"A nice gesture or a regret"
Camilas POV
I get to the office earlier than usual. Not because of Sinclair. Not even a bit.
It's mostly because I couldn't sleep properly last night. Even though I had deleted the message. It kept flashing through my mind.
Now out of reflex, I double-check the locked doors. Watch my reflection in the mirror closely.
I am not being paranoid I tell myself, I am being careful. There is a difference.
But when I left the house this morning. I check the corners of the streets, take a different route, and walk briskly and when I walk through the office doors I scan the lobby, the elevator, and any face that doesn't look familiar.
I even glance occasionally over my shoulder.
The bakery was open on my way. I didn't plan to stop there. But the scones were warm and the coffee smelled like something that might distract me. I picked up two of each. Told myself they were both for me.
Sinclair is not around when I get back and I think of how I walked out yesterday. So I leave the coffee and scone on his desk. I leave no note, no gesture, or no explanation. Then I return to my office and sit down still feeling tense.
I keep expecting another message on my phone, any time my phone lights up from a notification. But it's just calendar reminders, emails or Sophie sending something dull and uninteresting. I try to keep my mind busy with reports, data, and numbers.
Sinclair arrives at exactly 8:12.
I hear him walk past. His footsteps, the door opens. I imagine his reaction when he sees what I left.
He says nothing, his office is still Silent.
Then at 8:30 he's standing at my door.
The coffee cup is in his hand, half empty.
He doesn't knock. He never knocks. He's just standing like he is waiting for something. I feel his gaze on me and I try to act like I am busy with something on the computer.
"You are early," he says.
"So are you"
He steps in casually.
"I don't like people touching my desk"
"I didn't touch your desk," I say. " I placed something on it"
"Hmmm, seems you are not here to charm anybody, Camilla."
"God, no," I say looking up at him.
"Sophie described you as… what's the word feisty"
I raise a brow. Why would Sophie be gossiping about me behind my back?
"Really?" I say
"Hmmmm, and I couldn't agree more" he takes a sip of the coffee. "I don't remember you being this mouthy when I first met you.. Oh wait … I do" he says referring to that day under the rain.
"Haha very funny," I say.
He's looking at me with a look in his eye. Like he's trying to read me or something.
"You can give me my scorn. If it offends you that much," I say
"I ate it"
For a moment the place is quiet, his eyes lock with mine and I am fighting the urge not to look down. Then the message flashes in my head again.
I look away.
"You didn't say anything yesterday," he says,
"Neither did you."
"You were out of line."
"You were worse."
He is leaning on the door frame, his legs crossed to one side.
"I don't regret what I said," I continue, "but I didn't like how the day ended."
"That's as close to an apology as I'll ever get from you, isn't it?"
"Probably."
He studies me for a while.
"You are exhausting," he says
"So are you" I reply
He stands there for a second. A grin playing on his lips. He straightens and then walks out. Doesn't say thank you.
I should have eaten my scone.
Sinclairs POV
She just walked out of my office, running through yesterday's reports and the deal with the investors from Mexico. She's reliable I must admit. More reliable than the last.
I glance at the coffee cup again. It's empty now.
The scone was good. Not that I will tell her that.
I lean back in my chair, my hand resting on my head. Looking at the door she just closed behind her.
She gets under my skin with that tone. The way she looks at me is like she's challenging me, even when she's doing something thoughtful.
Coffee and scorn and that's supposed to make me feel better after yesterday, like yesterday was not a big deal. Camila doesn't apologize, I have figured that out already.
I should have told her not to do it again, but I didn't.
She looked off today. Like she was on edge. Kept glancing at her phone, the window. Not that I care though.
I should have said thank you for the coffee but I am most definitely not going to. I lean forward and try to focus on my screen, the projections due tomorrow, but then her voice, his proud face, and her annoying tone linger in my head.
She's exhausting, really.
But for the first time in a long time, the office doesn't feel quite empty.