32

Karter

"Millie! Come on sweetheart, you're going to be late for school!" I yell from downstairs.

"Coming!" Millie says rushing down the stairs.

"You ready?" I ask.

"Yes daddy!" She smiles at me.

The car ride was pretty silent until Millie spoke up, "Daddy is Marie coming over today?" She asks.

Marie has been spending a lot of time with Millie and they both are getting along pretty well. I smile at my daughter," Not today sweetheart. Maybe on the weekend?"

Millie smiles at me, "Okay!" It somewhat worries me how attached Millie has gotten to Marie. I mean what if things don't work out between Marie and I, Millie would definitely hate losing Marie. Marie and I both try to keep our distance from one another around Millie but she's the first woman who my daughter is attached to who isn't a relative or a friend's girlfriend.

I reach the office and was greeted by Daniel. I honestly forgot he still works here. He smiles at me politely, "Hello Mr. Allan."

"Hello Daniel." I say politely.

The elevator stops at the 6th floor and Daniel steps out, "Hope you have a good day sir." He says.

I smile, "You too Daniel." The elevator closes and takes me to my own floor.

I walk out of the elevator and pass by Marie's Office. She was focused on her work and didn't notice me pass by. I smile to myself and walk inside my own office.

After ten minutes, there was a knock on my door and Marie walked in with a cup of coffee. I smile at her as she places the coffee on my desk.

"The usual." She smiles.

"Thank you."

"You know that time when I told you not to make me coffee?" I ask.

"You mean the time you were being a total pain in the ass and hated everything I did? Yeah I remember." Marie says smugly.

"Well I must confess, I never hated your coffee." I say with a small smile appearing on my lips.

Marie walks over to me and puts a hand on her hip, "Really?"

"Yeah. I was just looking for a reason to be mad at you so I thought I could say your coffee tastes like shit when in reality it was really fucking good. I guess I just forgot to tell you that."

Marie narrows her eyes at me, "So you're telling me that for the past 4 months I've been going to the coffee room on the last floor and waiting in a line for 20 to 25 minutes and having awkward conversation with some very strange colleagues when I could have just made coffee myself?"

By her tone and her glare I can clearly tell she's mad. I chuckle and get up from my seat. I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her waist, "Don't be mad. I'm sorry."

"You're just so annoying. You know that?"

"So I've been told." I smile.

"I can't even say mad at you." Marie mumbles as she tries suppress a smile.

"I know." I say and place a kiss on her cheek.

"I'll make it up to you. How about today we take a little longer break and head out to a nice restaurant for lunch?" I suggest.

"I would love to. But I can't."

I raise my brows in confusion ,"What do you mean you can't?" I ask.

"Well I had actually made plans with someone about lunch awhile ago. I had forgotten about it but my calendar reminded me today that I had plans." Marie says.

"With who Nina?"

"Well...hmm no." The tone of Marie's voice tells me that she's hiding something.

"Marie. Who are you going to lunch with?" I ask raising an eyebrow.

"Daniel." She mumbles.

My eyes widen and I stare at her, "Ex-boyfriend Daniel? I'm sorry I mean Ex-Fiancé Daniel?" My voice slightly raises.

"I'm sorry it had slipped my mind. I really forgot I had promised him lunch. This plan was made before anything had happened between the two of us. And it's not going to be just Daniel and I but also his girlfriend Jennifer will be there too."

"That still doesn't change the fact that you're going on a date with your ex Marie." I say and move away from her.

"Come on Karter don't be like that. You know I don't have any feelings for him. That's why I called off everything." Marie says moving towards me.

I look her eyes and speak, "I know you don't but he was very much in love with you as far as I know. And can you blame me for being a little mad about this? That guy has been in your life for so many years, who knows if old feelings will come back?"

"He has a girlfriend now Karter. And don't worry about me. I'm very sure I have no feelings for Daniel." Marie assures me.

She places a hand on my cheek, "Come on. You trust me don't you?"

I smile at her, "Of course I do. But you can't blame me for being a little stunned."

"I know. I would have told you before but I had forgotten about it. And it's basically a lunch with just him and his girlfriend. I won't let anything happen." Marie smiles.

"Well so I'll have to spend lunch alone I guess." I let out a sigh.

Marie laughs and places a kiss on my cheek, "Don't worry I'll make it up to you."

"You better" I mumble as I attach my lips onto hers. After a few seconds I pull away and Marie smiles at me.

"I'll head back to work now?"

"Sure." I smile at her.

"I'll see you at-" I stop myself when I remember that she has other plans.

Marie turns around and smiles at me apologetically, "I'll make it up to you. I promise." She says.

I simply nod and smile as she heads out of the office.

Today is going by very very slow. I feel like I've been working forever but it's only 12. I think Marie left for her lunch with Daniel and his girlfriend. I don't even know her name. I wonder what they're doing right now, Daniel better not be making any moves on Marie. I wonder if she'll tell them about us. What will she even say? "Karter and I are dating. Well we're still very non-exclusive because he has trust issues." In a way I don't even have the right to be jealous, I mean is she my girlfriend? I don't think she is and doesn't that make her practically single and open to see other people? Why is everything so complicated with us? Well obviously because of me.

I don't know how long I just sat there thinking about Marie and I. There was a knock on my door. Marie walked in smiling. My lips automatically curled to a grin. She walks towards me and takes a seat on my lap. Marie peaks my lips briefly and then and smiles.

"You seem happy." I comment.

"You seem lost." Marie mimics my voice.

"Well I was thinking about you." I smile.

"Oh really?" She quirks her eyebrows at me.

"Yes." I smile.