picture from www.kalynskitchen.com
When he’s done with everything, he gave Charlotte a call.
No answer, typical. It’s only her first week of work at The Mitch, and she
already lost control of her life. This is what he feared for, her being so
devoted at work that she wouldn’t even bother taking good care of herself. “I
should’ve forced her to work for me.” Nicholas said as he reads one of the
stick-on notes on the refrigerator that said ‘Condom: Durex Sensi-Thin’. He
placed the vegetarian lasagna back in the oven to keep it warm. As he slumps on
the couch, he imagined Charlotte on a sofa in an executive office, moaning away
with her new CEO on top of her.
Nicholas shakes the thought off, he on the TV and watches
Beauty and the Beast on Charlotte’s DVD player. She’s such a kiddo, with piles
of cartoon DVDs on her shelves, and still buying more. But he knew he could trust
her on serious work. She had been his project partner for as long as he could
remember, and they always, always scored A’s.
Just as he’s about to slip away to his fantasy land,
someone was fiddling with the door knob. He jumped up and opened the door, out
stand Charlotte with her eyes half closed as if she would fall over any second.
“Enough torture for the day?” Nicholas asked as he took her
purse and files from her.
“Uh-huh. You made dinner? I’m hungry.” Charlotte asked with
such a soft voice that Nicholas could hardly hear her.
“You haven’t had dinner Charl?” Nicholas positioned her
stuff on the side table and turned to warm up the cold lasagna in the oven. He
took a look at the clock, a quarter past 12.
“I had take away stir fried noodles at 7pm. Then we worked
on a big project about the new condominium down town. The developer wants the
things to be ready by Monday. We had to rush.” Charlotte answered as she flings
her heels behind the couch. Nicholas brought a tray of lasagna over and placed
it on the small round table right in front of the couch. He handed her a glass
of carrot juice he made earlier. As she drinks he scooped a spoonful of lasagna
and fed her.
“Mmm, heavenly! I love you chef!” She kissed him on the
cheek and slumped back on the couch. “Take my skirt off please, Nick.” She
hovered herself a little to make it easier for Nicholas to pull the skirt off.
“Do you have to wear such short skirts to work?” Nicholas complained as he helps her with it.
“It’s the dress code babe. Short skirts, low Vs, tight
jeans, et cetera.” Charlotte speaks through her second mouthful of lasagna.
“One day he’ll have you wearing lingerie to work.” said
Nicholas as he helped himself with the lasagna. He lifted her feet up on his
lap and started massaging them.
“You know what Nick? I’m gonna give a speech at your
wedding. I’ll up sell you as the best husband anyone could ever get. Or at my
wedding, whichever comes first.” Charlotte said it like she meant it. Nicholas
would make a good boyfriend and husband, but they know deep inside, that they
were not meant for each other.
Nicholas eyed her cautiously. Something’s different about
her. “Well you’d better up sell me right now cause I’m desperate for love and
the one whom I cared truly seems to be in a faraway land where I can’t even
contact her for lunch dates.” Nicholas placed her legs on the couch and stood
up to get some iced water.
Charlotte sat up straight and stared at him. Did he just
complain about her ignoring him? She let out a small laugh and said “Oh my, is Nicholas
Moore jealous?” She stuffed 2 big spoons of lasagna, went over to Nicholas and
hugged him from behind. Nicholas smiled for real for the first time in days. He
turned around and locked her in his arms.
“I missed you…so much.” Nicholas whispered into her ears.
She snuggled closer to his warm chest and sniffs what appears to be his new
cologne.
“You picked that out or you have a new admirer?” She looked
up at him. Her face looked refreshed from her sudden curiosity. She had that
glint in her eyes that signaled she would not ever let him go unless he spills
everything out. If it’s from an admirer, Charlotte desperately NEEDS to know
who that girl is. Nicholas never puts on anything from his admirers. He could
be dealing with his future girlfriend!
“It’s umm, from a girl, a new girl at work, you know, with
the lovely red long hair and loose curls, beautiful eyes. Well, I mean, the
cologne bottle is cute, so…yeah.” Nicholas tried to avoid intense eye contact
with Charlotte who kept raising her eyebrows and smiled like she could see
right through his heart. He lifted her up, placed her on the kitchen table and
hoped she will stay there while he continued eating the lasagna.
Charlotte trotted over and supported her chin with both of
her hands on the small table where Nicholas is busy with the lasagna. “So when
am I meeting her?” Charlotte asked while snatching the tray of lasagna from him
before he finishes it.
“Like never.” Nicholas answered. He sits himself on the
carpeted floor and stared at it.
“And may I ask why?” Charlotte asked with a knitted brow.
“Well, I heard she has a fiancé, and she gave everyone in
the office a get-along present, not just me. And she never showed interest in
me. She never makes eye contact for more than 3 seconds; she never tried casual
talk with me in the office and never asks about me. I’m in no position to
humiliate myself by making the first move. It’s obvious she doesn’t want any
contact with me.” Nicholas sighed. Charlotte shifted next to him with the
lasagna and passed it to him.
After a moment of silence, Charlotte spoke up. “Nick, this
is the first girl you’ve ever shown interest in since...since years. It might
sound crazy but I really could see the both of you as a couple. Even though
I’ve never seen her…I won’t encourage or instigate you to go after her. But
it’s not a crime to be friends with someone who already has a fiancé.”
Charlotte held up his arm and put it around her.
“Yeah, maybe. She’s unique though.” Nicholas ruffled her
hair.
“Oh, Nick, everything will be fine. And please promise that
you’ll come find me at my office for occasional lunch dates? It’s really
disturbing when we have to work extra during lunch hours, and Xan would invite
some of his hot dates whom will drool all over him. And I’m like a lost puppy sitting
there pretending I didn’t hear anything.” Charlotte finished the lasagna and
placed the tray in the sink.
“Sure, if you’d at least reply to my appointment.” Nicholas
threw in the used cups in the sink as well.
“I’m so sorry for that, it’s been really busy at the
office, and I have tons of referencing to do.” Charlotte said apologetically.
“It’s okay, but our semi-annual dinner is on you.”
Nicholas has already chosen a list of fine restaurant for that occasion.
“Aye aye, Captain Moore.” Charlotte led Nicholas into her
bedroom with the turned down bed. She changed into her proper PJs in a jiffy
and slept next to Nicholas.
“How about a stroll at the park tomorrow? I’ll get our
favorite breakfast pancake at Beth’s. Since tomorrow is your first day off, you
should get some fresh air.” Nicholas suggested.
“That would be terrific, and I would like two portions of
pancakes please.” Charlotte said.
Nicholas was about to comment about her grown appetite when
he heard her heavy breathing. She has fallen asleep. Poor girl, is she able to
cope with everything that is coming her way in her new job? Or would it be like
Alexander’s presumption that she might be out of the office within a month?
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