Wednesday morning was a regular event for Victor as he drove up to the office. He arrived to find Carmine waiting by the door. Just as yesterday, she wore a grey high school sweatshirt, jeans, and glasses. Her hair was up in a pony tail, and she wore no makeup.
"Oh hey." Carmine blushed. "I got an extra coffee...Maybe do you...?"
"Sure..." Victor said slowly as he stepped past her and unlocked the office. He took it and thanked her before stepping around to his desk.
For thirty minutes, they were alone in the darkened office. Due to the building's environmentally friendly design from an inspired nature loving era previous, skylights and wide windows made up most of the lighting. With all the windows still only dark grey in the early morning, the pair's desk lamps illuminated their islands of the office. They were painfully aware of each other's existence as the only two people on the floor, as they worked under the spotlights. Victor noted that she faced his desk now from where she was working.
He tried to be unconcerned about the changes in Carmine and what it could mean, as he swiveled around to make a call off his client book. He wanted to confirm anything he could, and change a Friday business lunch to later that day, or on Thursday.
As he turned back, he found Carmine had invaded a worktable directly in front of him. Obviously, it was a bid for more attention, but she played it up well and had printouts spread around her to look busy.
Victor got up to placate the suddenly mousy Latina. "More coffee? I got a nice brew."
Carmine blushed and pulled her feet up to her chest. "I know, I always liked it. Thanks for always sharing, I know I never said thank you."
Victor felt like he was back in high school with little to say and a burning face. "I... I will be right back."
Quickly he blurred through and splashed out a hasty pot of coffee. After rushing, he collected himself in the kitchen area before pouring a cup and returning to his desk.
"Here this one is on the house." He said and instantly regretted it. "Ah... forget it."
"It's okay, I think it's sweet. Not the coffee...the coffee is good." Carmine squeaked.
Victor tried to ignore her until the work day started in earnest. Meredith was as brief with him as usual. Victor watched her notice Carmine as she came in. Victor presented her coffee in her office as usual.
"Carmine looks like a picture of a girl studying hard." Meredith noted from her desk looking through the glass wall.
"Yes, I noticed she started letting her appearance go, so she could concentrate on other things." Victor replied following her gaze out to Carmine who fidgeted under their gaze. "She does look like a nerd now."
"This isn't good." Meredith noted looking at the coffee curiously and back up at him.
Quietly he took it back and cursed himself. "How is Jan? Is she not in today?" Jan had spent the night at Meredith's by direction.
"No." Meredith said simply.
Sometimes direct questions worked better for Meredith. "Okay, is she still at your house?"
"Yes, and she will continue to work from there." Meredith said nodding.
"Interesting." Victor paused thinking whose idea that was, then pushed on. "Where is your mother staying when she comes this weekend?"
"They will stay at my house, in the spare bedrooms." Meredith announced.
"They?"
