He waved it away before grabbing a second cookie. “Nah, they don’t really need it anymore. No covid leave either, it's just regular sick leave. I don’t use much of that anyway, so I have the time.”
I sighed and leaned on the table. The late hour was really beginning to weigh on me. I mean it was nearly nine… yeah, I heard that too. Not even 30 yet and I wanted to be unconscious by 9pm. Nor did I know the name of one of the hottest clubs in LA.
I needed a life.
Outside of the virtual world.
Randy looked at the time on his watch and pushed himself to stand up. He swayed a bit, so I jumped up to help. He didn’t want it, but I did it anyway.
“Are sure you’re alright? Do you want me to stay here tonight?”
He huffed and leaned over to kiss the side of my head, since we were close to the same height. “I’m fine, Pixie. I just sat in one position for too long.”
I frowned, more at the nickname than anything else. Only Dad called me that, he was the only one I let get away with it. And Randy knew that.
I locked the door behind me after I left and sighed. I really hoped he learned his lesson this time. I wasn’t even mad at Dillan for making my brother fight. Maybe if something had been broken, or he had been permanently injured, I would feel differently. But no. I was forever optimistic, and that would be my downfall.
I barely made it home and to my bed before I was out cold.
The next day, I was sitting at my desk, elbow deep in digital paperwork, when there was a knock on my door.
“Come in.” I hollered absentmindedly.
My door opened and a deep, cheerful voice echoed around the room.
“It’s been a week, and you haven’t decorated yet?”
My head snapped up, finally realizing someone was in my office. I laughed softly and stretched my fingers.
“Haven’t had the time. What’s up, Chris?”
Chris was five years older, and only about an inch taller than me, with a full head of blonde hair. He looked like the typical Cali boy. But the nerd style, not the surfer. Up until a week ago, he was my boss. Now we were on the same level. It was still kind of weird.
“Nothing, just wanted to come see how you were settling into your new position, and to see if you wanted to get lunch. I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you before they moved you up to this floor.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “I’m like, 20 feet away. You make it sound like another building entirely.”
We didn’t exactly see each other all that often before anyway. Our firm took up exactly four floors in the building. The first two were filled with a variety of staff from security to cyber analysts, my old job. The third was for the junior partners and the conference rooms. And the fourth was the senior partners and their secretaries.
Chris stuck his hands in his pockets, acting shy. I knew he did that on occasion, I just didn’t know why he would with me. He never had before. But then, I had been his underling for the last three years, up until a week ago.
“True, but with how busy it gets, it feels like it sometimes. So, what do you say, Chinese?”
I crinkled my eyes in confusion. “Chinese what?”
Chris both rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Lunch. I just asked you to go to lunch with me…”
My eyes widened and shot to the clock on the wall. Sure enough, it was nearly 1pm. I cursed and jumped up. Belatedly remembering I was in a skirt that had to be straightened out, as did my white button-up blouse. I straightened out the collar, fixed the buttons I loosened earlier, and retucked in my shirt. From the corner of my eye, I could have sworn I saw Chris blush and adjust his pants. When I looked up though, he was just standing there with his hands in his pocket, acting shy again. I was probably seeing things.
“I have to get to the bank during my lunch, and they aren’t exactly close. Raincheck?”
Chris opened his mouth to answer, but nothing came out. He settled for clearing his throat and nodding.
“Great.” I bent down a bit and unlocked the bottom drawer of my desk, trading out my laptop for my hidden purse.
Chris didn’t move an inch.
“You okay?” I asked, walking towards the door.
