Office Affairs

Bonus Chapter: Dazzled

Bonus Chapter: Dazzled

This is a character crossover bonus chapter, featuring Felipe from Office Affairs and Maya from Behind Office Doors. It was part of my 12 Days of Treats promo and was available for free on Wattpad until 5 Jan 2025, after which point it became exclusive to Beach Holiday subscribers on Ream. You can still read a sample below.

As the catchy tune blared through the radio, I drummed my fingertips against the heated leather steering wheel and stared at the queue of traffic ahead. I missed my old car. My trusty Corsa. Although perhaps not so trusty considering how often it broke down. Sitting in this brand-new Audi, fresh from the dealership's forecourt, I felt like a fraud. I didn't need a flashy car. I worked in London, for heaven's sake. It was a waste of money.

But Arun, my lovely brother, persuaded me to splash out. A worthwhile investment, he'd said. Nonsense. Everyone knew that a vehicle's value instantly depreciated the second its wheels left the showroom.

The queue crawled forwards, before stopping again. This car did have sensitive brakes, though. I liked that. And when we finally got to the junction half a mile away, its powerful engine would help me zoom into the first gap that appeared.

I turned up the temperature of my heated seat, the warmth delicious against my back. Melting away the stresses of the week.

Okay, so I was a sucker for mod-cons. I loved aesthetic things. Sleek designs. High tech. Even if I didn't need them, they made me happy. And right now, stuck in this horrendous congestion, it was the little things that eased the pain.

Only three cars away from the junction now. An irritating ballad began to play on the radio, so I tapped and flicked through the massive touchscreen to change stations. Did this count as driving while distracted? I glanced at each of my mirrors—no sign of any police. Should be okay. And besides, I wasn't technically driving. Just sitting here stationary.

At least any minutes in this queue were minutes not spent staring at a blank laptop screen, waiting for inspiration to strike so I could finish my book. Was it the characters or the plot? I'd asked myself the same question every weekend for the last month, and I was coming to the unfortunate conclusion that it was both. Without strong characters, the plot was stalling.

In a convergence of good fortune, the car ahead of me pulled out just as I found a decent track. I took my place at the head of the junction and waited. There was a van approaching, then a gap before the red car following it. I eased off the brake, ready to hit the accelerator as soon as the van passed. Crap. The red car was flying. Well over the speed limit. Idiot. Too risky.

I pushed down on the brake again. My flashy new Audi bobbed to an immediate halt. Then bobbed again with a sickening crunch at its rear.

Shit.

This car just lost a lot more value.

*

This wasn't my first time getting rear-ended. Not even my second time. On both of those previous occasions, I wasn't at fault, and I made sure the other drivers understood that.

This time, though, I was partially to blame. Only about ten percent—twenty tops—since the car behind shouldn't have been tailing me so closely. That was the only reason I didn't moan at the driver. It was nothing to do with the fact he was disarmingly handsome. And charming.

"I'm so sorry, love." He scraped a large hand through waves of floppy dark hair as he surveyed the damage to my bumper. "A twenty-four plate too. Fuck."

We'd pulled into a residential street a mile down the road, since staying at that junction would have only pissed off the rest of the queue. I'd worried he might drive off, but he'd followed me—this time keeping his distance.