Page 47 of Lost Times

Visibly shaking herself from her stupor, she bent to pick up the papers and mumbled. “That explains why you looked ready to throw up back then.” Then she shrugged, smiling. “Well, I’m happy for you two.”

Shooting me a sly look, she asked. “So, I take it this is why he’s looked happier lately?” The light tease pulled a flush over my cheeks, but before I could say anything, Ludwig nodded.

“Yes, and while I don’t mind people knowing about our relationship, that doesn’t mean we’ll be shirking our duties. Do you need me to look over those papers?”

She cleared her throat, one of her hands rising to rub the back of her head. “Not really. I was worried after they left and wanted to check on her, but didn’t have a good reason to be here.”

My heart squeezed. She really was a great friend. “Thanks, but things are fine. You can head back, and I’ll follow soon.”

She did after a final head shake. Once it was just us again, I faced him. “Well, that was…surprising. I didn’t think you'd go out and say it like that after everything.”

He shrugged, moving for the door while twining our fingers. “Like I said, as long as we keep up our usual level of professionalism, I don’t care.”

Before he could pull me out the door, I tugged at our joined hands and raised a brow. “I think we need to go over what’s allowed now, because I’m lost.”

He hesitated, then nodded. “Light touch, such as this, I think will be okay. No kissing, but other than that, I think we’ll be fine.”

Then he faced the others and pulled us through the doorway, muttering as he did. “Let’s just get this part done so they can get their gossiping over with.”

Sure enough, the second we walked in, all heads turned, and dozens of eyes locked on our hands. He walked me to my desk, nodded, then left as if nothing was amiss. Taking my seat, I tried to ignore the eyes boring into me, instead focusing on my work with an internal groan.

There were so many better ways we could have done that, but I guess this works too… Kelly chuckled next to me but mercifully said nothing, giving me a chance to regroup.

As the embarrassment faded, Ludwig’s words came back, and I let myself soak in the warmth. I never would have thought he’d stand up to them like that…

But I was glad he did.

Trying to ignore the dopey smile curling my lips, I focused on the paperwork in front of me. I had time to be giddy and happy later. For now, I have work to do.

Chapter 19

Jasmine’s face was a mask of concentration as she slowly moved through the motions for the tenth time. Her soccer game was fast approaching, and she’d spent every waking moment practicing.

Behind her, Ludwig sat on the floor, watching. He’d done this more and more often, sitting in on her at home practice, offering encouragement whenever she slipped.

It wrapped a satin glove around my heart every time, and now was no different.

Leaving them to it for now, I sorted through the various papers and letters both Ludwig and I brought home from work. When I bumped into a heavy cardstock one, I paused. That wasn’t mine, and it looked important…

Reading the addressee, Ludwig, I picked up the letter and brought it into the living room. “Hey, did you see this, or did it get mixed into everything else? It looks official.”

He frowned, gently standing after a pat to Jasmine’s head. “I haven’t seen it yet, though I recognize the seal on the front. It’s from someone I was hoping to partner with for the next branch expansion of the company.”

Taking it, he opened the letter, his frown sliding into a mask of stunned disbelief. When he didn’t talk after a minute, I poked his side.

“Ludwig, is it bad news?” I braced just in case, but the last thing I expected was for him tosmile, one of the widest, most elated ones I’d seen to date.

“No, this is excellent news! They’re finally open for a meeting, and not just them either. All the people I’ve been attempting to contact, they’ve all agreed to a single meeting to discuss branching out with my company.”

His eyes sparkled and he picked me up, clamping me against him and spinning until the letter fell to the floor. “I thought they’d never agree without my father’s backing but-!”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but I didn’t need him to. He’d worked hard for this, and not even his father’s interference had stopped it.

I still hadn’t had a chance to ask why exactly his father was against it, but it didn’t matter how. What did was how happy he was.

“Congratulations! You deserve this and more. You certainly put in enough work for it. What day is it so I can bake you a cake?”

He flushed, shaking his head as uncharacteristic shyness came forward. “That’s not necessary.”

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