After Hours

Daria

I stared at the empty coffee cup on my table before looking out the window. The city’s night lights glowed outside my window, but my reflection stared back at me harder.

I checked my watch. 9:42 p.m.

“Perfect,” I muttered. “I’ve worked straight through dinner again.”

I pushed my chair back and stood. chair. I needed something to eat, maybe more coffee.

The hall outside my office was dark except for a few lights signifying that everyone had gone home hours ago, I thought.

I stepped out, my heels clicking in the silence as I walked to the lounge when a low voice startled me.

“Do you need something, Ms. Page?"

I turned sharply. Nate stood leaning against the doorframe of the printing room, jacket off and sleeves rolled to his forearms. My stomach flipped, the same irritating way it had when he first walked into my office.

“You scared me,” I said. “What are you doing here?”

“Waiting.”

“For what?”

“For you.”

I frowned. “Why?”

He walked toward me slowly, hands in pockets. “I don’t lea