Page 21 of All About Christmas
“But I thought you hated him!” whispers Noor excitedly as we walk back to the office.
The tapping of our heels echoes down the hallway.
We walk past several large grey doors with studio numbers hanging next to them in huge print.
Hanging from the rails above us are large, bright lights that make me glad there are no mirrors here.
I can only imagine what I look like now.
My lips still feel slightly swollen, and I frequently run my fingers through my hair to set it back into place.
“I do,” I hiss back. I’m confused. Very confused.
“Uh-huh,” she mutters incredulously. “Most people keep their tongue in their own mouth when they don’t like someone.” She looks ahead of her for a moment thoughtfully. “Well fine, at most they stick it out, but that doesn’t mean that they end up tongue wrestling with the other person.”
I pull a disgusted face. “When you say it like that, it sounds very dirty.”
“Look, I get what you see in him, you know,” Noor continues as she pushes open some swinging doors we have to pass through.
“He’s the personification of tall, dark, and handsome.
And when he looks at you like that with those dark eyes of his.
..” She stares dreamily ahead for a moment.
“But that’s not the point. The point is that you were making out with Olivier Wolfs.
You were just lectured by Tina about the rules of conduct only a few weeks ago. ”
“Ugh, I know! But this is the first time anything has actually happened between us.” I raise two fingers in the air. “Scout’s honor.”
“Hm. You were never a Scout.” Noor seems to seriously question my declaration for a moment, but then a mischievous grin appears on her face. “So… What was it like?”
I chuckle. Noor once worked at RTL Boulevard on a Blue Monday, and it shows. “Confusing. And surprising. And fun.”
Noor smiles and nods. “Yeah, I can relate to that.” She breathes a sigh as we step into the elevator.
“Look, I know what I just said about Tina and the rules of conduct and blah blah blah, but that ‘no dating co-workers’ rule was put in place after The Voice scandal. And let’s face it: they were mostly afraid Norbert would drag someone like Pippin into the elevator with him. ”
Startled, my head jerks in her direction. “What, Norbert and Pippin?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Noor hastens to say.
“The whole reason Pippin still gets away with everything is because he only goes after people in equivalent positions. He knows what he’s doing.
But that doesn’t have to be an issue for you guys.
In a few months, one of you will be gone.
” She presses the fourth-floor button. “So, if you feel like engaging in some unabashed tongue wars in the storeroom, on second thought, I really don’t see why that can’t be possible. ”
I chuckle. “Yes, if I don’t get that promotion, I’m out. But I’m not sure the same goes for Olivier.”
“Hm, I doubt he’d be interested in becoming an editorial assistant with his experience. Maybe his daddy will put him in another position.”
I study myself in the big mirror behind us and smooth down the last of my unruly hair before wiping away some lipstick near the edges of my mouth with my pinky finger.
I’m still stary-eyed from the intense kissing session, and the feeling of ladder steps pressing into my back lingers from when Olivier passionately pushed me against it.
“Yes, there’s a good chance,” I mutter as I touch my lips for a moment, thinking back to how they were glued to Olivier’s not five minutes ago.
My mind wanders for a moment to what might have happened if Noor hadn’t disturbed us, and something hungry tingles in my lower belly.
Something that cannot be satisfied with a bag of M “about bridge” is code language for kissing. Just as a few weeks ago, it was code language for blowjobs in the ladies’ toilets.
Somewhat perplexed, I turn back to Maggie and Olaf. Maggie has a smile on her face. She is stirring her cup of tea intently, even though there is no sugar in it at all.
“Handsome guy,” she says. “And how nice, bridge. That’s my favourite game.”