AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“To the previous section? Hmmm. That could work,” Neil said.
We had dedicated ourselves to working on the presentation for the past two weeks. The finance department had provided us with all the data. Neil’s job was to compile the information into a coherent story, and my job was to help organise his speaking notes and to make it look visually appealing. The stakes were high. We had to make a good impression at the meeting or a merger with Flerotech could go back on the table. The pressure was palpable, though Neil remained stoic.
On top of all that, I had my upcoming move to Neil’s apartment building playing on the back of my mind. My moving date was set for the Saturday after my return from Singapore. I was more than ready to leave my tiny studio behind.
Neil clicked through to the next slide. A spelling error jumped out at me straight away. “Oh, I see a typo.”
“Where?”
Both of us reached for the mouse, our hands colliding. My heart skipped a beat at the skin contact. I froze. After what felt like a protracted state of connection, Neil withdrew his hand, clearing his throat at the same time. A trace of his touch lingered on my skin, warm and sensitive.
“Go ahead,” Neil said, reminding me of the task at hand.
“Right.”
Where was I? Oh! The typo.
My hair fell into my eyes as I leaned in to fix the mistake. I tucked the stray strands behind my ears. My hair was getting long. I’d need to book a haircut soon if I wanted to maintain the bobbed style I preferred.
After correcting the error, I searched my pockets for a spare hair tie while Neil ran through his notes again, rehearsing his spiel. I found one and swept my hair into a ponytail. Neil’s voice trailed off, his eyes drifting from the screen to my exposed neck. He seemed captivated by something there. Wondering what it was, I touched the spot he was fixated on, but felt nothing but smooth skin. He continued to stare. My cheeks burned as self-consciousness set in. “Neil?”
“Hmm?” He lifted his gaze from my neck to my eyes, breaking free of whatever spell he was under. “Sorry. I lost my train of thought.” He glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned. “It’s late.”
I checked the time too and saw what he meant. It was almost half-past six in the evening. I had worked a full hour and a half overtime without realising it.
“You should go home,” Neil said. “You’ve done enough.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I can finish it this weekend.”
I would have gladly stayed up all night helping him, but telling him that would sound overeager. “Okay, thanks.” I stood up, getting ready to leave.
“Are you all sorted for Monday? Have you packed yet?”
“Not yet. Maybe I’ll do it tonight.”
“It will be hot and wet in Singapore. Keep that in mind.”
Hot and wet?
It took me a second to register his meaning. “I-I will.”
“Get a good sleep on Sunday night and don’t come in to work on Monday morning. Winston will pick you up from your building.”
“Got it.”
“Good night, Milly.”
The sound of my name from his lips reverberated through me. I still felt a little thrill of pleasure whenever he said it.
“Good night. See you on Monday.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Even the luxury of first class wasn’t enough to help me sleep on the flight, and I disembarked from the plane at Changi Airport exhausted. The arrival process passed in a blur. The next thing I knew, I was in the back of a cab next to Neil, leaving the airport behind. I gazed out the window, absorbing the unfamiliar sights, but my eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment, and soon I was struggling to stay awake. The gentle hum of the car’s engine and the warmth of Neil’s presence beside me lulled me into a drowsy haze, and I felt myself drifting off despite my best efforts to stay alert.
“Amelia,” Neil said.
