The 18th Floor

Chapter Sixty Four

"If I was a crisp, what crisp would I be?"

"Oh my god Simon, we need to find you a girl", Lucien groans and I can't help the laugh that explodes to of me.

"I don't know how you put up with him Cyrene, honestly", Simon says as he comes over to my desk to hand over what I asked him to print for me. "Welcome back", he says as he pulls me into a hug. I hug him back. Potentially the only guys that Lucien would let me be within five feet of without his dick falling off.

"Who even thinks to ask questions like that Simon?", Lucien says over his computer.

"You would be some off-brand packet, that's gone off. Sitting and smelling on the shelves."

"Fuck off bro", Lucien says throwing a pen at him.

"You're both kids, you realise this right?", I say turning to both of them.

"He started it", Lucien protests and I give him the look of did you really just prove my point and Simon laughs.

"I love riling up my favourite couple, bye", he says as he leaves the office.

A knock on the door follows shortly and I expect to see Simon come back in with another joke but

instead I find Elias.

"Hey, good to see you're back", he nods and says hi to Lucien too.

"Yep, good to be back", I say after being off for close to three weeks. Today's my first day back and I already feel out of my usual routine and the need to get back into it.

"I have a meeting with the board. We'll have a meeting this afternoon, we all need to get up to date and organise", Lucien says standing up. "Call if you need anything, or don't feel well" he says turning to me. I tell him I will and watch him walk out the office, sharing a quiet, but almost deeper nod with Elias who is still by the door.

"Thank you, for coming to see me", I say realising I haven't seen him since, and even then, it was hardly an interaction I can recall.

"No worries. We were all panicked and wanted to make sure you were ok", he says coming closer and sitting at the chair that's in front of my desk that often moves around. I watch him as his ink covered fingers fidget in his lap.

"How have you been settling? Oh wow, it's nearly been over a month", I remark, realising how long I've actually been off for.

"Yeah, it's been good. Of course, it would have been better if you didn't get ill, but it might made me have to adapt quickly and work on the ongoing projects. I've been enjoying it so far."

"That's good to hear. Sorry I couldn't give you more guidance on the projects."

"Nah, don't be daft. Life happens, glad you're all good."

"How are you though?", I ask, feeling as though he doesn't have his usual spark about him and he looks up at me. "Don't answer if it's not my place", I quickly add on knowing what it feels like to talk about hard to share emotions.

He smiles softly, "just tired", he says standing up. "We'll catch up and I can hand you back your projects."

"Sounds good", I say and watch him as he leaves the office.

Abbi and Reid welcome me back with equally warm hugs and I spend the rest of the day head down in work and trying to catch up on emails and projects.

"Let's go", Lucien says standing up and going for his jacket.

"10 more minutes, let me just finish this off", I say.

"Absolutely not. You still need to rest", he says coming over to my desk and switching off my computer.

"Hey! Come on", I say annoyed.

"Take your jacket", he says handing it to me from the coat rack.

"Fine", I say taking it from him and putting it on. We're deep in spring now but London continues to provide its unpredictable weather.

"Your dad's waiting", he says still on the rampage to convince me.

I sigh, "I know, I know. We're going."

Dad invited me and Lucien around for dinner tonight. Although I love living with Lucien, I can't help but miss my dad. It's always been us so I'm grateful he's still close by.

We drive to my dad's and as Lucien pulls up to my front yard I suddenly feel nostalgic and consider how much has happened over the past 8 or so months.

"Hey", Lucien says, cupping my face towards him, "what's wrong?"

"The first time you came to my house, I was a hysterical mess and now you're coming as my boyfriend. Potentially still a hysterical mess", I say and he laughs.

"I knew from the minute I saw you in my office that I would be coming to your house as your boyfriend", he says wickedly.

"Wowwww, no wonder your head is so big", I laugh, shaking my head at him.

"As far as I'm concerned, your dad invited me. You weren't on the guest list", he smirks.

"Dickhead", I say and see my dad open the door from the corner of my eye before I can carry on.

"Come on you two lovebirds", he says and I feel the smile spread across my face.