Workaholic

I arrived late to dinner and took a seat in my usual spot on the table.

"How was your first day at work?" Natalie asked.

"It wasn't too bad I guess. I made a friend… and I got free lunch today." I said and Natalie simply smiled at my reply.

Damien Jaeger cleared his throat and flashed me a look but he said nothing. My eyes kept darting at him every 5 minutes in case I would catch him staring again but for the rest of dinner, his full attention was on his meal.
~

It was nearly 11 p.m and I was still sitting in front of my laptop, punching on the keyboard. Darcy complained about the lights. She had learnt not to sleep with the lights on and burying herself under the duvet was going to make her sweat.

I complained inwardly about having no side lamps on the side drawers and got up to go find another place to work. I had noticed a few studyrooms while I was touring the house some time ago. I shoved my laptop into my tote bag and grabbed some files, making up my mind to go work in the library instead. The library still needed exploring anyways.

Bing! The elevator sounded as it came to a halt and I stepped out of it. I walked out of it, and headed towards the direction of the library. After walking through twists and turns in the hallway, I was finally welcomed by the serene silence of the library. It was dark and I used my phone flash to find the switch. I almost yelled in fright when the lights came on and I found someone seating a good distance from where I was standing.

"What are you doing here?" Damien Jaeger asked, wearing a confused look on his face.

I looked at the bag on my shoulder and the files on my hands, "I just wanted to finish up what I had left off in the office." I explained. He nodded and turned back to his laptop.

I walked slowly into the library; It was very huge with long rows of books covering up most parts of the walls. The ceiling atop it was made of marble and showcased a fine renaissance artwork illustrating 'The last supper'. A single gigantic window stood at the far end of the room and the light curtains allowed you to see the dead night outside. The furniture in the room had been intentionally placed in a nearly disorganized manner- with some chairs missing tables and some tables without chairs. It resembled pieces of furniture from early England, with carved legs of unique patterns for each stool and chair.

After surveying the library, my eyes moved to Damien Jaeger and for the first time ever, I noticed that he wasn't wearing black. He was dressed in a pair of blue pyjamas and his usually greased hair was ruffled but not scattered. I had to confess- He looked like a hot high school senior you can meet in a naughty sleepover! I took a seat quiet close to him because the large size of the library scared me. He flashed me another look before returning to his work and I removed my laptop from the tote bag to get back to mine. I could already feel goosebumps on my skin even with the thick cardigan I was wearing.

Was Damien Jaeger staring at me? I couldn't tell. I had glued my eyes to my laptop screen for the last 20 minutes, refusing to take them off but my mind kept wandering away from work. It felt very awkward sitting in the same room with someone where the atmosphere was so silent and seemed so cold like someone had just been murdered.

I kept coughing every 5 minutes and moved uncomfortably in my seat.

"Anything wrong, Mélie?" He asked in his deep, husky voice.

"Huh?" I gawked cluelessly at him.

"You keep coughing, Mélie." "And I don't think there are any mosquitoes here for you to be so distressed in your seat."

"My throat is just a little dry." I lied.

Damien Jaeger pointed to one side of the library and my eyes traced his finger to a water dispenser. I rose to my feet and quickly went to have a drink before returning to my seat.

"Better?" He asked, but his eyes remained on his laptop screen.

"Yeah, thanks." I replied and got back to work.

I kept stealing glances at Damien Jaeger and was glad that he didn't take his eyes off his screen.

My eyes slowly grew heavy and I would shut them and nearly doze off before quickly jolting from my half-sleep state. And each time I would recover from my daze, I found Damien Jaeger viciously punching his keyboard without an ounce of sleep in his eyes. This kept happening until at last, I closed my eyes and surrendered to the darkness of sleep that consumed me.

"Mélie." A distorted voice called. It came from behind the door. I was naked in the shower, enjoying the coldness of the water against my skin.

"Mélie." The voice called again and for the second time, I ignored it. I couldn't possibly go answer the door naked now, could I?

Suddenly, I felt myself being lifted off my feet and my eyes popped open. I was dreaming- But now wide awake, I found myself in the arms of Damien Jaeger...or was it still a dream?

His body was huge and warm and I felt his toned torso and strong arms against my body as he carried me. He lowered his eyes to look at me and I quickly shut them tightly, pretending to still be asleep. The warmth and safety I felt in his arms was delightful. My heart was beating abnormally now, as though I was scared of being caught in an act of crime.

Damien Jaeger punched the elevator button and he entered into the elevator with me still in his arms. Shortly after, the elevator beeped and the door slid open, allowing Damien Jaeger to carefully stepped out of it. He moved with such caution as if he was afraid that I would wake up.

I continued stealing glances at him through half closed eyes and not once did he squeeze his face over the weight of carrying me in his arms from the library up to the bedroom passageway. I couldn't blame him for I was very lightweight. He wore a tender look on his face and my heart danced at the sight of seeing a Damien Jaeger who didn't look arrogant and intimidating. Was he already in front of my door? I couldn't tell. He stopped walking and swiftly moved his eyes to me. Our eyes met and I felt myself melting into his alluring green eyes, so tender and yet so hypnotic that I couldn't blink while staring into them.

After what felt like forever, he moved his eyes away from mine and twisted the doorknob and I was afraid that he would say something spiteful or drop me to my feet, but Damien Jaeger kept me in his arms as he walked into my bedroom. Darcy was far far away in the world of dreams. He slowly dropped me on the bed next to her without uttering a word and covered the duvet over me before walking out of the room as silent as he had brought me in.