“I think we might have exceeded lunch hour.” He cleared his throat.
“Oh,” I sprang back to life. “I’m sorry about that.” I immediately stood up, cleared the table, and prepared to leave.
“Thank you,” his voice came low and gentle before I could exit his office.
“I’m honored to have had lunch with you.” I knew I was definitely grinning from ear to ear.
He smiled.
I was totally going to make partner at this point.
*****
An idea crossed my mind as I rounded off for the day. I could really help Christian by getting to know the things he liked and the things he disliked.
I would also get to know him better. So, I interrogated Liam after he parked the car in the driveway. In a cool, concerned as a PA type of way.
“Well, I’ve been working with the CEO for over five years now, and I know that he takes yoga sessions and goes to the gym frequently.”
He wouldn’t have those crazy biceps had he been sedentary.
“Also, he loves a good book. He sometimes reads in the car, on his way to business meetings,” Liam added, gently rubbing his blond stubble.
I knew all this already. The urge to roll my eyes made its way up, but I shoved it down. I liked Liam, but I would like him more if he said more exciting stuff.
“And?” I said, taking note of what he had said.
“He likes old movies?”
“Now we’re talking. Give me more.”
“We haven’t gone there in a while now, even before you were hired, but he visits a resort, to get away from things,” he mentioned. “Not just any resort; it’s a particular one at the outskirts of town.”
I thanked Liam and kept him company as he wiped the car down for the night. A waste of effort, especially since he was going to repeat the task tomorrow. But routine and whatnot.
I intentionally ambled into the house when Liam left to check up on him. When I entered, he was not in the living room. However, a yell erupted from an inner room. It was so loud and frightening that I staggered back.
“I’m done with you, and I’m done with this relationship. Do you really intend on driving me crazy?” His voice was soaked in anger and frustration. “Listen, let this be the last time you’d spew this trash. I’m no longer going to waste my time on this. We’re through.”
As soon as I heard his feet stomping, I escaped through the door.
It never happened, I told myself. I was never there.
Chapter Four
Christian
Iwould have stayed longer under the coolness of the shower if Fiona hadn’t been so diligent at her job.
I slipped out of the shower, dried myself, and wore a robe. Switching on the hair dryer, I dried my hair, and soon it was back to its proper shape, nice and sleek.
Strangely, I had overslept and had not realized the alarm ringing until I received a phone call from Fiona asking me to let her into the house.
My head felt lighter than ever, and my muscles were taut, though I had missed a few days at the gym.
“Would you like tea or coffee?” She asked as soon as I joined her in the living room.
“Tea will do this morning.”
“I have options-”
“Yunnan.”
“What?” She blinked.
“Yunnan. Have you never heard of it before?” I wondered.
Her innocent hazel eyes gazed at me with interest.
“It’s a kind of black tea. It’s pretty good. It’s right in the first cabinet.”
“Oh, okay.” She dropped her iPad and briskly walked towards the kitchen.
Funnily enough, I found her behavior cute.
“Is there any special procedure?” She soon returned to ask, still lost in her innocence.
“No. You can brew it with cold or hot water, but I prefer hot water.” I responded.
