Austin couldn't exactly pinpoint when he started falling for Joy. Maybe there was a spark from their very first encounter. The energetic junior from college was undeniably charming.
However, after she joined the company, there was this inexplicable distance between them. She was naturally sociable with everyone else, throwing around high-fives and brotherly nicknames like they were going out of style. Yet, around him, she acted as if she had seen a ghost.
She was a quick learner, though. Over time, she mastered the art of being overtly flattering to his face while badmouthing him behind his back.
Tucked behind her computer monitor was an oversized pink Enter key cushion, a trendy office stress-reliever at the time, with almost everyone owning one. But Joy's had a twist - a photo of Austin with crudely drawn eyebrows and a cartoonish mustache, resembling something out of a comic strip. The photo was battered from countless hits, a testament to its frequent use.
Austin was well aware of this.
He was curious if he'd been too tough on her, which might have made her dislike him.
As years passed and wealth accumulated, life became increasingly mundane. But Joy, true to her name, was a beacon of laughter and light.
She was fascinating.
Austin really loved her out-of-the-box thinking and how she always came up with creative ideas out of the blue, which often led to big "aha!" moments.
He also watched as she navigated through a cringe-worthy romance, attempting to knit a scarf with awkward stitches only to give up halfway through the relationship. Perhaps it was then that Austin realized his feelings for her, allowing her into his personal space, enduring her tirades, and even letting her get the upper hand.
But he never anticipated being just another fish in her sea.
After thirty years of life, he was played by his own employee.
He had planned to cut his losses, yet, here he was, posting gym selfies at midnight to get her attention - a move that would have his friends mocking him for years. He engaged in all sorts of follies for her, including a flirtation that had no name.
She wanted to kiss him, even dared to grab his butt, but he couldn't figure out where her heart lay.
Originally, Austin intended to play the long game with her, waiting for her to come around. Perhaps it was the vulnerability that came with illness, but he didn't want to wait anymore.
When Joy woke up, she was met with Austin's gaze.
"Holy smokes, you freaked me out!" She recoiled instinctively, only for Austin to catch her, "Why are you staring at me like that in the middle of the night? It's creepy."
"You're supposed to be the second most beautiful woman around, right?" Austin teased, "Blinded by your beauty, that's all."
Despite knowing his smooth talk, Joy felt a flutter. Clearing her throat, she said, "Well, you're lucky. Not everyone gets to watch this beauty sleep."
Their foreheads touched, noses rubbed, creating a tension that Joy found hard to resist. She leaned in for a kiss.
Austin pulled back slightly, "Aren't you afraid of getting sick?"
"My immune system is freakishly strong." Joy pulled him closer by the collar.
Austin hesitated, but his resistance
was feeble. Her kiss broke through
his last shred of self-control, his hands weaving into her hair, pulling her closer.
Their kiss was reckless, passionate, igniting a flame of desire.
Perhaps it was the fever making him feel hotter, but Joy struggled to keep up, her breathing heavy and erratic. Just as she was about to touch him, Austin caught her hand and placed it on his backside.
"Go ahead," he said.
Generous, Joy thought.
Austin's hand slipped under her shirt, his touch as if igniting sparks, warming every inch of her.
Moving upwards, he unhooked her bra.
So much for generosity - he wanted his turn.
As his fingers brushed against her, Joy couldn't help but moan, curling her legs.
"Are you sick or just horny?" she joked.
Austin chuckled, continuing his caresses before fixing her shirt, withdrawing his hand.
"No protection," he said.
It felt like he had prepared a feast,
and just as she was ready to i he took it away, telling her,
cutlery today, you can't ea
Frustrated, Joy gritted her teeth, "If I were a murderer, you'd be dead by now."
Austin laughed, holding her from behind. Out of the blue, he said, "Joy, maybe it's time we ended this ambiguity between us."
Joy froze, a sour feeling of loss seeping through her, "You want to stop?"
"Yeah."
As she was about to unleash her anger, Austin quickly added, "Let's start dating instead."
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