Office Desires

29. Take a chance

As soon as she stepped into the office, she found herself face to face with Amita.

Leaning in, Amita whispered with a teasing smirk, "You're late."

"Yes, I know. I was stuck in the hotel elevator with Lou."

"Wait, what? Stuck in an elevator with Lou?" Amita's eyes widened with curiosity.

Debbie nodded, her face turning slightly red. "Yeah, it was... interesting. She did my makeup."

Amita burst into laughter. "Oh wow, that's a new level of unexpected. So did anything happen?"

Debbie shrugged, trying to downplay the significance. "No...we just talked a bit, she teased me...you know how she is...."

Amita smirked. "Well, it's not every day you get a makeover from your ex in an elevator."

"Don't make a big deal out of it.... Anyway, I have a lot to do, see you later."

"I asked Lou to come for lunch."

"What do you mean?"

"She's gonna be here, eating with me. Just thought you should know, like that you can decide to join us or you can hide in your office."

"I don't hide in my office"

"So you'll join us?"

"Maybe... I don't know."

***

Debbie sat at her desk, staring blankly at the computer screen.

The events of the previous days replayed in her mind like a broken record. The jacuzzi, the elevator, the unexpected intimacy with Lou—each memory held a weight that seemed to press on her thoughts. She couldn't shake off the lingering feelings, the way Lou's fingers had brushed against her skin while doing her makeup, the teasing banter that had an undertone of something unspoken. Debbie knew Lou was just being Lou, that she didn't care about her in the way Debbie wished she would.

Yet, the confusion lingered, clouding her ability to focus on work.

It was as if the carefully constructed walls she had built to keep Lou at a distance were starting to crumble, and she didn't know whether to welcome the change or resist it.

Regret weighed heavily on Debbie's shoulders as she reflected on the missed opportunities and the time she had spent oblivious to her own feelings. Debbie couldn't help but wonder how different things might have been if she had acknowledged her love for Lou a year before. The "what-ifs" echoed in her mind, painting a picture of a parallel universe where she hadn't been so blind to her own heart.

Debbie found herself at a crossroads, torn between two conflicting desires. On one hand, there was the prospect of joining Lou and Amita for lunch, a chance to be near Lou, to engage in casual conversation, and perhaps even enjoy a fleeting moment of connection. On the other hand, there was the fear of potential embarrassment, of exposing herself to Lou's teasing and the complexities that lingered beneath the surface.

The weight of indecision settled on Debbie's shoulders as she weighed the options. She knew that hiding in her office would provide a safe refuge, shielding her from potential discomfort. However, it also meant missing out on an opportunity to be close to Lou, a chance she might regret later.

***

An hour of focused work had passed when a tentative knock echoed through Debbie's office. Startled, she looked up from her computer, her thoughts abruptly shifting from spreadsheets to the unexpected interruption.

"Come in," she called, wondering who might be seeking her attention. The door creaked open, revealing Lou standing on the other side.

Debbie's heart skipped a beat as Lou entered her office, and with her casual confidence, leaned against the doorframe, a playful smirk playing on her lips.