19.
CHARLOTTE
Holding the two cups of hot liquid, I briskly walked towards the main entrance of the skyscraper.
It was not even 9 am and nothing had been going my way.
It was one of those mornings where nothing seemed to be going my way.
Now, to add to the list of things that composed my shitty morning was going to be Mason's shitty mood.
I had overslept. I was exhausted from last night's shift at the bar.
It didn't help that my conversation with Kyle didn't exactly go well.
Let's just say, we weren't on talking terms. When he was ready to get his head out of his ass, he knew where to find me.
That place would be the bar because otherwise, I wanted nothing to do with him.
I pushed Kyle and his words to the back of my head as the warm breeze swaddled me from the cold outside as I entered the building.
Greeting the security, I quickly scanned my clearance pass and made my way into the elevator, holding the closed door option as if that would save me from the wrath brewing upstairs.
Once the doors opened, I stepped out and made my way to Ophelia's desk. I quickly logged in and printed the report before making my way to his office with one of the cups I brought. I gently knocked on his door and opened it.
He was on the phone, and leaned back in his chair.
His molten whiskey eyes followed me as I made my way to stand in front of his desk.
His lips quirked up into a smile as he caught sight of the cup before mouthing his gratefulness.
Slightly surprised that he wasn't going to rip into me about being late, I hesitatingly placed the report in front of him and turned to make my way back to my desk.
He grasped my wrist softly, causing me to turn back and face him. I looked at him questioningly as though to silently ask what it was that he wanted. He stood and made his way around the desk to stand in front of me. His eyes were trained on me, lips pulled into a small devious smirk.
"Thank you.", his gruff voice spoke low.
He pulled his phone from his ear and placed it on his desk.
The hand gripping my wrist pulled me until I was pressed against him, my palms flat on his chest. Caught off guard, I let out an audible gasp which seemed to amuse him as his smirk grew.
His strong arms were wrapped around my waist, grip ever so delicate as if afraid to put pressure because I'd break.
"What are you doing?" I whispered, looking up at him.
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"I don't know."
"Thought I'd wish you a good morning." He shrugged his shoulders as though this was nothing new to him. As if he did this every day. I gave him a deadpan look.
"You've never wished me a good morning. Especially, not like this."
"Well, maybe we ought to start new traditions." My heart fluttered at his words. "Good morning, by the way."
"Good morning," I said, with a small laugh. My laughter died down when I saw how close we truly were. My eyes sucked every little detail they could. The slight indent where his dimples lay to the unfair length of his dark lashes.
We hadn't kissed. At least, not here. I wasn't about to cross that line. With that in mind, I pushed his chest gently with my hands and stepped out of his warm embrace.
Clearing my throat, I pointed towards the report on his desk. "Do you want me to go over it with you?"
"No, it's okay." He rounded the corner of his desk to sit back down in his office chair. With a small nod, I made my way towards the door. "Oh, thank you for the coffee, love."
I looked back to see him, smiling at me as he took a sip of his hot coffee. Speechless at the nickname, all I could do was nod once more like the bobblehead I truly was. I could feel my cheeks heat as he chuckled at me.
I logged off the computer, grabbing my bag and coat. I made my way to his door, which was uncharacteristically wide open, and peered inside.
"Hey," At my voice, his head snapped up. "I'm going to grab some lunch. I'll be back in about thirty minutes."
He stood up, grabbed his phone and coat before making his way towards me.
"Woah, wait. Where are you going?"
"I'm coming to lunch with you."
"Why?"
"I'm hungry." He asked almost as if it was a question rather than a statement.
"Oh, okay. Well, I'm going to a small bakery. It's not very far. You'll like it. That's where I got the lunches I would bring you."
He followed me out his office. We barely spoke the entire way down to the lobby and the bakery. I tried talking, even about the lightest of things like the weather. However, he seemed to be deep in his thoughts.
We entered the small bakery, the smell of freshly baked pastries wafting to our noses. I found us a table, placing our belongings before making my way to meet Mason at the line of the cash.
Luckily, Silva was not here today. I didn't feel like lying. I just wanted to enjoy a lunch with him.
We sat down with our food and I greedily dug in. I hadn't had the chance to eat breakfast this morning and my stomach was in the midst of eating itself.
"Why did you stop bringing me lunches?" He asked as I opened my mouth to take another bite of my sandwich.
"Oh, well I wasn't even sure if you were eating them. I didn't even know if you liked them. You never said thank you or mentioned it. So, I figured I was wasting my time."
Nodding, he took a large bite of his sandwich.
His jaw clenching with tension with every bite.
We finished our meals in silence. It wasn't uncomfortable but it was the type of silence where you know there was something hanging above both of you, patiently waiting to be said.
It carried on as we made our way back to work, side by side.
"I always liked them. Thank you. I'm sorry I never told you that before today."
My head snapped up in surprise. A small smile spread across my lips as he looked down at me with one of his own.
"It's okay," I whispered before we made our way into his building and up to his floor.
We made our way to our prospective desks but I could see he stopped at his doorway from the corner of my eye.
"Would you like to go out for dinner, tonight?"
"I would love to but I can't."
I watched as his eyebrows furrowed at my decline. Unfortunately, I had a shift at the bar tonight and I could try to get it covered but the reality was that I needed money.
"What are your plans?"
"I don't see how that is any of your business." I watched as his eyes blazed at my comment and his body, once relaxed, lined with tension.
I didn't want to be a bitch but I knew this was the only way he would drop his persistence. He could assume what he wants. Though, if he were to ask I'd be honest with him. At least, as honest as someone in my position could be.
"Ah, I see. You have another date already lined up." He said it as though it were a fact. His expression was unbothered and cool. The clenching of his fists was a telltale that he was anything but at the thought of it.
Wanting to put him out of his misery, I simply shook my head. The tension lining his rigid body somewhat eased.
"How about tomorrow night?" I asked.
"I'll pick you up at 8." With that, he turns and walks into his office, leaving it wide open.