crème glacée [the fate of coincidences 1]

7: Glen

Glen walked out of a three-hour-long meeting feeling like his soul has been sucked into the patterned grey-and-puke-green carpet. The numbers and words from the powerpoint were seared into his brain, mostly because he's been looking at those same numbers and words nonstop for the last week. Instead of going back to his office to go look at them some more, he took a detour down the corridor and out to the fire escape stairs.

It was raining outside, but the awning kept most of the water away. His back slid down against the wall until he was sitting on the metal floor. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. The sound of rain against the metal railing soothed him into slowly relaxing his limbs and loudly exhaling. He promised himself that he'll just stay like this for a few minutes and then he'll go back to work.

A few minutes passed and he was well on his way to falling asleep until he heard footsteps and the warm press of someone's body next to him. When he opened his eyes, they focused on the concerned turn of Ella's lips.

"You need to take a vacation next week after the board of directors meeting," she murmured as she handed him a bottled iced coffee.

"As if." He took it and gave a tired smile in thanks. "Where did Zack disappear to?"

"He said your eyes were becoming deader than those fake plants in the conference room so he told me to go make sure you don't die." She patted his hair. "So here I am with coffee and my amazing pep talk skills."

"I'm fine." He sighed after taking a sip of coffee. "I was just about to go back to the office, I promise."

"That's not even what I'm worried about." She shifted in her pencil skirt and Glen noted absentmindedly how uncomfortable office clothes were, especially for women. "How are you?"

"As you can see, I am pretty sleep-deprived and exhausted, but that's pretty normal so I don't see why you're worried."

Ella gave him a pointed look and Glen closed his eyes. "Are you talking about Vendi?"

"No, I'm talking about the global warming," she said and Glen opened his eyes only wide enough to catch her eyeroll.

"You really don't have to worry about that, I'm fine," he replied, flinching as a few raindrops landed on his face because of the wind.

Ella sighed. "Your engagement was just broken off, I'm sure you're not all fine."

"It wasn't such a big deal anyway."

"Hey." She bumped his shoulder with hers. "Someday you'll find a girl who will love you and will give you mint chocolate truffles on Valentine's day and you'll marry her and have a bunch of kids."

Glen was really starting to doubt that anyone would want him at this point in life, especially someone who would give him mint chocolate truffles in Valentine's day. "I'm married to my job, Ella, so that probably won't happen."

"That won't happen to me, but it still might happen to you. You're a catch." She pinched his cheek lightly, her gaze softening. "Do you need a hug? You look like you need a hug."

"What am I, a little kid?" Glen asked with an affronted expression even though he was already putting his coffee down.

Ella pulled him closer, one arm around his torso. "Come here, little kid."

She pet his hair as he sank his chin onto her shoulder. He sighed at the faint smell of her coconut-scented shampoo that hadn't changed since middle school. It always had a calming effect on him.

"You know, I feel kind of guilty for making you and Zack work for me," Glen murmured into her shoulder.

Ella's laugh tickled his ear. "I was literally the one who blackmailed you into giving us these jobs, you idiot. You can't escape from us."

She patted him on the back and shifted back. He made a pitiful face when she pulled away.

"Come on, stop moping around like an emo teenager." She stood up, stomping her heels a little. "You have a company to run."

He took her outstretched hand and pulled himself up. "You're right."

"Of course, I'm always right."