When I return to the office, a mountain of paperwork sits on the corner of my desk.I sigh and scan the main room as I remove my jacket, adjust my vest, loosen my tie, and roll my sleeves.My gifts to Penelope are nowhere in sight.She sits with her eyes glued to her screen, oblivious to the world around her as she works on her task.After reviewing and signing the first few documents, I set the stack aside, rise, and head to the kitchen to make the one cup of coffee I drink throughout the day.Not only does it help me combat early afternoon fatigue, but it’s an easy segue between desk work and networking.
With my employees acclimated to mingling with me, engagement is pleasant and laid back.
As the single-cup coffee maker brews my cup, I spot the cinnamon roll I bought for Penelope on the counter.Disappointment and determination war within me.
She may be the most difficult dream to obtain, but I’ve never wanted anything more, so I’ll never stop.
Kole pops up from his desk and interrupts Penelope to ask if she needs anything from the kitchen.She absently shakes her head without looking away from her computer.
I smirk.The building could collapse and she wouldn’t notice.She’s adorable and sexy when she’s hyper-focused.The scrunch of her nose, her natural grace as she types and scrolls, and the way she works her lip ring into her mouth all make me want to toss her over my shoulder and carry her away so I don’t have to share her with anyone else.
After a few minutes of chatting with Kole, I follow him to the computer specialist section of the room and mingle with a handful of people.
When a meeting seems overdue, I call the entire tech department to the lounge area on the far side of the kitchen.Penelope stands beside one of the couches and refuses a seat even when several people offer her one.After a few minutes of catching everyone up, I open the floor for questions, comments, and suggestions.Although much of the terminology goes over my head, I gauge everyone else’s reactions and note the ones with the best responses.
With more issues and not enough tech geniuses to solve them before work begins for the new location, no one balks when I volunteer to escort Penelope to the IT equipment rooms after she asks for a visit.
We end the meeting and I wait for Penelope to grab her bag before escorting her to the elevator.
With her on my left, I don’t notice Ms.Kim stepping into our path until I collide with her.Papers fly and my curse punctuates Ms.Kim’s startled squeak as I grab her shoulders and pull her upright.
I release her as soon as she regains her balance, but she wraps her fingers around my forearms and sinks her long nails into my flesh.
“Oh my god, I am so sorry!I wasn’t watching where I was going,” she simpers.
I swallow my disgust and try to tug my arms away, but she tightens her hold on me.
“As long as—”
Penelope shoulders her way between us and grabs Ms.Kim by the hands.
“Oh my goodness, Julie, are you okay?”
Ms.Kim’s eyes widen, and her mouth drops open.The fear in her expression doesn’t match the moment, but when it doesn’t fade, I realize she must share history with Penelope.
“Y-you know my name?”Ms.Kim whispers.
“I do now.It’s nice to finally meet you, although I’m sorry it was because of this big oaf.Seriously, Sebastian, haven’t you learned to stop running into people just because they’re smaller than you?”
Ms.Kim’s pallor worsens.Penelope looks over her shoulder at me and pulls her lip ring into her mouth as she studies my chest.The mirth in her expression—along with her unexpected intervention—shocks me into silence.
“Between you and me, Ms.Kim, I think you should sue him for damages to your image,” Penelope stage whispers.
Confusion joins the terror in Julie’s eyes.
“But first, I think a trip to the powder room is in order,” Penelope finishes with an exaggerated gesture to my chest.
I follow her pointed gaze and bite back a laugh when I realize what she means.
Ms.Kim’s makeup left an imprint of her face on the dark fabric of my vest.
If anyone in the office wasn’t already watching us, Ms.Kim’s horrified gasp is loud enough to turn their heads our way.She whips around, yanks her purse off her desk, and runs to the restroom with her high heels clacking in the silence.
My heart leaps into my throat when Penelope’s delicate fingers take my wrist.They barely wrap halfway around, but I eagerly follow her silent commands as she turns my hand over and opens my fist.She presses a few wet wipes from her bag onto my palm before releasing me and stooping to gather the papers Ms.Kim threw everywhere.
I dab at the makeup but it’s hopeless, so I take off my vest and tie and drape them over my arm before unbuttoning the first few buttons on my shirt.
By the time the elevator doors close behind us, the office is back to normal operations, but a storm brews in Penelope’s expression.
