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“Are you gonna talk to her?” Ed asks, pulling Archie from her daze.
“Who?”
“The girl you’ve been staring at ever since she walked in,” Ed retorts.
“Zheng,” she replies absentmindedly.
“Oh Zheng is it?” Ed teases.
“Shut up, she gave her name for the drink’s order.” Archie hisses, “I think she’s the girl Olu’s just started dating, he said she’s really cool.”
“So are you going to talk to Zheng or just stare at her?” Ed asks again, clearly not set on letting the subject go.
“I dunno, Olu’s only just started seeing her, shouldn’t I let them date for a bit longer first?”
“I’m not sure,” Ed muses, “what does it say in the poly handbook?”
“Shut up.” Archie replies, elbowing him in the side.
“You’ll never know if you don’t shoot your shot,” he reminds her, wiggling his eyebrows.
“You’re so annoying ever since you met Stede, you know that?”
“Are you two going to actually do your job, or are you just going to stand around chatting?” Izzy interrupts, reprimanding them with his signature scowl.
“I think we’ll just carry on talking, thanks,” Archie retorts, enjoying getting a rise out of the older man.
“Ignore him, his situationship has ghosted him again,” Ed adds.
“I don’t even know what that means,” Izzy grumbles as he walks back to the office.
“Where were we,” Ed continues, “oh that’s right, you were about to go talk to the girl you have a crush on.”
Archie looks over to where Zheng is sitting, “I don’t have a-“ she stops knowing there’s no point in lying, “she looks busy.” She settles for instead.
“I’m sure she wouldn’t mind a lil distraction,” Ed teases, “go on your break and talk to her.”
“Fine,” Archie relents knowing that Ed won’t drop it until she does.
Archie takes a deep breath before walking towards Zheng, halfway there she realises she hasn’t even thought about what she’s going to say. She doesn’t have much time to think as Zheng was now looking up at her over her laptop.
“Hey,” is what Archie opts for, silently kicking herself for such a basic introduction.
“Hey,” Zheng responds with a small smile.
Archie’s about to abort the mission when Zheng invites her to take a seat.
“You’re dating Olu, right?” Archie asks.
Zheng looks a bit taken aback for a second by the sudden question before recomposing herself. “Uh yeah, you know him?”
“Yeah, I started dating his partner Jim a few months ago, and then Olu and I started dating too.”
“Wait are you Archie?”
“That’s me,” Archie replies with a smile.
”Olu told me all about you and Jim, I was hoping I’d get to meet you both at some point.”
“Well today’s your lucky day,” Archie jokes.
“I really like him,” Zheng says with a small smile on her face, referring to Olu.
“He’s a great guy. Jim too, I can’t wait for you to meet them.”
“Me too. It would be nice to get to you know you better as well.” Zheng says as she leans forward, chin resting on her hand as her elbow sits on the table.
Archie swallows before replying, “I- I’d like that.”
“I’d like to give Olu a heads up first, but I can’t see why you and I couldn’t go for a drink if you’re interested?” Zheng suggests.
“Honestly I think Olu would be ecstatic for us, but yeah as long as he’s chill, I’m there.”
She studies Zheng’s features, their faces now inches apart. She could smell her perfume, something almost spicy yet floral enveloping her senses. It took her a second to realise she was staring.
She clears her throat. “So what are you working on?” Archie asks, gesturing to the laptop in front of her.
“Trying to plan my friend’s wedding, I’m a wedding planner.” Zheng replies.
“That’s great, do you enjoy it?”
“Yeah usually, but as this is my friend’s wedding there’s all that added pressure. Now the band has pulled out and I’ve got just weeks to find someone else, sorry you don’t wanna be hearing about all this.”
“Actually I might be able to help you.” Archie offers.
“And how would that be?” Zheng asks sceptically.
“See that guy over there,” Archie says, gesturing to Ed, “he just so happens to be the lead singer in a band.”
“Really? What kind of music do they play?”
“Mainly indie rock, but they can essentially do anything.”
“And you think they’d be available?”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Archie replies with a grin.
“That would be amazing, seriously Archie you’re a life saver.”
“I try my best,” she replies with a wink.
Zheng reaches into her bag and pulls out a card, “this is my business card, ask your friend to email over some demos.”
Archie reaches out and takes the card, their fingers brushing for a brief second, she tries very hard to not let it affect her.
“Yeah will do, I’ve got to get back to work but it was nice talking to you, really nice.”
“Hopefully see you soon,” Zheng replies.
Archie walks back to the counter trying to hide the massive grin that’s threatening to bloom on her features.
“So how did it go?” Ed asks, although Archie’s pretty sure he’s been watching them the whole time.
“Got you a gig,” she replies, holding out the business card.
Ed looks at the card, “well thanks I guess, but you know I want the gossip.”
“Let’s just say I can see why Olu likes her so much.”