It was late but Elena wasn't surprised that the lights were still on in the Director's office. He sat at his desk, chin propped on one elegantly manicured hand, reading through a sheaf of papers. She tapped on the door but didn't wait for an invitation before she opened it.
She placed the manila folder in his in-tray.
"That's the North Corel report. Shall I forward it on to the President or do you want to read it first?"
"I thought I'd assigned that one to Reno?" He didn't look up from his reading.
The tips of her ears were burning. "I ah…offered to take it off his hands."
"How kind of you."
She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, feeling guilty. She'd lost a bet to the infuriating redhead; if Tseng had an issue with her turning in one of his reports he probably wouldn't appreciate the fact she'd be writing up the rest of the months too.
"If I had to offer you a word of advice…" He licked the tip of his finger and turned the page. "You might want to work on your poker face."
"I'm going home," she announced crisply, ignoring the jibe. "Is there anything else you need?"
He finally looked up from the paperwork, dark eyes narrowed. "Is that how you're saying goodnight?"
"Yes," she replied haughtily, fighting the urge to smile. "We're social distancing, remember?"
He straightened up the pile of paper in front of him. "Remind me again how that works."
"We have to keep a two metre distance at all times."
"At all times?"
"Yeah." She shifted her weight slightly, balancing on the balls of her feet; a challenge.
A sly grin especially for her. He stood up, hands flat on the desk in front of him. "Two metres?"
"Yeah… So you'd better stay on your side of the desk." She skipped to the side as he lunged for her. "You've got to be faster than that, sir."
"You're very overconfident."
"Am I?" She smirked and twisted left. His fingers grazed her arm. "That's not two metres."
"That wasn't an issue this morning."
"I don't know what you're talking about." She replied breathlessly, almost knocking the in-tray over with her hip when he pounced again. "Director I really must insist you keep your distance."
"If that's how you want to play it…" He sank into his chair and retrieved her report from the tray "Goodnight, Elena."
Disappointment hit her. She took an uncertain step towards him.
A polished boot caught the back of her ankle and practised hands caught her waist before she pitched backwards. Shrieking, she landed in his lap.
"See." His lips grazed her earlobe. "Poker face."
"Will I see you at home?"
"Yes."
She giggled, sliding her fingers through his silky black hair and pulled his mouth to hers.