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Thosepeople always have this oh-no look on their faces whenever they see me catching my breath. I don't even want to think of what they'd say if they ever find out I've never owned a Fitbit...or that I have the most embarrassing motive for taking a fake call every morning in the lobby.
My official reason for wanting to work in the Nox is because That Day made me realize my skills are a better fit in a preternatural setting. Myunofficialandrealreason for coming here, though?
It's all because of this article that described the Nox as having the highest concentration of preters aged 30-45 per square foot, and stats like that are a game changer for semi-wallflowers like me.
I'm neither shy nor awkward around men, but the one thing I'm grossly incapable of even at gunpoint is to make the first move.
Pathetic, I know, but that's just how it is, and that's why all I'm able to do is fake taking a call every morning in the lobby. It's my alibi for hanging around, since the more preters I cross paths with, the more chances I have of finding my fated mate.
A girl can always dream, even in her thirties, is what I always like to think.
But...since I'm also running a little late today, three minutes are all I can spare for my dreams of true love and happy-ever-afters, and then it's back to the daily grind.
As with most larger-than-large corporate spaces, your place in the social hierarchy is determined by which floor you get off...but since my department is just in 2/F, I don't even have an excuse to use the elevator, and I spy the usual faces turning their noses up when they see me heading for the stairwell.
Hmph!
It's moments like this I'm so incredibly tempted to let everyone know I've turned down the company's offer to have an office at 60/F.
"Wait up," a familiar voice calls out from behind, and I hold the door open until a pretty blonde with a messy-looking bun and the cutest toddler in her arms comes rushing in.
I squeal in delight as Toni's two-year-old son gives me a smile that shows off the adorable gap between his teeth. "Hello there, handsome."
"Hello, Godmother Geek." Colin beams at me as he says this, and I return his smile before glowering at his evil mom over his head. "You're such a bad influence on him!"
But Toni only laughs this off as we head up the stairs. "How was your weekend?" she asks. "Anything exciting that happened?"
"You've taught your son to call me a geek," I point out. "So do I really need to answer that?"
"Your fault," Toni chides. "You're the one who keeps saying no—"
"You know why." And she does, actually. Toni is the only person in this world who knows why I'm always idling around in the lobby each day, just like I'm the only person she's entrusted with the truth about her handsome little boy.
"All I'm asking you is to let me set you up with a blind date," Toni scoffs as we reach the landing on the second floor. "It's not like I'm asking you to marry the guy—-"
"I appreciate the offer, but thanks, but no thanks. I believe it's my destiny to have the most fantastic meet-cute—-" I place my hand over my heart with dramatic flair and ignore the way my friend is rolling her eyes. "—-which shall then end with me walking down the aisle to marry a big, bad wolf who's super hot, filthy rich, and able to shiftthisquick!"
Toni laughs as I snap my fingers for emphasis, and Colin is happy to giggle along with her even as he wriggles insistently until she finally sets him down.
"You and your preter fetish!"
"It's destiny," I insist on arguing, "not a predilection. Also, I have a plan—-"
"To stay single for the rest of your life, you mean?"
"I'm being patient," I defend.
"Or maybe you're just a coward," my friend retorts.
I let out a gasp. "How dare you—-"
Toni raises a brow.
"—-say the truth?"
We both crack up, and we're still laughing as I push the doors open to our floor—-
"Holy sheep," Toni squeaks out from behind.
