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As Mr. Argent went into his office, Malcolm introduced Candy and Paula. "I like your name," Paula told her, warming up to her quicker than most people, maybe because her name was Candy and she had hair that was half pink and half purple.
Candy noticed all the shopping bags. "What's all this?"
Malcolm told her, "We went out to lunch and on a shopping trip. Mr. Argent kind of insisted." At least the place where they had lunch wasn't as fancy as the last time.
"Argent took you to lunch and shopping? That's interesting," Candy said with an insinuating look on her face.
"It was for Paula. He thought she wasn't stocked up on toys and now we have Mr. Cloud and all this other stuff," Malcolm told her.
Now Paula showed Candy her new favorite toy and told her, "Mr. Cloud just like Mr. A."
"Mr. A?" Candy said.
"Mr. Argent," Malcolm said. "He gave her permission to call him that."
"Isn't he full of surprises all of a sudden?" Candy said and she was exactly right, but she was also suggesting that there was something going on between Malcolm and his boss and that was completely wrong. Not that Malcolm didn't have an occasional fantasy about him as anyone would if they had a boss as hot as him.
The fantasy he had last night was especially intense. He and Mr. Argent were doing it in this very office. Malcolm was remembering it a little too vividly and Candy had to punch his arm to bring him back to reality. "Where the hell were you?" she asked.
"Right here," he told her but omitted that in his imagination he was naked and on his knees, pleasuring his boss. Malcolm rubbed his arm, but actually he deserved to get punched. Getting carried away with that kind of fantasy was the last thing he needed in his life.
Chapter 4
Once again Malcolm had brought Paula to the office. Mr. Argent was already there and greeted them as Malcolm set up a small play area for Paula in the corner of his own office space, including some of the new toys from their shopping trip. "I'm calling this your coloring corner," Malcolm told Paula and she looked around at the space and nodded.
On second thought, Malcolm realized how that might sound to Mr. Argent, like he was going to keep bringing Paula to the office indefinitely. He quickly told him about his plans for today at least. "Paula will only have a half day at the office today. Candy's mom, Mona, is free to babysit her."
"Oh," Mr. Argent said and he seemed disappointed. Did he want to turn his office into daycare?
Mona arrived around noon to pick up Paula. "She is going to be in good hands," Mona reassured him.
"I guess it's obvious how much I worry," Malcolm said.
"You're a good uncle," Mona told him. "And Paula is going to help me make lunch and water my plants. Exciting stuff like that."
It might not be exciting, but Paula looked eager to help out. She waved as they left. Sitting at his desk and waving back, Malcolm couldn't believe how much he missed her already.
A little later, Mr. Argent stepped out of his office, sighed when he saw that Paula's corner was empty. "Malcolm, I'd like you to join me for lunch," he said.
Malcolm was so surprised at the invitation, he just gaped at him for a minute. But then he sobered, stopped imagining that his boss was asking him out on a date and reminded him, "Actually, you already have plans for lunch."
"With Warren," Mr. Argent said, so he hadn't forgotten. "I'd like you there as a buffer. Warren keeps trying to sell me on an investment I have not interest in, and having you there will keep him from pushing so hard. And keep me from having to end our friendship if he doesn't back off."
That was so far from a date. But as Malcolm agreed, he couldn't quite figure out if this was a business thing or a personal favor. Either way, it looked like he was off to be the third wheel.
That made him wonder again about Mr. Argent and Warren Thompson. Warren was gay, Malcolm had noticed him checking him out whenever he came by the office. Mr. Argent dated men, though no one seriously. They were both really good looking, Malcolm didn't know why he hated the thought of them together. Maybe it was because he didn't like Warren. It couldn't be because he was jealous.
At the restaurant, Malcolm and Mr. Argent were seated at a quiet corner table. The ambiance of the place was very corporate, like an extension of the office. That also applied to the conversation Malcolm was having with Mr. Argent. It was all business.
When Warren arrived, Malcolm clenched his teeth in annoyance at the intrusion, which was stupid. Malcolm might have been admiring his boss, getting hypnotized by the reflection of the restaurant window in his eyes, but Warren was the one Mr. Argent was having lunch with, not him. He needed to remember he was the third wheel, not Warren.
"Very nice to see you again, Malcolm," Warren said, extending his hand and holding his gaze just a little too long.
Malcolm caught himself wondering why couldn't Mr. Argent look at him like that. No, he couldn't even imagine that. Then Mr. Argent cleared his throat like he didn't approve.
"Someone is territorial," Warren said to Mr. Argent. "Maybe you want us to focus on an investment opportunity you can't pass up?"
"We should order," Mr. Argent said curtly.
