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“I’ainst his white collar

“I’ to tell you I’ you did for me”

“And are those pretty daisies for me, then?”

I reet you a present”

I pull the little plastic cube topped with the red bow from my purse I present it to him like a boxed Rolex His eyes spark with an unidentified emotion before he reassumes his frown

“Strawberries”

“You said how much you love them” The word love has probably never been said in this office, and it gives my voice a weird little tremor He looks at me sharply

“I’ at all” He puts the strawberries into his out-tray and logs back onto his computer

After several ain

“How can I pay you back foreverything?” The balance has shifted dramatically between us I’m in his debt now I owe him

“Tell ”

What I want to say is, Speak to nore me

I watch him continue to type, his face expressionless as a crash test duht and he slashes a green highlighter across them Meanwhile, I am at complete loose ends with no Helene

“I’ll clean your apartment for you I’ll be your slave for the day I’llbake you a cake”

It’s like a soundproof pane has dropped in between us Or maybe I’ve been erased I should let hi He can’t hearout loud