" I didn't want anyone to know that we were into each other. I like being discreet on issues like this" Abbie said. She'd stood up from her table and walked to Nora's, still caring the flowers tenderly. Abbie waited for her to perch on the desk again before she spoke

"You're not a celebrity. I wonder why you're so keen on keeping your love life discreet".

" I just don't want the whole world to know that about me, there's too much people know about me"

" No one knows a thing about you, Abbie. More like you don't exist".

They laughed at the joke but Abbie sobered up immediately .

"Nora, I do like him but we're colleagues and I wouldn't want everyone to know I found love at work"

Nora couldn't hold back the laughter. She clutched her stomach and laughed hysterically. Abbie looked impatiently at her until she eventually quieted down.

"Abbie, _Nora began, keeping her hand on Abbie's th

Lennox said lamely. He was almost confused as he watched her and contemplated dropping the topic but he'd already started it and he must finish. Just what was she playing at? Pretending and lying to him that she was still with Hector when he knew that was a lie? Well, except Hector had lied to him. He looked at Nora again and concluded she was the liar of the two and so he said again.

"I thought you two broke up"

He was cautious. Her eyes were still sparking and her lips pressed together but she sighed and softened her facial expression, her eyelids dropped and her hands went to relax on her chin.

"Hector didn't tell me he was done with me _with us "

Lennox held himself from saying 'he did tell me just that'.

"Has he been taking your calls, then?"

He asked instead and she shook her head vigorously . It was largely unsettling to see her shake her head so fiercely. It threatened her 

Hector found that it was rewarding to spend all day immersed in work, refusing to think about the littlest things that bugged a person or give in to one's feeling of anger or pain. He sat there before his drawing board, Ignoring his buzzing phone. He'd since stopped checking who it was that called when he realized it was Nora calling over and over. She even sent a few texts messages which he also refused to open. His doorbell rang. He jumped. Suddenly conscious of himself. He hoped, as he walked to the door that it wasn't Nora. He was not sure what he'd do if it turned out to be her. He didn't know if he would slam the door in her face or usher her in, in his cheerful manner. He opened the door a crack, still indecisive of what he should do and met a smiling face at his doorstep.

"Hello, Hector"

Westmoreland greeted in his usual cheer and Hector's face which had previously been knotted

" I didn't want anyone to know that we were into each other. I like being discreet on issues like this" Abbie said. She'd stood up from her table and walked to Nora's, still caring the flowers tenderly. Abbie waited for her to perch on the desk again before she spoke

"You're not a celebrity. I wonder why you're so keen on keeping your love life discreet".

" I just don't want the whole world to know that about me, there's too much people know about me"

" No one knows a thing about you, Abbie. More like you don't exist".

They laughed at the joke but Abbie sobered up immediately .

"Nora, I do like him but we're colleagues and I wouldn't want everyone to know I found love at work"

Nora couldn't hold back the laughter. She clutched her stomach and laughed hysterically. Abbie looked impatiently at her until she eventually quieted down.

"Abbie, _Nora began, keeping her hand on Abbie's thigh.

_ you're an adult and there's nothing wrong with falling in love with someone at work. No one'

Chapter 17