Loving With A Heavy Heart 32 Afternoon Meeting 2

Elle tried her best to ignore their looks as she entered Adam's office. It was a large office, at least twice as large as her office at Tae. The far wall was made entirely of floor to ceiling windows. Although it was mid-autumn sunlight was still pouring in. Black sofas were arranged in a lounge area to one side of the office, and Adam sat behind a large dark wood desk at the other. Overall his office was decorated with a minimalistic and sleek design that Elle thought suited him very well.

"Have a seat." Adam said, getting up as he saw her come in. He pulled the contract out from his desk and joined her on the sofa.

As he approached her he realized she looked slightly pale, and her eyes had bags under them. "Are you okay?" He asked with a furrowed brow.

"I'm fine." Other then my tense nerves, Elle thought to herself sarcastically. "Why do you ask?"

"You seem tired." Adam murmured.

Elle flushed. Did she look that bad? She regretted that she hadn't applied any makeup before coming.

"I'm fine." She insisted. "I'm just in a bit of a hurry, I still have to go back to the company."

"Then let's keep it short. This is the contract." Adam said while handing her the thick doc.u.ment. "You can take a few days to read through it. Once you've signed it bring it back on a day where you have a few hours to spare and we can go through the details then."

Elle weighed the thick doc.u.ment in her hand. "That's all?" She asked.

"That's all." Adam confirmed. "You can take your time if you like. David will see you down once you're ready."

"In that case I'll leave now." Elle said while getting up. "I'll see you later sir."

"Sir?" Adam asked with a raised brow. "You were referring to me as Mr. Hayes just yesterday. Why the increase in formalities?"

"Yesterday we were acquaintances, but from today onwards you're my boss." Elle said with a smile. "I'll contact you once I've finished going through the contract."

Adam nodded but didn't say anything else as David escorted her out.

~~

When Elle finally got home that night she went straight to her room like always. She sat at her desk and pulled out the contract, finally having the time to go through it.

As she was reading there were three light taps at her door. She immediately recognized her father's knock. Sure enough, as she turned around her father was poking his head into her room.

"Still working?" He asked as he saw the paperwork in front of her.

"I'm just looking through some things." Elle answered cryptically.

"Did you eat yet?" He asked.

"Not yet."

"I had a dinner meeting at that ramen place we went to for your birthday last year. You really liked it right? I brought some home for you." He said as he placed the steaming hot bowl beside her. "Eat it while it's hot."

Elle frowned at the bowl as her father left the room. She hesitated for a moment, but then reached for the wooden chopsticks. She couldn't deny the food was good. It was hot, and fresh, and it warmed her heart.