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There’s so much to do and, smelling fear, the computer is slow. Much slower than normal. Chloe’s hair is falling out of her since-perfect bun as she tries to figure out what’s wrong while simultaneously gathering what Stern asked her for. She groans, wanting to slam on the keys she’s so frustrated, but she keeps at it until.
The screen turns black.
The power button does nothing.
Oh, fuck. This isn’t good. This is. This is.
Chloe’s taking some deep breaths as she calls the tech department. Seconds after the call ends, Chloe uses her phone to look up what Stern needs. Maybe she can figure out how to print from it.
---
Just as Simon puts the phone to the receiver he says, “Sounds like she needs to plug in her laptop. She’s in the office attached to Ms. Sterns, can you go help her?”
North blinks, crosses her arms. “Are you fucking serious?”
Simon gives her a long suffering sigh, “It’s the job.”
“I’m going to plug in her laptop and it’ll work. Can’t she just do that? Couldn’t you have told her to do that?”
“What if I’m wrong? Besides, we need to look like we’re busy.”
North groans, “Fine, whatever.”
She’s almost out the door before Simon says, “Plus, I don’t think you’ll mind the view.” His cadence leaves North annoyed. View from the top, whatever whatever. Selecting the top floor on the elevator feels ominous. Hopefully the view was as nice as Simon let on because.
Well.
Maybe she’s not the view he meant but she’s the one North is staring at.
The woman is gorgeous. Clothing pressed and perfect and probably in style. North can see her tall high heels near her feet and not on them. The shoes themselves look expensive, this woman’s feet? Well, North isn’t a foot fucker but… for her? Maybe.
When the woman looks up she’s definitely panicky. “Are you the tech guy. Er - well.” Strands of hair are falling out of her high bun, she slides blonde behind her ear. Wow, maybe North’s shaping up to be a hand fucker too.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
North finds the power cord on the ground and plugs it into the laptop. No lights appear on the machine so it’s either completely dead and needs a moment to recharge or it’s in laptop heaven.
“Wait.” The woman’s shoulders sink, placing her cell on the desk beside her, “Was it not plugged in?”
“I noticed as I was walking up, so…”
Her posture further imperfects, wrinkling her clothes, and she looks like she’s going to cry.
“Hey, don’t worry about it. You look stressed so.” The woman’s blue eyes meet North’s. “Doubt you...” The blonde looks along North’s body. It’s quick, but it definitely happened. Suddenly North feels terribly under dressed. Or, more accurately, grungy looking in comparison to Secretary Barbie. “... noticed.”
“I’m sorry, I’ve been rude. I’m Chloe.”
North’s eyes dart to the laptop when lights come on. “We’ll give it a minute so it charges more. I’m North.”
A tall, imposing, immaculate but stern looking woman appears from the door behind Chloe. “Miss Kamski, what on Earth is taking so long?”
Chloe’s back is stick straight and North can swear she sees Chloe's heart beat faster.
Chloe opens her mouth just as North says, “Her computer crashed. Currently waiting for it to reboot.”
Chloe turns to North, blinking fast and mouth agape.
“Fine.” The woman says as she walks past the desk to the elevator, “I’m meeting with Harrison at 2, so I’m be heading to that. And I need those forms for James by 3:30 at the latest. Make sure you send them to the correct email this time.”
The elevator doors close and Chloe lets out a long and relieved sigh, “I owe you.”
“No you don’t, just my job.”
“But you lied.” Chloe’s eyebrows are pinched at North. She’s worried Chloe’s angry at her until, “I don’t think she would’ve kept me if she knew the truth. Thank you.”
North shrugs a shoulder as she pushes the power button, “Don’t mention it.”
The fans whir on and the screen blinks to life. When the log-in screen appears, Chloe sits staring at it, chewing on one of her fingernails.
“Is. Uh. Is everything okay?”
“Would you like to go to dinner?”
It’s North’s turn to blink fast now.
“You know, so I can… pay you back?”
“Yeah,” North can’t help but smile, “Okay, sure. Just… don’t wear something so stiff, okay?”
“I wasn’t planning on it.”
North knows she’s fucked because Chloe’s smile might be the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen.