10

-Why didn't you go to lunch in the refectory? Don't tell me you don't even take five minutes for food and you stay here on lunch break?

His tone is neutral, without aggressiveness or nastiness at first sight. It's as if he really cares about the answer I'm going to give him. I remain on my guard all the same and answer politely:

-I couldn't stay late tonight, so I preferred not to waste time and quickly eat a sandwich here while moving forward on the Royal Beauty file. It doesn't bother me, I'm used to it.

In my old job, it was not uncommon for me to eat my lunch in a hurry on my desk to close some urgent files. My answer doesn't seem to satisfy him because his annoyed expression still reigns over his charismatic face.

- Take it easy, you won't be able to keep this pace indefinitely.

With these rather nice words, he turns on his heels and disappears down the halls, offering me the only view I've dreamed of seeing again since this morning. This unexpected visit destabilized me more than anything else. For once, I did not suffer any derogatory remarks, inappropriate comments or pressure, on the contrary. But that's exactly what worries me. I don't understand this turn of events and I have learned to be wary of this kind of man. He would no longer miss being whimsical!

Beyond his apparent "kindness", I am extremely troubled by all the sensations I felt in his presence. I have absolutely no idea why my body reacted the way it did when it arrived and to be honest it scares me. I did not feel the stress and anxiety that I usually feel in his presence. To this was added a certain feverishness and I was totally destabilized by this cocktail of disconcerting sensations. I absolutely have to change my mind! I go back to my seat and instead of continuing my market research, I decide to write to Big Brown Bear. As I take my phone in my hands, it begins to vibrate to announce the arrival of a new message.

Big brown bear: Hello my pretty, it's time for the lunch break?

I answer him immediately, so happy to have found a way to anesthetize my mind for a few moments.

Cancan09: Yes and no! I only take 5 minutes to quickly eat a bite in my office. No time to hang around in the refectory, I made good progress this morning, I would like to continue.

Big brown bear: Don't you think that's a lot anyway? Be careful you will quickly crack if you continue this rhythm. Give yourself at least an hour to breathe.

Cancan09: Don't worry about me, I'm a big girl! I'm leaving no later than 6 p.m. tonight.

Big Brown Bear: I'm serious. Have you seen how many hours you've done in 4 days already? It's way too much ! Please take care of yourself. And then, you have to be in good shape on Saturday to complete all my challenges...

Cancan09: Don't worry, I'll be fine... You're an angel for worrying about me!

Big brown bear: You don't think so well!

As I get that last message, Marina walks into the room with a steaming cup of tea in one hand and chocolate in the other hand. I'm really lucky to have come across such a nice and pleasant colleague. We spend the next fifteen minutes chatting and this little break definitely helps clear my head.

My working day ends around 6 p.m. after a studious and efficient afternoon. When I get behind the wheel of my car an hour earlier than every other night of the week, my smile does not leave my lips because I know that my evening will be perfect. I join Cass just before our dance class and when I walk up to her, her eyes widen and she opens her mouth wide. I don't immediately understand her reaction, until she exclaims:

"Oh the fuck, what have you done with my best friend?" Sunday I left my very wise and classic Candice and today I find a downright sexy hottie!

I literally burst out laughing at this spontaneous reaction, to say the least.

-I am not joking ! No, but have you seen yourself? You're downright insane in those clothes! I never want to see you again with your old clothes, understand?

-Yes mom ! I answer him ironically.

We head to the entrance of the dance hall to enjoy two hours of pure escape. This parenthesis does me a world of good and I am also delighted to share this moment with my best friend. At the end of the course, we head to my apartment for our weekly meal. Along the way, we stop to buy sushi and once we get home, we take a seat on my sofa as usual. We start chatting about this and that when Cass interrupts me by asking me:

- How are things going with your new boss? Is he still acting like an asshole or has he calmed down?

I thought about his question for a few seconds. Until yesterday I would have replied without hesitation that he is only a sadistic and disdainful macho, but his attitude at noon left me perplexed.

"Well, I don't really know what to say. In addition to having entrusted me with the most complicated case just to piss me off, he keeps making derogatory and inappropriate comments to me about my abilities and my clothing. I take a short break and then resume. But just now, he came to see me and he was rather pleasant. Nothing too extraordinary, but he advised me to spare myself a little. It's the first time he's spoken to me without being mean, it was... weird.

-Why weird? Maybe he's the kind of guy who wants to assert his authority from the start and now that he thinks the message has got through, he relaxes a bit.

-I do not know. I'll tell you something: I feel really uncomfortable in his presence. He makes me...febrile. It's really weird.

-Febrile? What are you telling me Candice? Do you have any views on your boss? Cass replies, opening her eyes wide.

-But not at all ! I rebel, do not say anything! It's just that it's destabilizing. You should see his look, his attitude, his tone when he talks to me...

-Describe it to me physically.

-He is tall. Very large. He has an impressive body. I swear, he's so tall and so muscular and so confusing with his deep voice and so charismatic with his destabilizing brown eyes and I'm not talking about his chest and his hands... you would see his hands! And...

-Ok, I understand, your boss is your fantasy. My Candice, just because he's attractive doesn't mean you have to fall under his spell. It's the worst idea you can have. So you forget about it right away, okay? Boss = don't touch!

I sigh before speaking again.

-Don't get any ideas Cass, yes he is really... fun to watch but that's it.

-I hope so ! Take care of yourself my Can-can, she told me with a warm smile on her lips.

- But what do you all have with this sentence today? Cass gives me a questioning look, prompting me to explain. Big Brown Bear wrote me exactly that sentence today.

My best friend straightens up, exclaiming:

- But tell me, you didn't tell me... where are you with your mysterious big owl thing?

Despite myself, I begin to blush. I'm always slightly embarrassed when I have to tell my romantic adventures, even if Cass knows everything about me. I start by mumbling:

-Uh... so... we wrote to each other this week and...

-Every day ? she interrupts me again.

-Um yes...

-Little rascal! Tell me everything !

-Well, we talk, we get to know each other, we talk about our daily lives and he makes me laugh a lot. He always puts everything into perspective and I really like our exchanges, I confess to him shyly.

- But that's great! And what is his name then?

-I still do not know ! He gave me until tomorrow night to guess his first name, otherwise I'll have to comply with his demands for 24 hours. I have already collected several pieces of information but all the proposals I sent to him are apparently inaccurate.

- Let me look, maybe I can help you? offers me Cassiopeia.

I then take out my phone and let him read our exchanges. On several occasions, she gives me intense looks, sometimes she starts laughing and ends up giving me my phone back, making proposals, unfortunately I have almost all already tried them. It is by re-reading our last messages that I have an illumination. But of course Candice, you have that damn first name! I'm gloating inside and can't wait to see his reaction when I shut him up with the correct answer. But in the meantime, I intend to make him languish until the last minute.

My best friend and I finish our meal while talking and then she decides to go home and I immediately rush to my phone to write to my stranger-not-so-unknown now. We exchange about ten messages without my revealing the result of my investigations. I too can be a player when I want.