☕ Espresso and Gist! Coffee Wahala: Lara's Office Diaries (Ep. 3)

It’s been three days since she resumed work at The Adeyemi Group as Mr. Adeyemi’s Executive Assistant, and all Lara could write down in a fancy notebook that had quickly become her personal diary was:

“Why did I come to this office again? To work? Or to hate-love this fine Yoruba boy?”

The intercom came alive with his stern, sexy, thick voice.

“Come here.”

The urge to roll her eyes nearly won. But she held back—he could probably see her through the unclosed blinds. Their offices faced each other directly, glass and all.

Which, apparently, was kind of a good thing.

It made it very easy to steal glances at his annoyingly handsome face. Even easier to glare at him when he dumped impossible workloads on her desk. Seriously easy to get caught gawking at him—thanks, Tope. And most importantly, too easy to raise her middle finger at him when the mood struck.

After a soft knock on his door and a curt “come in,” Lara walked in, her heels clicking softly against the tiled floor.

“Get me an espresso. One shot. No sugar. Strong, not watery. Five minutes.” His eyes stayed glued to his screen, typing away, not even looking up to acknowledge her. Rude.

“Sir, can I use the machine here?” Lara asked, keeping her voice neutral.

His eyes snapped to hers. And just like that, the butterflies in her stomach—ones she swore had died in NYSC camp when she needed them the most so she wouldn't leave Fola (her ex, by the way)—came back to life like they were waiting for a reason to misbehave.

“No. Four minutes left.” He answered, a little too cold for the warmth his stare brought to her cheeks.

She walked out hurriedly, biting her lower lip in an almost failed attempt at not cussing him out.

It was her freaking third day! And no one cared to write that she'd be making coffee alongside her official work in the job description.

She got off the elevator and stepped into the staff break room. She was almost done making the coffee. The buttons on the machine were such a headache.

Just in time, Sarah, the Head of the PR department, walked in.

She was all dolled up and looked quite stunning. It’s been three days and Lara’s honest opinion? She should be on a fashion runway instead. Not this company. And her very fake smiles? Geez, Lara needed a break.

Lara clicked a little too hard on one of the machine buttons, trying to stop the water flow.

“Careful. One wrong move and you'll be joining the ex-EAs club.” Sarah’s stupid smirk and remark only got a tight-lipped smile—and a door slammed in her face—for a reply. That remark was definitely not needed. 

She got to Mr. Adeyemi Olajuwon's office—very late. Like four minutes late. Thanks to Chinedu, the loud IT guy who had bumped into her and made some unnecessary small talk.

Well, except for the part where he casually mentioned that Mr. Fine Boss never lets anyone make his coffee. Not even his former EAs.

“You’re late,” he said, leaving his seat, taking slow, calculated steps toward her.

She was still holding the cup, barely. Her hand trembled beneath his gaze.

“I... uhm... what happened was...” Words. She couldn't place her words. Couldn't find them. Gone. Just... gone.

He was standing in front of her now. Towering over her. His hands settled in his pockets.

She swallowed hard. He was so close, the smell of his cologne wrapping around her like steam after a hot shower.

She studied his face more closely. His perfectly sculpted jawline, his dark smooth skin, his mesmerizing eyes, and his hair. It looked soft—perfect for her palm and fingers.

“Are you done checking me out?” His voice came out... surprisingly soft.

“Lara.” He hissed her name. Half-pissed, half-surprised.

“Sir.” She jolted out. Her grip on the cup of coffee weakened—and in a heartbeat, it was on the floor. In pieces.

She knelt down in front of him, picking up the shattered glass cup.

“Careful, you'll hurt—”

“Ouch.” Blood was oozing from her thumb. Instinctively, she brought it to her mouth.

“Seriously?” He asked rhetorically before grabbing her hand and dragging her to the couch.

“You’re so clumsy. I'm personally surprised you've lasted up to three days.” He said, dabbing slowly at the pierced part of her thumb.

“I'm as surprised as you are.” She murmured slowly. Her cheeks were on fire as she watched him carefully tend to her wound.

He chuckled at her remark.

“I’ve somehow stopped the blood. Try wrapping a clean strip of gauze around it later.” He stated, blowing softly at her thumb.

Oh please. This sweet man.

There was a knock on the door and before he could respond, Sarah walked in, rose in hand, eyes flickering between the couch and Lara's injured thumb within his grasp.

“Okay... what in the world is going on?” She asked, stopping in her tracks.

Rose? 

Honestly, If this was a competition for his heart, then someone should have warned Lara to wear heels and order hips from Temu!

Tbc...

It's about to go down guys. I can feel ittt.