Vincent and I started sneaking around together at work.
It was like the whole world suddenly looked different.
What shocked me most was how natural he was switching between his two selves.
When other people were around? He was the calm, distant Mr. Hamden.
When we were alone? He was like a clingy cat.
Clingy, bossy, and a little stubborn.
At the company, the Finance Department suddenly got special treatment.
They replaced all our office furniture and equipment with new stuff-sofas, massage chairs, even a dedicated coffee machine. On top of that, the department got a big bonus for “outstanding contributions on a certain project.”
My subordinates were thrilled, asking me excitedly which project it was.
I pressed my lips together and said, “A private project.”
After the birthday party, Erica held a grudge against me. She laid low for a bit, then finally made her move. At a department meeting, she pulled out a petition signed by a bunch of Marketing employees and went off on the Finance Department-accusing us of making the new reimbursement system impossible to keep up with.
Jamison looked totally shocked, clearly caught off guard. Then he gave her an ugly look and quietly told her to leave first.
But this time, Erica was dead set. She ignored Jamison completely, staring at me with fire in her eyes like she was some kind of warrior.
I was just about to speak.
Vincent smiled and asked Erica softly, “So you really can’t keep up?”
Erica yelled back that she couldn’t.
Vincent nodded. “Anyone who can’t keep up with the company’s standard development? They should go work on-site.”
He ignored Erica’s suddenly pale face, then turned to Jamison in a calm voice. “Your management’s lacking. You go too.”
After those two left the company, I finally felt like the air was way fresher.
I’d changed too.
No longer the boring Katrina I used to be. Some natural part of me that’d never shown itself before was flowing out easy.
“Then why’d you cross your legs in the meeting?”
He pulled out his “evidence,” his eyes fixed right on my calf.
I was lost for words. “I crossed ’em ’cause I’d been sitting too long. Besides, I wasn’t the only one.”
He frowned and shook his head. “But only you were deliberately teasing me. Don’t think I don’t notice.”
My eyes widened. “Huh?”
“You also fixed your hair right in front of me. You stroked the table with your fingers, zoned out. You drank water with your mouth open. You took off your glasses.”
I was stunned-so mad I laughed.
“So every little thing I do is teasing you, huh? You’ve got such sharp eyes-I can’t hide nothing from you.”
He nodded like his suspicions were confirmed. “But I’ve always been a man with few desires, even as a kid. You keep doing this stuff, making every day hard for me.”
I tilted my head. “So what do you want me to do? Kneel and apologize?”
“No need for that.”
He mumbled as he stood up, walked around his big desk, and came over to me.
He stopped right beside me.
He reached out and quietly unbuttoned my shirt.
“This is enough.”
He hung his head, his voice muffled, with a childish little look of satisfaction.
I looked down at the white top of his head, my fingers unconsciously running through his hair.
“Vincent, why’d you dye your hair white?”
I asked casually.
He said something, but he was so focused his words were a little slurred.
I was gonna ask again, but I unconsciously tilted my head back.
And just like that, I didn’t care anymore.
