Chapter5
974 Words
By Monday, I’ve convinced myself I’ve stopped thinking about blondie. I haven’t, obviously, but I’m doing a great job pretending which, if you ask me, is a great corporate skill.
I’ve been debugging all weekend; the system is a real mess, and now I’ll have to pick it up again this morning. Luckily, I have actual work to distract me from being nosey. I sit at my desk, set up my laptop, and start working on a new program that would make my coding easier when Luca appears, smiling.
“You’re awfully cheerful this fine morning,” I say, smiling back at her.
“Whaat? I’m always cheerful,” she says. “Lovely to see you too, Henry.”
“You’ve been selected for the corporate tech program this week.”
I blink. “Selected? Like… I won something?”
“Yes,” she responds with zero expression. “A free trip. All expenses paid. No refunds.”
I laugh,because now she’s obviously teasing me . “What exactly is this program?”
“It’s a three-day workshop with other cybersecurity heads across LA. Walton Dynamics sends someone every year. This year, Adrian suggested you.”
Adrian suggested me—
Right. Cool. I’m the cybersecurity head, after all.
“Uh—great,” I say, trying not to sound like I just swallowed my tongue. “So where am I going?”
“The driver will take you,” she says casually. “He’s waiting in the garage. You leave in five minutes.”
“Five? Uh… way to give me a heads-up,” I say sarcastically.
“You’re welcome. You’ll do great. Good luck.” She walks away, moving so majestically I can’t help but admire her perfect frame.
I grab my laptop bag, shut down the laptop I just set up, and head to the elevator.
The doors open into the garage, and I step out, scanning for the company car. A sleek black car screeches up, and the driver winds the window down. “Get in,” he says.
I open the door to the back seat,I guess we’re not going with the company car after all — and that’s when I realize I’m not alone in the car.
A figure already sitting there.
“Henry,” he says.
“Mr. Walton,” I reply, pretending I wasn’t startled. “What… what are you doing here?”
He gives a small, controlled laugh.
“I’m attending the program,” he says. “Did Luca not tell you we were going together?”
“Nope.” I clear my throat. “She did not.”
A single brow lifts I don’t know if its amusement, curiosity, or maybe both.
“Shall we?” he asks.
The car pulls out.
The ride is quiet. Not awkward quiet… tension quiet. The kind where one person is waiting for the other to speak first. Silence is dangerous for me. Silence makes me think.
“So,” I start, “you’re attending the conference too?”
He turns his head slightly. “I am.”
I nod. “Cool. Nice. Great talk.”
A smile twitches at the corner of his mouth — brief, but real.
“I didn’t know Luca kept my attendance a secret,” he says.
“Maybe it just slipped her mind,” I reply, “although nothing really slips Luca’s mind.”
He lets out a short, genuine laugh.
He moves to adjust his tie —which is unnecessary, because it’s already perfect and says quietly, “I hope you don’t feel… uncomfortable.”
I scoff. “Why would I feel uncomfortable?”
He hesitates. Archer Walton, CEO, Greek god, hesitates.
“The party,” he says finally. “Our conversation that night.”
Ah. So we’re going there.
I shrug lightly. “I mean, if you’re embarrassed, I can pretend you didn’t flirt with me.”
His eyes widen , like he didn’t expect me to call him out so casually.
“I wasn’t—” He stops, restarts. “I wasn’t flirting.”
“Right,” I say, nodding sagely. “So you just… lean in and talk to everybody like that?”
“I had been drinking,” he mutters.
“I know,” I say. “I saw you holding a glass.”
He exhales sharply.
“But I don’t want things at work to be complicated,” he says quietly.
I meet his eyes. “They’re only complicated if you make them complicated.”
He looks like he’s thinking, really thinking and I don’t interrupt. This is the first time he’s let the facade slip since the rooftop.
Before either of us can say anything else, his phone buzzes. He checks it. The name flashes “Maya”
His expression softens; a familiar look crosses his face.
I raise a brow. “Maya? The blonde from the restaurant?”
His eyes snap to mine. Surprised. “What restaurant?, You saw us?”
“Hard to miss,” I say, shrugging. “I was having dinner with a friend.”
He lets out a slow breath. “She’s my best friend. That’s all.”
Interesting. Very interesting. Not that I’m obsessing or anything… okay, maybe a little,
I lean back, more at ease now. “Good to know.”
He studies me for a moment, like he’s trying to read the meaning behind my tone. Or maybe he’s just trying to hide that he’s relieved. I’m thinking about why he gave me an explanation to who she is to him ,he could have just let me assume if he wasn’t flirting as he claims
And that’s when it hits me: three days with him at a conference. Three days, no distractions, just… work. Mostly work, I tell myself. But somehow, I doubt it will stay that way.
- Writer
