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The earth stops spinning on its axis I beco nerve,over my skin We stand there and stare at each other as a powerful netism wipes my mind blank
Myheartbeat and flying pulse, the faint press of his knuckle on my skin the center of my universe
His lips part He leans closer
Holy shit He’s going to kiss es into the kitchen, heels clicking, a file under her arm She sees us and skids to a stop
Michael spins away and resu has happened, while I stand rooted to the spot, uilty, unable to speak or ers on the floor and wall around the spot where Portia stands She stares at id, her expression accusatory, then she turns her icy glare to Michael’s back "Excuse me, sir," she says stiffly "Your secretary told me you were in here I didn’tin his hand, a casual s Joellen and I were just discussing her application She’s very eager to get the job"
It’s the wrong thing to say If people could spontaneously combust, Portia would be splattered all over the walls and floor right now in little frozen pieces
She cuts her freezing gaze to me Her lips thin and her nostrils flare, and I’ht physically attackholes intoproportions It’s clear what Portia thinks Michael er and what she thinks I’m up to
With one knuckle brush, I’ve beco my way to a proled, I say, "I’ll just be getting back to work now"
I slink away, tail between round As soon as I’m out of the kitchen, I break into a breathless run, headed back to
If I didn’t have bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all
A few s
"Joellen Bixby speaking"
"Joellen, it’s Michael"
My heart slae I look around surreptitiously, as if Portiaaround the corner of my cubicle, then sink into my chair and cover the phone’s mouthpiece with my hand Why I suddenly feel like I’hs, and even that sounds beautiful "Please, stop with the sir Everyone calls randfather"
"Sorry Habit You being the CEO and all"
Michael clears his throat "Yes About that" There’s a short pause, then he exhales in a gust "I’m sorry for what happened in the kitchen That was inappropriate of ies I clearly made you uncomfortable, and it was absolutely out of line--"
"I wasn’t uncoely emboldened by his lack of response, I drop ood way"
Another exhale, this one longer and slower
"You’re not saying anything"
"I’m relieved" His voice drops an octave "Andreally happy to hear that"
I hold the phone away froin my chair like a lunatic When I put the phone back to e I have and ask hi pause, his response is even lower than before "You know exactly why, Joellen"
My panties are curling offlike they did the first tier of exploding inside my chest
I whisper, "No, I don’t Tell me" Who is this person? This bold, flirty person? A body snatcher has apparently consu, the squeak of a chair, what sounds like footsteps echoing off tile "What are you doing?"
"Pacing"
He’s pacing And his voice is rough And he’s happy that I wasn’t uncomfortable in a bad way, but won’t anshen I ask why