Office Hours Read Online Free PDF Page B

thirty minutes. Anya had no idea where they were—tall trees and miles upon miles of fields dominated the view. Sighing, Anya heaved her tired body out of the warm, comfortable interior of the luxurious car.
    “You have your sacks and call phone?” asked the driver. They nodded. “Okay, head that way.” The driver departed, leaving Anya envious of the warmth of the car.
    “Right, Mr Banks,” Anya heaved the sack onto her back. “Where do we start?” Bloody good question. Nathan turned full circle, trying to decipher which would be the best route to take. Everything looked the bloody same.
    He blocked out all the noise—the sounds of the wind howling, the light, wet drizzle of rain. Still in the pitch black, Anya shone the torch on the map.
    “A little light makes reading a lot easier, or so I’ve been told,” Anya mocked.
    “I’m not in the mood, Anya.” He pulled her hand to the right angle so he could see more clearly.
    “I wasn’t the one to suggest this weekend. Remember that when you lose us up a silly hill.”
    “Okay, we need to continue along this road and then cross the field and head through the forest.” Anya pulled her hand away and followed by his side. Silence descended upon OFFICE HOURS
    Sam Crescent
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    them, the darkness beginning to slowly disappear as the morning light increased. The direness of their situation was too much for Anya.
    “So you consider this fun?” she queried.
    “Maybe.”
    “Maybe. Maybe, what kind of answer is that?”
    “What are you doing with a purple dildo?” he countered.
    “I needed to come,” she answered straight away. They were on her time—she would not hide or be ashamed of who she was.
    “Yes, I like the great outdoors,” he said, finally answering her question.
    “You know that normal people enjoy going on hikes or trails in warm, sunny weather as opposed to winter, two weeks before Christmas? Why did you decide we needed this trip anyway? I mean, I thought we got on really well, a good business relationship. Thank you.” He opened the gate for her and she stood waiting for him, shining the torch so he could see where he was walking.
    She looked incredibly cute with her winter walking clothes on and the huge sack crowding her small frame. He thought about her question as they made their way over the wet field, warmth from the exercise fast replacing the cold.
    “I was intrigued by the general idea of helping couples and thought any help would be good help, Anya. Nothing to do with our skills at all, more a way of trying to improve them.” Anya took a moment to reflect on his words. “I’m sorry if I’ve been hard on you. What you’ve just said sounds reasonable,” she said.
    Nathan nodded. He could hear how genuine she sounded. “Why have you been acting differently, Anya?”
    Nathan didn’t mind the change in her. In fact he liked the little fire-cracker—hot, passionate and fierce. Everything he loved in a woman. Especially a woman who was not afraid to speak her mind.
    “When I’m in the office, I’m in a working environment. It’s important to my career to be professional. I respect the structure of the working life. Now, though, it’s my time and so I act how I am, but come Monday at nine o’clock the professional Miss King will be back.
    When I finish work, whether at five or after overtime, I’m in my own time and Anya comes back. Me. This is me, this is who I am, and I’m not ashamed. I refuse to hide behind anything, OFFICE HOURS
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    not even my position at work.” From the force with which she spoke, Nathan had no doubt she was telling the truth.
    They walked in companionable silence until they hit the forest. At the edge they stopped for Nathan to have a quick look at the map. Anya put away her torch as the first rays of sunlight hit the horizon, beginning to light up their day. With each breath, steam erupted from their mouths. Nathan saw her watching the sunrise, peaceful, tranquil.
    “Beautiful,