“I know, I just like asking it. It’s like our thing now,” Lil grinned. “Are you going up to get him?”
“I suppose I should.” Alyssa tried to sound nonchalant.
“Oh, look at the time. It’s almost lunch. You could grab something for Evelyn before going to retrieve Bug. Wouldn’t that be kind?” Lil’s shit-eating grin was just too much. For thepast few weeks, Alyssa had put up with Lil’s comments and suggestions.
“You know what? I think I will.”
So Alyssa might have a tiny crush on the CEO, and sure, she was pretty crap at hiding it from her best friend who liked to tease her mercilessly, but that wasn’t going to stop her from admitting how she felt. Evelyn Crawford was intriguing, funny, kind, sometimes stern, but overall utterly magnetic.
Alyssa and Evelyn chatted daily. They spent their time talking about this and that. Only covering surface topics, but it allowed them to get to know each other.
For example, Alyssa now knew that Evelyn had a major man crush on Jason Statham. Hawaiian pizza was her favourite food. The argument of whether pineapple should belong on pizza was a doozy. Eventually, they had to agree to disagree. Evelyn’s favourite colour was emerald green, and her favourite band was The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Alyssa told Evelyn about her first crush on a girl. About her first date with a guy. How her parents threw her a coming out party at sixteen. Most importantly, Alyssa filled Evelyn in on her pet history. All the dogs and cats she’d had as a kid. It surprised Alyssa to find out Evelyn had only ever had one pet, and that was a hamster.
“Knock, knock.” Trying to push open Evelyn’s heavy ass door with her hands full of takeout food and coffee wasn’t the easiest of things.
“Jesus, hang on, let me help,” Evelyn said, rushing over to relieve Alyssa of the bags. “You brought lunch?”
“Well, yeah. Is that okay? I just figured I was going to eat, and I knew I would have to come up and make sure Bug was here so…”
“Alyssa, it’s perfect, thank you. I thought I was going to have to skip lunch today. The meeting with the board ran over by an hour, leaving me no time to grab food.”
“Well, fear not. You have a chicken mayo baguette with your name on it. Literally.” Alyssa laughed, holding out the wrapped sandwich that had Evelyn’s name scrawled on it in black pen.
“Did you go to Marco’s?” Evelyn gushed. Alyssa loved how excited the woman got. Alyssa nodded with a big smile. “That place is my favourite. How did you know?”
“I’ve seen Maggie bring you food from there before, so I made a leap.”
“God, I could kiss you.” Alyssa froze. Evelyn obviously didn’t register what she’d just said. No, she was too busy stuffing her face, moaning. Moaning! Dear Lord, Alyssa wanted to be that sandwich.
“Do you want to come out for a drink tonight?” The question was out of Alyssa’s mouth before she could overthink it. A few employees went to the local Irish pub down the street once or twice a week and had asked Alyssa and Lil to join them. Now Alyssa wanted Evelyn to be there. More time outside of the office environment and all that.
“Oh,” Evelyn coughed, swallowing her baguette. “I…I probably have to work late.”
“Nonsense. Come on, just for one drink. It is the holiday season, after all.” Alyssa watched Evelyn roll her eyes. “Don’t you like Christmas?”
“I like it enough.”
“Wow, way to convince me there, Evie.” Alyssa laughed.
“Christmas is fine. It just means more work for me.”
“Then going to the pub for a drink is the perfect excuse to unwind a little. Come on. For me? A bunch of us are going.” Alyssa gave Evelyn her best puppy eyes. Her grin spread widely when she saw the CEO’s resolve falter.
“Fine, one drink, but then I have to get on.”
“Shake on it,” Alyssa smirked, thrusting her hand to shake Evelyn’s. Laughing, they sealed the deal. “Now, eat up. You’ve got a long afternoon ahead. I’ll take Bug back downstairs.”
“Oh…alright then.”
Alyssa didn’t miss the flash of disappointment that ran over Evelyn’s beautiful features.
“I’ll swing by your office at half five. Be ready!” Alyssa didn’t stick around long enough for Evelyn to answer. With her half-finished sandwich in one hand and Bug tucked under her arm, Alyssa made her exit. Bug didn’t help the situation by trying his damndest to nibble the sandwich as she ran the gauntlet of office workers, who had a habit of jutting out their chairs randomly.
After a short ride down, the elevator doors slid open. Bug wriggled himself free, determined to get over to the patch of sunlight shining through the lower office window. Alyssa had ten minutes to wolf down her lunch before she had to head out for the afternoon.
Just as her lips met the bread, a shadow loomed over her. Looking up, she was pleasantly surprised to see Josh, one of the building’s security officers.
