Then And Now

Chapter 6-"The Distinguished Damsel"

Narrator-

Nathan heard the knock on his door, and checking the time on the clock of his desktop, Nathan didn't have to guess who it was. The way his muscles clamped up told him exactly who was standing across that wooden way. It appears his reflexes had now developed a sixth sense when it came to Savannah, and even before choosing to be in the same space with her, he had to mentally prepare himself for the energy it would require him to be civil with her. Having no other choice but to see her one last time before the end of the day, Nathan exhaled and rubbed his burning eyes with the balls of his palms before fixing his posture.

"Come in." Nathan permitted with a strict tone while leaning back in his chair.

Savannah entered the office and closed the door softly behind her.

The moment her physique filled the room, Nathan's brain melted in his skull from the instant fatigue. Something about Savannah just irked and drained him.

Nathan's eyes were on her body instantly as he straightened his posture. He leaned his chin against his hands, which were intertwined and propped on the desk by his elbows. His teal domes were dull, his eyebrows adding a dark air to his vision which were currently trained on Savannah.

At the end of the day, her long-sleeve blouse now sported a few wrinkles. Her professional bun which was once sleeked by gel, now had a few mischievous strands sticking out of place. The rose-colored lipstick she had worn earlier that day was now faded, and the natural blush of her round lips were all that remained. Her brown eyes shone from behind the lenses of her square-rimmed glasses. Her cheeks were slightly flustered, and her eyes were underlined with a darkened hue beneath her lower eyelids.

She walked with a confident, almost rushed stride, and once again, her sway and cadence caught his attention.

"Here are the notes from the meeting with Castro." She began while approaching his desk, and giving him a whiff of her faded perfume on the tail of her wind the moment she leaned forward.

It was sweet, like candy, and yet soft, like an artificial velvet rose petal. There was also an edge on the tail of the scent, like the biting aroma of perfectly aged wine. Surprisingly, the scent fit Savannah's personality well. Nathan's throat tickled, as if suppressing a gag. Associating Savannah with words like sweet and edgy... the boss was prepared to shudder in his skin.  

"I sent the same copy of the meeting to Castro's team, so all you have to do is look over them and decide whether you'll sign off on it or not. Lieberman's office also has a copy." Savannah reported while straightening her spine after placing the manila folder on Nathan's desk.

Nathan looked at the folder and nodded, but didn't say a word. 

Her voice tickled his eardrums. There was a lasting effect against his tympany, which earned a line of bumps to cover the pores of his hairy, manly arms. 

Savannah breathed out, trying her best to not let Nathan's action sway her, then with a simple "good night." She turned to leave.

The visit was much quicker than he had expected. Nathan wasn't satisfied.

"Stop." He spoke up, and as if Savannah expected it, her ankles froze on the floor.

Closing her eyes for a quick second, Savannah performed a breath then she turned and faced Nathan. As usual, she brought her folder up to her chest, as if mentally preparing and protecting herself from Nathan's malicious intentions.

Nathan was still leaning against his desk, and studying Savannah. Her face spelled fair, genuine, sweet, innocent even, and yet all Nathan saw was an opportunistic manipulator who played at being  a fair maiden, a distinguished damsel. Every sinew in his body burned with a bitter hatred for the woman. Nathan couldn't bring himself to even tolerate Savannah's presence, and he couldn't imagine working with her for a whole year, unless they straightened a few details out.