Runaway

No I'm not Avoiding You.

I've managed to stay clear of Kaylex the last couple of weeks. I keep my schedule full with the audits he requested and always have an excuse for why I can't go to lunch. I don't mind meetings with him since those are in a formal setting, but I avoid anything casual. Even when it's just the two of us I still call him Mr. Alston to try to emphasize the formality. As if taking my cue he has resumed calling me Ms. Brooks.

As much as I try to avoid him, he still haunts my dreams every night. Every night I dream as though Im laying in his arms. My dreams are so real I can smell his cologne. How do you avoid the person that haunts your sleep and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when he is near you? At this point, if it wasn't for my work I wouldn't make it through the day. It's like my brain just drifts to him the second the smallest distraction pulls me from work. I've never had a crush like this. Maybe it's the lack of men in my life. The first one that shows me the slightest bit of attention, if only for platonic reasons, Im dreaming of falling into bed with him. 

For the last two weeks, I've taken lunch at my desk with the excuse that I was so overwhelmed with work I couldn't leave the office. I've also found it handy to use the excuse of these companies being in different time zones requires me to alter my schedule in order to have the necessary meetings with people. But today I am feeling stir crazy and I need to get out of this office for at least an hour. As beautifully as Mrs. Alston decorated this office, if I spend much more time locked away in here I am going to burn the furniture. I just hope I can sneak past his office and down to the parking garage. 

"Here goes nothing," I say as I open my office door to head out. 

"Ms. Brooks, sneaking off to lunch?" I hear behind me. I jump a bit from the shock and spin around. There he stands in all his sexy glory looking at me with a raised eyebrow. 

"No. Not sneaking. Just found a quick minute and thought I would pop out for a break" I say quickly trying and failing to sound nonchalant. 

"Oh is that so? Well, how about I join you then?  

Shit... "That sounds lovely."

"So where were you headed to?" Kaylex asks me.

"Well, I was just going to grab something from one of the food trucks down the street."

"Awesome, I saw a taco truck earlier. Wanna eat there?"

"Yeah, that sounds good."

"Ok, let me grab my phone and I'll meet you at the elevator. Then we can head down together."

I stood in front of the elevator bank waiting on Kaylex and letting my mind drift to his handsome build and his bright blue eyes. I bet he works out every day, no one looks that good naturally. He has to with that fine physique. 

"Ready?!" I hear Kaylex say as he walks up behind me. I jump at his sudden presence behind me, I never even heard him coming. "Did I scare you, Ms. Brooks?"

"No, just startled me a bit. I was in my own little world when you walked up."

Ding the elevator chimes as the doors open and we step on.

"Is that so, what wonders were you enjoying in your little world may I ask?"

"Oh, um... Just all the audits I've been doing and then one's I've yet to complete." I answer quickly trying and failing at sounding nonchalant. 

"Is that so?" he says with a grin as if he knows Im lying. "Well, based on the preliminary reports you've sent me, I would say it's going fairly well."

"Really? Well, I hope I'm living up to your expectations. I tend to have imposter syndrome and doubt myself when entrusted with a major task." I say in complete honesty. While wondering why I can't keep my trap shut in front of him... I can't help but groan mentally.

Kaylex turns and looks me directly in the eyes and says with such conviction "Don't ever doubt yourself, you are more than capable. Do you understand me Liz?" as if he took personal offense to what I said. I just looked at him with my mouth slightly agape and nodded as if my daddy was getting on to me for saying something out of line.

The elevator jerks to a sudden stop and due to the unexpected movement I lose my balance a bit and fall into Kaylex. I feel a sudden pop of static discharge when we touch. I quickly pull away. "Sorry, I lost my balance there. I didn't mean to shock you. Im plagued with being a walking ball of static."

"It's quite alright Liz, a little shock doesn't bother me at all," he says with a mischievous grin.

I can't help but wonder if sometimes when he speaks it has a double meaning like he has a little secret.

"We should probably exit the elevator now, it appears others would like to get on." he says nodding towards the group of people watching us and waiting for us to move out of their way. 

"Oh yeah, right. We have tacos waiting for us somewhere." I say with an excited grin.

"I take it you really like taco's, huh?"

"Um... Not to be dramatic, but tacos are life."

"Well then, after you Liz."

We start off down the street in search of the food truck I spotted earlier. When we get up to the truck Kaylex offer to order while I pick out a spot to sit and eat. The people who own the taco truck have a few picnic tables set out so I grab an empty one. Kaylex comes back with my order of carne asada tacos and elote. I can't help but dance around in my seat with excitement over my food. Kaylex cracks up at my child-like excitement over my tacos.

 "You weren't kidding, you really enjoy tacos huh?"

 "I sure do. How could I not? They're freaking amazing and elote to boot! Jackpot!!" He looks at me with the most amazing smile and I can't help but blush from the way he is looking at me.

 "If I had known you got this excited over taco's I would've brought you some much sooner," he says with a laugh. 

"A little free advice... if you want a woman to get excited, offer her taco's."

"I'll keep that in mind for future reference."

"I'm sure you will be successful in all your future endeavors then. So, now that you know taco's give me child-like joy. What makes you happy? What brings out the playful side of Kaylex Alston?"

"It's a secret"

"What?! That isn't fair! You know mine, so tell me yours" I demand with fake outrage, barely able to contain the smile on my face.

"I can't"

"Whatever, I'll figure it out"

"How? You hardly surface for air from that office. I was beginning to wonder if you were ok. Next time I'll just bait a trap with taco's." he laughs

"Yeah, yeah. Be glad you have such a dedicated employee" I say sarcastically. 

"I've actually been meaning to talk to you about your audits. I think we need to plan a site visit. Virtual audits are possible, but I like to go in and get my eyes on things to make sure we are getting the whole story. I was thinking we could schedule internal audits for the first week of April in England at Edmonds. I've already reached out to begin scheduling a tentative date. That gives you about two weeks to prep and find care for your dog. Will that work for you?"

"Yes, that shouldn't be a problem. I've almost completed the virtual audit on Edmonds and I certainly have some questions about some discrepancies I've found. Plus the doggy daycare my baby goes to boards pups. So I already have that taken care of."

"Doggy Day Care?" he asks with raised eyebrows

"Yes, doggy daycare. I feel bad leaving her at home alone every day. This way she gets to go play with other pups, get lots of exercise and attention from other humans" I say defensively.

"Ok, no need to be defensive. I wasn't judging, just surprised," he says if reply with a slight grin.

"Anyhow... Who do I need to get with about travel arrangements?"

"No need, it's already handled."

"What?... Ok. So what hotel are we staying at and what airline are we flying with?"

"The company jet and my family's estate," he replies simply

"Oh, Wouldn't you want your privacy? I really don't mind staying in a hotel."

"Nonsense, the house has more rooms than could ever be used. No sense letting all that space go to waste."

"Ok, well it seems you have already handled all the details. I suppose when we get back to the office I need to shift my focus to the Edmonds account so that I am ready."

"Sounds like a plan," he says.

As we settle into a comfortable silence as we finish our lunch I can't help but think about how easy it is to settle back into informalities. I feel so comfortable with Kaylex like I'm spending time with an old friend. I overshare information much to my embarrassment, and he never seems bothered by it. Plus there is the undeniable attraction I have to him. I must admit, and nervous as I am about spending a week with Kaylex on a business trip, Im equally excited to have the opportunity to get to know him more.