" Thank you, " she said while holding both boxes in her hand after they finished parking.
" No problem." Derek looked down with a small smile and scratched the back of his neck.
They stood like that for some seconds then Clara heaved a sigh and started walking forward. She was going to miss her colleagues.
He also followed her to the elevator and only turned back with a sigh after the door closed.
______
Meanwhile, inside the office, Carl looked at the time and frowned. It had been thirty minutes since she left. What was she doing? And why hadn't she returned?
He turned on the surveillance on his computer's screen and after some minutes, he spotted her coming out of the elevator with two boxes in her hands. Had she been packing those for thirty minutes? ' hehe ' She was obviously trying to evade him.
He chuckled then pressed the remote and watched as she comes inside with her head down, which he noticed she liked to do in his presence.
Clara felt another sense of anxiety as she entered the door with the boxes in her hands. She bit her lips while wondering where she was supposed to put them.
She glanced around, not knowing what she should do and also not daring to meet his gaze when she felt a towering figure in front of her.
Carl looked down at her astonished expression and took the boxes from her hands then walked to the couch nonchalantly and She quickly followed and stood by his side with a thumping heart.
He slowly opened both boxes and chuckled. . .all he could see inside was; a small pile of papers, two books, and her bag. Why would she put her bag inside a box? besides, all the things inside the boxes could fit into the bag. She was really trying to avoid him.
She watched with clammy hands and bit her lips as he unpacked the boxes, and after hearing him chuckle she knew her cover was blown.
He looked up and she quickly glanced away. ' what do I do, what do I do?' she cried inside, hoping that the ground would just open up and swallow her.
Carl stared at her nervous expression and his heart ached. Why was she so fearful of him?. " Sit, " he ordered and closed the boxes without putting back the bag.
" Huh?" Clara glanced up stupidly and thought she had heard him wrong. Did he just ask her to sit down?
" Sit down, " he repeated softly this time, not wanting to scare her further.
" Oh,..okay." she quickly nodded and sat down on the couch while keeping a very far distance from him, but his unique scent still wafted through her nose which made her calm down a little. ' what am I thinking? get a hold of yourself'. She chided inside while fiddling with the hem of her sleeve.
Carl sighed inside as he watched her shrinking away while trying to stay away from him until she reached the other end of the couch." Look at me, " he commanded in a low voice.
Clara's body stiffened and she slowly looked up. Their eyes met but she didn't dare to turn away again and her thoughts shouted 'danger' as she stared at his face and felt her cheeks heat up. " Get me the laptop." She heard him say, and quickly nodded her head then ran toward his desk and came back with the laptop.
" Here, S..sir." She placed it in front of him while wondering what he was about to do.
" Sit down, " Carl muttered and sighed inside again, seeing that he had so many things to take care of. He opened the laptop then started typing inside.
' Oh my God! ' Clara watched with wide eyes as his hands swiftly danced on the keyboard. ' Wow, this is crazy' her mouth dropped as she had never seen anyone typed so fast like that. Thankfully, his attention was focused on the computer, so he couldn't see her expression.
She admired his hands for a while before looking around the office which she didn't have a chance to gaze at, the first time she was here and early that morning.
The large floor-to-ceiling window was the first thing that caught her attention, then the desk that had documents piled up neatly, the water dispenser at the left side, a large flower vase, the printing and photocopying machines, another set of couches facing a large shelf and her eyes lit up at the sight of the many books on the shelf.' I wonder if there are any novels there.' she thought excitedly but instantly chided.' why would he have novels in his office, they are obviously business books, but what if there are also novels? hehehe.'.
Carl looked up and watched as her eyes wandered around. He saved the documents while wondering what was so interesting that she was engrossed in admiring the office. " Take, " he said and pushed the laptop toward her.
" Huh,? " Clara was broke out of her fantasy by his voice and remembered where she was. She looked down at the computer in front of her and frowned then took it. What am I suppose to do with it, did he want me to return it to the desk?
" Print it, " he muttered while frowning at her confused expression then sighed for the umpteenth time.
She nodded quickly and went toward the printer, and after printing the papers, she stapled them and came back to the couch, then sat down without waiting to be told again. " Here, S..sir, " she said while extending her hands to give him the document.
" Read it." He pushed the paper back to her then stood up and came back shortly after with a pen, and a smirk appeared on his face when he saw her expression.
When Clara took the papers, she thought it was some kind of work she was supposed to do. ' wait, a contract? how did he put up a contract in just a few minutes.' Her eyes and mouth were both agapae when she started reading the conditions.