Chapter 13 - Cheerful Carrots #3
The point was-
He'd assumed.
The audacity.
I opened my own container.
Took one bite.
Chewed.
Looked at the second box.
Took another bite.
The second box continued existing.
Annoyingly.
I lasted nineteen minutes.
Adrian looked up when I entered his office.
This time I knocked.
Progress.
I walked to his desk.
Put the container down.
He looked at it.
Then at me.
"I thought you were very hungry."
"I recovered."
"Remarkable."
"Do you want it or not?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
Asshole.
I crossed my arms.
"It's steak and mashed potatoes."
His eyes dropped to the container.
"And asparagus and mushrooms."
"I can see that."
"Then why are you still talking?"
His eyes lifted to mine.
Oh.
Fuck.
I'd used his own line.
For a second, Adrian just stared at me.
Then his mouth moved.
"Get out, Ms. Stone."
"Gladly."
I turned.
"Angelica."
I looked back.
"Thank you."
Something stupid happened in my chest.
I ignored it.
"You're welcome."
Then I left.
Maya and Ben were waiting.
Not subtly.
Ben leaned back the second I reached my desk.
"So."
"No."
"You gave it to him."
"I had too much food."
Maya looked at the two empty spaces where the containers had been.
"You made exactly two meals."
"Coincidence."
Ben stared at me.
Then toward Adrian's office.
Then back at me.
"I've worked here three years."
"Oh my God. We know."
"No, seriously."
He lowered his voice.
"I've never seen that man ask an employee for food."
"He didn't ask for food."
Maya blinked.
"He literally asked if the food was for him."
"That's different."
"How?"
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Ben pointed at Adrian's office.
"I've never seen him talk to anyone here about anything that isn't work."
I frowned.
"That can't be true."
"It is."
"No, it isn't."
Maya nodded slowly.
"Pretty much."
I looked between them.
"What about normal conversation?"
Ben stared at me.
"What normal conversation?"
"I don't know. Coffee. Food. Weekend. Whatever."
"Angel."
"What?"
Maya's expression had changed.
Not teasing exactly.
Just-
watching me.
"He doesn't."
I looked toward Adrian's office.
Through the glass, I could see him sitting behind his desk.
Working.
Serious.
Controlled.
Alone.
The same Adrian Vale everyone else knew.
I thought about black coffee.
Late nights.
Did you eat?
No.
Cheerful carrots.
His dimple.
Is one of those for me?
I looked away.
"Well."
Ben waited.
I picked up my fork.
"He should. Maybe he'd be less terrifying."
Maya laughed.
The moment broke.
Good.
I returned to my lunch.
Normal.
Everything was normal.
Monday morning, Ethan walked into the office wearing light blue.
I noticed immediately.
Mostly because he stopped directly in front of my desk.
He spread his arms.
"Well?"
I looked up.
The shirt.
"Oh my God."
"You told me to buy it."
"You actually listened?"
"I occasionally make terrible decisions."
I leaned back and inspected him.
It was a nice shirt.
Light blue.
Fit him well.
"You look good."
Ethan put a hand over his heart.
"I've waited years for this."
"We've been friends for less than a year."
"Longest year of my life."
Maya looked over.
"The green was better."
"No, it wasn't."
"It absolutely was."
Ethan looked at me.
"So?"
"So what?"
"Final verdict."
I nodded solemnly.
"Acceptable."
"Acceptable?"
"Don't get greedy."
Maya suddenly looked at Ethan's shirt more closely.
Then her eyes moved across the office.
"Oh my God."
"What?" Ethan asked.
She pointed at him.
"You bought the Adrian shirt."
Ethan frowned.
"The what?"
"The exact same color Vale was wearing when she picked it."
Ethan looked across the office.
Then back at himself.
Then slowly at me.
His mouth curved.
"Interesting."
"It's fucking light blue. Half the male population owns one."
"Sure, Angel."
"I hate both of you."
Ethan laughed.
"I dressed for you and this is what I get?"
"That's unfortunate."
"Ms. Stone."
Oh, for fuck's sake.
Ethan's eyes met mine.
I looked up.
Adrian stood behind him.
White shirt today.
Dark tie.
Expression unreadable.
His eyes moved to Ethan.
To the light-blue shirt.
Then to me.
"Mr. Vale."
"Conference room three."
"When?"
"Now."
Of course.
I looked at my screen.
"What's wrong?"
"Solara."
"That narrows it down tremendously."
"Client revisions."
"I haven't seen them."
"I know."
"Then what exactly am I supposed to-"
"Conference room three, Ms. Stone."
I stared at him.
He stared back.
Old Adrian.
Definitely.
I sighed and stood.
Ethan stepped aside.
"Good luck."
"Pray for me."
Adrian turned.
I grabbed my notebook.
As I passed Ethan, he whispered-
"Still acceptable?"
I looked at his shirt.
"Blue was the right choice."
"Thank you."
I followed Adrian.
His jaw tightened.
There.
Again.
That tiny thing.
I noticed it.
But I didn't know what it meant.
And I wasn't going to spend the morning trying to figure out Adrian Vale's face.
I had actual work to do.
Mostly.