The boss, with his voice paused, glanced towards the break room with a confused expression.
Felix's gaze followed suit, but instead of heading over, he continued to scrutinize the data in his hands.
"Make the changes. I don't want to hear any 'what ifs."" "Sure, sure." His presence was so commanding that it silenced any potential rebuttal.
Passing the report across the table, Felix glanced at his watch, and realized it was tfor the meeting on this floor.
He stood up and strode towards the conference room.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtInside the break room, Nathan stared at the shattered coffee mug on the floor.
The milky coffee was spreading everywhere, and his collar was still warm from where Carol had pulled him close, leaving a fleeting kiss on his cheek.
He was at a loss for how to react. When Carol stepped back, she flicked to the spilled coffee with a hint of regret.
"It's ruined." "I'll make you another one, right away," he stuttered, fumbling with the machine's buttons.
Carol had applied a subtle shade of lipstick that morning; she stood to the side, clutching her purse with an air of casual indifference.
Nathan prepared another cup of coffee and, with his hands trembling, handed it to her.
"Here you go. I've got to head to a meeting on this floor." He grabbed a mop and started cleaning up the mess.
Carol took a sip and listened as he explained, "The coffee beans here aren't the best, and the machine is only semi-automatic. If you prefer a hand- ground brew, I could set that up at home." She didn't really enjoy the office coffee, so she had asked him about it out of mere politeness.
"Can you make mulled wine?" she inquired.
"Yes." "Then next time, make mulled wine. Add sapples and a bit of orange peel." "Will do." Nathan's mind was a whirlwind, as if he could hear the sound of blossoms unfurling. After cleaning up and washing his hands, he rushed off to the conference room. The meeting had started three minutes ago, and his boss was already presenting figures.
As he pushed open the door, all eyes turned towards him.
Felix, seated at the head of the table, gave detached look, and his gad on the faint trace of lipstick on Nathan's cheek. S It was barely noticeable-unless one looked closely.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmFrowning, Felix listened as Nathan apologized, "Sorry for being late." Knowing Nathan was Felix's friend, the boss didn't dare comment further and just continued with the report.
After Nathan took his seat, he felt as if he were on fire, especially under Felix's intermittent scrutiny, which caused a cold sweat to breakout on his back. ŚwIt was a mix of guilt and the lingering excitement from Carol's kiss that made his heart race, almost to the point of bursting.
He couldn't even recall when the meeting ended, and by the the cto his senses, only he and Felix remained.
Nathan rose, and said with a voice of unease, "I guess I'll get going too." As he walked past Felix, the familiar scent of Carol's perflingered in the air.
It was a fragrance she'd been wearing lately, but Felix couldn't imagine linking Carol and Nathan together.
So, he simply asked, "Seeing someone?" Nathan froze, avoiding Felix's gaze, "Ah, yeah, I'm trying to." "You guys have kissed but the relationship isn't official yet?" Nathan's palms were sweaty as he listened to Felix continue, "Nathan, be smart about this. Don't let el yourself get played by a woman again." ŚwThe words made Nathan cringe.
In the past, he hadn't known that the women who approached him were just looking for a fling.
With Carol, he knew her intent, yet he couldn't resist her.
Carol was beautiful, the goddess of his dreams.