The 18th Floor

Chapter Twenty One

I spend the next day working from home, although some part of me secretly wishes I was with Lucien at his house again. After we spent the day working yesterday, he drove me home after my dad told me he got in. Today I'm trying to work in my dad's office but I can't concentrate and I can't hide the disappoint of the work party being cancelled.

The day carries on, and without any distractions I get through a pile of admin I had been meaning to go through and start planning for next year. The realisation dawns on me that I enjoy working with Lucien in his office and I don't know how I feel about moving to separate rooms on the 22nd floor.

At end of the day, the work chat gets a message from Lucien:

I've been told that the building is closed until the new year  If anyone needs anything from the office, they can go in tomorrow to collect them and then we will be back in the office from 4th January. But fear not! We will still have our team Christmas party!!

We will go for drinks as planned and see where the night takes us next Friday.

Dress festive ;)

The next week goes by in a blur of meetings from home trying to wrap up projects and the stress of Christmas creeping up.

Dad came home early on Wednesday and we went out to buy a Christmas tree. Christmas is around the corner and yet me and dad have somehow made it a habit to decorate last minute every year despite being in the festive spirit straight after Halloween. We spent the evening decorating the tree and as always, arguing where it looks best. It ended up going behind the TV as opposed to behind the sofa, with dad winning the argument of how would we be able to see the gifts behind the sofa, despite it being placed there last year. As if there are ever more than 4 gifts under there.

Ever since I could remember, my dad had a two gift policy. I'm pretty sure it started off as a joke at first but we have always stuck to it. One true gift, we want to gift each other, no budget, and then the second gift is something silly for under £5 that is an absolute waste of money. We also pretend like we're six year olds and fill up the stockings that we hang on the window.

I bought dads Christmas gift the month I started working, with my first pay check, surprised how I haven't even let it slip. We spent the rest of last evening watching Christmas movies with hot chocolate and a ridiculous amount of cake that rendered us both asleep on the sofa.

Tomorrow night is the Christmas party that Lucien has organised for us. The original plan was to get drinks but Lucien said there was a slight change of plans and refuses to tell us, insisting it is a surprise. He sent us an address for the first stop of many apparently, which is only a 20 minute walk from me, and told us the rest will be revealed tomorrow. Despite all his seriousness at work, Lucien is easy going at work social events. There have been a few frequent after work pub visits, but nothing that has every lasted too long. I have a feel tomorrow may run well into the night.

Tomorrow is also the last official day before we break up for Christmas. It would have been next week Wednesday, but Lucien told us all that if we wrap up early, we can have next week off as well. I haven't seen the team in a week and it surprises me to admit that I do miss them and the social side of work.

The months following the accident, I pushed everyone away. All the friends I had prior, I didn't want them to see me and it's one of the things I will always regret. Not all of them stuck by me which I can't fault them for after I refused to acknowledge their calls and texts, but I still have a few I keep in contact with. We are all at different points in life that we can hardly find a time that works well for all of us. I made a couple more after going back to uni, but hardly anyone I have a strong friendship with. At the time, it was just something else I struggled to balance.

I think working has been good for me, having something to focus on and having some other goals and aspirations in my life. Not that I didn't before, but working here has made me realise what I can actually achieve.

Me and dad are watching TV when I get a text from Lucien,

Just so you know, everything planned for tomorrow is all good and accessible. Anything you don't want to do or stay in, we can leave

Something starts fluttering in my chest as I read the text message again. A few second later my phone pings again.

I sent the last part of the message to everyone sorry I don't want you to think I'm picking you out or anything

The last part didn't bother me anyway, I thought it was sweet. Despite not being an open person, I find it easy with Lucien in a way I never found it easy with some of my friends. I text him back.

Thanks :) that's reassuring to hear even though I didn't doubt you. See you tomorrow x

I never doubted him. After what happened last week, I felt like something shifted between us. I can't explain it, I haven't seen him since, but the touch of his lips on my cheek is a sensation that has begun to cross my mind more than I'd like to admit. I know we discussed a lot that day, but the thought of seeing him tomorrow makes my stomach twist a little bit. Lucien reacts to my message with a heart.

I tell dad I'm going to bed and remind him I'll be home late tomorrow from the party. Not that he would know what time I get in, he's going on his annual golf trip with Dylan. He just nods and gives me a kiss on the forehead and tells me to have fun as he needs to be out early, meaning we probably won't see each other till Saturday evening.

I make my way to my bedroom and look at my dress on the hanger. I ironed it this afternoon so I wouldn't have to rush tomorrow. It's the red one I showed Abbi last week. The front and back have a similar V-cut plunge, revealing a more than what I usually would show.

The cut in the back is high enough that my scars don't show. It has long puffy sleeves but the actual length of the dress cuts just above my knees. The problem with constantly being sat is that certain clothes will rise up despite being longer if I was standing. I bought a pair of knee-high heeled boots to go with it. I was slightly unsure at first but I convinced myself I look good, and it's too late to change now.