To Color Your Life

Justin ate his pancake in two bites and began to eat the second one, "Have you changed your mind about lunch, Miss Hayes?"

"Uh, no," Emily caught herself and began to take her portion, "I'm just surprised. How did you do that?"

"Oh, it's very easy. I bought a ticket, then bought an envelope, put a ticket in that envelope-"

"No, I'm not talking about movies, Mr. Evans, but about this," she threw up her hands over the table, "Although it's also interesting about the envelope with the ticket. You surely know how to surprise."

"Ahaha, I'll take it as a compliment from your lips," Justin winked and sipped his juice. Emily noted that they have nearly identical dishes. Did he order it on purpose or does he like it too? What does this man like in general?

"In my work, the ability to surprise is the basis of success. So don't hesitate to take advantage of these opportunities. You have an unlimited subscription."

A piece of banana got stuck in the girl's throat. Translated from Evan's language, this means "I give myself into your unlimited possession" or what?

"The owner of these fast-food chains is a good friend of mine," Justin finally explained, "I just asked him for a VIP service."

Oh, now it's clear to whom he wrote the message some time ago. Emily could easily imagine the confused faces of the employees receiving an urgent order from the very top.

And she really wanted to watch the boss stand in a long line and make his way through packed tables with a tray in his hands. Eh, let's leave this fantasy (or torture) for the future.

"You thought of it well," she praised the man's quick wit, "But how did you know exactly when I'll be in the cafe. What if I came later?"

Evans shrugged, "And you did come later. I bought several tickets. And the barista just changed the envelopes."

"And you came to the beginning of each movie session?!" He's crazy! Who can think of such a thing? That's right - Justin Evans.

"Not at all," the boss snorted and set to work on his ice cream.

Emily breathed a sigh of relief. Evans was not completely crazy. This was reassuring. He did not look like a maniac stalker. On the other hand, there was some slight disappointment, as if the trick that struck you was now solved.

Well, common, she herself wanted the truth, so get it.

"Cafe's barista… Matt, is it? He called me when you left with the envelope." The magic wand has turned into an ordinary piece of wood. Poof! And the spell of magic dissipated.

Matt, damn you! And he didn't even hint at anything! I will veto trips to this coffee shop for a month! No. A month is a lot. For a week. Or three days.

"And if someone else sat down at the table?" Emily did not calm down.

Evans shrugged again as if he had not only plan B, but C and D and so on until the end of the alphabet.

"Then the waitress wouldn't put the envelope in there. And it would have waited for you. Are you upset?" the man raised his eyebrows, noticing the sad look of the girl.

Am I upset? Well... Yes, I am a little upset. It's sad when a miracle disappears before your eyes.

"It's okay, don't worry, Mr. Evans. I just haven't been feeling very well lately." Emily looked melancholically at the ice cream balls nearby. They have already begun to melt. Mmm, just a little more, and they will be the way she loves. Soft and delicate.

Evans took her wistful look in his own way, "Did something happen at work? Is anybody offending you?" the man's gaze became serious.

"No! Of course not! In my situation, unleashing conflicts is the last thing!" She jabbed a spoon over the cool dessert. A couple more minutes and she can start eating. Just have time to enjoy the show.

"In what situation?" the man asked apprehensively in his voice and took a sip of the juice.

Emily looked up at the boss with her clear eyes and with the most innocent look declared, "Mr. Evans, you can congratulate me, I happen to be pregnant!"

Justin choked on the juice and immediately changed his face. It was probably not very kind of her, but Emily felt inner gloating. The dragon was pleased.

"And who is the happy father?" he asked coolly. Oh, a little more, and the ice cream will freeze again - the temperature around has dropped so much. "Did your grandmother finally press you, and Kevin got his chance?"

The man clearly did not like this thought.

Emily's conscience pricked her. Just a little.

Evans put the cutlery on the table and stared at the girl. He waited for her answer, and Emily was playing for time.

"You."

"Me?!" Now the boss was not just surprised, but amazed.

"Well, yes, don't you know? Half the department whispers about it. Ah, there is still talk about how I injured you," Emily pointed to her lip, "When you refused to appoint me as your deputy. Or even transfer the magazine to my property."

The boss blinked twice, cut a piece of pancake, put it in his mouth. Chewed.

"Hmmm, a very curious version."

It was hard to tell from his face whether it was pleasing him or vice versa.

"Do you find this interesting? But what about the rumors and your so-called I-have-the-reputation?" Emily began eating ice cream, which had just come to the condition she needed.

Evans did the same. "I've got used to rumors for a long time, Miss Hayes. About whom and whatever the gossips are, they have only two features - they are either groundless," he seductively licked ice cream from a spoon and looked at the girl, "or they are confirmed. Both options suit me."

At that moment, the ice cream in Emily's mouth felt so sweet that it took her breath away. Damn, I need water!

She has already drunk her juice and there is nothing left.

"Here," the boss handed her his glass and the girl took a sip greedily.

Shameless bastard! Ha, both options suit him!

Justin Evans's face was so pleased that she wanted to splash the last of the juice right into him. Either he was encouraged by the prospect of the gossip "confirmation" process, or he was glad that Kevin didn't get lucky - Emily decided not to think about the reasons.

A child from the boss... Daaaaamn, where her violent fantasies were taking her. Another week of work in Pharaoh and such news, and she will be able to write her own love bestseller!

About some secretary or journalist who will come for an interview with the most eligible bachelor in the city. No, not the city, of the country!

"Thanks," Emily squeezed out of herself and handed the boss juice back to him. He twirled the glass in his hand and took a sip too.

Was it necessary to touch the glass in the same place where she just did it?!

"Mmm?"

"You have not answered my question."

"Which one, Miss Hayes?" Justin, unlike her, leaned back on the couch. His lazy posture resembled a well-fed cat basking in the sun. All that remained was to shake his tail with pleasure.

"Are you hitting on me?" How else to explain all this?!

Emily didn't like to beat around the bush. She also had no intention of pretending to be modest innocence.

Justin Evans was not a goldfish in a small aquarium that is touched through the glass. He was an unpredictable shark in the ocean, where the girl needed not only to stay afloat but also not to be eaten.

The boss put the last of the ice cream aside and smiled. The smile was so soft that Emily felt warmth envelop her, like a down blanket on a cool winter evening.

"What's it like, Miss Hayes?"

Emily couldn't hold back the corners of her lips from a return smile, "I would like to know, too," she whispered inaudibly. The heart in her chest pounded even harder than during a failed kiss in the movie.

Justin leaned forward and almost touched her palm on the table, "Emily, I-"

"My God, lookie who we have here! Has Justin Evans himself left the Olympus to pay a visit to us, mortals? What have you forgotten in this wretched cinema?" a loud female voice with a squeaky note made Emily flinch.

The busty brunette brazenly plopped down next to the man almost on his lap. A tight dress with a deep neckline left no room for fantasies.

Evans was no less surprised at this tactlessness than Emily.

The brunette cast an appraising glance at Hayes and smacked sarcastically, "Oh, Jussie, you're on the hunt, as I see. Have you decided to bullshit another naive bimbo?" the woman put her hand on the shoulders of the man and pressed her scarlet lips to his ear, "And how is she in bed? Better or worse than me?"

The nasty laugh of the brunette that followed after these words made Emily cringe as if a bunch of slugs had crawled over her skin.

What the hell is going on here?!