Theorbo music.
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Walking out of the elevator, I wave to Levi as I head to my office. Azrael doesn't seem to be in yet. It's early, and maybe I came early because i was excited to see him. Just to glimpse him again.
Entering my office, I start to get ready as I prepare for the day today. Interrupted by frequent glances of mine at shadows that I think that are Azrael but aren't. A great deal of my actions now center around him, even if it's just to see him.
During one of the moments where I do look down at my desk and not through the smoked glass on either side of my office door, I look at the agenda for today and Azrael.
Azrael today has to go to another office building of a medicinal firm. Garner Inc. is both a pharmaceutical and agricultural company, but most of it's weight is on agriculture. So I guess this other firm, Vita Bona Inc is a partner in the industry it shares with us.
Just as I'm setting the schedule down I see the lean shadow of Azrael's pass by my door. Instantly, I jump out of my chair, but stop myself from running right out of my office and to Azrael. Instead, I take a long breath before doing the action I stopped myself from doing at slower speed.
Knocking on his door, I wait for Azrael to say 'come in' before doing so. Inside, Azrael is just settling into his office. He has his bag on he couch at the back of the room and also a hat he wore, a baseball cap that doesn't quite match his suit, on top of his desk. He looks up from his desk where he's looking at papers.
"Good morning, Hogarth. How do I find you today?" he asks politely, before turning down to his papers and going through them.
"I'm very fine," I reply, "how are you?"
"I'm well. I had a nice evening and enjoyed it," says Azrael.
I think to mention that I saw him playing piano yesterday, but can't bring myself to do it. Maybe I realize that I haven't confirmed that he has any interest in me. In fact there might be none. That would hurt me a great deal, but it probably can't be helped.
That's getting ahead though of what's in front of me. Right now I just don't want to intrude by bringing up yesterday. Instead I focus on the plan that we have set out for us.
"I just came in this morning to confirm that today after lunch we have a meeting with Vita Bona Inc. and the CEO. His name is Mr. Cellar," I say as I report the schedule.
"Thank you, Hogarth," says Azrael as he writes that down on a notepad, "I'll make sure to have my lunch before then."
Azrael look down at his bag, then below his desk before frowning. It seems he's missing something.
"Is there a problem?" I ask.
"I seem to have misplaced my lunch," replies Azrael as he walks over to the couch and his bag, opening it and looking inside.
While he walks I can't help but notice that his movement away from me has me walking over to where he is. Closer to him, that is.
"As I thought. I don't have my lunch here," says Azrael, turning to face me and noticing our proximity. But he leaves us as that, not moving away.
"I suppose I could skip lunch for a day," he says, and I recall one of my jobs and also one of my own genuine worries for his health.
"Um, I think you should eat lunch," I say pointedly.
"I can't skip for the day?" asks Azrael, and I shake my head.
"I guess you would say that since it's your job," says Azrael understandingly.
No. I don't want you to listen to me because it's my job. I want you to listen to me because I'm important to you. Because I'm special to you. That's what I want to be to you.
Azrael has already moved back to his desk and is dialing something on his desk phone. I snap out of my daze and go over to him as he looks over at me.
"Do you have lunch, Hogarth?" he asks.
"I don't. I was thinking of going out to get something to eat," I answer.
"I'll buy you lunch today. My treat," says Azrael, and goes back to talking on the phone for about half a minute before hanging up.
"I asked the cafeteria on the eleventh floor to prepare two lunches for myself and you. Could you go pick that up at eleven-thirty to bring up here?" says Azrael.
"Of course! It won't be an issue."
"Alright. So once we eat I'll have my driver pull to go to our meeting," says Azrael, sitting at his chair.
"Okay. Thank you for the lunch," I say with a smile. Azrael smiles back.
"It's no issue. Anything for my favorite person I meet daily," says Azrael with his usual gentle smile.
I'm taken back by his words and almost choke up. Azrael has turned back down to look as his desk so doesn't see my expression with a wide open mouth.
"Favorite person? Daily?" I ask confused.
"Of course," says Azrael as he looks up at me, "I see you everyday, and you're my favorite person I meet."
"Not anybody else?" I ask.
It sounds as if I'm just curious but it's more that I'm wanting to confirm that I am in fact that most favored person that Azrael meets.
"There are days that I do meet Levi, but I don't see him daily. Only you do, Hogarth," says Azrael with a laugh.
The laugh makes me blush, and before I know it I promise to bring lunch for us and then leave his office. Outside his office door I catch my composure. I've got the hint that I wanted. Something that indicated that Azrael may have liked me. And now I have it.
From that, I can't hold in a fluttery feeling in my chest. Going to my office, I keep it inside my chest for the morning. The work that Azrael allotted me yesterday has my attention for the morning, and I work through it.
Even if I do focus on the work in front of me, it's still difficult to do so. I keep drifting back to the moment when I was told that I was a favorite of Azrael's. It's obvious that he's single and if he doesn't meet that many people in a day to have difficult to choose a favorite from, then it makes me happy that I am the chosen one.
Around the time that lunch is promised, I go to the elevator and notice that Levi is not in his room. Perhaps he went to his own meeting, or went to grab lunch somewhere.
Taking the elevator downstairs, I go to the eleventh floor and pick up both my and Azrael's lunch. It's sandwiches with thick-cut potato fries. The fries have a nice brown color with plenty of salt and there's even a decent sized serving of salad with the entire thing. It's a healthy, good, delicious meal.
Going back up, I walk off the elevator and head to the office at the end of the short hall that isn't mine. Knocking, I enter after bided to.
Inside, there a bit more papers than earlier when I came in here in the morning. Azrael must've gotten them ready for the afternoon. Music from his computer also plays, and I'm reminded of the piano performance he did. He really must be getting back into his hobby of music, not that I'm complaining. I don't know if it's just me, but his taste seems to be somewhat solemn music. The one he plays now has deep and plucking noises from an instrument I don't know, but sounds rather European. Not that anything European is bad, it's just rather new to me.
But in the office where it plays, it gives a calming and ambient affect. It calms one and eases the shoulders back. Azrael choosing to play this when working is a good idea, though some would say it makes you sleepy. In his case though, it certainly works.
I walk closer and I notice that Azrael is looking at his computer and at a calendar specifically. There are three monitors, one with the calendar. One of the other two has an email open and the other has what I catch as a a picture of a family. But as I approach Azrael's chair turns and the backrest hides that last one.
"Is that lunch?" asks Azrael as he nods to what I carry.
"It is," I say as I set one down for him, "it looks good enough to die for."
"It certainly does," agrees Azrael, but his brow is knitted together as he looks over his shoulder at the computer screen.
"Is there something wrong?" I ask as his face that's turned away still tells me he's troubled.
He looks back around and talks to me, saying, "It's not an issue. At least, not one we should worry about now."
"Does it have to do with the meeting today?" I ask curiously.
"Oh, no. Not at all," replies Azrael, "just a more...closer issue."
He looks over at his computer once more before looking back at me.
"I'll talk to you about it later. Don't worry about it. I'll let you go back to your office to eat lunch, and then we can get going to that meeting."
"Okay. I'll see you in a few minutes," I say.
It might seem that he's dismissing me, but it's just him telling me to go and get ready. And the only reason that I would think that he's dismissing me is that I usually am here when I eat lunch. I eat in my office, but maybe I do want to eat here.
But that's not what our status is. We're not together and only as a favorite of Azrael's can I say that I am close to him. But not as anything more than that. Even if I want to change that, the current format doesn't change.
So I go out of his office and head to my own room where I eat a lonely meal. It's not a bad meal, but it certainly is not the best. I don't like eating alone and I tend to prefer more people around. I want a certain person around now though.
After finishing my lunch, I wait for Azrael to come pick me up from my office and go to the meeting. he does, and we head down to the underground parking lot. Apparently Azrael has a driver, and I recall that he said something about that before.
It pulls up and we get in to head to our destination. The driver Azrael calls Chad, and asks to be taken where we need to. After Chad nods Azrael sits back in his chair and stares out the window where he sits.
The weather of today actually is rather grey. Thick clouds cover every inch of the sky and darker spots exist as well as lighter spots. But most is a grey that reflects on the concrete sidewalks and buildings. Even the buildings made in brick are less vibrant and tend toward more darker colors. All in all there's more dreary colors everywhere.
Driving more, I recall that the place that we wanted to go to, and the appointment we had, was about forty minutes away. In fact, the drive takes us along the river a bit north, even more north than the capital, if I recall correctly.
"I think," says Azrael who was quiet until now, "that because today our meeting is far away, and might take some time, I'll treat you to dinner as well."
"Oh," I say as I feel still surprised that he's talking all the sudden, "I'm grateful."
"It won't be much," says Azrael, "just a meal at a restaurant on the way home."
"I'm grateful for that," I say again.
Azrael smiles then goes back to looking out the window. I can't face away from him.
Usually he sits in his office chair ramrod straight and works tirelessly. Ever so often he's tired so he slumps in his chair as he rests at work. But now, in this backseat of a car, he sits relaxed. There's a difference between relaxed and resting. Right now, he's relaxed.
Maybe because the environment of a car is not a place he can work, and so he has no choice but to ease his shoulders. That condition does seem to make Azrael uncomfortable, to not work, but he does look comfortable relaxing.
I notice his hand sitting placidly and think that if I could hold it, in any situation, maybe he would be more relaxed. And I want to be a person that could relax him by doing that tiny action. Of holding his hand.
Driving more, we arrive at the building that is the place for the meeting.
After leaving the car, we go up to the doors of the building. The sun behind the clouds has started to set and the day is turning to evening quickly. The clouds above probably rain soon.
But, I can spend some time with Azrael. And he even promised dinner. I can be with him.