
He is speaking on the phone and the closer he gets, the angrier he sounds.
His eyebrows are pinched, and his hand is balled into a fist. When he stands in front of me, he hangs up the phone.
“You ready?” he asks, his frown contouring into a smile. I pick up my bag and follow him back into the elevator and down to the lobby.
We make it through the crowd to a bar down the
street.
“So how do you like it so far?” Mateo questions as he takes a sip of his beer.
“It was—” I have no words. I don’t even think I have a thought in my brain. All the numbers I have read are imprinted into my head. My brain cells went from five to one. I’m nervous to pick up my drink because my fingers are so sore.
Mateo reaches for my hand, settling his on top of mine.
When I look at him, his lips are pinched into a small smile.
“Look, I know it probably isn’t the best. But the pay is great and it’s quiet.
” He removes his hand and sits back. “I’m probably being selfish,” he says while shaking his head.
“I’m just trying to persuade you to stay there so I can see you more often. ”
My eyes widen at his confession.
“It’s true though. I would like to see you more often, Lily. If that’s okay? You don’t have to stay at the firm, but I would still like to see you more often. Maybe a date? Not just for coffee and lunch breaks.”
I bite at my bottom lip, feeling my cheeks burst into flames. I’ve been seeing Mateo for years at the club. Have always denied him a chance with me. I never had a good reason besides the fact that he is my customer at work. “Mateo—”
“Are you guys ready to order?” the waitress interrupts, standing by our table with her notepad.