We stood there staring at each other. Just staring both of us not believing what he had just said. The words 'Who isn't me' on repeat going through my head.

As soon as I could I turned and rushed to my desk sitting down still unsure as to what just happened.

'Liza' Diana barked as she strut into her office. 'I need you to go get me a salad for lunch, I have a meeting at 2.'

'Sure, form any where in particular?'

'Use your brain, figure it out' she hissed.

Grabbing my purse and jacket I headed for the lift still in a daze. Feeling light headed after that heated argument with Charles and not having eaten anything, I was starting to feel a little faint.

As the lift doors started to close a hand stopped them and pushed in. Charles looking flustered moved to the back of the lift. 32 flights of tension with 6 others oblivious to the stress that I felt was oozing out of me. 15 flights I had decided to just make a run for it well maybe not run just a power walk but to just ignore it, ignore him, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10 I just feel more and more light headed it was almost as if the elevator was spinning to heart pounding, hands sweating. 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 then a light touch on my back it was like electric shock had ran through me and a small deep voice in my ear said 'please don't run'. 4,3,That was it there was a wave of heat and my head spun 'oh no' I said and then blackness.

Becoming slightly lusid i could feel someone was carrying me. Looking up to see two beautiful blue eyes with brows full of worry staring straight into her face. 'Liza are you okay?' He asked his voice filled with concern.

Realising what had just happened I felt a wave of embarrassment and then blackness fell over me again.

'Liza, Liza can you hear me.' That same worried voice beckoning me to respond.

Coming back to terms with where I was I could feel a cold stone floor beneath my body with my head resting on something soft. Slowly opening my eyes I could see his concerned face patiently waiting. 'Are you okay?' He said again kneeling next to me.

'I'm fine, what's happening?' I finally responded.

'You fainted in the lift, I caught you. I carried you out you woke up and then fainted again.' He explained with a light twinkle to his eye. 'Are you feeling okay, do you feel sick?' His worry re entering his voice.

'I'm fine, I just have low blood pressure and have had a stressful day. Also I haven't eaten that wouldn't help.' I responded brushing him off and trying to sit up his had on my shoulder preventing me from doing so.

'Easy, easy'

'Seriously, I'm fine' he relenting his hand and helping to sit up. Looking down I see that he had taken his suit jacket off and propped it under my head. I picked it up passing it to him to put back on. Shrugging back into it he didn't take his eyes off me for a second. Still with that worried little frown on his head. I lifted my hand to smooth it before I could even realise what I was doing. 'I'm fine, I promise.' Before pulling my hand away quickly.

He laughed 'okay, you haven't eaten? Okay please let me take you for lunch, I need to explain myself.'

'Charles, that's not necessary and I have to get Dianna lunch. she has a meeting at 2.' I said anxiously know exactly what I would rather be doing. Figuring out what he meant by 'who isn't me'

'Please Liza, I can't just leave it like this. I'll call up and get Becky to pick it up from the restaurant.' He looked at me eyes begging. I just melt how could I say no, he looks like I feel.

'Okay' I relent. He sighs with a twitch of a smile on his lips.

He lead me off placing his hand on the small of my back my stomach dropped it's all I could do to not faint again. We head down the street to a small intimate Italian restaurant 'il Corso' near Central Park. The hostess greeted us and and directed us to a table near the front of the restaurant. 'Is this okay?' She asked automatically not expecting a no.

'Could we please have that table?' He asked pointing at the small booth in the corner of the room. Leading us over it the booth she handed is menus.

'Would you like some water?' She asked politely

'Yes please, just tap water will be fine.' I was parched from my multiple fainting sessions.

We sat and waited in silence and we both read the menu. Returning with the water she eyed us both trying to gage if we where ready to order before asking 'are you ready to order drinks? I can give you a few more minutes?'

Charles looked at me the first eye contact that we've had since sitting down. 'I'll have a beer, Peroni please' he asked politely looking at me to order.

'Could I please just have a Coke.' Thinking the sugar might help me get my thoughts together. As the waitress left to fetch us drinks Charles laughed. And I looked at him questioningly.

'You could have ordered a drink, in sure your boss wouldn't mind.' First smiling the a small frown crossed his face.

'I wasn't sure making myself any more light headed would be very smart right now.' I replied with a embarrassed smile.

As the waitress set down our drinks I realised I'd been reading the menu with out taking anything in so when she asked 'are you ready to order?' I had no clue. So I just picked the first thing I read. 'Spaghetti carbonara please, oh and a cob salad to go.'

'I'll have the same, minus the salad.' Charles said with a smile at the waitress. Once she was out of earshot he looked at me and once again our eyes met. I felt week, how can he do this to me with just his eyes. 'Liza, I am so sorry that I yelled at you earlier, it was very unprofessional of me and I have been trying so hard to keep things professional with you lately.' Looking down and taking a large drink of his beer before continuing. 'Also I want you to know If your in a relationship with Jay that's perfectly fine. There is no hard feelings, I just want you to be happy.' He struggled to look at me as he talked but finally making eye contact again. 'I'm sorry I said what I did.'

'So it's not true? You didnt meant?' I said almost inaudibly.

'What do you mean?' Questioning me

'Never mind.' I said not wanting to repeat what he said to me.

'Liza I, I' he stuttered lost for words 'I thought I made it clear how I feel about you?'

'I thought I made it clear how I felt about you?' I said not making eye contact, I don't know how much more clear I could have made it, I kiss home when he said me he liked me and things are ended with josh. But he has been so professional it's almost cold over the past few weeks I assumed he'd moved on. Maybe gotten back with Rada. I take a long sip of my Coke and just wait for him to figure out what's next.

'I've tried to keep my distance and give you some time. It's all been so confusing. You're so young and...' he muttered 'but when I saw you with Jay I just... I was so jealous. I don't know if I've ever been so jealous in my life. I didn't know what to do all last night I was going over and over seeing you with him trying to figure out what you where doing. What I was doing and I could kick myself to not doing anything. Liza. I... my... I have such strong feelings for you. I don't know if I've ever connected with anyone like this before.' He declared.

'Charles, I have feelings for you. But.. there's is just so many things in our way..'

'Victims of unsynchronised passion' he quoted under his breath.

'Exactly' we sat there looking at each other.

'And Jay?' He asked clearly embarrassed that he was asking if she had feelings for another man.

'We met at bonfire, he has offered me a job running there own millennial geared imprint. I never called him back but I bumped into him the other night and when I told him that I wasn't interested in the job he asked me to grab dinner. So we did. I had no idea you would be there. I'm sorry if I upset you.' I rambled a little to quickly.

'No, please don't apologise Liza.' Be paused. 'Would..' he was interrupted by the waitress bringing our food.

'Thank you.' We both said at the same time.

Both sitting there in silence eating our food but all I can think about it what would be coming after that would. And should I just tell him. But I did promise Kelsey that I wouldn't say anything. On the other hand maybe I need to tell Kelsey that I have feelings for him feelings that are more than just attraction. Who knows.

Taking a break from his pasta he looks up ' I remember the first time I met you, it was in Diana's office and you tried to save her by feeding her the title of th second Achebe book.' He said chuckling 'it was so obvious but I was so expressed by you.'

'Yes Diana was defiantly not impressed.' I laugh reminiscing. He smiled at me returning to his food. After another long pause he looked up you could see he wanted to say something but he just didn't know how. 'And then there was that time that I bumped into you at that app launch party.'

'How could I forget those hot pants' he laughed his face turning red.

Finishing my meal I realised I haven't tasted my food at all. But feeling a lot better having something in my stomach. Looking at my phone I realised the time ahh crap there are also three messages from Dianna.. 'it's 1.15 I have to go Dianna is going to kill me' I stand up remember he said something about Becky he must have forgotten.

'Oh sorry I was meant to arrange Becky. You can tel Dianna I asked you to lunch.' He said with a puzzled look on his face obviously trying to figure out how that would work.

'It's okay, let's head back anyway.' I pick up her salad and head over the where the till is. 'Sorry we only realised the time we really have to leave.' I said to the waitress. Reaching into my purse for my wallet Charles touches my waist again

'Ive already paid.' says softly.

When did he do that 'Oh.. ahh. Thankyou.' I stammer in a fluster trying to get myself together after the small amount of contact we just had. We head to the door he still hast removed his hand. I suddenly stop remembering I had a jacket. He bumps straight into me I turn to him and look straight up. 'I forgot my jacket.' I whisper but before I knew it he had kissed me just a small light kiss. I could still feel his smile. Stopping I just freeze and let putt a deep heavy breath.

'You're not going to faint on me again are you?' He say slightly smug sound to his tone. Turning away slightly shaken I grab my jacket off the back of the chair and walks back to him. He hasn't taken his eyes off me and being the gentleman me he is holding the door open before once again placing the hand on the small of my back. I shiver and to disguise the shiver as cold I start to shrug on my jacked witch was proving difficult while holding diannas salad. Taking the salad from my hand Charles helps me into the jacket with a slight chuckle, straightening the collar he doesn't remove his hand he looked into my eyes and slowly moved his hand up to my jaw. I'm torn both willing him to kiss me and knowing it's only going to make things more complicated. But I close the gap and kiss him.