Elliot's POV
I watched as her serious expression softened, a gentle smile slowly spreading across her face.
Should I be scared?
"So what is it going to be?" I asked. "Mmm?"
I feel bad for her.
She is obviously lonely and desperate for a friend.
Her loneliness might run so deep that she mistakes it for desire for me.
However, this newfound lust I have for her isn't going to last.
It's not fair for me to act on it.
It's not fair for her, Olivia, or Blake.
I need to suppress it because I know that it will pass.
Whatever is happening to me won't last long.
"Just treat me like a friend more than an employee," she said, the pity in her eyes raging. "At least for the remainder of this trip."
"I can do that," I nodded. "But as soon as things go back to normal when we return. Strictly business."
Her smile grew wider. "So does this mean I get to call you Elliot now?"
"You've been doing it all along so how can I stop you now?" I returned a smile to her.
Barry suddenly approached us with two plates of his delicious pizza.
"This one's for ya," he said, sliding mine in front of me. "And here's a special one for Missy."
She smiled as her eyes glanced over the enormous pizza in front of her.
Barry always gave good portions.
"Thanks, Barry," I said as I shook his hand.
"Anything for you, enjoy," he smiled before returning to the back.
I'd always made big donations here.
One year, he said I was the only reason they'd manage to stay open.
"I don't even think I can eat half of this," she muttered as her glance became more terrified than excited.
I laughed. "No one's forcing you to do that. Barry will just box it up for you."
"Okay?" I asked and she nodded. "Good, dig in."
She picked up a slice and took a bite of it.
I subconsciously held my breath as I waited for a response.
Her whole body froze.
"Come on, you're making me anxious. Is it good or not?"
She furrowed her eyebrows as she took another bite...then another...and another until the slice was gone.
"This," she picked up another slice. "This is like comfort food at its finest."
I finally let go of my breath as relief filled me.
"I told you it's good," I said as I picked up my slice.
"This place deserves more recognition," she said as she picked up her third slice.
Seeing her reach for that third slice made me genuinely happy.
More happy than I should be.
Finally, someone gave my favourite food a try.
I offered Olivia and Blake a chance here, but I got turned down.
Olivia claimed that it was nasty and Blake said the place was too lower classed for him.
She caught me staring at her for a little longer than I should have and embarrassment was all over her face.
She wiped her mouth and pushed away the plate.
I shook my head. "No, please continue. Don't make me stop you."
"It's fine," she said. "I shouldn't be eating so much anyway."
"What?" I asked. "Eat what you want."
She looked down. "I shouldn't. I become addicted to things so easily and it's hard for me to stop. If I continue, I'll eat this off in one sitting."
I pushed the plate towards her. "Eat."
She brushed away the hair out of her face before checking the time on her phone. "We should get going soon."
I picked up a slice of pizza and positioned it in front of her.
"It's your first time having this, you deserve to enjoy it."
"I-" she hesitated.
I gestured to the slice of pizza and when she didn't give in, I began to return the slice to the plate.
I won't force her.
She suddenly pulled my hand towards her and took a bite.
She then pushed my hand back. "No more."
I held in my smile as I nodded and returned the slice to its plate.
"I guess I'll take home yours and mine," I teased her as I motioned to Barry to bring a box. "Last chance."
She looked out of the window, refusing to take her leftovers.
As Barry brought the boxes, I pulled out my wallet. "How much do I owe ya?"
He shook his head. "How many times do I have to tell you, Mr. Elliot?"
He does this every time.
I pulled out a grand from my wallet and placed it in his hand. "I'll be back before I leave."
He pushed the money back. "Spend it on your lady."
"Barry," I sighed.
"Forget about it," he dismissed me as he walked away.
Stubborn old man.
She smiled as we got up.
"What are you smiling about?" I asked feeling pissed as I placed the money under the plates.
"Nothing," she shook her head. "I'm just glad you give to the humble."
I picked up the boxes before we began to make our exit. "Of course I do, they are the most deserving."
When I looked down at her, I noticed a brief gleam before it vanished.
I cleared my throat. "Blake requested that we review the financial statement for the last quarter. We can head back to my room and start it."
"Sure," she nodded.
I looked at the tight traffic on the road in front of us knowing that the driver would never reach here in time. "Wanna foot it?"
She looked at me surprised. "You, of all people, want to walk that far?"
I'm confused.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Because you're Elliot Harrington, the man who has been driven all his life."
I scoffed as we began walking in the direction of the hotel.
"That is not true," I told her. "I walk sometimes. We walked here."
"Sure," she said, not believing me.
"Don't act like you're not in the same boat as me," I defended myself. "You've probably only started driving yourself."
"That's so not true," she argued.
There is just something off about her.
No one I knew would say that.
She suddenly looked up at me, her mesmerizing eyes glued to mine.
There it was again.
A sudden flutter stirred in my stomach, like the gentle flapping of wings in a confined space.
I want her.
I want her so bad.
My eyes moved from her eyes to her alluring breasts.
Why do I keep doing this?
Get a hold of yourself, Elliot!
I snapped my head away.
I'm disgusting.
"Come on," I said as I hastened my steps.
She matched my pace. "Are you mad that I wasn't driven everywhere like you?"
I stayed quiet as I continued walking.
I wasn't mad. Well, not at her at least.
I might have been mad at myself for feeling the way that I did. I just need these feelings to go away.
Temptation, lust, all of them.
"Is that what you people get mad about?" she asked.
"Of course not," I told her. "I'm not mad and what do you mean by you people?"
"Wrong choice of words," she said. "It was a mistake."
My head was all over the place, so I believed her.
Maybe I shouldn't have.