He had been in this pose for a minute or two when he began to feel the hairs on the back of his neck prickling. He felt like he was being watched. Snapping his eyes open, he found himself gazing into the clear smiling eyes of the object of his thoughts.

 

A sharp look of surprise was quickly replaced by a tremulous smile that spread over his chirped lips.

 

“Here comes the one that troubleth Israel,” he murmured in a lazy drawl, the smile still working the corners of his mouth.

 

Bola, an exquisite dark-complexioned woman, did not smile. Instead, she looked at Shale steadily.

 

“Then I’d better go then.” With that, she swiveled round and proceeded to leave the office.

 

Shale was out of his chair instantly, the lethargy and despondency so apparent a minute ago, dissipating in an instant.

 

He caught up with her at the door and with a touch to her elbow, stopped her. They remained like that for a moment before he pressured her to turn around without giving up his space.

 

Bola’s hand brushed his shirt and she stood looking up into his eyes for a second.

 

 

Finally in what seemed like a gesture of extreme will, he stepped back.

 

“Come,” and she walked ahead of him. He kept stride with her. She walked mellifluously, with minimum fuss but exquisite elegance.

 

He held the lone chair before the desk for her. She sat down.

 

He was about to sit on the edge of the desk but for some reason changed his mind, went round his desk and lowered his bulk into the high swivel chair. Then he sat gazing at her.

 

She wanted to speak but he held up his hand and just continued to look at her with this wistful smile on his face.

 

Just let me enjoy you, his thoughts rang loud in his ears and he felt he had somehow spoken them out loud.

 

He cocked his head sideways as if he needed to check this new picture through some fresh unusual angle.

 

Then with his elbow on the desk, he sucked in some air and shut his eyes again, the riser of his palm covering one eye fully.

 

For some interminable seconds, there was utter silence. Then he felt soft fingers around his head and as they pressed, soon he felt the back of his head against soft soothing silk. When he opened his eyes, he found his head was pressed into her mid-section.

 

 

She got down on her haunches, beside his chair, and ever so gently guided his face to look at her. Their eyes remained locked for such a long time, it was like they had lost the capacity to talk.

 

“What do you want from me?”

 

“Specifically?”

 

She shrugged.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“You know what you are doing.”

 

“You said you didn’t care.”

 

“Never said that…”

 

“You said…”

 

“I didn’t care the way you wanted me to.”

 

“What’s the difference?”

 

She stood up and he looked after her. She leaned on the wall with her profile turned to him. Then as if it was too difficult to stay on her feet, she took the chair again. He was sad the object in the line of his vision had been limited.

 

Looking steadily at him, she smiled sardonically.

 

“You played me from the beginning.”

 

“Played you? What do you mean?”

 

“You asked me out and I declined.”

 

“For reasons we both know.”

 

“Those reasons still exist.”

 

“I know.”

 

“But you kept up the pressure, subtly, with texts, calls…”

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