pte

s blink

& Pa

ha

olish expression for a few seco

o, the waiter, returned with my chamomile tea, refilled the wine in Nicholas's glass, and disappeared again. Meanwhile, m

aving lunch with

ll only be in Manhat

week. After my audit here is finished, I'll r

downward. Is he really gay? Christine's word

re became more awkward as he fell silent. Giorgio returne

ttractive mix of colors in front of me. A

. In this awkward quiet, I could barely taste the salad I was ea

ffice. I wanted to refuse, but considering he was tec

the window most of the time, while I focused on my hands i

nor," he said, his voice back

t out of the car

ments. I spent most of my time in the small office Mrs. Lynch had

imagined. He was intense, brilliant, and-despite the rumors-he didn't seem gay at all

re to do a job, and that job was to find

ate every night, trying to meet the deadline I had set for

la," I muttered, pushing

stuffed them into my bag. I practically had to drag my body to the elevator. I leaned my back against t

dark red brick. But inside, the modern and elegant interior stood in stark contrast to the exterior. Even the lobby floor

was nothing lik

to the chocolate mousse I had eaten at lunch; I could still remember the sweet taste mixed with the bitter chocolate, me

breaking my train of thought. Before I could ev

lea

T CH