RC.

Ch6 ............... P

Matt literally stares for a few seconds. My god ... it's very embarrassing ...

Matt:"You look as if you've just um...?!"

My brain, which is barely back in place, begins to put things together. What would have happened if Matt have arrived a minute earlier ?!

Imagining him bursting in upon us makes me shiver. Ryan's naughty little games are becoming more and more dangerous ...

T:"What? ... I ... Pfft ... No, but then ... you ... Rubbish ..."

Stammering I walk away from the desk and close the door behind him.

I pray inwardly that my stocking will not slip down my thigh, now that nothing is holding it up.

We all know how delicate a situation such as this can be ...

I can't sit, that would be the best way for it to slip. And that would be a disaster.

(Don't move, no sudden gestures, breathe.)

Matt stares at me, dubious, I can't move, I just stay still, stuck in front of the door!

Matt:"I ... I brought some coffee ... Can I take a look?"

He puts the drinks on my desk and nods towards the screen.

T:"Uh ... Yes, yes, yes, go ahead ..."

(Seriously Tayla, get a grip !!)

T:"I'll leave you to it, I need the bathroom."

I quickly disappear, after giving him a smile that no doubt looked a little crooked.

As I walk through the hall, I feel much better. I take the time to pull myself together and adjust my underwear, after Mr. Intense's torrid visit.

I take the opportunity to splash a little cold water on my face and to comb my hair.

(Phew!) What a storm, that man! I really need to control my hormones!)

When I get back to the office, Matt is sitting in my place, in front of the screen, a look of concentration on his face.

T:"Are you okay?"

Matt:"Yeah."

I close the door and walk steadily up, to stand beside him. I lean on my elbows to get a better view.

I sigh and touch the screen.

T:"You see, that's the message that I have been getting since this morning! I click Ok and it just won't go away!"

T:"It's crazy! I've been on it for over an hour !!"

Matt looks at me, half-annoyed, half-amused.

Matt:"Princess ... Don't you want to sit down and drink your coffee?"

T:"Yeah ... You're very kindly asking me to be quiet!"

Matt:"Not at all ... But if you want me to find out what's going on, I'd like to concentrate."

T:"Oh sorry ..."

He rolls his eyes, as I sigh, dropping down on the visitor's chair.

A while ago that was part of my daily routine. Matt teasing me. Me getting annoyed. Matt raising his eyebrows. Me sulking. Two kids.

T:"It's nice ... By the way."

Matt:"What?"

T:"Coffee ... Your help ..."

Matt:"Think nothing of it, princess."

He winks at me, before turning back to the screen.

My fingers tap on my cup as I watch the city through the window. Ryan will eventually drive me crazy.

(I think about his indecent proposal.)

My mind wanders. I start thinking about his promises, and a soft warmth starts to creep through me ...

(No, no, no, Tayla! Think of something else!)

Matt:"There, that's it !"

T:"Seriously ?! How did you do it?"

Matt:"I read what the update told me to do, and I did it."

I look at him sideways. I can read too you know!

He gives me a big smile and then passes his hands behind his head, leaning with all his weight on my file. He looks like a Pasha.

Matt:"I'd say that deserves a kiss."

(I tease him.)

T:"So that's why you helped me, I should have known!"

He seems to ignore what I say as if he knew the answer in advance.

Matt:"It's not bad here after all!"

He takes in the space around him.

T:"I think so too ... How's Mister Moustache?"

Matt:"He's okay, but Gabriel's a real pain right now ..."

I feel slightly guilty ...

I get him to talk.

T:"Oh, right?"

Matt:"Yeah, an apparently ultra-urgent file ..."

(Tell him.)

T:"Oh ... I think that might have something to do with me ..."

Matt:"What do you mean ?"

T:"We had ... Well, let's say words in the subject ... The boss asked me to put a little pressure on Gabriel to get it finished in time ..."

Matt:"Seriously ?! ... Tayla! He put us through hell with that file ... He really pissed me off on that one, the Simons ..."

T:"I'm sorry..."

Matt shrugs his shoulders. Gabriel always has a tendency to annoy him.

Matt:"It's not your fault ... I guess you didn't have the choice either."

T:"Yeah..."

We remain silent for a few seconds as if we're meditating on the matter.

We're all just puppets.

Matt:"Sometimes I miss ..."

T:"What?"

Matt:"When we worked together ..."

T:"Oh ... you are sweet!"

Matt:"No seriously ... It's not the same without you ..."

T:"All this for a kiss ... I must say that you try hard."

He looks at me with a smile.

Matt:"I wouldn't be against ..."

T:"Be careful, if you continue I'll call it harassment!"

Matt:"That's it, threats!"

He gets up laughing, goes around the chair and gives me a pat on the head.

Matt:"Small head."

I look at him with a frown. I hate it when he does that. I watch him leave the room whistling to himself.