Find Me Alastar(20)

I nod. I know who you are. “Hello, I’m Emerson. I’m new.”

“Welcome aboard, Emerson.” His eyes hold mine a little longer than they should as if to silently acknowledge me.

I smile as I drop into the seat with sixty-four eyes glued to my every move. This is embarrassing. Next time that stupid witch upstairs asks me go to a meeting I’m just going to say f*ck you, the answer is no.

I take out my pen and pad and stare up at the whiteboard to try and pretend I know what the hell they are talking about.

Mark starts to speak and I unashamedly stare at him. It’s a perfect scenario really. He’s teaching and I’m being attentive. I get to check him out without being obvious.

He starts to waffle on about some figure in from Germany while I continue with my internal assessment. He’s good looking, sandy blonde hair, blue eyes. He’s wearing an expensive grey suite and light green striped shirt with shiny black trendy shoes. Not as tall as I envisaged but not short, either, Hmm. Yeah, he’s nice enough. He’s very English, if there such a thing. I sit still and watch him command the room. He’s used to getting his own way and is very confident in whatever he’s teaching, but it’s all going way over my head, of course. The longer I sit and listen to him, the more dejected I begin to feel. It’s no use. I just don’t find him attractive… and I bloody should because he’s gorgeous. He looks like a player, but he can’t be. Nobody tunes someone for twelve months, that’s just going too far. What the hell is wrong with me?

My mind drifts to my dreamy street kisser. I wonder what he’s doing now and who he’s with. I wonder what he does for work. My eyes flick back to the boring presentation being run that I couldn’t care less about. My mind wanders again. I wonder where Star lives? I think is accent was Northern Irish, but I couldn’t be sure. I smile at the floor as remember his deep, sexy voice. God, he’s hot.

“How does that sound, Emerson?”

Huh? My eyes shoot up to Mark as he and the whole room wait for my answer. What the hell did he say? “Umm.”

Shit, shit, shit.

“I think it will be amazing for you to follow that path in this company, don’t you?”

I fake a smile. “Yes, it sounds great.”

“Great,” he answers as he goes back to his spiel. “Now that we have Emerson doing those good news stories for us, it will be fantastic to be able to go back and look through our past successes all in print.”

I frown. Oh my God… what the hell is he talking about? What did I just agree to do? I’m terrible at writing factual stuff. I only like to write about pretend stuff. This is a nightmare.

The meeting finally ends and I stand slowly. I want to be the last to leave so I can talk to him and tell him I can’t do that job he wants me to do, whatever the hell it actually is.

“Emerson, can I see you in my office after this meeting, please? I want to run through the new program with you.”

“Sure,” I reply as I stand. He’s dismissing me. I head towards the door then upstairs, back to where our offices are. Another blonde is lingering around Mark’s desk and I know she wants to talk to him, too. My eyes flick to them and I notice he doesn’t dismiss her. I blow out a breath, and without looking back at their body language, I leave the room. I decide to take the stairs, because, well, frankly, I don’t want to get in the lift with anyone. I take the stairs slowly. I don’t want to talk to him, which is uncomfortable because I’m pretty sure he wants to talk to me.

“How did the meeting go?” Bernice asks.

“Fine,” I mutter as I throw my phone and pad into my top draw. My eyes spot Mark as he walks up the corridor and into his office like a man on a mission. I think that playing this game of not knowing each other is the only fun thing about the place.

Ten minutes later I stand like a child at the principal’s office outside Mark’s door. “Knock, knock.”

“Come in!” he calls.

I walk in nervously and he grins. “Close the door behind you.”

I nod and slowly do as he says. I turn and face him. I’m nervous.

“Its so good to finally have you in my office,” he purrs.

I smile shyly.

His eyes hold mine and he swivels his chair from side to side. “You are much more beautiful in real life.”

I smile stupidly like a schoolgirl and hold my breath as I fall into the seat at his desk.

“Can I see you tonight?” he asks.

Oh shit, that was fast.

“Umm.” Oh, I am having dinner with Brielle. “I’m sorry, I have plans tonight.”

His face falls.

“Tomorrow night?” I ask.

“Ah, my parents are in town and I’m seeing them tomorrow night,” he murmurs.

“Oh,” I reply.

“Everyone in the office is going out for drinks on Friday night after work. Maybe we could catch up after that?” he asks.

“Yes.” I smile relieved. Everyone from work will be there so it will be less awkward.

“Can we grab a drink after?”

“That sounds great.”

He smiles and I see the flicker of excitement fill his eyes.

“Umm, Mark…” I hesitate. I need to tell him I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to success stories in print.