The usual smell of freshly cooked breakfast arrived in my room around 7 a.m., waking me up before Jace had a chance. I pon leggings and went into the kitchen where I found Louis and Jace baking cookies.âOh my God, she woke up in timeâJace feigned surprise.âThis is the miracle of all time!"Louis laughed. They both stopped laughing when they saw my little amused look and Louhanded me a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice with a smirk. âFor you, princess.âI rolled my eyes and sat on the counter sipping my drink and waiting for the cookies to be ready. Louis covered Jace withattention all this time, combing his hair to the side, pouring him more coffee and cleaning his sweater. A touch of jealousstruck me at the thought that Henris would never be like this.We had a quick breakfast and got dressed before going out, with our usual second cup of coffee in hand. Louisaccompanied us until halfway from work before changing roads to return to his apartment, sending us kisses andpromising to see us later.âHe adores you! noted as soon as he moved away from us. Jace smiles with a satisfied air at the distant figure of his fianand nods.âYeah!âAre you going to see him tonight?ââProbably. Are you going to see Henris tonight?âI got upset and we went into the building. âWho knows?ââNoras.Jace said softly. I could hear the hesitation in her voice and I looked into her eyes. âAre you all right?âYes?"âIt's just that... you look tired. I haven't got a clue. You seem really stressed outââVm fineâ grumbled.I chose to ignore his unconvinced look and pressed the button on the third floor where our new modern office was locateboth eager to live our first real day as employees, and no longer as apprentices. Sophia was already putting things awaywhen we entered the well-lit room.He turned around with a smile on his lips and showed us a document. âVictoria wants you to read it, edit it and make itmore creative. Find good photos to attach to it. And also, the creepy guy from yesterday called.ââHenris?"l asked weakly.âYes, he said he would call back in a few minutes."âGood."l grumbled as I collapsed on one of our chairs and took the papers from his pale hands. It was something Alice hawritten and would have been perfect by now. Jace took a seat next to me with his copy of the article and we started read;while Sophia walked around us doing other work.The ideas for the editorial were already starting to form in my head as I read the well-written pages, and with a coffee inone hand and a pen in the other, I was making notes in the margins and circling what didn't seem very good to me. Ourcoffees were replaced by the helpful Sophia every time the glasses were emptied.Then the phone rang. My stomach churned as I watched the apprentice walk in his direction, his blue eyes fixed on me thwhole time, while he raised the receiver to his ear and took a breath before answering.âThe office of Jace and Noras. Yes, heâs here. Please be patient, Mr. Steve."He said cordially, pressing the wait button andlooking at me. âDo you want to talk to him?"I fixed the wall and considered my options. I could have continued to ignore him and made him come to my officeuninvited and upset him even more, or I could have spoken to him at that moment and moved on.âshit sighed. âYm talking to him."I wiped my sweaty hands on my skirt before picking up the handset and bringing it to my ear. âIt's Noras."There was a slight sigh. âNoras.ââHey.ââAre you still angry?"He mumbled, the frustration in his tone being easily noticeable. I imagined him pinching the bridgehis nose and staring at the wall while he was talking.âYou have not apologized.ââIf 1 apologize, will you spend the night with me?âKnowing that he could not see me and therefore stare at me angrily, I rolled my eyes. âIt would not be a sincere apology.there would be no pointââYou are right. I'll be there to pick you up around five o'clock. Come on, baby."âHenris, what the fuck do you want...âMy voice was interrupted by the fact that he ended the call without me being able to finish the sentence. My first reactiorwas to throw the phone to the other side of the well-decorated desk, where it hit the wall with a slight noise. My nextreaction was to put my head in my hands and let out a âf*****g" sigh, while my last reaction was to burst out laughing.When I looked up, Jace and Sophia were staring at me like I'd gone crazy all of a sudden. They exchanged confused glanceblue eyes for blue eyes, before my roommate took a cautious step towards me while the apprentice did his best to holdback his laughter.Jace sent her a bad look. âSophial Can't you see that sheâs on the verge of a nervous breakdown?ââIt's not true!âl blew.âSo, what the hell was that? Psychopathic behavior, that's what it was.âI pulled her tongue out and removed her hand from my shoulder. âHenris is just terribly boring, and terribly sexy, and I'mterribly in love with her being boring. So everything is terrible, basically."There was a silence in the room where they both stared at me, amused, while I stared at them challenging them to saysomething. After a while, Sophia started working on papers again with a slight smile and Jace sat down next to me again.âWell,â he sighed. âI mean, I think that answers my question. But I also think we should do some research on asylums foryou and Henris."âI have heard that there is a very beautiful one in Brooklyn. We could see each other a lot."Sophia interposed with a smirâVery luxurious.ââFuck you, both of you.âThat said, they leaned against each other and burst out laughing, both very amused by the mess of my love life. We thenfell back into the circle of documents to examine, coffees to sip, Victoria's hiding places and sighs about clothes that wecould never afford.The work went like this and at exactly 16:45, early as usual, Henris entered my office without even knocking, dressed in agray suit and a black bow tie, like a Burberry model straight out of the catwalks. Immediately, his gaze fixed on me and hesmiled slightly.âNoras. And Jace, how are you? And the pretty young apprentice, Sophie, is that it?"He joked.Our friend's cheeks flushed and she looked down at her Jimmy Choos. That's pretty much the effect he manages to have ¢all women. âSophia.ââYeah!He replied by running his hand over his jaw and turned to me. âNoras, come. James is waiting with the carââLet me take my bag"I mumbled as I got up. I took the leather bag from the back of the chair, checked that I had everythiI could possibly need, kissed Jace and took Henrisâ outstretched hand. His strong grip immediately took over mine and heled me to the corridor, then into the elevator.The tension in the air was almost palpable in the small space with a poor man whom I recognized as a member of theeditorial staff. The man looked at Henris with a clear expression of uneasiness, which stared at him until the poor manlooked away. I had to bite my Lip to hold back my laughter.As soon as we got out, Henris pulled me close to him and put his fingers on my lower back. âDid you think it was funny,Noras?ââThe poor fellow. He looked like he was about to shit his pants.ââHe was staring at me."Henris mumbled, opening the car door for me. âIt was hard."I rolled my eyes and got into the car with him sitting next to me. James smiled slightly at me and I greeted enthusiasticallbefore turning my attention back to the handsome man next to me whose fingers were resting just above my knee.âYou're the one who's the rudest usually.âI whispered. I was surprised when he tightened his grip on my leg, annoyed by rwords. âThat's rightââI suppose you are still angry."He said in a low voice, a deep voice full of anger. I shrugged my shoulders and turned to thwindow, trying to avoid his piercing green eyes. âNoras, look at me."âI wouldn't prefer it.âHe sighed slowly and his hand came back to my leg, his cold palm causing goosebumps on my pale thighs. Every time hetouches me, my body reacts involuntarily. âI'm sorry, Noras. If I upset you, I'm sorry."Taken by surprise, I turned my head and found him staring at me, a lip between his teeth and his green eyes searchingmine. The speed with which he changed his mood made me want to tear my hair out in frustration, when in fact I waslooking at him strangely trying to understand the situation.âAre you kidding?â finally said.He frowned. âNo."âAre you really sorry?"âYes, Noras."He said, annoyed. âNow finish it"I sent him a bad look and he just shook his head, as if to warn me not to pursue the case. The rest of the car ride wassilent, the only contact being that of our palms, pressed together with a light layer of sweat, probably caused by mynervousness.Every time I was near him, my heart seemed to beat faster than normal just in his presence. And then, when he touches ntalks to me or smiles at me, my heart seems to want to burst out of my chest.The lights in the parking lot blinded me slightly when we entered the building where Henris lives. He came down gracefuland held out his hand to me, I followed trying to get down with presence, but I failed and stumbled slightly.He laughed and put his arm around my waist. âCome. Dinner should be ready.âI melted into his flank on the way up to his attic. Upstairs, Miss Jennifer was working in the kitchen and a little smellinvaded all the rooms. We found the table ready for a dinner for two and a bottle of my favorite wine in the middle.The meal was served as soon as we sat down and, as usual, Henris stared at me when I took the first bite.âIs everything all right?ââIt's great assured him.âGood.âMrs. Jennifer did the dishes in the other room while we ate, talking about our days. Henris's was filled with meetings and,as he said, âincompetent employees who need to be fired,â while mine was filled with the usual editorials and cups ofcoffee.We also discussed plans for the Packers game this weekend and shortly after, the meal was over and Henris directed methe leather couch, and once we were there, on his lap. I snuggled up to her chest and sighed, feeling her lips on myshoulder.âStop movingâ He said, annoyed.I immediately froze. âSorry.âHe smiled with his mouth still on my skin and wrapped his arms around my waist. âWhat do you want to do?"âI don't know. You?ââDamn."He said simply, the word came out of his mouth and made me shiver at the thought of his naked body andtattooed on mine. âBut we won'tââOh. This is the only answer I could give while I was distracted by his curious hands, his warm breath on my neck and theimages of us together.âCome. Let's g0 see a movie."He lifted me off his lap effortlessly before leading me upstairs to his huge modern bedroom. I watched him, fascinated,taking off his shoes and his suit jacket, then motioning to me to approach him with his hand.âTake off my tie He ordered. I reacted immediately and began to undo the tight knot of the bow tie with my tremblinghands. So close that I could see the slight hairs on his neck and the small mole just under his ear. Her smell of coconutshampoo relaxed me when I finally pulled the tie off her neck.Henris smiled and came up to me, his lips slightly open in anticipation. I stood on my toes to meet the mouth of theintimidating man. As soon as our Lips touched, I was lost in the sensation that Henris Steve was, his tongue passed gentlyover my lower lip and his hands rested on my lower back.He left too soon, leaving me wanting another contact. This need was satisfied when he led me to the bed and entered aftme, then took a remote control with what seemed to be more buttons than necessary.âWhat do you want to watch?"He asked, pressing a button. The black cabinet at the foot of the bed opened and a huge fiscreen came out. I refrained from thinking about the money that this man possessed. âNoras.ââOh, uh, I don't careââWhich one is your favorite?ââMean Girls". I smiled. âJace and I watch it, like, every day."âI've never seen him. We're going to watch itâHe whispered, passing an arm around my shoulders. ând we will hug"I was shocked and I didn't know if it was the fact that he had never seen the most glorious movie ever produced or the fathat the word âhugâ had come out of his mouth moments before. He seemed to ignore the lack of response from me andpulled me closer to him as the movie was starting.With caution, I put a hand on his pelvis and almost died when he gave me a little smile and pulled me even closer to himso that my head rested on his toned chest. His big hand went under the hem of my shirt and began to trace small circlesthe revealed skin.âWhat is your favorite movie?'I asked, putting a hand under my chin to see it better. âAnd you can't pick a commercialdocumentary or shit like thatâHenris frowns as he reflects, the commercials preceding the start of the film being broadcast in the background. âprobablForrest Gump.ââGood choice."âWhat is your favorite color?"He asked softly.âBlack."l shrugged my shoulders. âIt goes with everything. Yours?ââRed.âI put my head against his neck, smiling and imagining Henris in a huge red sweater. âCute. I mean... not cute, just not veryHenris. He's very cuteâ50 I'm not cute then?"He joked. I gave him a light slap on the chest and I looked up to discover that he was staring at mewith a boyish smile, the dimples displayed as I adore them. I would give anything to see his dimples every time he smilesthat would mean it's true.âNo, you definitely are."l protested, blushing. âUnless you like to be called cute, in which case you'd be cool. Which couldjust as weird. I haven't got a clue.ââbreathe, Noras. No need to gossip.ââSorry. It only happens when I'm nervous.ââWhy are you nervous?"He asked. I froze when his hands reached my waist and he pushed me slightly from his chest,turning to the side so that we were face to face, a few centimeters apart. I stared at him without emotion, trying tounderstand the work of art that was in front of me. âNoras, answer the question.âI started playing with the corner of the white pillow to avoid his gaze. *I donât know. You're acting weird.ââHow?ââWe hug each otherI mocked. âIt was rather you who started itHer eyes darkened at my words. âYou are mine, Noras. Why wouldn't I want to give you a hug?âBecause you've never done it before.ââI haven't done many things with you yet that I want to do. For example, I want to fuck you now, but since you are a virginwon't do itâI frowned in confusion, watching him resume his position with his back to the ground and bring me back to his chest.âWhat do you mean, I'm a virgin?"âYou said you were"âNo, I didn'tI whispered. âWhen?âHis abdomen tensed under my frail hands as he got up and sat on the bed, his expression now full of confusion. Henrispinched his lower lip and looked at me. âAren't you?ââIs it important?ââYes, because I would have already fucked you if you weren'tââNo, you wouldn't said irritably, moving away from him. âI'm not a virgin, and I'm not going to f**k you for quite a while.Then, taking me by surprise, Henris relaxed against the headboard. I watched him carefully run his fingers through histousled curls before motioning for me to move closer to him. 1 walked in his arms, sighing when he placed a kiss on myforehead.âNoras.'She sighed. âI didn't mean to upset you. 'm trying tonight, really. Let's watch the movieMy heart melted at the thought that he was really making an effort in what I was asking of him. That evening he behavedalmost like a real person, not just like a well-paid robot. That's what I wanted from him every day. âYes. Do you mind if Iquote every sentence?ââCan you really do this?"âYes!I laughed. âHe's a talentâThat would be boring. So that's a no. Now, come and cuddle so we can watch the movie."I didnât let him tell me again. We ended up in a mess on the covers, my legs between hers and her arms around my waist.All this time, I was quoting every sentence of the film and Henris was grumbling in annoyance.But it was a good thing because every time he told me to stop, it was followed by a kiss on my forehead and an amusedlaugh from his chest that told me that he couldn't care less that I was talking during the whole movie.At that moment, when they started attacking Regina, I fell into a sleep filled with dreams of Henris Steve. It wasn't until Ifelt him pull his arm out from under me that I woke up grumbling.âBaby, I can't feel my arm anymore. He whispered. I laughed slightly and turned to the side, he pulled me closer to him,turning me into a small spoon. âRegina is a bitch.ââDid you like it2"l whispered.âYes. It was surprisingly funHe admitted. I smiled as I felt her fingers fall on my waist and her curls caress the back of m,neck, where her head took its place. âAlthough I would have taken Regina in a fight."âOf course.'I laughed. His deep laugh could be heard in the room, a beautiful sound that we didn't hear enough. âYouwould have even sued her or something.ââProbably.â He said. âNow go to sleep. It's late and I donât want you to be tired."âOkay, Mr. Steve."He huffed, annoyed. Go to sleep. And call me Mr. Steve one more time. I dare you."âI don't want to take the riskâI whispered.He drew me even closer to his chest and left slow kisses on the back of my neck. My eyes slowly closed at this sensation.playful and cute Henris is what I wanted more than once in the blue moon.The feeling of happiness quickly disappeared when a small object placed on the black bedside table attracted theattention of my slowly closing eyes. It was an earring.It wasn't one of mine, because mine were all costume jewelry or borrowed from the office. It was a large silver-backeddiamond probably worth more than my bank account, which made me want to scream with jealousy, then anger, thenheartbreak.Because Henris Steve lied to me when he said he wasn't seeing anyone else.
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