Chapter's song: 24K Magic by Bruno Mars

What is it going to be this week?

I scrunch up my nose as I scroll down my email. It's always the same thing, I don't love my partner, or I love my best friend, or I love my partner's best friend. People need to get more interesting lives. I snort at that. Look who's talking, huh?

Smiling to myself, I reach over to the mug on my desk. I take a peek at its content because I don't want to do a repeat on last week's stale coffee. I did wash my mug, didn't I? Not being sure, I leave it be. In all honesty, I've been immersed trying to write an article about the Brexit possible repercussions that has taken most of my time for the last two days, hoping that, this time, my chief editor will actually look at it.

They do say that hope never dies. I'm taking that to heart.

My computer's notification dings and I turn to the screen to read the new email. Maybe that one is the lucky one to appear in tomorrow's issue. My hands freezes on its own as I read the subject: Admiring you from afar. 

Bloody hell, that sounds utterly stalkerish. Then again, my life has been nothing but boring over the last few...years, so I open it.

Dear Ms. Two cents' worth,

I've been reading your advice column for a while and I have to say that you've won me over. I'm not such an eloquent writer as yourself, so I'll let the words of Shakespeare reflect what I feel for you.

Your enthusiastic devotee.

My heart thumps as I read the email twice. I lick my lips and read it again. This is the most bizarre and most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. Is this real? I'm not a technological geek, but I do go through the details trying to see where this comes from. This is definitely a fake email address ([email protected]). My fingers tingle as they rest across my keyboard, eager to answer back.

Dear Mr. Enthusiastic devotee,

I'm not impressed. Shakespeare? Really? You'll need to do better than that.

Not yours,

Two cents' worth.

I smile to myself before clicking send. 

Just as the email disappears from my window, I see that it's time to send this week's column, so I randomly choose one of the best friend's unrequited love story and write a sappy note to go with it. I'm not sure if to send my Brexit article, but I send it anyway, hoping that one day, my boss will read it.

It's almost five when I finish everything. Sighing, I shut down my computer at the same time my cell phone rings. It's an unknown number. Could it be my sweet stalker? I snort to myself. That doesn't sound too good, does it?

Sliding my finger to the green button, I answer warily. "Hello?"

"Hi Kate!" My brows furrow. Mark? What the hell can he possibly want now?

"Mark?"

"You know, people usually greet each other." I roll my eyes. He's Mark, alright.

"Hello Mark, how are you doing?" my sickly sweet tone makes him chuckle.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking Kate."

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I glare at the office's ceiling. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm glad you ask because I need your help." Mark's voice is serious.

I sit up, feeling alerted all of a sudden. "What's going on?" Is Emily alright? Are they all okay?

"Chill, Kate. Come outside of the building, I'm waiting for you." What?

He's outside? For real?

I stare through the window but the advice column doesn't get one of those fancy cubicles with a killer view. No. I stare at the next building's condensation boxes on top of the apartment building in front of me.

"What do you want Mark?"

"Come to find out," I can't see him, but I know he's smirking and taunting me. 

Pursing my lips, I stare at my already shut-down laptop. Why not? A part of me wants to start it again to see what the sweet stalker answered back, but another part of me is curious to know why Mark is here. Biting my bottom lip, I stand up to grab my purse before heading to the door.

Kate doesn't take long to come out, but she looks dubious as she approaches me. Bloody hell, do something to get her attention!

 "Hello there," I add my signature no-fail flirt smile, but she doesn't seem fazed. In fact, she looks annoyed. Of course. I should know better by now.

She crosses her arms as she meets my stare. "What. Do. You. Want?"

I try not to smile at her, but my lips twitch all the same. "I want to show you something."

She narrows her eyes. "You want to show me something?" I nod. "You came all the way from wherever, to show me something?"

She looks adorable in as she blinks fast, gazing behind me, probably wondering what bug had pinched me. Also, I like her smart outfit. Black pants paired with a simple white shirt. I know she's not dressed to impress, which makes it better. "It's something really good," I wriggle my brows for good measure.

"It better is," she raises her eyebrows and I can't help but crack up at that.

It is.

It's so random that I'm sure she'll have no choice but to follow my lead. But hey, I'm trying to get to know her more. What better way to do it, but to try to push her out of her limits?

I just hope she doesn't freak out. Or gets angry. Although she's really hot when she is angry.

Fuck.

When did I turn into such a sappy idiot?

Oh boy, where could he possibly take Kate to?

Also, who are we casting as Kate?