This story will be told from the POVs of the heroine and hero. I will indicate whose POV I'm writing in below the chapter title.
Chapter One (A)
Lola
Two ladies were walking side by side on a sidewalk, smiling for the camera. Beside them, there was a storefront with mannequins on display, and on the street to the right, behind, pedestrians were crossing at a crosswalk, almost obstructing from view a cab and a bus waiting for the green light. The ladies were wearing sunglasses, tank tops, bum shorts, and sandals. I shouldn’t have put this mag in my bag, Lola thought. Turning to the next page, she promised herself it will be the last.
The door swung open, and she almost pulled the mag down to her lap.
It was Jasmine. Her pewter-grey midi skirt fluttered as she walked swiftly to her desk holding some papers. After slipping them into a folder, she started toward Lola with a smile. It seems there’s good news, Lola leaned back, folded her arms, anticipating the words she would hear next. Reaching Lola’s desk, Jasmine rested her hands on it and said in a low voice, “One of the new hires is hot.”
“Really? I actually thought our raise has been approved.”
“He’s damn hot,” Jasmine said, “like the models in this magazine.” She turned it to her and started flipping the pages backward.
Is she pulling my leg? Isn’t “unattractiveness” one of the qualities the company looks for when hiring men in the IT Department?
“Look! He kind of resembles this guy, but he’s sexier.” She turned the magazine to Lola.
The model Jasmine’s finger was resting on had hazel eyes, scruffy stubble on a strong jaw, six-pack abs, seemed tall, and he was handsome as hell.
“You mean he’s more...”
“He is. His name is William.”
Lola closed the mag. “Do you like him?” she asked Jasmine.
Jasmine blushed and moved her hand through her hair. “I fantasize about men like him sometimes, but I still like David.”
Lola imagined herself in the arms of a hot man and got rid of the thought the next second. Then Jasmine winked at Lola and Lola’s heart jumped because she knew what that meant: William could become your man.
No. I’m not ready for that. Lola looked away.
Jasmine ambled around the desk to Lola’s back and placed her hand on Lola’s shoulders as if she wanted to give her a massage. “I’ll describe where his cubicle is. Take your laptop to him and complain about something. Maybe, tell him it’s not connecting to the server.”
Lola shook the mouse, waking the sleeping laptop. “It’s working perfectly. I’m not interested.”
“I know you don’t trust men and the bunch of other reasons you always give, but staying single won’t help. Trust me. It seems you’re still grieving.”
“I’m over that scumbag.” Lola frowned. “That damn loser.”
“Are you sure?” Jasmine asked.
Sam cleared his throat, and Lola looked in his direction. He seemed immersed in whatever he was doing on the computer, but she suspected he’d been listening to their conversation. Talking to himself, he pulled his beard and glanced at them. Then he hummed a popular R&B tune for a few seconds, his voice even more girlish.
“Hey!” Jasmine called his attention. “Should Lola go there?”
“Go where?” he asked.
“But you were listening,” Jasmine said.
Lola looked up at Jasmine and they both chuckled.
“Listening to what?”
“Okay, let’s assume you weren’t. I want her to go check out a handsome guy in the IT Department, should she?”
Lola opened a report she’d spent the best part of the morning typing and tried to get busy with it, but Jasmine closed the laptop and tickled Lola’s ribs, making her to spring up from the chair. “Jasmine, I’m not interested.”
“I’m sorry; I’ve no answer,” Sam said, closed his laptop, stood, and adjusted his tight black trousers.
“Where are you going?” Jasmine asked.
“My laptop is acting up. I’ve to get it fixed.”
Jasmine whispered into Lola’s ear, “It seems he is interested in William already.”
Lola choked back a laugh as Sam walked out of the office, his cheeks and upper body bouncing with every step. Then she settled back in the chair and flipped the laptop open.
“Damn! It’s 1:35 already.” Jasmine rushed to her desk. “I’ve to submit those docs by two o’clock.”
Thank heavens I’m free, Lola thought. But I know she wouldn’t give up until I’m standing in front of him with my laptop, lying that it isn’t connecting or it’s infected with a virus or whatever. Why’s she even concerned? I don’t want another Brett-like experience again. It’s only a few months...I want more time.
There was a light knock on the door. Lola and Jasmine made eye contact. None of the fourteen employees in their department usually knocked and waited. They’d open after knocking. The translucent door revealed a male form.
“Come in,” Jasmine said loudly, but the person didn’t.
Since Lola’s desk was close to the door, she answered it. Who’s this tall man behind the door? Opening, she gazed up at the face of the most handsome man she’d ever seen, literally.
“Hello,” he said. His voice was husky and friendly.
“Hi.”
“Is this Jasmine’s office?”
“Yes.”
He raised the paper he was holding. “She...”
“It’s mine!” Jasmine said. It seemed she jumped out of her chair.
Lola stepped aside when the click-clack of Jasmine’s heels was just behind her.
“You forgot this,” he said.
I'll post Chapter One (B) next, still from Lola's POV.