HIS SEDUCTION

Part 7- Lady's room

"Good morning, Bert,"

"Alina," he looked surprised and his eyes appeared to be inquiring, but greeted me with his signature upfront smile. "I thought I wouldn't see you for long." He glanced at his watch on his wrist. "You're always early."

"I am. Yesterday was quite time-poor that I had to leave work earlier. Nevertheless, I'm here to finish some tasks and get something done by noon."

"That is typical of you. Have a good start." His phone rang.

And as he answered his phone, I took the other box of tuna sandwiches with almonds that I prepared this morning before leaving the house. I especially made it for him because I knew he'd be much earlier than me. What he had eaten for breakfast must have been digested already in two or three hours and he might need a refill to last until the afternoon.

"Yes, sir, just arrived." He said to the person on the line as he sent me a grateful smile for the food. I waved at him as I walked into the premises.

I missed my office already. I liked working. I enjoyed manuscript reading and editing books before we brought them to market. Reading diverted my mind to a place completely disconnected from the real world where I get to enjoy and be happy with the fictional characters' lives. I could only wish I could write my own story.

An hour had passed and workers got to start the day with a greeting, exchanging a few words before getting back to their own offices and cubicles. I looked at the clock, Mr. Rodriguez would be in his office around 11 o'clock. I had to speak to him. He must have spoken with Alessandro about me and that really pissed me off. I wouldn't let him middle with my job.

A knock on the door ripped me away from my thoughts. Fred's head stuck out of the door.

"Fred..." I gave him a smile as I rounded the table.

He also belonged to the Editorial department.

"Good morning, Alina. I thought I wouldn't see you this morning. I heard you're taking a leave...an indefinite leave," he closed the door behind him.

"Oh, really?...No, not really. I made up my mind. I thought I was going to...but I will miss my job, besides, I still have a lot of things to do."

"That sounds great. Here, two manuscripts arrived today which need to be done in a week. Yesterday, I finished the one you left off, so no worries."

"I apologize, Fred. Something urgent just really came up yesterday. I will surely finish this up."

"I know you will." He put down the papers on my table. "And, hey, are you free this lunch? Maybe we can eat lunch together. What do you think?"

That surprised me a bit, "Yeah, sure. I always go to the Daily Grind diner just across the bank a block away. Are you familiar?"

He nodded, smiling widely. "Yes, of course. I love the place. Been there a couple of times already."

"Great. We can go there for lunch then,"

''Just great. See you later, Alina,"

"See you, Fred,"

As soon as he left, I took the paper in my hand and went back to my seat. The scripts looked interesting.

I was so engrossed with my job, so engrossed that I forgot to check my phone. Glancing at the watch on my wrist, it told me it was already quarter past ten in the morning. My phone had been in silent mode since last night.

"Hmm, you've called me many times, huh," I murmured. Alessandro had made 10 missed calls. He must be upset. Well, he's always been upset and I knew that not answering his calls infuriated him most. Sighing down, I put the phone back inside my bag. Mr. Rodriguez should be in his office by now.