3 years, 2 teens, 1 office.
This is the story of Leslie Stephens and Adam Mason and their untraditional love.
Leslie Stephens is a normal-ish teen. Out of nowhere, an extraordinary opportunity presents itself. She goes on this mysterious journe...
"Adam! How many times have I told you that the stapler should always be filled with gray staples so we don't accidentally color code the wrong file!" I said frustrated.
"You'll survive Leslie. Staple removers were invented for a reason!" He responded, bringing me a large mug of coffee. I shook my head smiling, and took a sip. It got it exactly right!
"You're forgiven. How did you get this completely right?" I inquired, knowing I am a finicky person when it comes to my coffee.
"When it's the dark roast it's half a sugar and 3 creamers or 1/4 cup milk. If it's a weaker coffee, creamer or milk only. Want me to continue for the Hazelnut coffee?" That crooked smile of his appearing.
"You are a man after my heart Adam. Now go finish the filing before the executive board gets here. I need to finish tidying up." I said, dramatically, jokingly.
Once our office didn't look a hurricane didn't destroy it, I stepped out into the kitchen to start dinner. What to make, what to make? As I flipped through the various ancient and current cookbooks we had on our counters, an old photograph slipped out of the pages of a very old book, with no author and no title.
The photograph depicted a lady who looked near her mid 40's carrying an adorable little boy who was holding a large rolling pin and wearing a chef's hat in a kitchen. The countertop had a lump of dough that was waiting to be rolled out by the little boy, I assumed. I laughed at this sweet moment that was captured and wondered who the boy and lady could be. I turned the photo over hoping for a date or a name, or even a place. What I got was a message, written in beautiful script,
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I don't know many languages, but I had a feeling this was Italian. Hmm..Adam is Italian. Is it possible that he is the little boy in the photo? I smiled thinking of what he was like as a toddler. Then I realized I had just called him adorable. Uh...that's not how I think of him. Right? Right.
He is the son of the CEO, there's not a chance that'd he would possibly go for anyone like me. He has girls from every department chasing after him. He doesn't need one more.
I flipped through the cookbook, realizing most of it was written in the same beautiful hand and in Italian. Oh well, Google don't fail me now. I finally settled on a simple penne with marinara.
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"Seriously, are you sure you aren't half-Italian?" Teresa asked, half-jokingly as she stabbed another pasta.
"She manages to make almost every food deliciously." David agrees, leaning back in his chair.
"Almost? Pray, tell what hasn't she made wonderfully?" Adam asks, coming to my immediate defense.
"Well, I haven't tasted any desserts from her. So I can't judge that department, now can I?" He answers, pushing his best friend's buttons.
"You are in luck David, I have made my S'mores cupcakes tonight. Then you can correct your previous statement." I answered from the kitchen doorway, holding a plate of cupcakes.
"You never fail to surprise me, Ms. Stephens," Adam says from the table.
"I'm full of surprises, Mr. Mason," I told him, smiling crookedly.
