Find Me Alastar(21)

“Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone what’s going on between us.”

I frown. Okay, that was unexpected.

“And I would appreciate if you didn’t mention anything about us to any coworkers. I may get fired if they know I recommended you for the job and I had a personal interest.”

I raise a brow. “Do you have a personal interest, Mark?” He smiles sexily. “It’s very personal, Emerson, but you already know that, don’t you?”

I feel my cheeks heat in embarrassment. “Yes, I do.” I smile.

“Now go out there and get to work. I would hate to bring you in here for disciplinary reasons.”

I bite my lip to stifle my smile. “Yes, sir,” I reply.

He sits back in his chair and his eyes hold mine as one of his brows lift. “I like the sound of you saying that.”

Oh shit. Sir, he likes the sound of me saying sir. Christian Grey you are not and I am so not going there. I’m a self-professed wimp. I stand and walk to the door, contemplating saying seeing you Friday, sir to play along and be cute, but decide against it. I’m not feeding the tiger with stupid games when I don’t even know what game I want to play.



* * *



At 3pm I am in desperate need of a caffeine and sugar fix. I start to get antsy. I look over at Travis who is leaning back on his chair.

“Is it okay if I go and get a coffee?” I ask.

“Yeah, of course.”

I look over in the direction of the kitchen. The thought of walking over there alone is unappealing. I look back at Travis in question.

He looks at me. “Do you want me to come with you?”

I smile. “Would you mind?”

He smirks and stands. “Come on then, wimp.”

We make our way to the kitchen.

“Hey, so you are the new girl?” a guy sitting over near the corridor asks as he leans back on his chair.

“Hi, yes, I’m Emerson.” I smile nervously.

“This is Charles,” replies Travis. “Charles is the master hider of the office. He is never at his desk and always has somewhere very important to be. Don’t ever ask him to do anything for you because it will never be done.”

I smile broadly and he winks cheekily. I like Charles. We keep walking. I glance into Mark’s office and stop dead in my tracks.

Holy crap.

It’s him.

Mr. Twinkle is standing in Mark’s office. My God, what is he doing here? Shit, I scurry to the kitchen. I don’t want him to see me. I look horrid.

Fuck, he did know Mark’s name… they do know each other.

Travis starts to take out the coffee and milk but my mind is in overdrive. I need to find out who Star really is. Maybe Travis will know something.

“Who is in Mark’s office?”

“Who?”

“That’s what I’m asking you. There is a man in Mark’s office. Who is he?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t see him.”

“Go and look.”

He frowns.

“Please?” I smile sweetly.

He frowns, hands over the coffee, and walks back down the hall. I peer around the corner like a mouse, my heart in my throat.

Travis goes to the other end of the office and pretends to pick up a piece of paper before he waltzes back.

He smirks. “His name is Star.”

“Who is he?”

“He’s a celebrity photographer.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

He shrugs. “He’s a big shot photographer, shoots for magazine covers and stuff.”

I peer around the corner as I try to spy, forgetting where I am.

“Why?” Travis asks.

“Huh?” I turn around guiltily. “What? Ha.” I fake a smile. “No reason. Just curious.”

I widen my eyes as I try to say something that makes sense.

“What? I mean. Where?” Shit how do I find out about him without being obvious.

Travis rolls his eyes. “He has that affect on a lot of females, so I hear.”

My mouth drops open. “Oh.” Depressingly enough, that doesn’t surprise me.

Travis hands the coffee to me. “Come on.” He turns and walks out of the kitchen. Oh no. I don’t want Mr. Twinkle to see me when I look like shit on a stick. I look around nervously. Plants! I hot foot it over and stealth slide along the wall behind the row of high plants. My eyes flicker to Mark’s office and I can still see him in there.

What are they talking about?

Holy crap, what if he tells Mark we kissed…

No, he wouldn’t… surely. Why would he?

My eyes widen. Shit. I hope Mark doesn’t tell him I’m his girlfriend, f*cking hell. Why did I even say that?

Oh, this is a disaster. Why do they have to know each other?

I eventually make it back to my seat and fall into it breathlessly, craning my neck to try and see what’s going on.

I’m perspiring here.

Deirdre’s phone rings. “Hello,” she answers and then listens. “Yeah, sure.”

She hangs up and then goes through her filing cabinet to retrieve a file. I am still spying over my divider through the excellently positioned plants.

Her phone rings again as she opens the file in her hand. “Hello, hold the line, please.” She puts the phone down. “Emerson?”