Again, sorry it's been a while. I only ever planned up to this point in the story, so this is the last chapter! Enjoy.
Chapter Eight
The morning after their date, Rose ran into Albert on her way into work. Most days she arrived at Almaelou fifteen minutes before Albert; that morning she was almost knocked over as they collided turning a corner.
"I'm so sorry!" Albert apologized immediately. "I- oh! Ms. Alvarez, I… I didn't realize it was you."
Rose gave him a small smile. "Yes, well…I was running a little late this morning. Otherwise I'd already be at the office."
Albert nodded. "Ah." They walked the next block in silence.
"How are you, Albert?" Rose asked finally, realizing she had yet to even say hello.
"I'm well, thank you. And you, Ms. Alvarez?"
She laughed. "For the hundredth time, Albert! You can call me Rose. But I'm fine, thank you."
There was another pause. "I had a good time last night," Rose added, looking up at Albert. He sighed and came to a stop; Rose did as well.
"I…I've been thinking. About last night."
"Yes?"
Albert's mouth opened and then shut again; he looked torn. Finally he said in a very small voice: "I don't think we should have gone out last night, Ms. Alvarez."
Rose frowned. "Why not? I really enjoyed myself, Albert. And by the end I know you did too. What makes you think it was a mistake?"
"D-don't you think it's odd for someone to date their secretary?" Albert tried. "Or their boss? We work together, Ms. Alvarez, and-"
"But that's not who we were last night!" Rose interrupted. Albert frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Rose crossed her arms and looked Albert right in the eyes. "Last night, we were not a boss and his secretary! We were not Mr. Peterson and Ms. Alvarez; we were Albert and Rose, we were on a date, and I think it went very well!"
"But-"
"You're allowed to have a life outside the office, Albert," Rose said softly. "And so am I. If there's some other reason you'd rather not see me again, if your feelings have changed-"
"No!" Albert exclaimed. "That's- that's not it at all," he said softer, embarrassed by his outburst. "I think you're wonderful, Ms. Alvarez."
Rose smiled. "So it's settled then. We have no reason not to see each other outside of the office."
Albert looked slightly stunned. "I- well- if you're sure-"
Rose laughed. "I am, Albert. And for the record, I think you're wonderful too."
Albert's cheeks felt hot; for a moment, her endearing smile and sweet comment left him speechless. "Could I take you out again sometime?" he blurted finally. Rose reached out and took one of his hands in hers, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Of course."
Another successful date, Albert thought. He couldn't have felt more proud of himself. After Ms. Alvarez's insistence, he finally came to realize that she could be more than a secretary; she could be- well- a girlfriend as well. And for whatever reason, that realization helped Albert to be not quite so nervous this time. No more hiding behind menus or refusing to meet her eye. He talked and laughed as much as she did; they both had a wonderful time.
Once again, Albert walked Ms. Alvarez back to her apartment after they had finished dinner. And this time, he knew what she would be expecting after their date.
"Good night, Ms. Alvarez," he murmured softly as he pressed a kiss to her cheek. She gave him a smile as he pulled back; Albert returned the favor, and started to walk away.
Until he heard a pair of heels clacking behind him, followed by a hand on his arm gently turning him around. He was met by the sight of a somewhat unamused Ms. Alvarez, hand on her hip and eyebrows raised.
"That was all right for a first date, Albert. But it's not going to cut it this time."
Albert frowned. What was wrong with his kiss? He didn't even need prompting this time, he-
He was very abruptly pulled from his current train of thought when Ms. Alvarez stepped forward, took his face in both hands and hurriedly pressed her lips to his, lingering for a moment before stepping back.
Albert couldn't help it; his mouth fell open and his eyes were wide when she stepped away. He was speechless; did she really…did she really just do that?
Rose lifted her chin and looked Albert right in the eyes. "That is the sort of kiss I will be expecting after each date from here on out," she told him, sounding quite a bit more confident than she felt. Did I really just do that? Hopefully he couldn't tell that her hands were shaking or that her cheeks already felt hot and flushed.
"I…I…" Albert stammered. "All right. Good night, Rose." And with that, he turned and hurried away, out of her apartment building.
Rose let out a laugh at his abrupt departure. But she couldn't be mad. After all, she thought, he just called me Rose!
