The Perfect Office Romance: #1 In the Perfect Series

Chapter One: A Simple Morning Coffee

Hey, my dears! It's been a while since I've updated my stories on my other account, (It's staying anonymous) but I wanted to try something new. So, here it is: The Perfect Office Romance!

♥~Chapter One~♥

"Ella, It's go time!" Someone shouted from downstairs - presumably my brother, Aston. I rubbed my eyes and gingerly swung my legs out of my bed. I'm not really a morning person, as you might have guessed already, by the way I'm writing this. I guess you could call this a story - but I like to call it a recount - a recount of something INCREDIBLE that happened to me. I never want to forget it (and I don't think I will, as it was the best period of my life) so I'm writing this.

And it has to be perfect, so every detail you read here is perfectly accurate. 

Groaning, I trudged into the bathroom to get ready for a long day. I brushed my longish, black hair out and brushed my teeth, not completely ready for what lay ahead. Today I was moving out, and wasn't exactly excited about it. My Mother was re-marrying, and my Dad couldn't take me in, since he already had three other kids. Therefore, at the age of only twenty-one, I was going into the outside world. Not only this, but I hadn't chosen the flat - my mother had. She obviously didn't trust me with my OWN savings and had decided to buy a property for me. I was impossibly angry with her when I found out, but the deal was done and I had to go through with it. I would have felt bad backing out of it.

 I know what you're thinking, and, reading this back, I'm thinking it too. I have a pretty controlling Mother - I'm not even going to try to lie. It is just not worth it.

Don't think that both sides of my family are like this- because they aren't. I love my father secretly a little more than my dear mother, because he's down to earth, laid back and understanding. He knows exactly what I need and really did try to convince his wife, Tessa (who I do actually love to pieces, despite stereotypes about "evil" stepmothers), to let me stay with them. She had almost agreed, but then a very expensive electric bill came through and they both apologized for not being able to take me in, as it would just have been too much.

So, with much support from one side of my family, I was moving into a flat in south London. I would have to start over completely; I'd find a new job, (perhaps a partner) new friends, everything... If all went well and I made a good first impression. I tried to look on the good side of things from that point, saying an awkward goodbye to my Mother and tightly hugging my brother, who was trying to hide tears. Internally I snickered, but comforted him anyway. Waving, I dragged my neon blue suitcase out of the door and walked out onto the street.

It was cold, and I shivered, pulling my coat closer to me in a feeble attempt to become warm. Quickly, I grabbed my phone and called for a taxi to take me to my new home. 

It hit me then that what little I had left of my moving fund had to be spent on a few pieces of furniture, as I hadn't had all that that I needed for myself. There was a lot to be done, yet it seemed that there was little time to do it. A horn beeped, and I realized that I had obviously been daydreaming for too long, as the taxi had arrived! Sheepishly, I climbed in, muttering countless apologies to him before I read out my new address.

The journey was a long one, and I was glad I had brought with me some earphones and my ipod. Silence, strangely enough, was deafeningly loud in the car, and I felt incredibly embarrassed about something, but I didn't know what it was. When we finally arrived on my new doorstep, I sighed in relief, gave the driver his money and took my first breath of South London's air.

Fumbling around for the key, I began to worry about what the place would be like inside. If it was shabby, my mother was DEAD. Or not, but I'd be seriously furious. I stepped into the building, and immediately relaxed. It was a nice size, no sign of any mould and somehow had character which I couldn't deny. My doubts vanished and I became more and more at home there.

After around an hour, the removal van pulled up with some of my basic belongings, which were put into the correct places under my supervision. The oak wood coffee table was put into the middle of the living room, my new sofas were dragged in front of the television, and my bedroom furniture was placed exactly how I had asked. All that was left to do was paint the walls and buy some new pieces and I was sorted!

Things were NOT exactly as I had thought, and I was loving that fact. With that thought in mind, I retired for the night, and, in the morning,  woke up bright and early with a big smile on my face. My mission for today was to simple - find a simple job to get me started on income and then find one to later move up to.

It seemed like a simple task, but in reality it wasn't at all. I'd asked around for a job centre all day, and had eventually located a few that seemed plausible.

After hours of scouring the area, I soon became exhausted and took a trip to Costa for a cappuccino. I wrapped my hands around the corrugated cardboard and smiled, greatly appreciative of the warmth which it gave off.

Walking down the street people glared at me. I guess people were jealous. Costa's good, what can I say? Or perhaps it was the fact that I was about to bump into the most handsome man I had ever seen in the duration of my life. If only I had noticed before it was too late!

His dark hair covered a small part of his face, and crystal blue eyes stared at me in shock and slight amusement. They seemed to twinkle almost mysteriously at me and I knew right then that I had seriously embarrassed myself by not only crashing into him and landing on the floor, but also by spilling coffee all over the both of us.

Wait...coffee?

"Sorry," he chuckled, and I felt the blood rushing into my face, and my heart started beating a hundred miles faster than usual. Handing me a handkerchief and offering his hand (which I gladly took) he grinned in a slightly rougish manner and slipped his hands into his pockets.

"Where are you headed?" He asked, and I looked up at the face that had me in awe, my face probably scrunched up in sheer bemusement. Was he talking to me? Feeling slightly bewildered, I silently pointed at myself dumbly. He laughed again, a full laugh, and nodded. "Yes, you."

Calming down a little, I tried to act casual. "Oh, I'm going to the job centre to find someone who'll take me. And I am so, so, so sorry about the coffee!" I exclaimed nervously.

"What sort of career are you looking for?" He asked, seeming genuinely interested.

Beaming, I happily answered his query. "Something in writing eventually, but for now it'll have to be something basic."

"Not necessarily. Not if you have connections."

"I don't have any. I just moved here." I replied, biting my lip.

"I hope you're liking it so far, then!

And If you're into journalism or publishing, we're looking for a new recruit. Call this number if you're interested at all. And, oh, the coffee was nothing. I was the clumsy one - and this is me on a good day." His laugh was incredible. I loved it.

Wait... He was clumsy?
I thought every day was a good day if you look like a Greek god!

Oh god. I realised slowly that I had said that out loud.

"Well, thanks," I said, absolutely mortified. "I might see you around."

And then I ran for the hills. Damn that godly man. He was probably laughing that laugh which was already so perfect to me.

Already. As if I'd see him again.

But then I looked down at the card in my hand...should I take what had been offered to me?

My hand slipped to the phone in my back pocket of its own accord.

Yes. My mind had been made made up.

4 hours later, I hit the green button and an angelic voice spoke to me.

"Hello, this is Beck Publishing Ltd, how can I help you?"

To be continued in Chapter 2!