True Love Or Friends with Benefits

Third Person's POV

Next Day as Mike was getting ready for the office he remembers Mary's eyes and their yesterday encounter. He texted her "Good Morning Dear"

He looked at his phone hoping to receive a response but nothing. Maybe she will be busy. He thought as he knew for a fact that most surgeries are planned in the first part of the day and its morning. He left for office. In the office, as he was entering the elevator he heard a familiar voice " Hey please stop for me as well." He held the elevator. It was Catherine.

"Hey, Mike." Catherine greeted him

"Hey, Catherine." He formally greeted her back.

"where have you been? I didn't see you since many days." She initiated the conversation

" I was on leave," Mike replied without looking at her.

"Oh. Visiting Texas?" She asked curiously

"Was on a trip actually," Mike replied now looking at his watch

"Oh...Hey, I was hoping that you would join me next month for Miami."

"I can't Catherine. I already took my leaves." He replied politely

He was hoping that 6th floor should arrive early. Normally he would pray that these elevator talks could be long but now something has changed. He is changed.

"Are you avoiding me?" Catherine asked with a raised brow

"Catherine I am just back and I know Alandra might have planned a whole month's task for me. So I don't think it will be possible for me. But you enjoy your vacation."

The elevator reached the 6th floor.

"Your floor has arrived," Mike told Catherine

"Maybe we can head to the cafeteria for breakfast?" she suggested

"Not today Catherine. I have to check emails and show my face to Alandra. Maybe some other time." Mike replied sounding busy.

"Ok"

Catherine went. He sighed and in some time he reached his floor. He walked towards his department. He doesn't know but somehow this office seemed different to him. He was feeling a bit light and happy. He thought he will go for coffee with David to chocolocious café considering David will feel happy as he loves food.

As Mike entered the department I saw David sitting with his headphones on. Seeing him David removes his headphones and hugged him.

"Hey Bro. How are you? You are looking so much better since I last saw you? How was the trip? Anything interesting happened? Spill the beans." David asked excitedly

"Allow me to breathe David. I have just come." Mike said abruptly

"Ya.How stupid of me."

"By the way, I missed you too," Mike said to David with a wink

"You know apart from me there is someone else who missed you." David chuckle

"What? Who?" Mike asked with a frown face

"Who else than the witch?" David said with a devilish smile

"Omg tell me about it. When I approached her for leave she gave me an expression as If I am asking for her entire property share. She has so many doubts to approve my leave." Mike told with a chuckle.

" Lol. That's epic."

" I know."

Mike opened his laptop and started outlook. A dozen of mail were unread. he turned off his out of office and started reading the emails. Many emails were related to the administration, glory, and HR activities. Also, there were few emails related to the bug fix. As he was reading the older mails a new mail popped up. It was from Alandra addressed to Mike and David.

As he started reading it, he grew a bit confused. "David we are been granted a bonus." mike said

"Isn't it a good thing?"

" But what is it for?" Mike asked still sounding confused

"To maintain the site integrity and making sure all abusive and hateful comments are hidden during the scam," David explained

"wow. I never knew you get a bonus for this."

"Lucas is involved in a lot of bad deeds and has a lot of black money. So this bonus amount is like a peanut to him."

"Ok. But the good thing is now I can get a car with this money. It was getting hectic to travel daily by cab." Mike said

"Great. So which model you are thinking to buy?"

"will check. Just need a car with a good average to commute."

"You are such a minimalist guy. I Wonder how you fell for Catherine."

"I never fell for Catherine." Mike justified

"Really. You are denying it from day one but I have noticed your concern for her."

"I don't care what is happening with her. I don't care anymore."

David was a bit shocked at his words. Suddenly Mike's phone beeped. It was a message from Mary. "Hey, Mike. Just finished with surgery. Sorry, couldn't text earlier."

Mike replied "It's fine. I understand."

"So how is your roomie Jeff?" She texted back

"He is top of the world. Melissa and jeff sorted their argument and now Melissa is fine with Betty being a part of the band."

" wow.Glad to hear. Hey, I have few patients waiting. So will talk to you later."

"Sure."

David looked at him now fully focused.

"what?" Mike asked a bit annoyed with David's continuous stare

"who is it? Did you meet her on the trip?"

" I don't know what you are talking about David," Mike said blushing

"Really Mike. You really love to play Cat and Mouse. You secretive guy." He laughed

"Nothing like that. It's just a friend from the trip."

"So what's the name of this friend and what she do?" David asked for the details

"Her name is Mary. She is a heart surgeon." Mike said scratching his neck

"Woah...That's great. I am happy for you."

"Thanks. Now, let's finish the work, and then we are going for coffee."

"That's my dialogue usually. You have really changed bro and in a good way I mean."

After work, Mike and David went for coffee and chatted casually. Mike told him all about his trip, Mary, Josh, and Radha.

" Wow. I would really like to meet this Josh guy."

"sure. We can get you inked tattoo in his parlor." Mike suggested

"Cool."

It was evening. Mike was leaving for his apartment. He has just come down from the elevator and was booking the cab when he received a text. He opened the text. It was from Catherine.

" Hey, Mike. I am sorry for texting you. I guess you have already left from office but there is an emergency and I need your help. Can you come back here?"

Mike sighed. Since this was related to work He didn't have the option to deny so he replied. "Ok. Where are you?"

"6th floor. In my cabin."

Catherine being promoted to head PR now had a cabin. She is not sitting in the workstation anymore but she has her own cabin.

Mike reached 6th floor.