The sign would say closed, but the door was wide open. There were a few boxes inside, but it seemed quiet. *** He went to his desk and sat down. "I'm alright. How are you?" *** She grinned. "We can go together!"
He frowned, stepping in hesitantly. "Hello...?" * * * "Me? I'm simply divine," she replied flatly. "You have three meetings scheduled today; one is at 9:45, one originally scheduled for 1:00, but I pushed it until 1:45 so you can have a full lunch, and a final one at 4:30. I will, of course, send you a reminder 30 minutes before. Besides from that, the expense reports are due from your workers today. You had three individuals who had not left them on my desk by the time I came in this morning. After I approached them and reminded them, all of them told me that they would be done within the hour." She glanced over her shoulder as one worker, a shy accountant from the third floor, scurried away from Beck's desk, leaving a stack of papers behind. She nodded primly before turning back to Levanin. "They have all delivered. You should be proud. You also have a haircut scheduled for 6:30 pm, so the company car will pick you up outside after your final meeting. Your week is looking fairly seamless; everyone has confirmed their appointments with you as of this morning, and I have arranged for the necessary room and car reservations. Also..." She took a sticky note off from her file, offering it to him. "Your mother called. She sends her love." * * * He seemed very pleased by this. "I was hoping you'd say that."
She came down the stairs hesitantly, peering down. "Hello?" She paused, tilting her head. "Oh. Hello. How come you're stopping by?" *** He nodded slowly, taking the sticky note with a frown. "Thank you, Beck. I appreciate it." *** She nodded. "Going anywhere specific?"
He hesitated, looking confused. “I don’t really know, to be honest. Are you okay?” *** Her eyebrow raised and she jotted something down, watching him. “Why are you frowning? Is there something unsatisfactory with my care?” *** “Work,” he said with a sigh, sagging as he spoke. “What about you?”
She frowned, not responding as she went to get another box. "I'm fine." *** "You have bruises," he pointed out. "Are you okay?" *** She shrugged. "Just looking. Where do you work?"
He hesitated, feeling even more like this wasn’t a good idea. “…yeah, I’m sure,“ he said dryly. “Are you not coming back to the office?“ *** She paused, looking down at her hand with something like disapproval. She pursed her lips before looking back up at him. “An unfortunate bowling incident,“ she said primly, offering him a file on the meetings he had for the day. *** “When I’m not painting, I’m a barista,” he told her.
He looked down at her boxes with a frown, not meeting his gaze momentarily. It would be hard to catch, but a hint of sadness washed over her. She looked back up, the cheerful look returning. "I'll be back in tomorrow. No need to worry." *** He gave a small nod, taking the file. "Very well. Thank you." *** She grinned. "Really? That's cute."
He frowned before rolling up his sleeves, stepping in. “Do you need help?” *** She nodded before stepping back from his desk. “Anything else I can help you with?” *** He rolled his eyes.
She looked back at him nervously. "It's a bit of a mess upstairs.." *** "No," he said. "That'll work for now." *** She leaned against his shoulder playfully. "I'm serious!"
“I would expect no less,“ he replied, fastening the buttons around his elbows. “Lead the way.“ *** She nodded, turning and heading back to her desk, holding her hand out in front of her slightly as she inspected it with a frown. *** He laughed slightly, nudging her back. “God, stop flirting with me!”
She hesitated, going upstairs. It wasn't too bad. It was mostly dusty and unused, but seemed like a quaint little area. *** He sat down as well, getting back to work with a frown. *** She grinned. "Maybe if you say please."
He looked around before turning to her, his face unreadable. "What first, boss?" * * * (Zoop?) * * * He sighed, shaking his head.
She looked a little surprised at him, but a small smile crept across her face. It was the first genuine one she would see. "Once all the boxes are up here, I have to sweep." *** (Yoop!) *** She laughed. "You didn't say it."
He glanced around before nodding. "Alright. Which boxes?" * * * That afternoon, minutes before Levanin went on his lunch break, Beck came to the door, knocking quietly. "I'm going to get a coffee from the cafe down the street," she told him. "Do you want anything?" * * * "I never am that polite to strangers."
She gestured to the staircase. "Downstairs." *** He looked up at her, tapping his pen. "Why don't I just join you?" *** "Wow. Bad manners," she teased.
He nodded before going back down the stairs to retrieve some of the boxes. * * * She looked slightly surprised by this, her head tilting curiously. "You're welcome to," she said after a moment. "I'll be back before your lunch break is over." * * * "I have immaculate manners. You're the one flirting."
She got the broom, propping it against the wall before going to help get the last boxes. *** He nodded, standing up and taking his coat. "Good. Then I don't have to worry about being late. Shall we?" *** She rolled her eyes playfully. "Whatever."
He was carrying three stacked on each other, meeting her halfway up the stairs. “These are the last ones. Head back up.” *** She considered him curiously before taking her trench coat, pulling it on. “Of course,” she said, slipping her hands in her pockets. “What are you going to get?” *** The subway screeched to a stop and he stood up, holding the rail. “Here we are...”
She tilted her head, going back up. "Thank you for your help.." *** "Just a coffee," he said easily, waiting for her before continuing. *** She got up as well, her gaze warm as she stood beside him.
“Sure,” he replied briskly, setting down the boxes. “You did buy me a shirt.” *** They got down to the street and Beck set out, her heels sharp against the sidewalk as she moved quickly. “They have a large line at this time of day,” she mused quietly. *** They got off the train with the crowd and Ben squinted over the people before quickly gesturing with his head. “This way,” he said, taking her hand and pulling her.
