Deep Desire

Chapter Four

I could feel Caroline's cold stare on me, she made my whole body get goosebumps. I could tell she was waiting for me to say something first.

I cleared my throat,

"So..." I started, and then she let loose,

"Are you friggin kidding me Amelia!? What the hell were you thinking?! Why can't you just keep your mouth shut!? What is your problem!? I told you I'd meet you downstairs! You just can't help yourself can you? He heard EVERY word! Oh my god, I'm so gonna get fired for this." She slouched herself back against the elevator wall and started sinking to the floor.

I stood there in silence, trying to think of what to say without making the situation worse,

"I mean, he said it was nice to meet me." I shrugged. She looked at me, glaring with wild eyes, "I'm sorry." I said.

She sighed, "I know," She looked down at her fiddling hands.

The doors to the lift opened, and I put my hand out to her. She took it and pulled herself up, wiping away invisible dirt from her backside. Like there would be anything to brush away since this whole place is the perfect location for someone with OCD.

We both walked out into the lobby and stuck our sunglasses on before leaving the building.

"So where do you wanna go for lunch?" Caroline asked.

"How about Costa?" I suggested, knowing it was only across the street. She smiled at the suggestion and started walking towards the crossing so we could cross over. We made our way towards Costa and scooped up a little table outside that an older couple had just left.

“I’ll get this one,” Caroline stated.

“Okay. I’ll have a ham and cheese…”

“Toastie with a hot chocolate?” Caroline cut me off, knowing my order by heart. She looked at me with a grin, “You know we’re in the middle of summer, right? They have Frappe’s and fruit coolers.”

“I don’t want to be disappointed if I try something new," I shrugged, "Besides, I love my hot chocolate.”

She smiled at me, rolling her eyes, and grabbed her purse from her bag.

I was left alone with my wandering thoughts, people watching, cloud watching, listening to the sound of heavy traffic charging by as drivers shout and curse at each other. Some might hate the busy London life, but I couldn’t be happier here.

When I was younger, living with my Mother, we lived in a small cottage down in the south west in a place called Tavistock, and it truly was a wonderful place to live. It was so quiet. All day we would hear the birds singing, and sometimes we would spend our afternoons sitting in our conservatory just listening to them, it was so peaceful. It’s probably one of my most favourite memories with my Mother. But ever since I was little I always wanted to move to London when we visited my Aunt there once. Then not longer after my 15th birthday, my Mother died and my Aunt Cassie took me in and took care of me. I've lived in London ever since.

“Hey,” Caroline says as she places down my hot chocolate in front of me, tearing me away from my thoughts, “Are you okay?” She asked.

“I’m good,” I said, with a smile, “Thank you.” I took a sip of my hot chocolate, pleasantly surprised to find that I also had marshmallows and cream.

“I wonder how Han is getting on with that house viewing.” Caroline pondered.

“Well she hasn’t called either of us in a rage yet so I’d say it’s going pretty well.” I said, and we both chuckled. Hannah has a little bit of a temper.

“If she manages to sell this one, drinks are on her tonight.” Caroline laughed.

“Agreed,” I said, swirling my costa cup so the cream mixed with the liquid.

“So, how are you feeling about going back to work on Monday?” Caroline asked as the barista placed our food down on the table.

I smiled at the young girl and picked out a knife from the cutlery she gave us to cut my toastie halves into quarters.

“I actually can’t wait to get back, but I know I’m going to have so much paperwork to go through.” I sighed and took a bite out of my toastie, my mouth salivating almost instantly.

“Is that Sam kid still there?” She asked.

I rolled my eyes, “Unfortunately, and I am going in on Monday fully prepared to go through his drafts and change pretty much everything. I honestly don’t know why Nick hired him, he’s too young with very little experience. Poor kid doesn’t have a clue!” I exclaimed.

“Maybe he’s sucking?” She laughed, and I threw my crust at her.

Just as she wiped the crumbs from her dress, her phone started to scream making us both jump. She clears her throat and answers,

“Woods.” She said in her work voice. There were a few yes’s, and no’s, and some ‘mm-hmm’s’ in between, then she cut the call.

“Right,” She said, “I have to head back to work.”

“You’ve only had 15 minutes.” I pointed out.

“Matter of life and death.” She said as she put her panini back in the cardboard packaging, and picked up her Frappe.

I rolled my eyes, “Fine. I’ll see you tonight.”

She kissed my forehead and went on her way.