IN LOVE WITH THE FRENCH BEAUTY

~**~Chapter 8~**~

~**~Chapter 8~**~

The next morning, Arabelle did everything as she normally did. She was in a good mood even though Diana looked glummer every single day.  She would give her a couple more days before coaxing the issue out of her.

She reached the office earlier than her boss and went straight to work. She organized his schedule chronologically for the day, and went to the rec room to make coffee. She’d learned quite a handful about her boss: he liked his coffee black with a hint of cinnamon, and all the files and books on the right side of his desk. He was allergic to cockroaches. She also noticed that he was so lonely! His eyes were always bleak, deadly and hard.

She took it upon her to make him open up even a little bit and have some fun, hence the smiling bet. She knew he was going to bite since he wasn’t one to lose, especially not to a girl. She was going to lure him out of his protective armor and show him that not everybody was bad in the world. Why she had the urge to help him, it was a mystery to her. But she was driven, and stubborn was her strongest suit.

She’d just finished drinking her coffee when he showed up. As beautiful as ever in a dark suit, and his grim and scowling face, he stopped near her desk. “Miss Arabelle, come to my office!” he barked and she nodded.

“Yesterday when I asked what you wanted as a reward, you wanted me smile. So I’m going to show you.” He said after she entered his office and closed the door.

“Ok, sir.” She replied and gave him an expectant look. He gulped down water, cleared his throat, sipped some more, and then cleared his throat once more. Arabelle was having a hard time suppressing her laughter because this had to be the funniest thing she’d ever witnessed. He turned and faced her. “Did you want something instead?” he asked, hopeful.

“It’s alright if you can’t, sir.” She assured him with a warm smile. Determination shined in his bleak eyes before he stood up straight to his full height. His lips parted and he showed his teeth as if she was a dentist. She started giggling because he seemed to be concentrating so hard. He also looked proud of himself.

“I’m sorry, sir. But that was very bad!” her body shook with laughter and he frowned. “You don’t need to try so hard sir because it comes from the heart. A smile comes from the heart. Just think of something that pleases your heart and then the smile will appear on the lips just like that.” she left him and let herself out still chuckling. A few seconds later, she opened the door and peeked inside to find him smiling from ear to ear. His face transformed when he smiled. His eyes shone with life, and twin dimples appeared in the corner of his lips. He looked breathtaking.

“Thank you, sir!” she said and he kept smiling. “And don’t worry; your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell anyone that you were smiling because they wouldn’t believe me!” she went back to her desk surprisingly happy.

That day passed uneventfully and she was pleased herself because for once, the day ended without getting yelled at or getting threatened.

****

Dahveed’s emotions were in shambles. He’d really wanted to please her and his mind had played an image of her glowing face, and glittering eyes whenever she laughed, and he’d found himself smiling like a fool. And he liked it quite a lot that he didn’t even stop when she peeked back in his office. She left and he found himself unable to stop smiling, well until he heard the unmistakable click of a camera. He looked startled in the camera’s direction. He found Devin grinning from ear to ear and scowled.

“What are you doing?” he growled at his good friend.

“Didn’t I say that I’d wait for your smile? Well, hell, I don’t think you’ve seen yourself smile before. Here.” He said thrusting his phone in Dahveed’s face. He still couldn’t understand what the fuss was. People smiled and others didn’t because they had no reason to!