You call it madness, I call it love

Chapter 4 - Dean

There was no doubt. Carol was a beautiful and passionate woman. Her blond locks had been pulled back in a ponytail except a few strands that had escaped and was lying down her face. Dean had to resist the urge to stroke his fingers across her forehead to get it out of her eyes. Instead, he listened while looking at her with a smile on his lips. After she had left, her luring perfume stayed for a while. Fresh jasmine with a twist of orange, he thought to himself. Dean sat there enchanted by the scent and only a few seconds later it was gone. He looked down on the words he had written down during the meeting. By now he was able to write keywords without looking, and strange enough the words weren't even crooket. He nodded to himself as he thought Carol would be a good leader for the mini-team, but he had to interview the others as well. So he knocked twice on the wall and Therese went in.

- Would you bring Philippa Newtown in ?

- Of course

Dean turned to a blank page and greeted Philippa as she walked in. He continued with the same questions, and as she eagerly answered he couldn't help but to feel... Well bored. As if his life spirit had left Carol. Philippa was a nice cheerful woman, eager to answer everything he asked about. As far as he could tell, she wasn't the best strategically, but incredible with numbers. She didn't like to brag about it, but he had heard from Therese that everyone would run to her for help if anything didn't add up. Dean thanked her and poured a cup of coffee before meeting the 13 other people in the office. He glanced at his watch and almost fell backwards on his incredible stable chair. He had been talking to people for hours, completely forgetting about lunch. Therese had asked him what he had felt only a minute ago, if he was going to the cafeteria, and he had replied that he just had to finish some notes. Then a couple more people came along and it went off his mind again. How come he didn't even feel hunger while working, but as soon as he noticed that he hadn't eaten for like 6 hours he was starving instantly?

Dean stood up and suddenly the dizziness announced itself and his hand flew up to assist his pounding head. He removed his hand as it knocked on the door. Filling his lungs as if that could feed his hunger, he tried to collect himself.

- Come in

He sat down on the corner of his desk to seem less unsure of his feet. Therese came in with the usual encouraging smile and looked like she was going to say something, when she stopped and looked at Dean for a while.

- Are you alright sir, you look a bit... pale.

It took Dean by surprise. Did he really look that terrible?

- Yes, of course, it has been a long day. What did you...?

- Ah yes, Mr Reeder would like to see you tomorrow at noon.

A slight stabbing feeling occurred inside Dean and he wasn't sure if it was the hunger or having to see his boss so soon again. He strongly doubted it would be for the coffee. I guess that was how everybody on the other side of this wall felt today, he thought to himself.

- He said something about Tendee Team, and that you'd know what he meant.

- I do, thank you Therese.

She left and he looked at the roof. Dean had known this position would be challenging, but really? Gathering a team for a huge assignment in one day after starting was not something he was prepared for. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, and felt the world spinning around him as if he had been in a carousel. Both his hands tightened their grips and his eyes flew open as fast as they had closed. Slightly panting, he walked over to his coffee machine and made himself a cup and took a mint, as if that would ever fill the void. Dean looked out at the clear parts of the wall, there she was. Carol sat and talked with Philippa. Laughing. Swiftly his pain disappeared as it had never been there and the smile returned on his face. How could she have this kind of power over him? Both being a curse and a gift. One look could sweep him from worries and leave him on a far away cloud in wonderland. Dean grinned to himself and shook his head, which wasn't ideal in his current state, walking back to his seat. Taking his hand through his hair, tousling it a bit around, thinking about what to do. Considering all the abilities and unique qualities he had seen today, he had to combine a group of maybe 4 now that he was following along with the first company. The first name he wrote was unsurprisingly Carol, but he thought about it for a while. Was he just picking her because... No, she was very analytical and was good at structuring assignments. Out of all the others, she was one of the only ones who had come up with a strategic plan for pursuing a company that fast. Satisfied with his choice, he went on adding 3 more to the list. Philippa, Jen and Stephan. Philippa had a gift with numbers, which would come in handy with Tendee fishing, seeing as the slightest research Dean had done resulted in poorly distributed economic decisions. Jen was a great researcher who would dig up almost anything and Stephan had an ability to turn things upside down and see a solution when there appeared to be none. Dean was good at reading people, quite like today showed, and was good at making deals with people. Arguing his case. He leaned backwards and thought of the possible dynamics of the group and he decided to start writing down a description of the task at hand and about what he knew about Tendee fishing so far. He finished off by wanting to gather the team tomorrow morning. He sent the mail to the team members. Kicking off the project before his meeting with Jack would be a great way to show his commitment and passion for his new position, Dean thought while closing his laptop and packing his many notebooks into the top drawer.

A growling sound emerged from his stomach as a striking pain filled up his insides. Even looking at the time, Dean knew he hadn't eaten for the entire workday, but his eyes confirmed this useless piece of information and he sighed deeply. Would he dare? I was not like he could stay there until the next day, and even if he did, it wouldn't solve his problem would it. He contemplated. In conclusion, he felt like he was floating as he managed to pack his things and move across the room. He wasn't the only one on the way out. Almost everyone was packing or leaving the office saying their goodbyes. Dean couldn't help it but to stop beside Carol as she was sitting completely devoured in her work.

- Hey

He tried his best not to shock her, but that was an impossible task as she jumped as soon as he had said it.

- Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.

- Dean? No it is fine

- I just wanted to ask if you are not going home?

- Uh, yes. I tend to lose track of time when I work.

Tell me about it, he smirked to himself.

- Looks like an issue you are familiar with?

Carol put her stuff into her bag and left with Dean, which made his heart twitch a bit even though he told himself to get it together.

- Yes, quite a bit.

Suddenly she stopped and Dean looked at her curiously.

- Now that I think about it, I don't think I have seen you leave your office for more than 5 minutes today.

The comment made Dean laugh.

- Are you keeping count?

Carol smiled and shook her head, but looked like she had no idea what to say.

- But you are quite right, time flew today.

- Does that mean...

- What?

- Does that mean you haven't eaten all day?

Dean smirked slightly guilty as a response, but the look on her face made his eyebrows leave their usual spots.

- Eh, no need to worry. I'm fine.

They walked further down the stairs in silence before Carol looked at him again.

- It is really not that big of a deal

The words had only just left his mouth when his legs turned liquid and he clinged onto the railing. He was surprisingly exhausted, which wasn't a great mix with the starvation from 9 hours of work.

- Enough, you have to eat. My treat.

Dean didn't have the time to object as he instantly received a look that put him in his place, instead he gave in and a smile broadened on his face. Carol's arms wrapped around Dean's, which only made it harder for him to breathe, and she supported him the rest of the way down.