The New Guy (Chapter One - B)

Read Chapter 1 - A Here

Chapter One (B)
Lola

“Thank you so much. Come in.” Jasmine
grabbed his hand and pulled him into the office. “Next time open the door,” she said.

If it’s him, she was right. He resembles the model in the magazine.

His brown hair glistened above well-groomed eyebrows; almond shaped slate-blue eyes, clear and bright like they were made up of glass. His roman nose complemented a solid jaw line. He flashed a genial smile that made me melt. I wonder what he says to himself when he looks into a mirror. Does he surf? What does he look like without this T-shirt?

“Lola.” Jasmine’s voice drew me from my crazy thoughts. “Meet William, he works in the IT department.”

“Really?” We shook and made eye contact.

“Nice to meet you, Lara.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

We were still holding hands.

“I think I saw you this morning at the parking lot.” He pulled his hand from mine and used both hands to describe a big person. “You were walking with a big guy. I’d just parked and both of you were walking past.”

“It was me. You should have stopped me.”

No, no, no, I shouldn’t have said that.

“I didn’t know you work here.” He glanced at Jasmine, and then our attention got drawn to the door as Sam entered the office with his laptop pressed on his chest.

“It’s him,” he said in a low voice. I nodded.

Sam walked past us, ignoring Jasmine when she called him; we kind of looked at him until he was seated at his desk. Then Jasmine came close and threw her arm around my shoulder. “We’re having a hangout this evening. I would like you to join us,” she said.

Hangout? She planned a hangout, and I’m not aware?

“Today I’m not...,” William said.

She pointed at him and forced a frown. “Don’t refuse.”

He rested his hands on his waist and looked down.

I guess my friend just made this up, William. We had no plans for a hangout. I love my single life but I want to spend some time with you. Just say “yes.” Say you’ll hang out with us.

Raising his head, his eyes settled on me. I looked at the ceiling until I heard, “Okay, where?”

“I take that as a ‘yes,’ ” Jasmine said. “Seven-thirty, Lara will text you the location.”

She left us and walked to her desk. When I looked back at him, his mobile phone was in his hand already. He took a step closer and said, “Should I give you mine or you give me yours or...”

“It is,” I cut in. “My voice was low like I was telling him a secret, “zero, nine, one, five, seven...” After I was done, my phone started ringing and vibrating on my desk.

“It’s me calling,” he said. “I like your ringtone.”

“Really? I love his songs. This is my favourite in the album, the latest album,” I said.

Ending the call, he tucked his phone into his jeans pocket.

“I have to get going,” he said to me. “See you, Jasmine.”

“See ya,” she said and waved, briefly.

He looked at me before he turned to leave. I gazed at him until he shut the door behind him. The scent of his cologne was still strong like seconds before.

After taking a deep breath, I walked to my desk. My heartbeat was a little faster.

I have to control myself. I don’t even know him.

After saving his number, I turned to Jasmine and she was gazing at me. Her chin was propped in her palms.

“Did you plan it,” I asked.

“No. It happened.” She shrugged. “And I took advantage of the opportunity. Are you okay with it?”

“Yes. But how did you come up with that so fast,” I asked.

“I’m a genius. You were almost drooling. I’d to help.”

“She drooled!” Sam chimed in.

“The man who ignored me,” Jasmine said.

“Sorry for acting that way. That team leader annoyed me.”

“He vexes everyone,” Jasmine said. “Lara, rate William.”

“He’s handsome. He’s cool. I’ll give him eight.”

“Ten,” Sam said.

“No doubt, he’s close to perfect,” I said.

The printer picked a paper. Jasmine stood up and walked over to it. Once the paper dropped, she picked it up and came to me. “Do you want him?”

“Jasmine, I don’t know him enough to answer your question.”

“Tonight, you’ll,” she said. “It seems he likes you.”

“Where’s the venue,” Sam asked.

I stared at him. He’s not invited.

Jasmine looked at Sam, and then back at me. “Think of a nice place and text him.”

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