Chapter 8
Valencia
I climbed down the last stair and saw someone was crouched down on the floor between a mountain of files.
“Thomas?” I muttered as I placed my purse on one of the tables.
Thomas, the second year associate who had read aloud the email to me, looked up at me awkwardly.
“Hi, Valencia,” He gave me an awkward smile and added, “I am not as fast as you but I can try”
I narrowed my eyes.
“But why are you doing this? Ms Briggs assigned me to the filing department.”
I asked, stepping into the mess right beside him.
“Technically, she asked me to ensure work gets done. So I can be here.”
I tied my hair into a ponytail and sat beside him on the desk as we began reviewing and tagging the files.
“I was thinking we should do it date wise and then client wise. What do you suggest?” He asked after we had sorted through a huge pile and I was looking through the shelves, wondering where to put them.
I nodded, “Sounds good”
I pulled the chair in front of the shelves and took my sandals off.
But Thomas was quick to get up from his seat.
“No, no, please let me❞
I looked at him and saw that he was all red, like a tomato.
“Your face…” I began, and he immediately put his hand on his face to feel it.
“Oh, it’s nothing” He whisked my concern away and stood near me, handing me the files as I began placing them neatly.
“This place should have a dehumidifier,” I said after he handed me a file and sneezed.
“Are you okay?” I asked, and he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, sneezing again.
“Yeah, just a cold,” He muttered and stayed with me for the entire day, helping me with my work.
I was beginning to see how he was of help because no way would I have finished it all on my own. Plus, I was dying to go back to the desk and do some real stuff than be locked in the basement and doing clerical work.
“That’s the last one of the pile” Thomas said, handing a file to me. I wasn’t looking at him and blindly reached for the file.
My fingers brushed against his hand when I grabbed the file and I saw him go even more red as he smiled.
My eyes widened with concern. “Are you sure that you are okay?”
Now, not just his nose, but his entire face and even hands looked bright red.
1/3
He again nodded vigorously.
“As I said, I caught a cold. Nothing serious”
He sneezed again, and I got down from the chair.
“I don’t think it’s just some cold. You look like you might faint.”
He looked away from me and mumbled.
“Nah, that’s the least I can do after I treated you like shit earlier today.”
I blinked and realized he was referring to the task Mrs Briggs had given to him of reading the mail aloud.
Was he feeling guilty?
I approached him and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Hey” I said softly. “You don’t have to feel guilty for doing your job.”
But he continued classifying the files without looking up to meet my eyes.
“I heard some gossip about a new head taking over the bureau, so maybe she is trying to impress him or her.”
“That doesn’t mean she has to make our lives miserable.”
Thomas nodded vigorously. “Of course. I have been watching you over the past few years. You always stay back late to work and have never said no to any work assigned to you. You don’t deserve this.”
Aww. That was so cute.
At least somebody had seen my hard work and appreciated it.
“That means a lot, Thomas” I said and he looked up at me expectantly, gently brushing his fingers on mine.
I looked him in the eye as he slowly whispered.
“I have been meaning to try to talk to you but… I never mustered the courage.”
He said, his face almost growing crimson.
“Uh, I am not Mrs Briggs you know, you can talk to me whenever you want” I said, trying to diffuse the awkwardness.
We both laughed and I pulled my hand away, a thing he noticed.
“I also know that you have been waiting for that promotion for years. You deserve it, Valencia” He added and I couldn’t feel happier.
“Thank you. If only Mrs Briggs noticed it.” I sighed dramatically and then my attention drifted back to the files.
“I think I can’t sit in this basement anymore without passing out. I need some fresh air.”
“Yeah, we should totally go out” He got up a bit too hastily and when I looked at him curiously, he amended,
“I meant, we should get out of the basement. I need some air too”
2/3
He loosened the tie again before sneezing.
I simply turned around and headed back up the stairs with him in tow.
The air indeed felt stiff down there, but I had just not noticed how long we had been down there.
My gaze fell on the clock and I noticed it was 10 pm already.
I had missed lunch, worked far longer than necessary, and still the files were halfway done.
The office was empty except for the two of us.
I rubbed the back of my neck, and recalled the two strong hands that had massaged my sore back and body.
Shit, I had forgotten all about him and our little nightly rendezvous.
As if on cue, my phone buzzed, and I saw a text message from him. I quickly grabbed my phone and saw the text.
Him: I am awaiting your arrival. Just wanted to let you know so that I don’t spook you.
A smile appeared on my face.
Meanwhile, Thomas looked at me and asked.
“So I was saying that if you need my help, just give me a call.”
I absentmindedly nodded while wondering what to reply to my boy toy.
“Yeah sure,” I replied to Thomas, who smiled hesitantly.
“And for that we need each other’s numbers,” He said and waited for me to look up from the phone.
“Is it somebody important? Your friend, Sophia?” He asked, and I looked up at him in surprise.
“You know her?”
He shrugged.
“I’ve seen you go out with her a few times.”
And when I did not respond, he hastily added, “She was my batch mate back in college. I saw you with her once at the mall.”
“Oh” was all I managed and grabbed my purse.
“You look like you are in a hurry” Thomas was still hovering around me:
“Uh
t hom
no onl
y
Chapter:
