Page 4 of The Ending is the Best Part
‘Look, I’m sorry, okay, it was just a fall, I didn’t realise you cared that much.’ I punch his shoulder playfully.
‘Obviously I don’t, but I was just doing the gentlemanly thing.’
‘My apologies, Mr Woods,’ I say, bowing and doing my best Lizzy Bennett impression.
Whatever warmth was in his eyes is gone and we’re back to our usual dynamic.The unease is still there, settling heavy in my chest, but I try to push it aside.
‘You should’ve seen yourself as you were falling.I wish I could’ve taken a picture of it and made it into a meme.’ He lets out a belly laugh and my face burns hot.I do a double take because not only does this man practically never laugh, but, the one time he does, it’s at the expense of me and my clumsiness.
‘I’m surprised you even know what a meme is,’ I throw out.He stands over me where I’m still sprawled on the floor.I make a move to right myself, but a large hand appears in front of me.As if it’s second nature, my hand naturally slides into his.
I’m surprised by how easily he lifts me up to my feet, but I shouldn’t be really, judging by his toned arms.Which I definitely don’t ogle from time to time… For someone who claims that social media is making everyone too image-conscious and superficial, he sure does work outa lot.
I need to get my plan back on track.‘So, were you about to head off?’ I ask innocently.
‘Why?You gonna miss me, Yazza?’
‘No reason, just curious.’
‘I was actually about to head out, but good job I didn’t.Otherwise who would’ve come to your rescue?I’m pretty sure I just saved your life.’
‘Saved my life?’ I guffaw.I can’t believe the audacity of this man!Saved my life, my arse.
‘You’re welcome,’ he replies with a huff.
He strolls back to his desk, taking his sweet time.I sit back down and try to look busy until he leaves.Once he’s packed everything, I see him place his notebook in his desk drawer.The same one that he was scribbling in this morning.
Jackpot!Exactly what I’m after.I type away mindlessly until I see the heels of his scuffed sneaker disappear towards the elevators.Hmm, that’s kind of weird, he usually says some sort of farewell, aSayonara, sweetheartor something similarly condescending.Without giving it too much thought, I push myself from my desk and stride towards Xander’s desk.
I plop myself down in his chair and I’m hit with a waft of his signature cologne.I close my eyes and inhale deeply.For a second my mind flashes to earlier when I was on the floor and he was leaning over me with his hand waiting for me to grab it.
Suddenly, I hear a bang nearby.My eyes fly open and scan the room.My heart pounds in my chest.Maybe it’s the building security doing their nightly routine checks.I continue in my pursuit for his notebook.My hand goes to the handle of his desk drawer and it slides open easily.Look at that.Maybe fate is on my side after all.I start to rummage through, trying to keep everything in place.I find what I’m looking for and start to lift my hand out…
‘What are you doing?’ a deep voice echoes.
I make a weird squawking noise and drop the notebook, which falls back in the drawer with a loud thud.My gaze slowly moves up the figure of my rival until it lands on his amused expression.
Logically I know I’ve been caught and should just tell the truth, but I can’t stop the flow of nonsense that starts falling out of my mouth.
‘Yes, about that… I—well… I seem to have lost my phone!Yes, that’s it, I think you may have mistaken it for yours when you came over and “saved me” earlier.’
‘And you thought that it, what?Fell in my drawer…?’
‘Well, I couldn’t see it on your desk so naturally the next place to check would be your drawer.’ I manage a straight face but my heart is beating so fast it feels like it could explode.
‘So, you want me to believe that somehow I took your phone thinking it was mine, then I put the spare phone in my drawer and left it in the office overnight?’
When he puts it like that, it’s not as great as an excuse as I thought.
‘Yep, exactly.See, you can be smart when you want to be, Xander.’ I clap my hands together, then crane my head round as if I’m still searching.‘Oh, well, it seems like it’s not here.I’ll just head back over to my desk then.’
I start to get up but his response freezes me on the spot.
‘I mean all of that would make perfect sense… Except for the fact that your phone is right here.On your desk.’
‘Oh, would you look at that…’ A delirious laugh leaves me.I can’t bring myself to meet his eye.There’s quiet between us for too long, the only sound the hum of the fluorescent lights above.
‘Let me tell you what I think happened,’ he says finally.‘I think that you weren’t listening at this morning’s meeting with Meagan.And for some reason, you thought the best course of action would be to sneak around – terribly, might I add – and take the answer from my notes.’
