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33

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Washing dishes proved to be a harder job than Ed expected, but he was getting through it just the same. But, if he would've known what was in store for him down the road, he would've never even accepted the job in the first place.

One day as he was busy scraping the remains of someone's lunch from a plate, Carlina snuck-- well not snuck but more like went very quietly-- into the dishwashing room. She placed herself right next to Ed, who was unaware of her presence. Then she, very slowly, turned her head and blew ever so slightly a gentle breeze of sweet air into his left ear. Startled, the dish in Ed's hands fell to the floor, breaking, and he was left staring open-mouthed at Carlina who was standing calmly at his side, smiling at him for some... strange reason.

"C-Carlina," Ed stammered. "W-What brings you here?" He looked at her for an answer but she only continued to smile in his direction. "I... I'm really sorry about the plate. I'll g-go clean it up," he said, then crouched down, attempting to scoop up all the pieces of the busted plate.

Suddenly, he felt Carlina's hand on his arm and he looked up, forgetting about the plate.

"Never mind that," Carlina said and pulled Ed to his feet.

They were standing face to face. Ed's upper lip was quivering. Carlina didn't care.

She placed her hand on his lower back and then her lips upon his. Ed murmured, disagreeing, then managed to pull away. "I don't think this is in my contract."

Carlina frowned, then replied, "We can add it in later. Now shhh..." She applied herself to him once more; her hand on his lower back escaping further and further below until it reached his posterior.

Feeling her hand where it definitely should not be, Ed pulled away from her in disgust and stepped back a few paces so there was room between them and she could not reach him again.

"Carlina, I'm afraid I'm going to have to resign because of this behavior."

Carlina looked at Ed longingly. "But you're gorgeous!"

A confused look came over Ed's face for a moment, then it disappeared and he replied, "Even so, I just don't think we should be in the same workspace." He undid his apron, slid off his gloves and placed them on the nearby counter.

"Goodbye, Carlina," he said, then walked past her and out of the restaurant for good.

Carlina stared sadly after him, but dared not to go after him.