t w e n t y   t w o
" happiness keeps the
human engine ticking "

-

-

As Adela repacked her clothes into the boxes she'd only just taken them from, she couldn't help but think about her afternoon with Lewis and smile to herself.

He'd been very sweet to her, as usual, and the excitement he had in showing her his own company's clothing was heart-warming. It was refreshing to see someone passionate about what they did, rather than doing it for the money.

Money makes the world go round, but happiness keeps the human engine ticking.

She didn't think he stopped smiling as he'd shown her the designs. Her favourite was undoubtedly the shirt with the branding "no snakes just ladders", a snakes and ladders board printed across the back. When he'd turned the shirt over to reveal the design, Adela immediately reached out and ran her fingers up one of the ladders.

"You like it?" Lewis had asked, trying to hide the hope but it came shining through as bright as the midday sun.

"Yeah," She replied, looking up at him through her wire-framed glasses. "I actually really do." She pushed the glasses back up her nose.

He laughs, creasing over slightly. "But you didn't think that you would?"

Guiltily, she shook her head. "No, street-wear isn't really my thing, surprisingly." Adela tucked her hair behind her ear, her cheeks tinting pink.

"Oi," A unfamiliar voice called from the other room, "who've you got hiding in there, Lewis?"

Lewis laughed again. She loved how happy he looked here. He seemed like this was his element and he led a happy life. Content in his work and in his company. A twang struck through Adela as she smiled at him and hoped that she could be a part of that content company for a long time.

"A new friend," He shouted back, glancing at her with a glint in his deep eyes. "Just showing her the clothes!"

"Who's that?" Adela asks, unable to diminish her curiosity.

"That's Tobi. He helps out around here with orders sometimes," Lewis explained as he refolded the shirt and slid it into the packaging. "So, that's it really." He held the shirt out to her. "You can have it, if you want?"

"I don't have the money on me," She said, her expression sagging a little.

"Nah, just take it. We won't mind missing one on the house, don't worry," He said with a wink that made her heart flip. He shook the shirt, indicating for her to take it. So she did.

"Thank you." She kept her eyes on the shirt. "This is so nice of you."

"No problem, now, let's introduce you to Tobi before he gets upset about being left out."

-

After her introduced her to Tobi, who was a very sweet guy, he drove Adela back to her car. They'd hugged goodbye, which seemed to linger as she breathed in his scent. He said he would be happy to help her with moving in that Monday afternoon and she couldn't keep the grin off her face as she thanked him, telling him she'd see him then as she slid into her car and pushed the key into the ignition.

-

-

The date seemed to be going well, even is Mara was prone to suggestive innuendos every now and then that almost knocked him off balance.

Each time she said something inappropriate Chris would force a laugh. The first few times it was funny, but it was starting to grow old.

Despite that, he was enjoying her company. He discovered she was an aspiring photographer. She even pulled out her phone and started showing him a few of her most recent photographs she'd posted to her Instagram.

Mara was definitely talented, but he forgot all about the photo of the couple by the pond the moment he felt her foot touch his leg.

Immediately, he stiffened in his chair, and not in the good way. It was odd, to say the least.

She grinned like a feline at his reaction, leaning forward as if to get a better look at her prey with those deep, dark eyes.

"What about you?" She asked, not taking her gaze away from him for even a second, "What do you do in your spare time?"

Chris felt glued to his seat as her heel slipped further up his leg. "I -uh- I play football?" He phrased it like a question, uncomfortable to say the least. He'd never been on a date like this one; so intense as this. Sure, he'd clearly been on the dating scene for a while, but this was not where he saw himself being that night when he'd asked the quirky, friends obsessed photographer on a date.

"So you're athletic?" At last, her foot dropped from his leg and he had to hold in his sigh of relief. "Good to know."

"Is it?" He managed.

"I'd hate to interrupt such a lovely date, but can you guys order already?" Chris had never been more thankful to hear Cora's voice, even if it was coated in annoyance.

He looked her dead in the eyes as he, loudly and clearly, said, "Rum and coke, please."

Cora's mouth only twitched up slightly in recognition. "A rum and coke? Not feeling very adventurous tonight, are we, Chris?" She ran her fingers along the edge of the bar. "What about a Sex on the Beach? Or a French kiss? Oh, don't forget my favourite! The Screaming Orgasm. It's a mix of vodka, baileys Irish cream, and coffee liqueur."

Chris' jaw clenched tight as he slid his credit card across the bar to Cora. "A rum and coke will do, thank you."

"Alright," She said, allowing a smile to slide across her face. "And for the lucky lady?" She didn't even look at Mara as she spoke, not even wanting to look at that familiar face.

"I'd love a Screaming Orgasm," She ordered, gazing right at Chris, who also didn't look at her. He couldn't. He just kept his eyes locked on Cora, begging within them. His knee almost hit the underneath of the bar as Mara's hand slid onto his leg.

He stood up with a start and spluttered, "I have to go to the toilet. I'll be back soon."

"Your drinks will be ready when you get back," Cora told him, already beginning to mix Mara's drink up.

He nodded woodenly before scurrying off to the bathroom.

Cora slammed the drinks down on the bar in seconds, having made them a million times over. "Enjoy," She said without a hint of heart before taking her keys from her pocket and slipping away from the bar, leaving Rosa to handle the drinks for a moment.

She caught Chris on his way back. "Your rum and coke," Cora said as she held the keys out to him.

He took them, but looked confused.

With a sigh, she explained, "They're for my apartment upstairs. Go wait up there, watch some TV, hide, whatever. I don't care. I'll just come up and let you know when she finally leaves."

He curled his fingers around the keys. "Wow, thanks," He said with surprise.

"What? You didn't think I would be true to my word? A rum and coke emergency is a rum and coke emergency. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a bar to tend to." She gave him a wink before turning away and slipping back into the crowd, disappearing in seconds between the bodies.

He watched her go and then left to seek refuge in her apartment until the coast was clear for his exit.

-

-

That Monday, everyone made it into the office on time. In fact, Simon was the last to arrive. Josh gave him a smile when he walked in, Catherine simply watched him walk by, but Cal was the one to make a show of it.

"Late by..." He glanced down at his watch. "Approximately three minutes. Better not happen again, Minter, or there'll be consequences!" He pointed his finger at him warningly, but the wide grin negated that warning.

"You're too much of a wind-up for a Monday morning," Simon grumbled as he slouched down into his chair, sinking into its' plushness.

"I'm too much of a wind-up every day of the fuckin' week, mate," He said with a laugh, kicking his feet up on the desk as he checked his notifications.

"Oh, shut up you two," Catherine groaned, glaring at them both over the top of the screen. "Get on with some work and stop checking your phone every two minutes, Callum, or you'll never get anything done."

"But, Cath..." He whined, dragging out her name like a winging child.

"No buts!"

"Not until tonight there's not," Cal mumbled. Simon had to stifle his laugh, hiding behind his monitor so Catherine didn't see and scold him too.

"Don't make me come over there and take that phone from you," She warned, raising her dark eyebrows at him.

"Fine," He said, sighing dramatically as he dropped his phone onto his desk. "I'll focus."

Satisfied, Catherine turned back to her own work.

And they worked in silence until lunch time. Josh was the first to stand, scrolling through his phone as he pulled on his coat and left the office without a word.

Cal hurried after him, yanking on his coat as he did and calling out to him to wait up.

"And then there was two," Catherine muttered as she pushed away from the desk, curling her green scarf around her neck. "Fancy walking into the city with me to grab lunch? Or are you gonna stay here and catch up on that three minutes of work you missed this morning?"

"I -uh," Simon stuttered.

"I'm joking," She said, laughing as his face reddened. "Come on, I'll buy your coffee."

"Alright," He agreed, standing and gathering himself before following her out and into the elevator to find some city-delicacy for lunch.

-

29.10.17
a short chunk for Simon, but the next chapter will sorta be a montage so this was just setting up a little bit ok so bear with me