34 — “He's into you!”

Today, there were more tables available, so I took her as far away from the counter as I could. However, the moment we entered the establishment, I can already feel the Owner's eyes on me. It's a bit uncomfortable to call him in such a generic way, but there's nothing I can do, as I have lost the timing to ask his name.
Grace and I sit down, and he comes over to us with a big smile. Somehow, he seems happy today. And when he stops beside our table, I see that his eyes are on me. Not alternating between us — it's on me.
“Hi, Angelee, Club Sandwich again?” He asks with a playful smile on his lips.
“Actually… I think I'll have something else…” I clear my throat, looking down at the menu, trying not to show my shyness at being the target of such a persistent stare. And maybe because I'm not used to things like this, my appetite is absolutely zeroed out…. “One Salad, please.”
“And your friend?” Owner finally sets his eyes on Grace, allowing a breath to finally invade my lungs; I hadn't even realized I held it.
What's wrong with me, anyway? I'm acting like a complete weirdo.
“Hamburger and French fries.” Grace answers him with a bright smile.
“Something to drink?” Owner again looks at me.
“Soda.” She says, and he notes, raising his eyes discreetly to me, waiting for my answer.
“Lemonade.”
He smiles, as if he's won the day…. “I'll be right back with the orders.”
As he turns his back and walks away, Grace leans across the table toward me and whispers, “Now I understand why you always come here!”
“Actually, I don't always come here…” I'm surprised, feeling a sudden discomfort, “Only sometimes.”
“I thought you did… I mean, he even knows your order!” Grace says with a mischievous smile.
“He just has a good memory.” I say, averting my eyes to the other customers.
I'm starting to believe this was not a good idea….
“Or he's into you!” Grace's smile widens.
“No, not a chance!” I say quickly, a little louder than I intended, and then immediately mumble, noticing that the girl is just teasing me.
“He definitely seems into you.” Grace casts a quick glance at Owner, who is distracted by something I dare not look closely to find out. My cheeks are probably red because my whole face is hot, and I feel like I'm burning.
“No, I'm sure he doesn't.”
He *can't* be into me.
“You're pretty, why couldn't he be into you?” Grace says, crossing her arms, looking at me intently. “And you're single now, aren't you? Sorry… I heard the rumors.”
I give a nice smile.
“In other words, you're pretty — *and single*. What's the problem?”
I crinkle my lips, “He's Laura's ex-boyfriend. He's probably being nice because of that, there's no big deal… and there's definitely none of those things you're thinking.”
At least, that's what I try to convince myself…. Because Laura's ex-boyfriends have never aroused the slightest interest in me; the idea that any of them are looking at me that way is somewhat absurd. Most of them were a walking problem, full of red flags. I don't want to get involved with anyone like that….
“But he's an ex, right? Not a *boyfriend.*”
I feel a shiver run down my spine, remembering that Laura didn’t respect this small detail.
“Do you think she would be angry that you were dating her ex? Well, I can understand… friends have these rules about not going out with ex…. It's not something I understand very well. If it ended, it was for a reason, right?”
I sigh, suddenly annoyed that I'm talking about Laura and relationships. Most of the time, I avoid even thinking about it. Maybe it's too recent for me to talk like it's nothing.
“Wait… Is that why the mood is tense between you two…?”
Surprised, I open my lips to answer her, but Owner appears to save me from this embarrassment, and places our orders on the table. He gives me a deep look and a discreet smile, before walking away, saying, “I hope you enjoy your food.”
I take a sip of the lemonade — a big sip — trying to get rid of this lump in my throat.
“People are saying that the friendship between you is over… there are rumors of all kinds. Honestly, I don't believe what they say, but I've noticed that there's some tension between you.”
I clear my throat.
“I'm sorry… I talk a little too much. That's why I'm always alone, I'm kind of inconvenient sometimes…” She gives a sad smile, and lowers her eyes, picking up a French fry. “Would you like some?”
I just return the smile.
Well… She really is a bit inconvenient, but that doesn't seem to be intentional. But I prefer to change the subject, pulling up something else, about what she's thinking of New York.
Fortunately, she seems to have left Laura and her ex-boyfriend behind.
***
I glance at the clock, noticing that there are still a few long minutes to go. I sigh, relaxing in my chair, staring at the ceiling. When a knocking at the door echoes, I bring my eyes to it, without moving my head from the chair…
And Julian is standing there, leaning against the door frame.
I straighten up immediately, seeing the discreet smile shaping on his lips.
“How's the project going, Sarah?” Julian asks, crossing his arms, and I can't help but swallow hard; he's out of his suit, and that shirt marks his arms absurdly well.
Gosh, why does he have to be so hot?
“Mr. Adams, we decided on a few lines to follow… we were just deciding on the final details before sending you the final ones.” Sarah says, pushing up her glasses, totally unaffected by Julian's presence….
Too bad I can't say the same for the other girls, who are fiddling their hair, batting their eyelashes, and crossing their legs. Even Laura seems to look at him intensely, to the point that I feel my chest twist. She has always known that Julian is a one-night stand guy, but she has never shown interest in him before… At least, not that I have noticed. But again, I guess I'm not the best person to read her… I don't even know if I truly knew her, as I wasn't able to predict that she would betray me like that.
When I feel Julian's eyes on me, I toss my hair, covering my face that's almost giving me away, keeping my eyes locked on the computer, on nothing specific.
I'm pretending to concentrate on something, only realize that Julian has approached me when he stopped behind my chair, clasping it with his two firm hands. The smell of the cologne hits me strongly, bringing conflicting sensations in me.
“Can you send it to Angelee? I can choose some to speed up the work.”
I held my breath, hearing Sarah agree and say she's sending them quickly, and Julian leans in next to me, making his scent even more intoxicating. I hold the mouse steady, frozen in place.
“Excuse me, I'll use it really quick…” Julian says close to my ear, but not though a whisper. He puts one hand on mine while I'm using the mouse, and I finally realize how big it is, covering mine completely.
He's guiding my hand to open the files, and indeed, he's focused on all the info… and yes, I should be focusing too, but being so close to Julian, in front of the whole team… I can't help but feel my heart beating harder.
“Okay. I like the first three, they fit more with the concept the company wants… draw up those and send them to Angelee by the weekend.” He straightens up, releasing my hand, which is really sweating.
I swallow hard, noticing that the hand resting on the chair is now on my shoulder, squeezing gently, as if trying to relieve the tension. Yeah, I'm surely tense right now… But it's your fault, Julian!
“We'll do it, boss.” Sarah gives a smile.
“Angelee, can you go to my office? There's something we need to line up.”
I look confused at Julian and, faced with his mischievous smile, I feel a shiver.
“Now.” He strokes my shoulder gently, stepping away, giving me a chance to breathe in air that's not impregnated with traces of him.
As I stand up to follow him, everyone is watching me closely, especially Laura, who seems to be challenging me. And as I walk through the door, I feel Julian's hand firmly under my back, guiding me out of the room, but only briefly because when we're walking to his office, we keep a distance that's not enough to quiet this tickle in my belly.
Julian opens the door for me to enter first, and just as we're both standing in the silence of his room, I hear the door lock click. I look up at him in surprise, and he's closing the curtains.
I hold my breath in my lungs.
“Angelee, were you a good girl today?”
I nod, my throat dry.
“Then I'll be a good boss and reward you.”