Chapter 6

Chapter 6 — Lunch Break

Other than being easy on the eyes, Jason is also a pretty decent guy. Maybe it is only Liam, but it feels like maybe he is trying to flirt with him — Liam can't be entirely sure however since it has been a long while since he was single. Maybe Jason is just being polite since Liam's new to the office.

But the way he chuckles at every little thing Liam says (Liam knows he's not all that funny really), and how Jason keeps glancing at him every few seconds and paying full attention to him suggests otherwise. This strangely feels close to a date than a friendly lunch. Liam doesn't know what to think of it really.

His phone buzzes right when Jason starts to ask him yet another question and Liam would have been grateful if only the caller were someone else. It actually takes him a second to even realise that it's his boss, since he has saved his number as DICKFACE.

Liam doesn't want to be mad at his superior every second of their interaction of course, but the latter makes it almost impossible — even via a phone call.

He doesn't even bother with a Hello, and instead simply asks, very domineeringly, "Where are you?"

Liam checks the time; it's barely been twenty minutes since he left. He raises his eyebrows; he did not think he would be... done so fast.

"I'm on my lunch break,"

"Ten minutes should be more than enough for you. Bring me my lunch," and just like that, he ends the call.

Gaping, Liam brings his phone away from his phone and barely holds himself back from smashing the little thing — he reminds himself that it's his phone.

"Such a dickface,"

"Let me guess — Patterson?"

Only then Liam realises that he still has company and looks up guiltily — as much of a hardass his boss can be, Liam doesn't want to talk behind his back. That's not him either. And also, he doesn't know if he can trust this guy.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Jason reassures him as if having read Liam's mind.

He smiles back awkwardly and clasps his hands together, "I wish I could stay a little bit longer, but–," he points at his phone, grimacing, "–it's probably best I go right now,"

Jason nods emphatically, "Yeah, I understand. It was nice having lunch with you though,"

"You too," and maybe it's because Liam's mind is a little bit preoccupied with something else, the next words slip out of his mouth without much of a thought, "Do this again soon?" only then it registers in his mind what he's said and he looks up alarmed.

Shit.

However, even if Jason seems a little taken aback, a new smile blooms on his face, "Yeah, sure. I will like that, yeah,"

Liam definitely doesn't know what to think right then, but he is nodding back, mirroring the other man's smile, a fuzzy feeling starting at the bottom of his chest.

"So, I should go,"

Jason nods, "Bye then," but when Liam starts to leave, he stops him, "Uh, can I have your number?"

"Oh, yeah, yes, of course,"

They both exchange numbers and then bid their goodbyes once again before leaving. Liam decides although he doesn't quite know what to think of all this yet, he is not going to care about it because it's nice, this feeling inside him.

It slowly disappears as he approaches his office however, carrying his boss' lunch in his hand. Aaron has already called him two more times and Liam pointedly ignored his calls. At first, he was only planning to sprinkle some extra salt on his food, but no, he definitely deserves something more.

Liam remembers that he still has his dad's prescription for constipation in his car and does a quick stop by his car. He manages to sneak into the office kitchen without being spotted by his boss or anyone, and quietly takes out the laxative bottle. He scans the bottle for the dosage instructions when he hears someone coming in, and quickly hides it inside his pocket, pretending to be looking for a water bottle.

"Hey, Liam,"

It's Chloe. Liam smiles back at her, nodding.

"Lunch?" she asks pointing at the package in front of him.

"Oh, no. I just had mine. This is for the boss,"

She clicks her tongue in disapproval, crossing her arms across her chest, "He's sending you to get his lunch? Seriously?" she shakes her head, sighing, "I'll have a word with him,"

Chloe starts reaching for the plastic bags but Liam quickly intervenes, "Oh, no, no, no," that will ruin his plan completely, "It's fine. I got it. I'm just picking up a water bottle for him,"

Liam feels his neck starting to sweat and he is sure he will blurt out the truth of what he's planning to do if Chloe continues to talk to him.

"Oh, he prefers Coke. You can find them in the fridge," Chloe suggests before walking out.

Liam lets out a huge sigh, getting out a Coke can and then looking for a glass and finding a plastic cup. He takes out the laxative bottle and quickly scans for the instructions; it's stated that the dose is 5ml. Liam is not sure how much 5ml and so he pours what he thinks is 5ml and snickers to himself. Adding the beverage into the cup, he grabs a spoon and stirs it.

There's an underlying fear in him about the effects of the added laxatives but the unreasonable part of him wins ultimately. He heads to his boss' room and drops it on the table and then places the laxative-laced drink next to it.

"Took you long enough," he grumbles, reaching for the bag and taking out his sandwich.

Liam slowly scans around the room and notices that the woman from before is not there. He knows he should just ignore it and not say anything about it because he doesn't really care about it but for some reason it seems like his mouth has its own mind for the day.

"So, what happened to your private lunch? Finished so quick?"

"None of your business," he snaps, and quickly takes two bites of his sandwich, before opening the salad package that was meant for the woman. He looks up at Liam and scowls, "Are you going to stand and watch me while I eat? Is that what I've hired you for?"

Rolling his eyes, Liam takes his leave without saying anything. He's got his payback already anyway. He just has to be a little patient.

Liam keeps eyeing his boss from his table and lets out a small evil laugh as Aaron finally takes the Coke and drinks it all in one go with no any form of suspicion. And maybe Liam would have felt bad for him, but Aaron catches him looking and gives him a sharp look before closing the blinds.

Of course, Liam is not going to care about that man after that. He returns to his work after that and does it peacefully without any sort of interruption from his boss. He only comes out of his office at 2.55 pm, and even then, doesn't actually acknowledge his temp and walks straight, calling out:

"Let's go, Edwin is here,"

If his boss is expecting him to follow after him like a lost puppy, Liam can't wait to see his face when he realises how wrong he is. He simply continues typing away on his desktop and in the next two minutes, as he anticipates, his boss is at his desk, looking down at him, jaw set tight.

Liam looks up at with him with a bright smile, and clasps his hands together, as he asks in a chirpy voice because he very well knows it is only going to irritate the man further, "How may I help you, sir?"

Aaron closes his eyes, and pinches his nose, breathing heavily and then as calmly as he can, regards his new temp once again, "Will you please join the meeting in the conference room? And will you please take down some notes while you're there? It will be very helpful,"

Liam nods and stands up gathering his thing, "Yeah, of course. All you had to do was ask. Politely,"

By the way his boss' lips twitches, Liam can tell he very much wants to tells him off but is controlling himself. Instead, with a short huff, he turns around and walks away. Liam tails behind him, smiling to himself — ah, can this day get any better?

Turns out, it can.

Liam is introduced to Edwin — a man in his early forties, with quite pale skin and paler hair. Aaron looks very uncomfortable even before the meeting has started and his hand keeps rubbing his stomach. Liam tries very hard to not laugh out loud as he sets up the system and brings up the slideshow he has prepared. And just as the meeting starts, Aaron's stomach lets out a gurgle which is very much audible to those around him.

Almost everyone in the room looks at him, and he mouths an awkward sorry. Despite the conference room being air-conditioned, Aaron has already started sweating, and he has to discard of his jacket, unbuttoning the top of his shirt and the cuffs, rolling up his sleeves.

It is becoming so hard for Liam to not laugh that he has to mask his humour by coughing. Aaron eyes him suspiciously but doesn't say anything.

Aaron's stomach grumbles once again when Edwin is speaking but Aaron gestures at him to continue despite how flushed and in pain he looks. He's grimacing and lets out small hisses every once in a while, that Liam almost feels bad for him. But it's also extremely hilarious, as cruel as that sounds.

It's Aaron's turn to talk now, and as he stands up, another embarrassing grumble emanates from his stomach and followed by what very much sounds (and smells) like a fart.

Liam cheeks and throat very much start to hurt as well from trying not to laugh — if only he were alone right then, he is sure he would have doubled over and rolled on the floor laughing.

"Are you sure you're okay Aaron?" Edwin asks him, looking concerned.

"Hmm? Hmm," he nods, and rests a hand on his stomach, the other on the table — he can't even stand straight the poor thing. It takes him only a few more seconds to break, "Actually–," but before he's even completed his sentence, his eyes widen, and he quickly rushes out the door.

Edwin looks at Liam questioningly, and he feigns ignorance, shrugging, "Maybe it's indigestion," he suggests, clearing his throat.

The older man nods, and they wait for him. More than ten minutes pass, and Edwin starts checking the time impatiently.

Liam purses his lips — there's no way his boss is going to be able to continue the meeting anymore. Maybe he should have gotten his revenge when they didn't have a meeting, but it's too late now. What's done is done.

"Um, I'll go check on Mr Patterson," Liam says before walking out of the conference room and back to his boss' office.

He hears groans and whines coming from the direction of his private attached bathroom. Liam, chuckling to him under his breath, walks over and knocks on the door.

"Hey, you okay?"

"I think I'm dying," he groans out, panting, "Please call an ambulance,"

Liam rolls his eyes to himself, "I'm sure you're not dying — it's probably just food poisoning or something," he says, making sure to keep his voice steady, not giving himself off.

And also, he is maybe actually starting to feel bad for the man.

"No, I'm pretty sure I'm dying,"

"Mhmm, sure, sure," he nods, "I'll reschedule Edwin for you, okay," he informs him before leaving him alone to properly relieve him.

Liam doesn't want to stay there for all that anyways. His work is done for the day.

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a/n: sorry for the long wait... but you guys do know that you can get earlier access by subscribing to my bmac page, right? my updates are more regular on there. just saying.