A Code For Love Read Online Chapter 4 – I stood in the warm embrace of the shower, washing away the sticky residue of the coffee when my phone pulled me from my state of relaxation. Ignoring it, I continued to allow the spray to soothe my throbbing ear.
Somewhere in the collision with his rock-hard chest, I lost my earring, only realizing it was gone when I walked into my bathroom.
The calls continued, not even allowing a second between the next bout of rings. I leaned out of the shower, my wet hair and body soaking the tiled floor as I reached for my phone on the counter. Before I could even say hello, Linh’s voice came through.
“Naz! Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to get through to you.”
“I’m in the shower. Can I call you back?”
“No! My friend James works at this huge tech company and said they are looking for a software engineer. I told him my best friend is the best freaking software engineer in the country,”— I laughed at her exaggeration — “and told him about your app. He wants you to apply, so I gave him your phone number and email.”
“What? But I’m at Cypher. I can’t just quit.”
“You said it felt like your brain was rotting away. This is meant to be. What are the chances of me finding this job opening right after you told me you didn’t like your current one? Plus, your contract is temporary. Just try and get out of it,” she suggested. Her words left me speechless. How did she find out about Cypher being temporary? I made sure I hid the truth from everyone, including my best friend. “I know what you’re thinking, and yes,
I am mad at you for not telling me. I found out when you sent me your offer letter. I know you were stressed, so I’ve been trying to look out for you. The company is huge. He said it was called spec…spectacle or something?”
I almost fell out of the shower and onto the cold, wet tiles.
“Linh, do you mean Spectrum?” I asked slowly, my voice surprisingly calm for what was going on in my head. Spectrum was one of the largest New York-based technology companies, behind some of the largest app creations.
“Yeah, that’s the one! I told him to send you the application,” she paused, and I heard voices around her. “I have to go now. We’ll talk later.” She hung up before I could even process her words.
Cemented in place with my phone still pressed against my ear, I watched the shower steam cloud the bathroom. A text from a new number knocked me out of my trance. It was from James sending the job posting.
I felt trapped.
After signing the contracts with Cypher, I couldn’t quit now. This was a rare opportunity, but I couldn’t take it unless I wanted to face the repercussions.
At the time, the potential fine hadn’t even crossed my mind. Being offered a job in New York was the only thing I focused on. With my bank account drained, breaking my contract to apply for a job I may or may not get could leave me on the streets.
I finished showering and ran to my computer, still wrapped in my towel. I read the job listing, further prolonging my suffering. Pain ensued in my chest upon seeing the job description, outlining qualifications that I matched. I fell face-first onto my bed and screamed into my pillow.
Despite my sore throat and puffy eyes, I was in a good mood. I would finally talk to Sylvia about my app. Since I couldn’t apply for Spectrum, making Cypher my dream job was my mission. But when the elevator doors parted, the confident smile on my face evaporated.
Grey Sweats stood inside, typing on his phone, his shoulders stiff and face focused. Why was he always so tense? No wonder bumping into him felt like walking into a glacier. Instinctively, my hand went to the ear I spent all night icing, serving as an unwelcome and irritating reminder of the man standing in front of me now.
I slipped inside, hoping he wouldn’t look my way. When I went to press the button for the parking level, it was already illuminated. My brain spun from the knowledge that we were headed to the same floor. When the doors closed, I snuck a glance to take in his appearance. His charcoal grey suit looked sewn right onto his body. I could make out the curves of his biceps under the expensive material, an alarming reminder of how he looked without his shirt that night.
My face heated, and I glanced away before he had the chance to witness my creepy ogling. Perhaps he wouldn’t recognize me since the first time he saw me, I was wearing my pj’s, slick with moisturizer, and the second time, I was covered in coffee. Not a great disguise, but a bubble of hope rose in my chest at the possibility. I stuck as close to the opposite wall as I could and glanced at myself in the mirrored panel. My new get-up was a cream- coloured skirt and blazer. Hopefully, it would assimilate me into the ocean of beige at the office.
Counting down the seconds until I was free of this eternal elevator ride, I drilled holes into the digital clock. A long ten floors later, a man walked in. A very handsome man who was staring right at me. From one look at his dusty steel-toe boots and work pants, I knew he was in construction. His face was clean-shaven, and it did wonders for his chiseled features. The sharpness of his nose and jawline did not go unnoticed.
There was something about men in construction that made my pulse jump. The gruelling work and their strong, calloused hands made my body tingle.
Grey Sweats, on the other hand, hadn’t spared a glance at the man, still focused on his phone. The man pressed the button for the lobby and came to stand between us. Letting out a grateful breath for the new barrier, I rested my head against the wall.
When something touched my foot, I looked down to find a guest parking pass on the floor. It no doubt belonged to the construction man since this was the first time I had seen him in the building. Picking it up, I lightly tapped his shoulder.
“You dropped this.” I held up the pass for him to take, my voice intentionally low in hopes that Grey Sweats wouldn’t recognize it. The man’s mesmerizing green eyes met mine, and he smiled. I was taken aback by how his face transformed with it and almost forgot about the man on the other side of the elevator. Almost.
Unable to resist, I snuck a peek to my left to ensure he hadn’t noticed me. There was only so much you could miss in an eight-by-eight box.
To my dismay, hazel swirls stared back, studying my features tentatively. Then, as if something clicked, his brows rose, the realization evident. I averted my eyes so quickly, I was surprised when I didn’t snap my neck.
“I was supposed to give this back to my friend. He would have kicked my ass for losing this! Thank you,” said the man, pulling me out of my panic.
Grateful for his interruption, I smiled with a weak nod. I had no idea how to use my voice anymore. I took a deep breath, not wanting the eyes drilling holes into the side of my head to affect me. “No problem, I’m glad I saved you from an ass-kicking.”
His face broke out in a wide grin as he studied me, his head slightly tilting. “You don’t sound like a New Yorker. Are you from here?”
I let out a gasp, allowing my hand to land on my chest as I feigned offence. His brows shot up, worry replacing his smile. I couldn’t help but laugh at his alarm.
“I’m from Vancouver. How did you know? Did I forget to change my ‘I heart NY’ shirt?” I asked, pretending to panic, double-checking my outfit.
He let out a hearty laugh, looking genuinely amused by me. “It’s your smile. You look happy. No one in New York is happy at six a.m.”
I looked at him in disbelief, unsure if he was serious. “Shoot, so I’ve been doing it all wrong. I should have been scowling at every stranger I see?”
A scoff sounded from the opposite side of the elevator, and my eyes slid to Grey Sweats watching me with amused, focused interest. He tucked his phone in his pocket, crossing his arms and leaning back against the elevator wall, letting his eyes fixate on me.
“Yeah, but I like your smile better,” the construction man said, pulling my attention back to him. “How about, in exchange for a date, I’ll teach you the ways of a real New Yorker? Born and raised.”
I opened my mouth to respond, then closed it again. Entirely too stunned to speak. Was everyone in New York this forward?
The elevator stopped at another floor, and a few more people shuffled in, forcing us to squeeze further back. He dug into his bag and pulled out a white business card. “That’s my number if you want to take me up on the offer. My name is Nadir, by the way.” He held out his hand to me, and I timidly shook it.
“I’m Sarvenaz. Nice to meet you,” I said, finally finding my voice.
“Sarvenaz,” he repeated. “A beautiful name for an even more beautiful woman.”
A soft smile fell on my lips at his sweet words just as the elevator opened, and everyone but Grey Sweats and I exited.
“So, you are capable of being nice. Or is that only to people who ask you out?” A deep, accusing voice filled the empty elevator. Slowly, I turned to find dry amusement in his piercing eyes.
“Nope, just to everyone except you.” I shot him an unimpressed look.
The doors opened, and I hurried out as his soft chuckle followed me.
“See you around,” he dared to say. I would rather jump in a well than see him again. “Sarvenaz,” he finished, and I could hear the smirk in his voice.
I almost toppled over at the sound of my name on his lips. He said it perfectly, without butchering it as most people did, and for the first time ever, that irritated me. I spun around to aim my glare at him, only to find him already ducking into his car. Great, now he knows my name.
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