Au

Chapter 12

Barry stood in the bathroom like a hypnotised puppet. A marionet under the control of a charming enchantress.

Iris

Her name rang through his mind like a delicate melody from one of the musicals he so loved to watch. Subconsciously, he let his fingers glide over his lips as he lost himself in the memory of their second encounter. His heart beat a little faster and he closed his eyes in an attempt to make the memory more vivid. She felt so warm against him, so deliciously delicate and sweet. A wave of arousal washed over him as he recalled the way she tasted, the way she smelt, the sound of her voice.

A frightened yelp followed by a confused voice asking,
"Barry?" broke him out of his trance. He opened his eyes, startled, and immediately felt his face flush with embarrassment.

"Wh - What are you doing here?" a flustered Patti asked, her own face flushing for reasons unknown.

"Sorry Patti. I - uh - I was helping one of the shareholders. Accidentally spilled coffee on her and she had a meeting, you know, long story." Barry tripped over his words while side stepping her on his way to the door. He had no intention of making the exchange last any longer than it had to.

"Anyway, problem solved. I'll - uh - I'll see you around OK? OK, bye," with that he left, not bothering to wait for her response. His long legs took quick but lengthy strides down the corridor as he made his way back to his lab. He needed a little sanctuary, something familiar to bring him back into himself. Stepping into the lab he was greeted with a sense of relief that unfortunately was briefly lived as Dr. Snow was impatiently awaiting his return.

"Dr Snow, can - can I help you with something?" he stutterd and in his mind he yelled at himself to get a grip.

"Allen? Do you have any idea what your clowning could have cost the lab today?" she asked calmly. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her face was set in a coldly stern expression, a Dr Snow classic - the rigid bitch look.
Barry cast his eyes on the ground in hopes that his humbleness would soften her frosty, possibly non-existent, heart. He had no such luck.

"Answer me Allen!" she screamed, slowly losing her composure.

"No ma'am." he responded without looking up to meet her eyes. He felt like a little boy in the principals office being scolded for putting glue in the teachers hair (something he had actually done at a younger age and been much less remorseful about). However, somewhere beneath all his good manners and seemingly soft nature, his old friend 'anger' knocked fervently on the door, demanding to be let in.

"I didn't think so." Snow spat.
"Honestly Allen! The West family own the largest amount of shares to this lab which means that if she says jump we say how high while our feet have already left the ground! You could have jeopardised an alliance that has kept this lab afloat for a little over a decade!"

"I'm, I'm sorry." he stuttered.

"Sorry? Sorry doesn't cut it Allen! Why are you even here? You sit in this lab all day toying around with your chemicals and never produce anything of value. You're always late, your head is in the clouds half the time and you can barely get our coffee orders right!"  

"I'm actually close to a break through...." he tried to defend himself but Snow cut him off.

"I don't give a damn about your breakthrough. I'm a woman of science I work with evidence and substantial theories, not dreams and fairy dust! I've had it with your shenanigans. Pack your things and get out."  she instructed.

"But..."

"I said out Allen!" she screamed.

"You're not going anywhere Allen." Iris countered, stepping out from her hiding place behind the door, and both Barry and Snow turned their attention towards her. Iris stood with her hip out and her arms crossed. Her stance mirrored Snows but had a certain level of sexiness and grace that the frosty doctor lacked.