cold love | ✓

Blair Collins had just clocked out at 1:37 in the morning, having worked way over her eight hours.

Working late was a usual for Blair. She had no reason to go home earlier than she needed to, and every reason to stay in until she was done with all of her work for the day, rather than push it off until the next day. Much like a few of her coworkers.

It just so happened to last until 1:37 in the morning.

She worked on the second floor of the building in a cubicle that did not have any windows near it. It was December 24, the day having been far too long than she had hoped it to be.

Yesterday had gone by so quick, yet this one so slow.

Leaping down two steps at a time with all of her items packed into her bag, Blair landed at the bottom of the staircase, hardly glancing up from her feet.

"Holy shit, watch where you're going, would you?" A voice that seemed lower than Blair shocked her. Jumping away from where it came from, Blair looked down at where she had just stepped, only now realizing that she had kicked something on the floor.

"I'm so sorry, sir, I didn't even see you there. I was just so caught up in my — wait." Blair's apology took a complete 180 within two seconds. "What in the hell are you doing here at this time?"

The man looked up at her, his rugged appearance drawing Blair in. "I could ask you the same question."

Blair rolled her eyes, not feeling the need to be kind to this man if he wasn't going to be kind to her. "Well, kind sir," she began sarcastically, "I was doing my job, only one floor above us. Now if you don't mind, I will be leaving."

When she turned on her heels, Blair heard the sound of the mans laughter, and when she looked up, she understood why.

There was no way she would be leaving the building yet. And she wouldn't be leaving this man's presence yet.

While she had worked, without her acknowledgment, a blizzard had raged on outside the building for a good six hours. Everyone had been sent an email to leave the office early, but Blair doesn't check her emails as frequently as she should, considering her job.

Hours earlier, before the blizzard had begun, the rest of the building had clocked out and gone home, not paying any attention to the woman minding her own business in the back corner.

The door would never be able to move with the amount of snow piled in front of it.

Slowly turning around, Blair looked at the stranger who she would be spending the night with.

"My name is Blair," she introduced herself.

His response was little to none, just a mere grunt.

"Do you work here?" Blair questioned. "I haven't seen you around before."

After little hesitation, the man glanced at her, rubbing his hands together as if he was cold. "I'm Oliver."

Blair smiles kindly. "Well, Oliver, it's nice to meet you on this cold Christmas Eve."

Sadness overtook Oliver's features. "I was supposed to be home by now, act as Santa for my two kids."

"You have kids?" Blair asked in shock. He didn't look a day over 22.

He nodded solemnly. "Well," he countered, "little Patrick is my sisters son, but she passed away a few years back."

"And the other child?" She tried not to dwell on the fact that his sister was no longer alive, not wanting to see his features so sad the entire time they were stuck together.