Chapter 17

" I didn't want anyone to know that we were into each other. I like being discreet on issues like this" Abbie said. She'd stood up from her table and walked to Nora's, still caring the flowers tenderly. Abbie waited for her to perch on the desk again before she spoke
"You're not a celebrity. I wonder why you're so keen on keeping your love life discreet".
" I just don't want the whole world to know that about me, there's too much people know about me"
" No one knows a thing about you, Abbie. More like you don't exist".
They laughed at the joke but Abbie sobered up immediately .
"Nora, I do like him but we're colleagues and I wouldn't want everyone to know I found love at work"
Nora couldn't hold back the laughter. She clutched her stomach and laughed hysterically. Abbie looked impatiently at her until she eventually quieted down.
"Abbie, _Nora began, keeping her hand on Abbie's thigh.
_ you're an adult and there's nothing wrong with falling in love with someone at work. No one's going to scold you. I'm sure Warren doesn't even know you have feelings for him. Girl! I didn't even know ".
" I was going to tell you. Eventually".
"Okay , so what are you going to do next? Tell him you like him too?"
" I should, but not immediately tho".
" Oh, Abbie, why do you take so much time to accomplish the littlest tasks?"
" I'll tell him the next time he offers to treat me to dinner"
" How long do you think that's going to be?"
" He offers every Friday after work"
" Okay. Oh Abbie, you're so going to be in love !"
Nora said dreamily. Abbie slapped her hands playfully. A knock sounded on the door and Abbie ran to her desk, the flowers still in her hands. The door flung open and Warren stepped in.
"Beautiful ladies!"
He said in his usual cheer.
" Hello, Warren".
Nora greeted curtly. Abbie stared with the Flowers still in her hands at the incredibly handsome Warren . She licked her lips unconsciously and Warren couldn't but notice.
"Nice lips"
He complimented, his eyes twinkling.
" Thanks. Good day"
" I see you got my Flowers"
He said.
" Oh, yeah and thanks".
Abbie said as she looked stupidly at the flowers still in her arms.
"If you ladies enjoy food at all, you would know it was already lunch break".
Warren said. Both ladies gasped and checked what time of the day it was.
"I'll treat you both to lunch. Chicken sandwich or anything else you want".
Nora stood up first, straightened her skirt with her palms and headed out. She noticed that Abbie wasn't as carefree and relaxed the way she used to be around Warren. She now spoke to him warily as If she didn't trust herself around him anymore. As she closed the door behind them, she heard Abbie talking in whispers to Warren as they drew closer to the door.
"Hello, Mr. Lennox".
Kim greeted politely. Her eyes didn't look inviting in any way and she could barely hide her discomfort at Lennox's sudden appearance at her doorstep just two hours after she'd finished unpacking her bags.
Lennox looked at her tired face and decided she needed time to rest but only after he'd spoken to her.
"How are you Kim?"
"I'm very fine. Trust you're good too?"
"Yeah, sure".
He replied staring at her. Her dark hair shone from the reflection of the white lights streaming out onto the hallway, brighter than the bulbs In the hallway. His mouth felt dry for a second as he racked his head for something Witty and amusing. She shifted from foot to foot impatiently before he said.
"You look like you need a hot bath to fix you"
He said. She nodded curtly still standing on the entrance of her apartment, the doorknob in her hand.
"Can I come in?"
He asked. She pouted.
"Much as I would love you to come inside Mr. Lennox, I'm sorry you can't. I can barely hold my head up. I need a good sleep right after the hot bath you suggested".
" Okay then. See you tomorrow" .
Lennox was in his room the next minute, talking rapidly with Hector.
"The woman returned but she wouldn't let me come close to her".
" She's probably tired"
Hector suggested through a mouthful of chicken sandwich which was supposed to be his dinner.
"She did look tired, but I wanted to sit and talk with her at least. Damn, I feel like a teenager all over again. I practically get confused standing righr before her. I keep forgetting all the right things to say to her"
He complained. From the other end, her could hear Hector choke on his sandwich and then started laughing.
"What's funny? Douchebag"
He enquired indifferently.
" Lennox, chill out. She's going to come around. I bet she had a hard time turning you away. She could have been turned on by the mere sight of you!"
Hector said dreamily.
" That's about the stupidest thing I ever heard you say. Thanks man".
" You're always welcome"
Lennox hung up and sighed. He had a big day ahead and he had to be in bed early. He needed all the rest he could get. He got into bed and found that his lids won't drop close neither would his mind stop thinking about Kimberly Foster. He imagined her lying in her bed, facing the ceiling with a script right beside her night lamp or on her dresser. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind and tried to envision her sitting elegantly on a couch, with a glass of wine in her hands and her scripts on her thighs, her thin nightdress hugging her petite frame beautifully and her nipples jutting out invitingly at him.
He punched his pillows and willed his mind to stop thinking about Kimberly Foster.
Kim was going though the photos on her phone. All the time as spent with the crew and all the memories from their travels. She felt a painful twist in her gut knowing that they'd eventually come to the end of the shooting of CRADLE. The pictures brought the Nostalgia and it amazed her. She was still surprised over Clayton's outburst and the fact that Tessy had a huge crush on Joe. While she'd been busy thinking about Lennox and how she should toss him out of her mind without success. She sighed. Even now, she could hardly resist the urge to march down to the elevator to his floor and kick open his door. She would really love the feel of his hands against her again. She wanted to feel him again but she knew she'd never be able to walk away from him and his idea of marriage once she was in his arms again. She slid under the heavy covers of her bed and layed there for long silent moments thinking of tbe grocery shopping she had to do the next day until she eventually gave in to a peaceful slumber.
"Lennox? Is that you?"
Lennox spun around at the mention of his name. He was sure he'd keep running into people for the rest of the day because immediately he stepped out of the MG's office, he'd run into Hester Woodhouse, associate MD at Roseau Hotels like she'd said the first time they met. She had spent time with him even when he seemed desperate to get away, to get away for no reason at all. He frowned at the tall smart looking lady that wasn't exactly smiling at him and recognition instantly made him smile. It was Nora Macpherson. He hadn't met her in person but Hector had made sure he saw photos of them together when they first started going out which was not also a long time ago.
"Nora Macpherson?"
He asked cautiously and she nodded vigorously. She wasn't smiling but her eyes looked enthusiastic enough for him to take her hands in a warm handshake.
"I'm so lucky I ran into you. This is the first time I'm meeting you!"
She said.
" Same here. How did you recognize me by the way?"
He wondered as he brow knotted in a slight frown. Thinking of possible times she could have seen him when he seldom went around town and she was always busy according to what Hector told him.
"Hector made me see photos of you, ones you took in Scotland. I almost invited you for dinner not long ago but it so happened that you were off to your hometown"
She said. Lennox was touched for the trouble she might have went to send an invitation and make reservations or even plan on cooking only for him to have been away.
"I'm sorry for that, if you're not in haste, let's have a late lunch"
He offered. He was standing next to his car which he'd parked in the big office garage. She nodded. He opened the passenger side of the car for her and she stepped in, clutching her office bag and fingering the no lapels of her suit occasionally with her free hand.
"Where would you like?"
Lennox asked as he pulled on to the driveway.
"Any decent place around"
She replied easily. Lennox racked his head for any decent place and finally settled for a chinese restaurant that served a variety of chinese dishes. She was pleased and told him how much she loved chinese food. He was pleased with himself that he'd picked a place that appealed to her. They placed their orders immediately the maitre d came to their table and Lennox was quick to conclude that Nora was indeed an abstemious eater immediately she placed a measly order despite her obvious love for the place.
"You don't each much?"
He asked easily. He was surprised at the ease he felt around her and it gladdened him.
"I've not had real good appetite for a while now_ she sighed
_i really do love the noodles and soup here regardless" .
She said. Lennox had a certain awkward feeling that her lost of appetite had something to do with Hector but he wouldn't bring up the subject at least not at before they ate.
The maitre d served them and Lennox who was almost starving began immediately to eat.
"You have a good appetite, sir"
Nora said curtly and lennox nodded to acknowledge the compliment. He sat up and wiped his mouth with his napkin, Nora sat there watching her food run cold and sipped water occasionally.
"Nora, I gather you're not with Hector anymore?"
He said in a confident tone. But her eyes flashed as she replied indignantly
"You got that wrong, Mr. Lennox"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you"