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*Love No More*
*Chapter 7*: The Late Night + Takeout*
It was 9:47 PM.
The office was empty. Dark except for Daniel’s office light and mine.
"Sir, the Southeast merger files are done."
I stood in his doorway with two folders and dark circles under my eyes.
He didn’t look up from his laptop. "Leave them."
I did.
"Sir... are we done?"
Now he looked up. Tie gone. Sleeves rolled up. 3-day stubble.
"No."
A pause. "The client moved the deadline. We need the pitch deck by 6 AM."
My stomach dropped. "But—"
"I know." He rubbed his temples. "Order food. My card."
He slid his black Amex across the desk.
"Anything you want. Just not salad."
I blinked. "Sir?"
"I’m not working with someone who’s hungry, Abigail. It’s inefficient."
30 minutes later, we were eating on the floor.
Yes. The floor.
Files everywhere. Laptop open. Two takeout containers between us. Jollof rice + chicken for me. Grilled fish + plantain for him.
This was not in my job description.
"You’re staring," he said without looking up.
"You’re eating with your PA on the floor, sir."
"HR rulebook doesn’t cover this."
He took a bite. "Besides. The table is covered in work."
Silence. Comfortable. Dangerous.
"Why did you take this job?" he asked suddenly.
I almost choked. "Excuse me?"
"PA jobs are everywhere. You have a degree in Finance. You could be in accounting."
He finally looked at me. "Why me?"
I picked at my rice.
"Because my mum is sick, sir. And you pay the most. And... you don’t yell."
He went still.
"I don’t yell?"
"No, sir. My last boss did. Every day."
I shrugged. "You’re just... cold. I can handle cold."
Daniel set his fork down.
"Abigail."
"Yes, sir?"
"Thank you. For telling me."
We finished eating. Back to work.
At 2 AM, I fell asleep on the couch. Folder on my chest.
I woke up to a blanket over me. And Daniel’s jacket. Again.
He was at his desk. Still working.
"You didn’t have to—"
"Don’t make it weird," he cut me off. Voice rough. Tired.
"Cab will be here at 5. Go home. Shower. Come back at 9."
A beat.
"And Abigail?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Good work tonight."
I nodded and left.
Clutching his jacket. Again.
In his office, Daniel stared at the closed door.
_Don’t make it weird_, he’d said.
Too late.
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THE BLANKET?? THE "GOOD WORK"??? Sir is COOKED 😩
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Want me to update *Chapter 8: The Jealousy + Client Dinner* next? That’s where another man flirts with Abigail and Daniel loses it 🔥
