Cake Love: All Things Payne(84)

I guess it is too much to ask to see Henrik. Even if I got a chance what would I say? Would he even acknowledge me? Probably not. Sighing I dial Aria's number. After a ring she picks up.

"Hey where are you? Evaleen is already here. We ordered cheese sticks without you."

There was an office happy hour two weeks ago and toward the end only Evaleen, Rick (one of the sales guys) and I were left. Aria called me and I invited her out to the bar. We all hit it off. Rick ended up flirting with Aria which for his part was a big mistake. Oh, she went home with him, but she doesn't do more than one night stands. He has been bugging me ever since about her phone number.

"I'm almost there, had to drop off something. I'll be there in five minutes."

"Okay but hurry. The cheese sticks have arrived and Evaleen has already inhaled one. What? Don't hit me. It's true Evaleen." I can hear a muffled voice in the background.

"I'll see you shortly."

I hang up and briskly walk ten blocks to the diner called The Joint. Entering I am assaulted with the smell of grease and stifling heat, and everything is covered in dark wood paneling. I'm almost confident this place hasn't been updated in forty years. Looking around I notice Aria's hand waving in the air to capture my attention. Nodding I head over to her but she doesn't stop waving until I am standing at the table.



Taking off my winter gear I shove in beside Evaleen who is sucking on her chocolate shake.

"I ordered for you, Morgana. Your usual."

"Thanks, Aria, I'm starving." I grab the lone cheese stick on the plate in the middle of the table and bite into the cold appetizer.

"Did you go stalking him, Morgana?" Aria's neatly plucked eyebrow raises as she sucks ice from her water glass into her mouth, chomping on it like candy.

"Stalk whom?" Evaleen lifts her head from the straw glancing back and forth between us.

"Aria is referring to Mr. Payne. And no I wasn't stalking him, just dropping off his dry cleaning."

I try to act aloof by reading the sugar packets but accidentally spill the syrup container while reaching for the brown packet. Trying quickly to wipe it up I manage to splash Aria with her water and almost knock Evaleen's milkshake completely over.

"Let me get that, Drake." Evaleen cleans up my mess as I give her a small smile and turn to look out over the diner. Usually this place is packed but there are several empty seats today. I'm thinking the cold snap is keeping people away. The sub-zero temperature is a deterrent even for the thick skinned Chicagoans.

"So you stalk Mr. Payne?" Evaleen questions while tossing the napkins in the corner of the table.

"No I don't. Today was the first time I have ever been to his building and only because he asked me to pick up his dry-cleaning for him. That's all."

Our food arrives.

"You have had the hots for that man from day one, Morgana." Aria happily points out while popping a french fry into her mouth.

"What?" Evaleen's voice rises as her eyes bulge.

I really didn't want Evaleen to find out I like Mr. Payne. It's embarrassing enough to have a thing for the greatest * that ever was or ever will be, but then to let people at the office know makes it worse. Much worse. I know they will stare at me sitting alone at my desk and shake their heads in shame. They will judge and I will agree with them.

"So what if I think he's good looking. I'm not the only one. I know for a fact Grace loves him. Even though she's the building receptionist and is stationed in the lobby, she is always in our kitchen on the twenty-eighth floor waiting for him. Anytime I bring his name up she gets that blissful faraway look in her eyes."

"That is true, Drake, she has been in love with him for two years when she first started at Mimir. Every time he needs a new assistant she submits her resume. She never applies to any other job in the company, only to be his assistant. But, as for you, Drake, that is a different story. You've spoken to him; you know what a tremendous dick he is. I'm quite intrigued by your attraction." She wiggles her eyebrows at me while leaning her chin on her hand.

"There is nothing to tell, I ..." My breath catches when I see the man himself walk in accompanied by a stunning brunette. The woman is close to his height, age and in that moment it hits me that if I didn't know Mr. Payne I would think they are the most beautiful couple to ever walk the earth.

Shit.

He guides her to one of the empty tables and I can't keep my eyes off them as he helps her remove her coat. She does the usual date type stuff for him. The woman blushes, lightly touches his arm and throws her head back laughing at something he tells her. I want to slap her.

"Morgana, what's wrong? You look like you did that one time your brother threw the last piece of cake in the trash from your birthday."

I can't speak only grit my teeth.

"Look who just sat down." I hear Evaleen say and see her pointing in Henrik's direction out of the corner of my eye.

"Who's that?" Aria turns to see what we are focused on.

"It's him. The Payne in the ass!" I bite out.

I know I shouldn't be mad. If I think about it why wouldn't he have a girlfriend? He's rich and handsome so I shouldn't be surprised some money grubbing whore got her teeth into him. Wow, that sounded awful. I need cake.