"Nora you're going to be alone with him today at his house." Tina giggled. "I think he is into you and you Dumbo don't understand anything."
"Stop right there, I accept I'm a Dumbo in these cases. But that guy, interested in me? Dude your imagination is running wild, get hold of it. I'm gonna go now." Nora said.
"Just in case be careful. Okay? And if he really does confess to you, handle it like a mature. Don't run away."
"Oh shut up. Can't you think of something productive? Your mind is always filled up with this stuff." Nora rolled her eyes.
"Dear I am never wrong when it comes to relationships." Tina patted her shoulder.
Nora gave her a whatever-look and stepped out of the room, she hurried down the stairs and was soon out of the building. The message said, she was supposed to come at the Harbour Heaven building in downtown Sorane and wait. "What a good way to send an address." Nora sighed. She got into a taxi and headed to destination. It took her 20 minutes to reach downtown Sorane and another 20 minutes to look for Harbour Heaven.
She paid the driver and got off. The building seemed the tallest in the area, when she got in, she felt small. It looked like one of the luxury hotels, with a reception desk and a woman in a black dress was behind it and there was a waiting lounge too, where she was supposed to wait. She sat down on one of the plush sofas and took out her phone, it was already half past four. "Miss Nora?" A man called out from behind her. She turned her head, the man was huge with a big muscular build and was in a black suit, he looked like an FBI agent straight from an action movie. "Yes." She said.
"I am here to bring you to Mr. Osborne." The man gave a gentle smile. "Please this way." He motioned with his hand.
Nora followed him and they got into an elevator. He used a card key and the doors closed and the elevator started rising without stopping in the way. It came to a halt at the 30th floor, which was also the top floor, the door opened and the man stepped out, Nora followed him. They walked towards the door, he punched in the code on a screen beside the door and it clicked open. "Miss Nora, please." He motioned to door. Nora nodded and got in. He didn't enter but closed the door behind her.
She looked around, there wasn't anybody, she just stood at the closed door. "How long do you plan on standing there?" Luke looked at her from the first level.
"Oh, your house is beautiful." She said.
"Thank you." He came down the stairs and stood a few feet away from her. "Come on in." He said. She finally stepped away from the door and followed him in. He lead her to an open kitchen, which was modernly classy. "You want anything?" Luke said opening the fridge.
"Water is fine." Nora nodded.
"Okay. And please be free, make yourself comfortable."
She nodded. She put her bag on the dining table which was in front of open kitchen, then sat down on the bar stools at the breakfast bar. Luke passed her a glass of water and leaned on the counter in front of her, "Did you get lost?" He smirked.
She took a sip, then put down the glass, "No. Of course not." She nodded.
"You're lying. You got lost didn't you?" His smile grew bigger.
"So what if I did, but it wasn't my fault. The taxi driver got confused." She pouted.
"I knew that would happen. You want something to eat?"
"No I'm good."
"Then let's get down to work. The desktop's in the study. Come with me."
The study was spacious, with gray walls except for one which was white. The bookshelves took one of the walls and were stacked up. "There you go. That's my PC, it has the database, link it to my project." Luke said.
"I'm here to help you, not follow your orders. Say please." Nora growled. Luke sighed and looked down at her, "Please."
"Better." She moved to the desk and sat down on the big antique black leather chair behind it. It was too big. Luke let out a small chuckle. "What?" Nora blurted.
"Nothing, are your feet reaching the floor?" He asked laughing. Nora gave her cold stare, "You're an eyesore, get out."
"This my house." He said as a matter of fact.
"Then should I go?" She asked.
"Hmm, you're sly. No I'll go. Get down to work." He left the study, shutting the door behind him. Nora sprang out of the chair and started looking around, the study was contemporary, other than the desk and the shelves, it had two black leather chairs on the other side of the room, but these were modern unlike the other one, with a light gray circular rug beneath them. "Damn this guy's house..." She murmured and went back to the chair behind the desk and got to work.
***
"What are you doing?" Luke came back. "You're supposed to work." Nora was standing looking at the photographs on the white wall.
"The work's done, the database is uploading now. It will be over soon." She said, "Hey is this your graduation ceremony?" She pointed at one of them. Luke followed the direction of her hand, "Yes that was my graduation, that's the whole batch."
"Mr. James is in this one." She said happily.
"That was our computer science department." He moved and stood beside her.
"Is that George?" Nora pointed at one of the photographs. "What's wrong with his nose?"
"That one? He was stung by a wasp on his nose during the ceremony. Had to take a picture with him like that." He smirked.
"You have so many photos of your graduation day." She smiled. "Oh yes, when do you graduate with your masters?"
"A week after your second semester is over."
"Two and a half months plus a week. Not much time."
"Thanks for reminding." He said. "Come, eat something."
"Let me see if it's done." She walked to computer, "Yupe it's done, your project is ready. You can thank me if you want."
"I don't want to. Come outside now." He said and left the room.
"Damn this ungrateful person." Nora muttered and stomped out of the room.
When she got to kitchen he was facing the counter. She sat on the bar stool she sat on earlier, "You want any help?"
"No. It's done. Here you go." He placed a plate of sandwich in front of her. "Enjoy your meal."
"Grilled ham and cheese. It's my favourite, so it better be good." She looked at him. He shrugged, "Try it then."
Nora picked up a piece of sandwich and bit into it, "This tastes like home." She smiled.
"You want anything to drink? I think I might have some Sprite."
"I'll take it." She said. He took out a can out of the refrigerator, opened it up and placed it beside her plate.
"Thanks. You're not eating?" She said grabbing the can.
"No. I'm waiting for my coffee." He pointed at the coffee maker behind him on the counter.
"You sure?" She pushed the plate towards him a little.
He chuckled, "Yes I am. Go ahead and finish it up."