Love My Friends with Benefits

It was already nine-thirty when I woke up the next morning.

In other words, I was late.

I staggered to the bathroom with a splitting headache. I looked at myself in the mirror and found two huge dark eye circles dominating my face.

"Oh, my God..."

There was no way I could go to work like this.

I sighed and took out my phone to call Mr. Chow and ask for the day off.

Once the call was connected, Mr. Chow beat me to the chase and said, "Queena, why aren't you at the office yet?"

"Something cropped up yesterday," I explained. "I want to take another day off."

Unexpectedly, Mr. Chow rejected me without hesitation. "That won't do."

My head hurt even more. "Why?"

"Austin called me and said that he was going to bring some documents over for you to go through again." Mr. Chow was obviously in a tough spot. "You know how he specifically asked for you to handle this... anyway, this is a huge deal..."

Mr. Chow trailed off. I knew what he was thinking, though.

I wanted this deal with Austin too. The commission that I'd get from this one deal would be enough for me to live comfortably for a whole year. Moreover, I was on the brink of promotion. I'd probably be able to go one step further if this deal were to go through...

I gave it some thought and agreed. "I'll head over right now."

...

It was already ten-thirty when I arrived at the company.

Mr. Chow led me to the conference room. Through the glass, I saw Austin sitting by the window, looking at something.

I knocked on the door and walked into the room.

Austin smiled visibly when he saw me. "Miss. Jones."

"Hello." I nodded and sat down across from him. "Hand me the documents, please."

and asked, "How about we

feel like he'd just pulled a fast one on me and my tone became a little unpleasant. "This

and passed

started flipping through

trying to pull a prank on you or anything. I just felt that... you don't

"I wasn't in the best condition

not

such a gentleman that I felt even

Austin to think that I wasn't in good condition. What's more, he'd

down and said to Austin, "I'm sorry,

magnanimously. "It's fine, really. Everyone has their

heaved a sigh of relief.

ask you, though." Austin suddenly changed the topic. "Do you know

The man from yesterday?

he talking about

a little smothered at the

smiled. "I feel like I've seen

it's normal." News about Leonard's scandalous affairs had been splattered all over the news just a few days ago. It wasn't out of the ordinary for Austin to have

pondered for a moment before getting his answer. "I think

only just occurred to me that they could be considered to be in the same industry.

did that have

to talk about Leonard anymore and changed the topic tactfully. "The conditions

the door. "How can they not be,

blushed, looking a little

door open and sat down next

effort to woo you," she said teasingly. "I heard from someone at his company that he's sent countless

as Austin's expression became more and more awkward. I quickly stopped May

wrong?" She didn't seem to

used my eyes to tell her to

as he waved his hands in denial. "It's also because of your company's potential and capabilities that I was able to negotiate for such conditions. I

but he

His ex-girlfriend cheated on him and they'd broken up just recently. Isn't it such a coincidence that both you and his ex-girlfriend share the same surname?

that's enough."

was so caught up in her gossiping that