((Thank you. I'm playing catch up here. I try to write this one while watching the anime so I can get the words right or at least as close as possible. Since other people in my home want to watch tv-see Cailliou the cancer patient for hours a day- it's not always possible. I've decided I'm just going to write this story as I can, then I'll reorder it once it's completed. Thanks.
"I'm all grown up." He heard Mai say. The monk drew her into a tight hug.
"If life ever gets you down, you just come cry on Monk's shoulder." He said and Oliver felt the tension in his shoulder loosen. His back was to her or his face would betray him. Everyone had been shocked by Mai's revelation. He of course had known since the principal had told him at her school months ago. It's what spurred him to hire her in the first place. Empathy he told himself. One orphan to another. That's all it was. Mai didn't have the advantage of a wealthy adopted family.
He'd long ago given up denying that the girl was precious to him. She was, but he couldn't do a bloody thing about it. He'd tell no one else though. His life was complicated enough without some ill advised romance with his assistant.
"No way you dirty old man!" Mai pushed the monk off. Everyone was laughing and Lin went back to his typing. He plastered a blank look to his face.
"Let's get to work. Mai you go with Takigawa and Yasu to start taking measurements in the left wing. Miss Hara and Miss Matsuzaki the right. Lin and I will try to discover more about the house. Don't go anywhere alone." he cautioned, looking pointedly at Mai. She blushed then got angry.
"You mean me!" She yelled and he smirked at how quick her trigger was. It amused him daily that she was the only person who seemed willing to call him out on his shit.
"Take it as you will Mai, just get to work. I don't pay you to stand around" She stomped her foot and he turned around to keep from smiling at her face. It reminded them of when they were in the sewer. She'd caught him smiling at her. She really couldn't know how he felt. It would only make it harder when he finally found Gene's body.
They all left the base and left Lin and himself alone. He was reading through the history that had been recorded on the house and Lin was busy typing. After everyone had been gone for a while and Oliver suspected they were far enough away they wouldn't hear, Lin did what he thought he'd do and stop typing. Lin gave him a serious look.
"Yes Lin?" he answered, feigning ignorance.
"So That's why you hired her." The Chinese man commented. Oliver smirked.
"What did you expect Lin? Besides, she was quite helpful while you were laid up. Now Lin was smirking as well.
"I was laid up because of her in case you forgot." Oliver didn't bother to answer, he continued reading about the home's previous owners. Lin had gone back to typing.
As he read his mind began to wander to the day before when they'd been alone in the office. After all of the other's had left, and Lin was in his own office he'd called for tea. She responded with her usual aplomb.
"You could say thank you you jerk!" He smirked. It was his secret game. To rile her up. She turned the most attractive shade of pink when he did so. He'd wanted to kiss her when she set the tea before him. She looked at him expectantly. He almost gave in to his desire when she finally spoke.
"Oh Thank you Mai. I appreciate you making me a hundred cups of tea a day." She trilled in a sing song voice.
"Mai, I pay you to do a job. If you don't want to do the job then I won't pay you." She'd stomped off angrily. He was smiling and it took him a moment to realize that Lin wasn't typing but watching him with an amused expression on his face.
"So, why do you keep her Noll?" Oliver didn't answer but he suspected that Lin was on to him. It didn't matter. He couldn't give in to his desire.