Substitute for Lawson

8

Emily did not realize at first that she could fall asleep. She was not going to spend the night at the sick deputy, she only wanted to wait for him to wake up and go home, but only ... She opened her eyes when the bright morning light was beating through the window. At first she was frightened by the situation, because this was clearly not her bedroom, but when she came to her senses that she fell asleep under a TV show in her boss's living room, but this is not a living room at all and, it seems, thank God, not Damian Lawrence's bedroom ... Guest? Exactly, she was cleaning up here! Nearby on the nightstand was her phone, and as soon as she reached for it to see the time, she gasped in horror and immediately jumped in bed.

- Cheeeert, - the girl howled and clutching her head ran out into the corridor, and then into the living room. Even if yesterday she was sent on a kind of task outside the office, today no one canceled the fact that she should be present at the workplace, but the clock showed noon. Not knowing what to do next, the girl rushed to the bathtub, where her dirty things lay on the washing machine. Pancake! She forgot to wash them! With a resigned sigh, she went back into the living room and finally remembered that it was necessary to check the well-being of Mr. Lawsen. This very boss, as it turned out, was dozing right in front of her nose, on the sofa. Wrapped in a warm blanket as if in a cocoon, the man put his elbow under his head and winced a little in his sleep, and coughed from time to time. The TV worked all this time, and there was an empty glass on the table, which the girl did not remember before. Did you take it yourself? Woke up? Coming closer, she involuntarily examined him and caught herself thinking that in this form he was even more attractive than at work, she was embarrassed. Such a calm expression on his face, slightly parted lips in a dream, hands ... Anyway, it's so strange, is this his magic? Maybe he bewitches all girls like that? She not confidently pulls her hand to his forehead and after a moment touches, measuring the temperature by touch. Slightly damp and warm, but this is no longer so bad, because yesterday he was terrified by his condition ...

- Maybe we should wake him up and try to feed him this time? - She quietly muttered and removing her hand from someone else's forehead, she straightened. She looked thoughtfully towards the kitchen, but as soon as she was about to run into it, she gasped.

- Where are you going? - The sleeping man croaked, grabbing the girl by the very palm that was recently on his forehead.

- Oh ... - She gasped in fright and touched her chest with her hand. - Mr. Lowsen ... you scared me ...

“You scared me when you touched me,” he frowns and takes a sitting position. - This ... Warm up the food ... - Awkwardly he adds when he sees the girl's questioning look. - You seemed to be bringing something there ...

- You refused to eat it !. Emily chuckles and crosses her arms.

- I'm hungry, now! So I can even eat your poison, come on. This is your chance to get even with me. Damian claps and sits down more comfortably on the couch.

- I need to go to work, otherwise they will be fired for absenteeism. - The girl mumbles, but she herself has no idea what she will wear to work. The clothes have been dirty until now. - Although, who will fire me? You are here. - She scoffs, she herself does not believe that she says something like that.

- I already called the office, so count on work you came on time, - coughs again and frowns. - You are at my disposal for the entire sick leave. - the man says this with such ease that Amy's eyes just go to her forehead from shock. She stares at him in amazement while the patient himself, as if nothing had happened, switches channels. - handsome, right? - Due to coughing, the voice is very hoarse, giving even some more attractiveness, and it seems that the girl unconsciously notices this.

- What? - She does not understand, and shudders meeting the chief's gaze.

- Well, you just look at me like you want to wipe the hole. Should I be worried?

- What more! - She snorts indignantly and, undermining from her seat, goes to the kitchen.

- And bring tea too! I like it! - He wheezes after her looking out from behind the back of the sofa.

The girl set the table pretty quickly. While she fussed with the plates and even managed to find something in the refrigerator and cook extra, Damian watched her idly. At first it seemed funny to him and the TV was no longer as interested in as this awkward girl. He soon got tired of looking out from the back of the sofa, so with slow steps he was getting closer to the kitchen, and later he sat down completely at the table, watching the girl serve it. I wanted to make fun of, and say something caustic about the food, but its delicious smell spread throughout the apartment.

“Bon appetit,” the girl muttered, placing a bowl of broth in front of the man. - And before that, take your medicine. - Almost forgetting, she added and then poured water from a decanter into a glass. Damian faced at least three capsules that needed to be swallowed.

- You really decided to poison me?

- It was prescribed by the doctor, - the girl crossed her arms in displeasure. Why picky.

- What other doctor? - He squinted incredulously.

- Your temperature was almost forty! - From stupid questions, the girl herself was thtova flare up. - I called the doctor! He gave you an injection and prescribed medication! What else is not clear?

There was an awkward silence. Now he understands why he does not continue to die today. This girl really helped him. Emily was about to go far away so as not to be an eyesore, but Lawsen stopped her by grabbing her by the elbow.

- You won't eat?

- I? - Because of awkwardness, she forgot about hunger. At this moment, her stomach makes a pitiful sound, to which Damian reacts funny, somehow kindly grinning.

- Stop pretending to be a lamb. Sit down. - Pushes her onto the adjacent, on the right side of him, chair. She obediently sits, but does not get further than this. He folds his hands in his lap and stares at the cooked meat she brought in yesterday. - Why froze? Bring yourself your cutlery and eat, or I'll eat it all alone. - Out of habit, he gets annoyed when he sees that Emily really does not like him, since she behaves like this.

When she gets up from the table, he habitually follows her with a look. Most recently, he could not even imagine that he could lend his T-shirt to someone, and even more so, as it turned out, his beloved. Now Amy fluttered in it around his apartment with her hair pulled back, bare heels and it was somehow strange. Isn't this the example that Damian has been jealous of lately, repeating in his head like a little boy: “I want it too! Why does he have, but I do not ?! ". It’s like a car of the latest model that came out from a best friend, and you gritting your teeth pretend that you are happy for him, and you do not need this at all, but as soon as you get home, you fall on the floor and, in hysterics, ask your own toy mom. If Damian had done that now, his mother would have offered him a dozen of "high-tech toys of the new generation" with a snap of her fingers, and God forbid to mention it. Now he is able to take care of all the expenses for toys himself, but as it turned out, the choice is so great that you simply cannot understand what you really need.

Having landed at the same place, the girl awkwardly took a fork in her hands and started eating. She tasted the same meat first.

- How delicious! - She exclaimed and could not contain her admiration.

Damian, while drinking in small sips of hot broth from a bowl, stared at the girl in surprise. Her reaction seemed pretty sweet to him.

“Mrs. Aaron always cooks amazingly,” he grunted, squinting contentedly at the spreading heat in his stomach.

- Oh, exactly! Alice called this ...

- This is the housekeeper of their family, - the guy interrupted her and himself pricked a small piece on a fork.

“How did you know that I brought her food?”

- Well, yesterday you yourself said that you didn’t cook it, so after trying it, I recognized her handwriting. - He mumbled and quickly chopped the next larger piece.

- Hey! - Emily is very indignant when she sees all the same drugs and a glass of water. - You haven't taken your medicine! Put the fork down fast!

- Then I'll drink! - Damian snorts, actively eating meat.

- Not! It is written there before meals! - The girl is protesting.

- Well, this is not the last time I eat, - he calmly shrugs, starting to other snacks. “You’re going to eat too, otherwise I’ll leave you nothing while you chat.”

***

Damian was being friendlier today than they usually were, so it was a little alarming. He usually considered her a mumble, which was not capable of much, and then suddenly nothing, turned out to be a man. Maybe it still turned out to be justified in his eyes? The girl did not know this, but she wanted to think that everything worked out.

- I called a taxi for you, so you can go home. - By evening, the guy felt even better, but deciding to mess around citing illness, he turned on the Xbox. Without distraction, ONE NBA 2K17 played, and the girl who managed to clean up and even wash her clothes watched the entertainment of a big child, not with bored female absent-mindedness, but attentively, as if she was studying.

“Okay…” She nods awkwardly, but the thought arises in my head about how he did it? Does he know her address?

- I would have taken you myself, nooo ... - he pulls, but then the game suddenly ends for Emily, and Lawsen throws a quick glance at the girl.

- Yes, I did not consider such an option! - Immediately she blurts out, embarrassedly looking away. - Tomorrow what time?

- What time? Damian twitches his eyebrows in surprise.

- You said that I was at your disposal for the entire sick leave ... therefore ... - For some reason it is embarrassing to say something like that to her, her cheeks turn red, and her eyes dart about not knowing where to settle down.

- Do you think I'm going to sit at home for a long time? - He grins. - So, tomorrow at the office, by the beginning of the working day, and without delay. I'll check. - Gets up from the couch and puts the joystick on the coffee table, walks past Amy looking at him and deliberately flicks her on the nose. From such a suddenness, the girl freezes in one position, often blinking her eyes. The feeling that she really falls under the spell of this playboy.

She's still wearing his T-shirt, and when she gets out of the bath after changing into her clothes, she doesn't know what to do? Leave it like that? Or not ... Leaving it like that would be indecent.

- I will wash your football ku and I will return, - a taxi is waiting at the house, so she is already about to leave.

- No need, - Damian, who was in the kitchen before, comes out to her. In the hands of those same capsules and a glass of water. The man throws them into his mouth at once and sips it with water, throws his head back, swallowing, returns to his normal position and continues the thought. - After you, I will not wear it, so keep it for yourself. - He just shrugs, but the phrase “after you” gives the girl a strange feeling inside, offensive, stinging and unpleasant.

- After me? .. - She says sadly and, looking down, begins to put on her shoes. Damian catches sad notes in her phrase, so he is in a hurry to make excuses.

- Hey, I just ... this ... well, I never shared my T-shirts with anyone in my life, so you are the first one who lured her away from me, with what my beloved ... Therefore, if it happened, leave her to yourself ... - He confesses awkwardly. generating a new feeling in the girl.

After all this, Emily had a strange feeling. The girl smiled foolishly all the way to the house, clutched a paper bag with a trophy T-shirt in her hands, and she was somehow amused by Damian's last phrase, especially intonation, this lasted until the morning. She didn’t think that he could be quite normal, and it seems she would have to try hard not to fall under his spell as well as the others.

Damian, like Emily, was embarrassed all evening by a strange feeling, incomprehensible, but warming something inside. It was easier for the man in this regard and closer to the night it lagged behind him. Tomorrow he had a job waiting for him, which he could not miss for a long time. No, this was not because he was afraid of absenteeism or pay cuts, as was the case with full-time employees, just work, this was the only habit that developed over the years before becoming automatic.

***

Now Emily could easily go to work, which, in fact, was doing at the moment. The mood was good, despite the morning crush on the subway. Having passed through the turnstile, the girl was already heading for the elevator, when a voice called out to her:

- Emiliiii, - Alice chased after her. From the very parking lot, she could not catch up with her friend.

“Mrs. Kim,” Fox busily held out her hand as soon as the girl stopped beside her. For a couple of seconds, holding her gaze on her palms, Alice shakes her with the same businesslike air, and after a strange gesture, both begin to giggle.

- What are these maneuvers in the early morning? - All this time, Lucas was following. The man was a little jealous to watch as his wife left him alone in the parking lot and, without giving him a kiss before the work, ran after the new employee, with whom she managed to make friends.

As soon as the girls turned to his voice, they immediately noticed that he was not alone. Damian walked beside him. He could not be compared with the one that was at home yesterday. This is a completely different person. While he buried himself in his phone, Emily had time to glance over him: styled hair, bangs raised back, as if a suit was sewn on it, a brown leather case in hand.

- "My God" - flashed through the secretary's head, and swallowing, she seems to blush. Really, after yesterday's normal communication with him, she so dramatically changed her attitude towards him? Horrible.

- You need to know everything, - Alice grunted, provocatively showing her tongue to the general.

- Hello, - Emily responded politely after, addressing two of them at once.

“Good morning, Emily,” Lucas smiled politely back. But Damian said nothing. The young man was still digging something in his phone, from time to time he could not hold back a barely noticeable smile. Fox from the suspender watched him, perched beside him, the four of them were waiting for the elevator, and while Alice and her husband were talking about something, Emily could not take her eyes off the profile of her boss. Putting the phone in his pocket, the man cleared his throat and with peripheral vision, noticing a person standing next to him, turned.

“Good morning, Mr. Lowsen,” the girl greeted a little shyly and looked away.

“Good morning,” the wheeze still hadn't gone away, and it could be said at once by the voice.

- Mr. Lowsen, did you take those pills that the doctor prescribed for you? - Remembering yesterday's stubbornness of the man, Emily involuntarily began to worry.

- Pills? - He held out and, as if, remembering what she was, stared at the floor. - Oh yes ... tab ...

- Didn't drink. - Upset the girl stated

- How did you get home yesterday? - He immediately switched the topic, and before Emily had time to be indignant, the elevator doors opened, before they had to go inside.

- Don't shy away from the answer. - She muttered, standing next to the deputy.

- Why answer if you yourself gave the answer to your own question. So how did you get there? - Deftly retorted that.

Alice and Lucas, standing a little behind, looked at each other suspiciously. Some strange conversation was developing between the two, especially considering their relationship before.

- Fine.

The legal department was below the executive floors, so the girls got out first. Grabbing Emily by the elbow, Alice pulled her secretary behind her, and before the elevator doors closed, she gave her boss the same suspicious look.

- Well, tell me! - The wife of the general caught fire, glaring at the girl with her eyes.

- W-what to tell? - Emily was confused by such pressure and at the same time looked back at the employees passing by. It seems that less attention has begun to be paid to them.

- What happened yesterday? Did you prove to him that you are not a mumble? He has become quite friendly!

- Well ... - she hesitated. - I myself do not know ... It seems to be. Fox bites his lip in annoyance, but something inside keeps breaking out.

- You see now! Actually, Mr. Lowsen is not so bad, you just need to get to know him better.

- Have you slept? Or why did they start dating worse? Lucas asks mockingly as he walks out of the elevator after the deputy. It was a painfully suspicious conversation.

- What are you talking about? - He cleared his throat, raising one eyebrow in surprise.

- About you and the new one, - Lucas, as usual, throws his hand on his friend's shoulder and is already eager to know the details. Damian coughs back and looks at his friend in amazement.

- What?

- What? When I found out whom Alice had sent to you, I was even scared at first, I thought that everything, the girl would not return alive from your house, but now, she plays with her eyebrows spreading into a smile. - Did you take the pills? How did you get there yesterday? - Begins to mimic, crooked voice, and Damian in response, only rolls his eyes and clicks his tongue.

- Come on, - the deputy mutters. - There was nothing. She just helped me. The doctor seems to have called ...

- Yes, I know, she called Alice, - Lucas nods to the deputy.

- Hey, but that doesn't mean we had something. You know she's not my type. - Once again clinks and throws off his friend's hand, goes to the reception.

“But Mr. Lowsen, what about the pills? - Squeaky mimics Lucas Emily, thus annoying his friend even more.

- Mister General Director, do you need to work? - Frowns with displeasure and holding his hand to his throat is trying with all his might to make his voice as strict as possible, but it breaks into a wheeze.

***

- “Well, he didn’t take the pills… And he’s still sick,” the girl thought, sighing sadly. All day long she thought about Damian, who was still ill, who even managed to look at Alice a couple of times. She heard him coughing, and that made her even more worried. But why is she worried? Because he was okay then? Not kicked out, not rude?

The time was approaching lunchtime, and the girl, standing at the copier, was making photocopies and did not notice anything around.

- What a fool I am ... - she breathed out aloud, drawing the attention of some workers.

- Mr. Lowsen! - Exclaimed Briana, who was standing with her girlfriend nearby. From this disgusting voice, the girl instantly woke up and shuddered. Damian again. The man left the office of the head of the legal department and, having agreed something with the man, patted him on the shoulder. The blonde instantly covered the distance between them wagging her ass like a ponytail.

- "Here is a dog ..." - Amy followed her with a look and smiled bitterly. Damian smiled so flirtatiously at the girl.

“Hello Briana,” he replies politely, clasping his hands behind his back.

- Oh my god, what's wrong with your voice? So you are really very sick? Can I make you some tea? - She became sick, theatrically round her eyes.

- Everything is all right, do not worry ... - assured her boss, smiling even wider. He was probably flattered by this concern, although it was feigned, or most likely mercenary.

Biting her lip involuntarily, Emily sighed, and taking the stack of photocopies went to her waiting room. Away from here.

“Oh, Emily,” Alice came out of the office, quickly pulling on a beige cashmere coat. Throwing her leather backpack and long, checkered scarf on the sofa, she quickly buttoned up the buttons.

- Where are you going? Fox raises his eyebrows in surprise as he folds the paper into folders.

- Now it's lunchtime, you can be free, but I need to run ... There is something the nanny did not keep track of Mia and something happened to this little asshole ... Oh, - she sighs worriedly and looks in the mirror straightens her collar.

- What happened?

- I myself do not know, all that puffing Mrs. Aaron managed to lay out to me, who is already ready to put the nanny out of the gate ... Therefore, you need to go and sort things out ... - The girl chatters, wrapping a scarf around her neck and at the same time starting to talk on the phone. - Yes, Lou? No, I'm on my way ... No need, I'll figure it out myself.

Alice quickly leaves the reception room, first waving her hand to her subordinate-friend, and she sighs as she looks after her. So she will have to dine alone tonight.

Going into a small coffee shop, the girl breathed in the aroma of fresh rolls and ground coffee beans. Almost all the tables are occupied, so it seems that staying here will not work. Approaching the counter, she looks at today's menu, which was written on a black board with crayons: Americano; Mokachino; Cappuccino; Viennese coffee; Black tea with ginger, lemon and honey; ...

And why the latter caught her eye immediately. The girl involuntarily thought about this playboy.

“Girl,” the man behind the counter repeated several times.

- M? - She blinked, looking at the bartender.

- Have you chosen? - Vezhlhe inquired, smiling at her.

- I ... - I was a little confused, and looking around the board, finally said: - Mocachino, a few scones *, probably about six, two classic triangular sandwiches and black tea with ginger, lemon and honey, and take away please ...

“Of course, miss. - The man quickly wrote everything down. - Will you wait? He pointed to a newly vacated small table in the corner.

- Of course, - she nodded, and was about to go to the table, but the man called out to her.

- Miss, your name, please.

- Fox, - Emily smiled and, more quickly, went to the table, until only the incoming visitors could take it.

**

She had no idea how best to give her tea and buns to the boss, and a lot of doubts arose on this basis. Wouldn't it be better to transfer via Brittany? Or is he already having lunch with Lucas? Or, because of harm, he will not accept a small lunch.

The girl returned to the office and taking the elevator, wondering where to go first. No, she pressed the button for her floor, but she could have changed her mind, heading to the deputy floor.

“I’m looking at your boss, even though he has a cold, flies around the office today, like he’s stung in the ass,” the voice behind grins, and Emily involuntarily listens.

“Yeah,” an even more familiar voice sighs in response. It was Brittany. - Not controlled ... I didn't even go to dinner, he said that there were so many things to do that nothing would go down the throat ... - The girl complained slightly offensively. - He sent me to lunch and said that he did not need anything ...

- I wonder if there is such a girl who can pacify him? Mr. Lowsen is a terrible workaholic. - concluded her interlocutor and both sighed anxiously.

- "So he is in the office?" - The girl thought, and already leaving on her floor, she decided to undress and bring hot tea to the stubborn deputy.

Plucking up insolence and decisiveness, Emily went into the empty waiting room without knocking. As expected, the secretary went to lunch, and Damian's voice was heard from the office. The man appeared to be on the phone. When the girl knocked on the door, he only said with displeasure:

- Well, who else is there?

- May I come to you, Mr. Lowsen? She opened the door and peeked in half. If only he hadn't yelled ... The deputy was standing at the table and resting one hand on the tabletop, with the other holding the phone receiver and conducting a conversation with someone. At first, disgruntled Damian stared at the girl, but almost immediately his face softened and silently nodded, allowed to enter, continued to speak further.

“I’ll send a team of architects, yes…” He didn’t take his eyes off Emily, which embarrassed the poor secretary, who, having managed to blush like a tomato, fixed her eyes on her hands, in which she held a closed glass of tea and a paper bag with buns and a sandwich. - Well, in an hour and a half ... Yes, goodbye. - The man exhaled with relief and put the receiver back on the base. - Well? What? - He asked a little impatiently and cleared his throat out of habit.

- I ... - the girl breathed and decisively going to the table, handed the package and the glass to the man. - Have a drink!

- What is it? - The deputy raised his eyebrows. Is she back for her own? - Did my beloved friend send you again? He pointed suspiciously to the paper bag.

- Not…

- Brittany?

- Not…

- And ... - He had no more guesses.

- This is a healthy tea, drink it. Your throat will feel better. Emily repeated urgently. - I thought it would be helpful to you.

- And here ... - The young man smelled a pleasant smell coming from the package.

- These are buns, they are also delicious, believe me ... I heard that you were very busy today, so when I went to dinner, I bought you ... - How is she ashamed now, why is she doing this? Will he appreciate it?

- Yes? - Now he is very surprised. He did not expect the girl to take such persistent care of him. Even Brittany didn’t argue when he gave up lunch.

- Please eat this ... - Emily blurted out the last phrase and turned around, almost ran out of the office, leaving the boss with his mouth open, who did not have time to say anything more in response.

What a strange girl? Suddenly appeared, unexpectedly disappeared. The scent from the paper bag was really attractive. Out of curiosity, Damian opened the lid of the glass and, looking into it with his nose, felt the pleasant aroma of lemon, honey and something slightly spicy. Taking a small sip, his eyes narrowed contentedly as the drink dripped pleasantly down his cough-damaged throat.

- Thank you ... - Moving his gaze to the door, he grunted and almost immediately laughed, showing his teeth.