NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: Subject: Eat.
Tapping sounds of the keyboard, a faint humming of the air vent and the soothing music from her speaker accompanied Katherine as she typed on her computer with her brows furrowed. It had been an hour since Damien switched the glass panel from clear to opaque, and an hour since Katherine felt bitter about the incident in the elevator. From time to time, she would glance at the opaque glass and glare at it like a sneering cat.
And because she still didn't know that her boss resides in the same building, she planned to stay until he leaves.
It had just struck six in the evening when Katherine heard the huge door to her right open. She turned her head and saw Damien coming out from his office looking fresh, clean, and smelling minty. There were a good three meters between them yet his heavenly scent invaded her nostrils making her swallow. 'Thirsty much, Kath?' she told herself.
Damien was wearing a plain white shirt with its sleeves rolled up to his elbow and navy blue pants. The long dark strands of hair that fell just above his eyes were still damp and he brushed his fingers through it as he closed the door behind him.
He obviously had taken a shower but upon seeing him like this, Katherine's thoughts have gone haywire. She was definitely smitten when she saw him looking like a snack but because she was so irritated, she started to think too much and misunderstood him.
'Did he take a bath because he wanted to wash away whatever part of me that got stuck to him earlier?'
'Am I smelly?'
'Am I dirty?'
'Yes, Damien you look and smell great but... did you have to shower?!'
If only she knew why he had to...
Katherine had an emotionless and unreadable expression but Damien could sense her irritation when he saw her eyes. Passing by her desk, he maintained an indifferent look as he said without looking at her, "Don't stay too late. Go home before seven." He did not even wait for her reply. He turned on his heel and headed towards the elevators.
Katherine glared at his beautiful, broad back. He wanted her to make a long report but also wanted her to go home before seven? How would she do that?
When Damien was no longer in sight, Katherine continued to work on her computer. Ten minutes later, the elevator opened and a delivery boy stepped out with a paper bag in his hand.
"Ms. Katherine Miller?" he asked as he was nearing the desk.
Katherine raised her brows and got up from her chair. "Yes, how can I help you?"
"This is the food that you ordered." The delivery boy placed the paper bag on her desk and was about to leave when Katherine held him back, "Wait!"
He turned his head and responded, "Yes?"
"You must be mistaken. I did not order any food." Katherine took the paper bag and handed it back to the delivery boy. "Maybe you got the wrong person. Here, take it back."
'How could I afford to order food?'
He raised both of his hands in front of him as he refused to accept the bag. "You're Ms. Katherine Miller, right? Then that's for you."
Knitting her brows, Katherine replied, "But… I don't have money to pay for it and I really didn't order it!"
"That's already been paid for. I don't know, miss. I'm just the delivery guy," he said before turning around and left in a hurry.
Feeling perplexed, Katherine raised the paper bag in front of her and stared at it; it had the logo of a famous restaurant around the area. She walked back to her desk and checked the contents of the bag. There were three boxes inside and it smelled delicious. She was so tempted but because she was still confused where the food came from, she slumped on her chair.
A notification on her computer screen caught her attention. She received an email from her boss. "Huh?" she wondered. Damien had already left the office so why did he send her an email?
Clicking the mail, a white screen popped up containing a short message from her boss.
••••••••••••
From: Damien Park
To: Katherine Miller
Subject: Eat.
I apologize about earlier. Make sure to eat the food while it's still hot. Don't skip meals because of work.
Damien
••••••••••••
At first, Damien wanted to send her a text but the thought of Katherine reading the text on her phone just lead him to think about the elevator scene. In the end, he decided to send her an email so that she will receive it through the computer.
After reading the email, Katherine glanced at the paper bag again. Her boss apologized to her and even sent her dinner. Now, why was she suddenly feeling guilty?
Why does he keep doing this? He's mostly so kind, then suddenly he's irritating, and now he's nice again!
Katherine recalled what happened in the elevator and her face went from pale to red. She was so scared when he took her phone from her and then out of nowhere, she just climbed on his body! 'How shameless, Kath! Who are you? I don't know you anymore!' she told herself. She was mad at Damien just as much as she was mad at herself.
Covering her face with her hands, she whimpered and shook her body when the scene played in her head repeatedly. She could feel her legs becoming warm even by just thinking about it.
Katherine sighed heavily and tapped her face to refocus. Damien already left, so what about her daily dose of 'getting to know Katherine's past'?
He had promised her that they could talk more about it after work but they still haven't had the chance. With this in mind, Katherine hovered her fingers on the keyboard and typed in her reply.
••••••••••••
From: Katherine Miller
To: Damien Park
Subject: [Re: Eat.]
I still have questions about my past…
••••••••••••
Katherine didn't know what else to say so she sent the email with only one line. She waited for five minutes but Damien did not reply to her message. Realizing that her boss might already be busy with something else, she decided to send another email to thank him for the food, he did think about her after all. So, with a smile on her face, she responded: "Thanks for the food."
Almost instantly, she received a reply from her boss saying: "You're welcome."
The smile on her face immediately disappeared as soon as her nose flared. So he read her first email but he chose not to respond?! 'Why is he torturing me?'
Katherine let out another sigh and started typing furiously on her keyboard. She began to compose a long reply to send to her boss to give him a piece of her mind. She was having a bad day!
Well, maybe a bad week.
Just as she had started the fourth sentence of her ranting, another notification appeared – an email from her boss. Pausing her composition, she read the new mail.
Damien: [ I'm meeting a friend tonight. We can talk about it tomorrow. Stop working and start eating. ]
Upon reading his email, Katherine's back relaxed. She fidgeted with her thumb before she decided to delete her hate mail. What was she in a hurry for? He already said he'll talk about it. 'Just be patient, Kath,' she assured herself.
Looking over the paper bag, she reached in and took out the expensive-looking boxes. Even the take out packaging was luxurious. She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "Rich people."
Opening the box, the delicious smell intensified and she was greeted with scrumptious looking food. She salivated right away at the same time that her stomach grumbled.
Giving in to temptation, Katherine scarfed down the food and moaned as the high-quality meat melted inside her mouth. If only she could eat it everyday.
…
Meanwhile, Damien was at the bar of Crown Hotel that was just right beside the main office.
Loud music filled the air but he tuned everything out and downed his whiskey. Today was his father's death anniversary.
The club in his hotel was lit. The whole area was huge and loud with lots of guests partying. But despite the lively vibe, Damien sat alone in the bar as he reminisces about his father.
Earlier, he planned to eat dinner with Katherine but because of what happened, he decided to head out and drink instead.
He blamed himself for his father's death that happened years ago. No matter how many years have passed, the heaviness in his heart was still there.
Just as he placed his glass back down, a large hand patted his right shoulder. Caleb sat down on the stool next to him and signaled the bartender for his drink.
"I thought you'd meet me after dinner," Caleb turned to the left and looked at his friend. He knew Damien so well to know what he was feeling at the moment.
"Change of plans," Damien briefly answered with a small smile.
Raising his glass, Caleb clinked it with Damien's before taking a sip. He accompanied his friend the whole night.
They didn't have to talk and they didn't have to pretend. Both of them knew what was needed and what was not.
Who would have known that underneath the mask, one would find a broken man?
What other secrets do you keep, Damien Park?