章節 40: Chapter 40: A Break from Business
After clearing the kitchen, Zara found herself still buzzing with energy. Xavier, on the other hand, had returned to his usual spot on the sofa, his laptop open, face intent as he typed away. She watched him for a moment, a spark of curiosity building inside her. She'd been sharing the same space with him for a few days now, yet she realized she knew practically nothing about him beyond his icy work persona.
Without a second thought, she walked over, plopped down beside him, and pulled the laptop right out of his hands.
"What are you doing?" she asked, glancing at the screen before he could object. She scanned over rows of business emails, spreadsheets, and documents, her eyes glazing over as she attempted to make sense of the complicated finance reports he seemed to be working on.
Xavier reached for the laptop, but she held it just out of his reach, grinning. "So, this is what you're always doing? Just numbers and emails and… charts?"
He raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "It's called work."
"Work, huh?" she echoed, scrolling through his laptop with a mischievous smile. "Don't you ever do anything fun on this thing?"
"Like what?" he asked dryly.
"Like… games!" she replied, her fingers quickly searching his laptop for anything remotely entertaining. "Do you have any games here? Solitaire? Minesweeper?"
He scoffed. "Who would have games on their work laptop?"
Zara raised an eyebrow, looking at him like he'd just told her the sky was green. "I do. In fact, I've got a whole collection of games on mine—just in case I get bored during meetings."
Xavier gave her a look of disbelief. "You play games during meetings?"
"Only when they're boring," she replied with a grin. "Which is… pretty much always. You just keep a really focused expression, look at the screen like you're reading a document, and no one's the wiser."
Xavier shook his head, torn between mild shock and amusement. "I can't believe you actually get away with that."
She shrugged, handing his laptop back. "Maybe you should try it sometime. Might help that constant 'work mode' vibe you have going on."
He gave her a pointed look. "Some of us take our jobs seriously."
"Oh, please," she said, rolling her eyes. "There's a difference between taking your job seriously and doing nothing but work all day. Come on, live a little."
Xavier sighed, looking as though he was about to dismiss her entirely. But to her surprise, after a moment's pause, he closed the laptop and glanced back at her. "Fine. What do you suggest?"
She blinked, momentarily taken aback. She hadn't expected him to agree, but a grin quickly spread across her face as she realized he was actually on board. "How about a city tour? I mean, I don't know about you, but I could use a change of scenery."
Xavier looked at her as though he were processing her request, weighing the options. Then, much to her surprise, he nodded.
"Alright," he said, standing up. "But you're leading the way."
With a newfound excitement, Zara grabbed her bag, already mentally planning out all the places they could visit. She didn't know the city too well herself, but that didn't matter. Exploring aimlessly could be just as fun, maybe even more so. And dragging Xavier along? That was the cherry on top.
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They started their tour at a small café Zara had noticed on her last walk around the neighborhood. The café was quaint, with cozy booths, fairy lights, and walls filled with local artwork. Xavier looked somewhat out of place amidst the warmth and charm, but Zara thought it was a good first stop to ease him out of his shell.
"Alright," she said, gesturing to the colorful menu above the counter. "What's your usual coffee order?"
"I don't usually do… 'usual' orders," he replied, his gaze traveling over the unfamiliar drink names on the chalkboard.
"Noted," she replied with a smirk. "So you're going to try something new."
After a bit of persuading, she got him to order a mocha latte while she opted for a caramel macchiato. They took a seat by the window, sipping their drinks in silence for a while. Zara noticed him occasionally glancing around, his face softened as he took in the unfamiliar setting. He almost looked… relaxed.
"So," Zara said, breaking the silence, "what do you think?"
Xavier took another sip, his gaze thoughtful. "It's… not bad."
Zara laughed, raising her cup. "I'll take that as a win."
With their coffee stop behind them, they ventured through several local spots—a small bookstore Zara insisted they explore, an art gallery with an exhibit on modern design, and a food market that bustled with people and colors. At each stop, Zara noticed Xavier's demeanor loosening just a bit more. She caught him smiling at a few of her antics, and at one point, he even tried a sample from a street food stall—a small, unexpected victory.
By late afternoon, they found themselves by the waterfront, the sun casting a warm glow over the water. Zara leaned against the railing, taking in the view, feeling a sense of contentment she hadn't felt in a while. She glanced at Xavier, who was standing beside her, watching the scene with the same quiet fascination.
"Not a bad day, huh?" she asked, nudging him lightly.
He looked over, giving her a small, genuine smile. "Not bad."
She grinned. "Maybe there's hope for you yet."
Xavier chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll admit, this was… refreshing."
Zara's smile softened. She felt a small surge of pride knowing she'd helped him unwind, if only for a few hours. It was a simple day, but it was one she'd remember—a reminder that even in a life filled with work and responsibilities, there was always room for a little adventure.
As they made their way back, Zara felt an unfamiliar sense of ease. Maybe she and Xavier were more alike than she'd thought, both a bit guarded in their own ways. And while they might not have figured each other out completely, today felt like a good start.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票