The Usual. Sorry. It's late. It's full of errors. I chopped it in half. I'm sorry. I wish I didn't keep on doing this to you all. More to come within the week.
I worked quickly, trying to keep my mind off what was happening in Kota's office. Luke had disappeared inside with Kota a few minutes ago after retrieving the package from the stairwell. I didn't want to know what it was, as far as I was concerned it was nothing and I didn't need to know. What I didn't like was that it was yet another thing they had to take care of for me. Another situation they had to look into and sort out. I didn't understand it at all. If it was John Brenten it didn't make sense. He only met me briefly when he came enquiring about Jacqueline. Silas seemed to think it was his reaction to me that had prompted it. Was that all it took for him to do this? While he knew my name when he entered the reception area, I hadn't felt like he was attracted to me. I paused in my typing and stared at the glowing screen in front of me, lost in thought. Did I know the signs if someone was attracted to me?
I recommenced typing, transferring the information Nathan had scribbled onto his report into the invoicing program. He had been working an average of 12 hours a day on this job for a little while. How did he manage to pull these hours and still make time to help me learn self defence? It was just another thing he had to do in his already busy week. From the look of his hours, tonight would be the first night he had off since he had come back from chasing a skip and he had booked Silas, Gabriel and I into going bowling with him. Was that really how he wanted to spend his first free night?
I glanced over at the phone, my eyes lingering on the button that was Nathan's speed dial. Should I give him a call and offer him an out?
Luke stepping out of Kota's office stopped my nervous over thinking. I studied his face trying to get a reading on what had transpired in the office. He met my gaze and strode towards me, circling the desk so he could face me. He planted both palms onto the desk and leaned forward slightly, a strand of his streaky blond hair falling forward over his eyes.
"It was from Brenten, a trinket. Do you wish to see it or keep it?"
I started to shake my head no before even thinking it through. In another time and place I would have contemplated it, purely to take to the nearest pawn shop, adding the precious cash to my stash. But there was something so repugnant about him, what I knew he had done to Jacqueline, that wouldn't even countenance the thought of going near it. I didn't want to know what it was, as far as I concerned, it didn't happen. There was also the element that I was getting paid more money than I had seen in a long time. I had been hoarding my weekly pay checks religiously, buying the bare essentials. I knew I needed to go and buy some more pieces for my work wardrobe, but after years of pinching the pennies and living on a prayer, it wasn't coming easily to me.
Luke gave a chin lift in acknowledgement, his eyes tracing slowly over my face. I wish I knew what he was thinking when he looked at me like that.
"I'm going Sang."
His abrupt words made me blink, he was going? Going where? I resisted the urge to spin in my chair and check his calendar on my computer to see what he had booked in.
"I've got something I need to do. But I'll be back. Back as soon as I can." He leaned forward slightly as if he wanted to say something quietly, intimately. I closed the gap, turning my head slightly in response to hear what he had to say.
"Look after yourself," he murmured in my ear, his lips brushing against me as he spoke, "I'll be back soon so we can get back onto fixing up your life together."
I sat frozen in the chair, hyper aware of him so close to me, trying to process the words he had whispered to me. He dragged his lips across my cheek before moving back, settling back on the opposite side of the reception desk.
I sat there staring in shock. Was a lip drag on the list of the levels of kissing Anon and I had discussed? I could still feel where his lips had touched from my ear, down my cheekbone to near my lips. It felt so much more than a kiss on the cheek, yet he hadn't actually kissed me.
"Bye." My tired brain caused me to spit out.
Luke grinned in response as he backed away, heading towards the carpark door. He reached into his pocket pulling out the carkeys as he tilted his head slightly to the side. I saw his mouth open to speak and just knew, whatever was about to come out of his mouth would make my cheeks flame like he always did. Sure enough, I was right.
"Delicious."
The door settled back into place as the heat climbed my cheeks, the sound of the click jerking me to my feet.
"Wait!" I cried as I rounded the desk, dashing over to pull the door open.
Luke was nearing the bottom of the steps. He turned around as I stepped forward on to the top step.
"I-, I just wanted to say be careful. Stay safe." The words echoed down through stair.
He nodded, flipping the keys in his hand and disappeared out of sight.
I stayed there listening, under the sound of his footsteps faded from my hearing. I didn't know where he was going or what he was doing, but it felt different this time from the other times he had headed off on jobs. I hoped he did stay safe, that he'd come back safely to make me blush some more.
I made my way slowly back to the reception, feeling strangely deflated now Luke had gone.
Last night had been quiet. Luke, North and I had worked together making dinner to sit on the couches to eat it. Silas arriving home shortly after we had settled in. The tv had been flicked on and the night descended into grunts and mumbles, I could only assume they were discussing the ball game with phrases like "Hate Florida and Alabama," "Cowboys aren't worth sh*t anymore," being tossed around.
My knowledge of football was minimal at best so I watched bemused as padded players chased a ball around the field, turning my attention to the watchers more than the actual ball game. Seeing them relaxed and kicking back together. Silas had settled back into the corner of the couch like it was made for him, stretching his long legs out to rest his feet on the coffee table.
My stomach grumbled reminding me that lunch was fast approaching. I hadn't packed anything to bring to work as all my food had been left at my apartment. I'd have to talk to them about getting it, it would be criminal to waste the food I had worked to buy. It did however leave me in a quandry. Do I make myself lunch from Silas and North's food in the evenings to bring the next day? Or do I buy myself lunch everyday, which was an extravagant and expensive option. Today, however, I needed to eat, and no food with me meant buying food. I could go catch up with Anon maybe over lunch and I'd have the fun of her company while getting food. Seemed logical to me.
I fished out my phone and swiped in a message, asking if she would be available for lunch today. I tapped the send icon and paused wondering if anyone would want me to pick up something from the bakery for them while I was there. I'd probably also have to let Kota know what was going on, taking into consideration the discussion we'd had yesterday about situation.
I tapped an e-mail to Kota, letting him know what I was planning before following it up with a general e-mail if anyone wanted me to grab them anything while I was away.
My e-mail started chiming immediately while the reception phone simultaneously started ringing. Kota's extension flashing on the screen.
"Hello Kota." I idly flicked the mouse to the corner of the screen, clicking on the incoming e-mails.
"I'll come down to the bakery with you. I need some lunch as well today."
An e-mail from Victor filled the screen, echoing nearly word for word what Kota had just said in my ear. That would be two of them going with me for lunch. I quickly clicked on the next e-mails from the others, double checking that there wouldn't be anyone else joining us. I had learnt quickly that the focused attention of one of them was enough to get me flustered, let alone more. I jotted down an order from Nathan and Silas onto the notepad beside me in relief. Yet another e-mail popped up and I distractedly double-clicked to open it.
"Sang?" Kota's voice in my ear reminded me he was still on the phone, no doubt hearing me hyperventilate over e-mails.
"Oh. Sorry about that. That will be lovely." I idly downloaded the invoice attachment, I would have time for a closer look after I got back from lunch. "What time were you hoping to go?"
"Just say the word Sang."
***