Chapter 4

I let out a deep breath as I sit in the lunchroom. I hated socialising with everyone here, they were all so uptight. I knew they judged me based on my appearance but there wasn't much I could do about it. My only friend here was Nate, and thankfully I could see him making his way down the hall to meet me for lunch. His strides were long considering he wasn't that much taller than me. He was wearing a dark navy suit today with a matching floral tie. His blonde hair was ruffled and unkept, but it suited him, and his blue eyes were vibrant and friendly. As he passed all the other cubicles he smiled and waived at those that turned to see him. He was the office heart throb, and I had no doubt that it was part of the reason some of the women here despised me. If only they knew the truth.

I watched, waiting patiently for him to join me before eating. He squeezed through the people gathered at the counter, got his sandwich from the fridge and basically crashed into the seat in front of me. He was tanned, which highlighted the freckles that covered his nose and cheeks, a clear indication that he'd spent the weekend at the beach or on his families boat again.

"You're late. Again." I say flatly.

"I know! I'm sorry! I got so caught up and then Rebecca stopped me on the way here to ask me out again." he rolls his eyes.

"What is it with everyone in this office trying to get in our pants?" I shoot a quick glance at Tom and his buddies.

"Maybe we should just get in each other's pants then?" Nate says back cooly.

"Oh yeah, if you could even get it up." I scoff as I start to dig into my cold mock chicken and broccoli. The bloody microwave was broken again. I hate this office.

"Yeah, no thanks!" He laughs.

Nate was a closeted gay. I pride myself on the fact he trusted me enough to tell me. I'm assuming the fact that when Tom found out I was bisexual and spread it around the office, Nate felt that I could be trusted and help him through his own acceptance. He still didn't want people knowing, his dad was a total homophobe and he was scared he'd cut him out of the family if he found out. So poor Nate kept this secret to himself, and me.

"So how was your weekend? Anything exciting happen?" He questions me.

"I think I met my future husband but he rejected me and hasn't called me." I say nonchalantly.

"Tell me all about it!" He says mid bite of whatever boujee sandwich he had.

———

"Maybe he's gay." Nate states after I tell him the events of my Friday night. "If he is, can I have him? He sounds hot." He adds in a hushed tone, leaning over the table to ensure no one hears him.

"If he is, I'll personally set up the date. But he definitely didn't come across as gay."

Nate pouts back at me. I did want Nate to find someone, but preferably not Lakyn.

He looks at his watch, the big ugly Rolex telling him that his lunch break had ended 20 minutes earlier. "Fuck." He yells a little too loud. Blushing, he packs up his things, "Sorry Charlie! Have a good day! I'll see you on my way out." And then he was gone.

I pack my things up a lot slower and make my way back to my desk downstairs at reception. As I scan the people waiting patiently for their appointment I nearly drop my empty container.

"Lakyn?" I ask.

He looks up from the book in his lap and gives me a smile, slowly standing to come over to me. I see the girls at the desk taking way too much interest in him. When he reaches my stunned position he gives me an awkward hug.

"My accountant died, and you mentioned you worked here so I thought I'd pop in and see if they were any good." He says "such a weird coincidence he died the night we met and what with tax time coming up I couldn't leave it."

"Ah yeah, how weird." My mind racing a hundred miles a minute to come up with a response to this completely awkward and weird conversation. "Good thing he died I guess then..." Why am I such an idiot around this guy I mentally ask.

"I was pretty happy too when I thought maybe I'd get to see you again." He responds, saving me from the embarrassment of what just left my mouth.

He looks me up and down taking in my professional attire, I was in black wide leg slacks that were so long you couldn't see the fact I wasn't wearing heels, but in fact baby pink pumas, and a white blouse. "You look fantastic, maybe I'll have to make sure my accountants die more often."

The hole I had dug was just getting bigger and bigger, but thankfully one of the other receptionists interrupts us, "Tom is ready for you Mr. Carson." Jennifer beams at him, clearly smitten.

He squeezes my arm, "I'll see you when I'm done." and with that he walks off with Jennifer trailing behind. Did this guy even know where he was going? Why was Jennifer following him?

I shake off my thoughts and sit down at one of the reception desks trying to keep my attention on my work.

---

An hour later I'm still glancing at the same email trying to calm my nerves before Lakyn comes out. I feel a hand on my shoulder and flinch away from the all too familiar touch.

"Charlie, sweetheart, would you please book Mr. Carson in for a reoccurring appointment in my calendar, same time and date each month." Tom asks me.

I try to shrug his hand off of my shoulder but he just moves it down my back, resting it just below the nape of my neck.

Lakyn moves round to the front of the desk, eyes narrowing as he takes in Tom's hand on me. "Charlie, are we still on for tonight?" He asks me, shooting daggers at Tom.

"You two know each other?" Tom asks, clearly taken aback.

"Yeah, you should be thanking her actually, she's the only reason you got my account." He shoots back at Tom, giving him a glare with a clear warning to back off. It works, because with that Tom removes his hand from my back and takes a step back.

"Do you have a finders fee?" Lakyn asks him smoothly.

"Yes, we do." Tom replies, his lips pressing into a hard line, realising he's going to have to give my a bonus for landing him a commercial contract.

Once their pissing contest is finished I turn to Tom "Please don't put your hands on me again Tom, otherwise I will have to take this to HR, as I have stated many times that I do not like people encroaching on my personal space." I turn my attention to Lakyn before he can respond "And you, what plans could you possibly be talking about?"

Lakyn raises an eyebrow at me, and signals Tom to leave. As we're left alone in the not so private waiting area he asks "Have I done something wrong?"

I let out a sigh "No, you didn't. I just don't need you flaunting imaginary plans and provoking Tom about a finders fee in a bid to defend my honour or whatever you were doing. I can handle myself at my workplace. I appreciate what you were trying to do, but you're just going to make trouble for me acting like that."

He pauses, thinking for a second before responding, "You're right, I'm sorry. You're perfectly capable of handling yourself and I shouldn't undermine you. But they're not imaginary plans, at least I hope?"

I can't hide the smile on my face at his apology, "What did you have in mind?"

"Do you like coffee?" He asks.

"Doesn't everyone?" I smirk, packing up my things. It was only 4:10pm, but there was no way I was going to miss a coffee date with Lakyn.