Erik dreaded going to work now. He knew that Carlotta would make things more difficult than they needed to be and he wasn't entirely sure that he was ready for that.
But he had to if he wished to continue helping with the funds and such. He would make a horrible lover if he couldn't do that much for them at the very least.
Despite this however, he didn't even try to get up with the alarm this morning. He rolled over and buried his pillow, a small groan leaving him.
The continued beep was beginning to get on his nerves. Clearly Christine shared a similar thought because she whined before reaching out to blindly smack the snooze button.
"You should probably get up and in the shower. Otherwise you'll just try to go back to sleep and be late." Christine pointed out, peering at him through barely open eyes.
He pouted at her and groaned again, but he complied despite himself. He could never deny her. Especially not when she was like this. It was rather endearing.
"Fine. But only because you're the one telling me." He joked, leaning over to peck her lips before he got up.
He took his sweet time in the shower, letting the hot water soothe his aching muscles. When he was done, he dried his hair and got dressed.
When he finally headed downstairs, he found Christine making him a 'healthy' breakfast.
However, He was more interested in the way his shirt swallowed her form. He could imagine that she was only wearing a bra and panties underneath it. This mental image was enough for him to consider calling in sick.
He approached her and wrapped his arms around her waist, tugging her back against him.
"Ma Chèrie.. I don't think being a little late would hurt anything..." He drawled, forgoing a normal greeting.
Erik leaned down and nibbled at the side of her neck, intent upon leaving a little hickey behind.
Christine swatted at him and shook her head playfully. She plated the food she had been cooking and turned around, handing it to him.
"Behave yourself. I have to start getting ready for work soon as well." Christine scolded, scowling playfully at him.
Erik held his hands up in surrender before taking the plate. He thanked her and kissed her cheek as she passed.
Once she was out of view, he frowned at his food. He struggled to adjust to his new diet, missing the things that he'd usually have for breakfast. He picked at it and nibbled at it until it was gone, laying the plate in the sink when he was done.
He waited as long as he possibly could to leave, that being when he heard Christine get into the shower. He wasn't sure if he should be proud or a little hurt that she could resist him so easily. The jury was still out on that one.
He pulled his boots on and left the house without a second thought, refusing to dwell on it. If he did, he really would be late and probably not for a fun reason.
Once he'd arrived, he hopped out of the car and headed to his office. Maybe he could have a full day of peace and time to start settling in properly again. Especially since Carlotta had long decided that she was done with him and his work. Not that he cared.
Erik found himself greeted by many of his employees and sincerely hoped that things were going as well as they claimed that they were. They all promised him that they'd done their best during his absence and that everything had gone well.
But the thing that really put him on edge was how nervous they all looked. That was never a good sign
They always looked like that when they were trying to hide something from him. What that was? He had not the slightest clue.
But he was about to find out.
Erik was most decidedly never taking a sick day or a vacation again. Christine could complain about this decision all she wanted, but there was no way the business could survive him doing such a thing.
Not with how incompetent everyone seemed to be. He should've known that their version of everything going well would be a dumpster fire.
Hell, they'd gone through the effort of getting Carlotta back as a client again. He hadn't wanted them to do that, damn it.
Why would they do this to him? He treated them as well as he could and as well as they deserved.
That didn't even cover for what they'd somehow managed to do to their funds. He'd be lucky if he finished crunching numbers by the time it turned dark.
He almost skipped out on lunch time. He didn't have the will or appetite to eat right now. Especially not that slop that Christine tried to feed him. It was flavorless to him half the time.
He loved her to death- but he would've rather relied on excersize and his medication alone.
But he didn't skip out on his lunch break. He needed a break, he really did. The less he tempted fate, the better after all.
He left, slamming the doors behind him and glaring at everyone in his path. He wanted to make his displeasure known and he very much would.
Rather than going home, he decided to go to his favorite fast food restaurant. He knew Christine wouldn't be happy, but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.
Especially not considering that this was hardly even a big deal.
Not only that but there was nothing wrong with indulgence. He ordered a double bacon burger and a coffee to go. He drove around for awhile before pulling into the car lot of the park.
Surely, staring into the woods would calm him down enough to go back to work eventually.
The good would cancel out the bad. Or at least that was the logic that he was chosing to go with.