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So engrossed in each other and the kiss, neither of them heard Allee's door open. It was only when Gareth coughed gently that they realised that they were no longer alone, breaking the kiss, Allee flushing and unable to look at Gareth, Noah grinning sheepishly, his arm around Allee's shoulders.
“How about I go and collect someone to talk to while the two of you compose yourselves? I think I'll save our conversation for last, Noah. Allee, would you mind making me a tea, once you're ready?” Gareth soothed any sting to his words with a saucy wink before turning and walking away as if nothing had happened.
“Oops?” laughed Allee and Noah replied with a hard, quick kiss.
“I'll talk to you later, sweetheart. You'd better go and grab that tea while I head back to my desk.”
A couple of hours later, Gareth walked Charlie out of Allee's office, both of them laughing at some anecdote they had shared. Gareth unconsciously rubbed his stomach, and Allee noted he had not stopped for lunch, but then again, neither had she. Since she'd left Gareth and Darryl to converse in her office, she’d been busy in the conference room, rearranging it for the following day. The table was now along one wall, ready for the displays to be arranged on its surface. Banners hung along each wall, promoting Guardians III: Return of the Warrior. They had arrived the day before and depicted different character classes from the game. A podium stood at the opposite end of the room from the table, with a roll-down screen ready to project loops of in-game footage. Allee had hung additional banners in the foyer and displayed the limited-edition boxed packs containing signed games, figurines, soundtracks, and books containing concept artwork for the game. She kept one of these boxed sets for the office, put aside one each for the Leads as well as Craig and herself, and the rest went back to the conference room for the journalists. All they needed now were the information packs and the caterers who were due in the morning.
“Gareth, have you had lunch yet? I have worked up a bit of an appetite and was going to go and have lunch down at The Glen, if you'd care to join me? I'm combining business with pleasure, as that's where we'll be having the dinner and party Friday night, and I'm meeting with Annie Moyse, their Functions Manager, at three.”
“Lunch sounds delicious, although I still haven't spoken to everyone yet. I have yet to talk with Noah Bligh.”
“Everyone has knocked off for the day,” Allee nodded towards the mostly empty workspace. “So, if you're willing to talk with him while I'm there, he can always join us for lunch?”
Gareth looked at Allee for a moment, and then nodded. “Sounds like a plan! Should we all grab a cab?”
“Oh, no, it's not that far away. It's actually just across the road!”
“It sounds fantastic. I'll just use the men's room, and then I'll be ready to leave whenever you wish.”
Gareth walked to the toilets, and Allee went and tapped Noah on his shoulder. He looked up from his screen, and Allee could see that he was playing a game rather than being busy working on something. There was a stylised horn on screen, an image of a trap on the left, and a list of 'Catches' scrolling down on the right.
“What's that you're playing?”
Noah grimaced, a little embarrassed to have been caught playing a game rather than working.
“Oh, it's just an online game I've been playing for years...it's called Mousehunt. It's actually got quite a following worldwide.”
Allee grinned at Noah, enjoying teasing him.
“Well, if you've finished slacking off, Gareth and I would appreciate it if you'd join us at The Glen for lunch. Gareth is going to grill you as we eat. C'mon, we’ll meet you there!” Allee winked cheekily at Noah before turning away and sauntering back to her office to collect her things.
Fifteen minutes later, they were sitting down and ordering; Allee a chicken caesar salad with anchovies, Gareth the grilled barramundi, and Noah a medium-rare rump steak with pepper sauce. They chatted easily about the upcoming launch while waiting for their meals to arrive, and once they had their plates in front of them, the conversation tapered off as they ate. Once they had finished, Allee left Gareth and Noah talking about the game and went to find the Functions Manager. The two women spoke for about ten minutes, with Allee signing off on the menu and drink selections and establishing what time the festivities would need to come to an end. She arrived back to the table where Gareth and Noah were sitting, just in time to hear the tail-end of Gareth’s question.
“–to treat Allee as she deserves?”
“What was that about me, Gareth?”
Gareth had the decency to look a little discomforted at being overheard.
“I was simply asking Noah if he was going to be the person who would finally treat you as you deserve. You had the misfortune of meeting a man who was able to deceive and manipulate you in an abhorrent way, and I hope that Noah is exactly as he appears; a caring, upright, and a responsible young man who knows how to treat someone decently. From what I have seen and heard so far, I am hoping that Noah is the one to do that for you.”
“I do, and I try to show her that. Thank you for sending her here.”
Allee turned red in embarrassment. She appreciated how Gareth was looking out for her, but at the same time, she felt stifled. She had found her backbone, and now she wanted to show it to the world.
“There, now, I've embarrassed you, my dear. I do apologise. I think I will head back to my hotel room, and we will talk in the morning. Noah, it has been a pleasure, and thank you for that information. See you both tomorrow.”
With that, Gareth stood up and made his way to the front, where a taxi sat waiting in the cab rank. Allee looked at Noah and sent him a wink.
“Meet you over at my place?” she asked him coyly. Noah grinned and nodded.
Later, Allee met Noah in his car at the gate to her complex, and keyed him in. As she followed his car to her place, Allee frowned, deep in thought. Now that she had decided she wouldn't allow Stuart to dictate how she would live her life, she needed to re-evaluate some of her more recent decisions, Noah being the most important.
She was still frowning in deep thought as she joined Noah at her front door, and she missed the quizzical look he gave her. Beth would stay with Allee that night, but she wasn't due to arrive for another couple of hours.
“What is it? What are you thinking about?” Noah asked quietly. Allee looked up at him, tears shining in her eyes, a brilliant smile spreading across her face.
