~ He Said, She Said
[x]
Caroline and Nate headed through the lunch area, still laughing at her unusual theory about Mr. Ikeda and Victoria. She had almost convinced herself the two wouldn’t work out. Almost. A small part of her wanted to see how the two would be like dating.
The chief was sitting at the coffee bar with a drink being made in front of him. He waved them over. “C’mere you two,” he said with a grin in his bearded face.They walked over and took the two seats to his right side. He raised his glass. “I was going to send for you later, Caroline.”
Caroline had seen him like this only a few times but more confused as to why he needed to speak to them. Last they spoke, he pressed on her Carver’s spotlight article saying, “No matter how much of a pain in the ass, keep him grounded and get this done.” He has been persistently been a pain and just wanted to be done.
“You are done with Carver’s story,” he told her.
Not realizing what how he had said it, she shuddered. “Well, I-I’m trying to finish the article but it had been difficult since Mr. Carver is...,” she began and saw the chief’s hand raise to stop talking.
“I mean, you are done,” he said and glanced down at his glass for a moment. A wave of disappointment shown itself in his face but it went just as fast as it came. “Mr. Carver requested that you drop the story entirely. He apologizes for wasting your time and mine.”
That was his way of saying, “He will pay you later.”
“And what made him decide that? He has been an obnoxious pain in the ass.”
“Who cares! You’re free!” Nate chimed in.
The chief took another long sip. “He just didn’t feel like he was going in the right direction when it came to his life and career.” He became distant for a moment, eyes shifted to one side, almost deep in thought and calculating his next words. He shook his head. “Things change as you get older. Take Tori for instance...”
“Tori?”
“Fine, Victoria. She’s a beautiful girl but still hasn’t outgrown that shyness about her. Still hasn’t gone out to meet anyone.” He let out a loud sigh. “You would think Minoru would just go and ask her out already.”
Nate gave him and Caroline a weird look. “Is it just me or does anyone else think the pairing doesn’t work.”
“Age shouldn’t matter in this case. Both of them are consenting adults and both of them go to the same park for their walks.”
“How do you know that?”
“I have spoken to them and took mental notes. Don’t know if they know.” He roared with laughter all of a sudden. “Both of them are oblivious I can only imagine.”
“Wouldn’t working under you interfere with anything?” Caroline asked, believing it to be important.
“She works as my personal secretary and he works two floors up as the art director. He only comes down to us for meetings.” His eyes shifted to one side again. “It’ll be good to have healthy relationships. Speaking of which,I heard you have a boyfriend Caroline. Congratulations.”
“Nonononononono, no, no,” she said, shaking her head and waving her hands in the same way to emphasize her point. “I definitely not seeing anyone. Unless...” She turned to Nate who was shaking his head and could tell he wasn’t lying.
“I believe Jessica and Thea were chatting about that with me for some reason. And I believe another man you wish to be with but you are indecisive.” He shook his head. “They thought it was impertinent for me to know such a crucial detail about your life. I really hoped they wouldn’t tell me these things.”
Caroline buried her face in her hands. “They were in the room with us earlier when you mentioned...”
“I honestly didn’t think they would listen to us,” Nate said defensively.
“They are probably gonna gossip and tell everyone.”
“You’re doomed.”
Caroline looked up from her hands and turned to Nate. His gazed was fixed somewhere behind the chief. She followed his gaze and saw Thea already talking to Brie and Mr. Ikeda. “Are you kidding me.”
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