Chapter. 8 Twists of Fates

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"Having you around means a lot to me, Florence. I want you to feel happy working here. Do you drink coffee?" Mark smiled.

"Coffee is one of my major food groups."

"Ah, an assistant after my own heart." His smile widened. "I'm not going to ask you to fetch coffee for me, but I wouldn't mind if you helped me figure out how to use the new one-cup coffee brewers they just put in the break rooms."

I grinned. "No problem."

"How unfortunate that I don't have anything else for you today." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Why don't I show you the accounts I'm working on, and we'll go from there?"

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Mark touched base with two clients and had a long meeting with the creative team working on concept ideas for a trade school. It was a fascinating process seeing firsthand how the various departments picked up the baton from one another to carry a campaign from proposition to fruition. I might've stayed late just to get a better feel of the office layout, but my phone rang at ten minutes to five.

"Mark Garrity's office. Florence Reynolds speaking." "Get your ass home so we can go out for the drink you postponed yesterday."

Ethan's mock sternness made me smile. "All right, all right. I'm on my way."

Shutting down my computer, I cleared out. When I reached the bank of elevators, I pulled out my cell phone to send a quick "On my way" note to Ethan. A ding alerted me to which elevator was stopping on my floor, so I moved over to stand in front of it. Briefly returning my attention to hitting the send button, I glanced up to watch where I was going, and blue eyes met mine. My breath caught. 

The mysterious man.

His tie was silver, and his shirt was brilliantly white, making his amazing blue eyes even more striking. He stood there with his jacket open and his hands casually in his pants pockets. It was like running into an unexpected wall.

I stopped abruptly, unable to take my eyes off him. He was even more remarkable than I had remembered. I had never seen hair that purely black, glossy and slightly long, touching his collar. I fought the urge to touch it, wondering if it felt as silky as it looked.

The elevator doors began to close,  He took an easy step forward and pressed a button on the panel to hold them open. "There's plenty of room for both of us, Florence."

His smoky voice broke me out of my daze. How did he know my name? Then I remembered he had picked up my ID card when I dropped it in the lobby. I briefly thought about telling him I was waiting for someone, but I quickly realised there was no reason to avoid him. He obviously worked here, and I couldn't avoid him forever. If I wanted to get used to his presence and not be overwhelmed by his attractiveness, I needed to see him regularly. Well, that was easier said than done.

I entered the elevator and said, "Thank you."

He released the button and stepped back. The doors closed, and the elevator began to descend.

Regret instantly washed over me for sharing the elevator with him. I could feel his presence, a powerful and magnetic force in such a small space. I shifted uncomfortably on my feet, and my heart raced. There was an inexplicable pull towards him.

"Did you enjoy your first day?" he asked, catching me off guard. His voice flowed over me seductively. How did he know it was my first day?

"Yes, I did," I replied, trying to sound composed. "How was yours?"

He looked at me, and I kept my gaze fixed on the elevator doors. My heart pounded in my chest, and my thoughts were scattered.

"Well, it wasn't my first," he replied with a hint of amusement, "but it was successful and improving as it goes."

I nodded and managed a smile, though I had no idea what he meant. The elevator stopped on the twelfth floor, and a group of three people got on, chatting happily. I stepped back to make room for them, retreating to the opposite corner from him. But he followed, and suddenly, we were closer than before.

He adjusted his tie, his arm brushing against mine. I tried to concentrate on the conversation in front of us, but it was impossible. He was right there, perfect and attractive, with an enticing scent. My thoughts ran away from me, fantasising about how hard his body might be beneath the suit.

When the elevator finally reached the lobby, I sighed in relief. I waited impatiently as the elevator emptied, and as soon as I had the chance, I took a step forward. His hand briefly rested at the small of my back, guiding me. His touch sent shivers through me, but it was gone as we reached the turnstiles. I glanced at him, trying to read his expression, but his face revealed nothing.

"Florence!"

Ethan's voice called out in the lobby, and I saw him leaning against a marble column. He was casually dressed in jeans and an oversized green sweater that made his eyes stand out. He easily drew the attention of everyone around. As I approached him, the attractive man walked past us, heading for a chauffeured black Bentley SUV, the same one I had seen at the restaurant the previous evening.

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