“Did you do that on purpose?” Charlotte’s cheeks turned bright red–this time from embarrassment.
“That had been an ident. A total ident! Did Scott seriously think we had been sneaking kisses in the office?” she wondered.
It wasn’t that she cared if Scott felt weird about it. What she really didn’t want was for anyone to get the wrong idea about her and Sean
Anyone at all.
Sean tilted his head slightly. “Hmm?”
“You definitely did it on purpose,” she said through gritted teeth. You leaned in on purpose so I’d kiss you, then you knew the lipstick was there and let
Sean shrugged, a slow <b>grin </b>spreading across his face. “I did want the kiss. But I honestly <b>didn’t </b>know about the lipstick.”
“Oh, please.” Charlotte scoffed. “Then why did you smile at him like that?*
Sean gave her a wide–eyed, innocent look. “Did 1? That <b>wasn’t </b>on purpose. <b>I </b><b>mean</b>.. I kissed my baby–I was happy. <b>Couldn’t </b>help it.”
Sean Jasper! Charlotte snapped, grabbing a box of tissues from her desk and hurling <b>it </b><b>at </b>him::
Sean caught it with ease and just smiled even wider, clearly enjoying every second.
His eyes sparkled with mischied.
<b>“</b><b>Who </b>are you calling “baby“? Stop being gross. I can’t stand flirty guys like you!” Charlotte red at him, then pointed sharply toward the door. “Out Now”
He nced at the shredded stack of papers like he was finishing an assignment. “Let me know if you need help with anything else.”
Sean strolled out, just as Jerry came around the corner.
“Mr. Jasper,” she greeted politely, <b>shing </b>a smile–only to pause mid–step when she caught sight of the faint red smudge on the corner of his mouth
“Hi there,” Sean replied, clearly in a <b>great </b>mood.
“Um… Mr. Jasper, you.. uh…..” Jenny hesitated, eyes flickering toward <b>the </b>lipstick <b>mark</b><b>. </b>
Sean new exactly what she saw. But he acted like he didn’t, gave a slight nod, and walked on
Behind him, Jerry’s eyes lit up like she had just witnessed the juiciest gossip of the <b>year</b>.
“They kissed Charlotte and Mr. Jasper kissed! My ship is sailing again!” she silently eximed.
<b>While </b>Sean waited for the elevator, Scott approached, briefcase in hand. He was apparently heading out as well.
Scott gave him a tight–lipped smile. “Mr. Jasper, you seem to be enjoying yourself. ying office <b>assistant </b>now?”
“What’s wrong with that?” <b>Sean’s </b><b>simile </b><b>didn’t </b>waver. “The fact that she asks me means we’re close. She feelsfortable bossing me around<b>. </b>But she never asks you, does she? That probably means you two aren’t all that close. She doesn’t feelfortable making you run errands. Wouldn’t you agree<b>?</b>”
Scott stared at him ‘Seriously, no <b>one </b>gaslights himself better than this pay,” he thought,
His lips curved into a thin, unreadable smile. “<b>You’ve </b>got quite the sense of humor.”
The elevator dinged. The doors slid open. The two men stepped inside.
“Ever heard the saying, ‘proximity breeds opportunity?” Scott asked, his reflection sharp in the mirrored <b>elevator </b>walls.
Sean’s smile didn’t waver “Sure. But how about, “don’t fish in your own pond” <b>?</b><b>? </b>
barely but recovered quickly
“Well,” he said coolly, “between an old me and an office fling, I’d say the old me’s a <b>harder </b>sell. Leftovers don’t taste as good the second time. No
In the right elevator space, the air grew fast with tension.
Neither man backed down.