"1:57:59
1:58:00
1:58:01
1:58:02
1:58:03"
"Willy?"
"You're early."
"Well, I could hear you counting the time from down the hallway. I just… wanted to get this over with."
Willy turned in the chair at his desk to face Charlie. He gestured for Charlie to sit in a chair across from him. And then, without a blink of an eye, Willy grabbed the edge of his desk and hurled the whole thing aside.
"It was in the way," he simply stated.
Charlie sat down across from his mentor and looked down, twiddling with his thumbs.
"Charlie?"
"Yes, Willy?"
"Shouldn't I be the one doing that?"
Charlie looked up, confusion plastered over his visage.
"Well," Willy began to explain, "you're the one looking for answers from me. I should be the scared one."
"I talked to her."
"Y-you did?"
"Yeah," Charlie nodded slowly.
"And?" Willy asked, a little too eagerly.
"She doesn't love me. Not like that, anyway."
"I'm sorry," and Willy genuinely was, for he cared for his heir like his own son.
"I don't know if she loves you though."
"What do you mean?"
"She said she wants you. You and love were never mentioned together."
"Oh," Willy snapped his mouth shut and looked down at his own now twiddling thumbs, which squeaked with his gloves.
"I- I think she's afraid."
"But-"
"I know she invited you this morning, but I don't think that's what scares her. I think the surrendering of the heart is what scares her."
Willy nodded, and looked down again. But then he looked up, worry in his violet eyes.
"Charlie?"
"Yes, Willy?"
"Are you… are you going to tell anyone?"
"About you two? Only if I have to."
"Thank you."
"But if you do anything to hurt her, I will go to the authorities."
"I understand. So Charlie, how are you dealing with this?"
"I'm… not well, but I'll deal."
"Ok…"
Willy was feeling increasingly awkward, because he was not one for emotions.
Now that the legal fears are open, I really don't wanna do this. It's weird.
"Willy?"
"Yes, Charlie?"
"I kinda hate you right now."
"Umm… kay…"
"It'll be better later. I just had to tell you. It's hard for me to look at you the same now. And I'm going to go now."
Willy nodded his head once, keeping his calm fears silent and to himself. Charlie quietly excused himself and Willy continued to just sit there, staring at his own hands.
"That went incredibly well for the circumstances."
Willy looked up to see Lauren standing in the doorway.
"Lauren, what are you doing here?"
"Charlie mentioned your little get together, although I believe it was quite accidental."
"Oh."
"Don't you 'oh' me," Lauren mock-admonished as she stepped inside. Behind her she shut and locked the door, then grabbing Willy's desk and bringing it back over to its proper spot.
"And why can't I 'oh' you?" he asked, beginning to pick up on the same playful attitude as Lauren.
"Because I have boobs and that makes me ultimate ruler."
"Boobs, huh?"
"Yeah, these things right here," she said, then cupping each of her breasts in her own hands as she sat down on top of Willy's desk.
"Oh those things. Yeah, I don't know. What happens if I 'oh' you again?"
"You don't get to see or touch my boobs. I may even get that special wrap to tape them down. Or even a mastectomy."
Willy gasped sharply, "No!"
Grinning, Lauren said, "Yes. So are you going to 'oh' me?"
"I think I'm going to have the letter 'o' completely removed from the alphabet now."
"But then you'd be Willy Wnka."
"It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make."
Willy then grabbed Lauren around the waist and pulled her down from his desk and into his lap. He pulled her down into a slow, gentle kiss.
"It's still daytime."
"Uh-huh."
"Daytime is for work."
Willy frowned at Lauren with that.
"Ok, so here's the thing. This morning was foolish. Besides getting caught, we forgot protection. We can't let that happen."
"Well how about this," Willy started, stroking Lauren's upper arms with his thumbs as he spoke, "You do whatever you want all day. You can work, you can go out, whatever."
"I like the sound of this so far."
"But you can't see me all day."
"Well now you've lost me."
"Because I'll be setting things up for tonight. I want it to be perfect for you."
"And I like the sound of this again."
Willy gave Lauren a quick peck on the lips then before making her scoot out of his lap.
"I'll see you at 8 o'clock."
"I'll be counting the minutes," Lauren grinned as she slowly backed out of the office.
Willy smiled back to her, but the second she was gone, panic crossed his face.
"Perfect? How am I going to make this perfect? Nothing will ever be perfect enough for her!"
He slumped back in his chair, but then hopped to his feet almost immediately.
"There are only 5 hours left! I mustn't dilly dally!"