UNPREDICTABLE
X. WHAT?
"WHAT IN THE HELL
DO YOU MEAN THERE'S
A SURPRISE ON MY DESK?
THERE WAS NOTHING
THERE FIVE MINUTES
AGO."

➖
EMERY WAS left with the tray of coffee's in her grasp, stood by the hall way that connected the elevator to the array of desks on this floor. She let out a groan at the realisation that Shawn had just left her to deal with her two best friend's, who were no doubt about to shoot a million and one questions about anything and everything.

She walked over to the connection of desks that her desk was attached too, and also happened to have to be attached to Lainey and Edwards also. She placed the cup tray on her desk silently as her two best friends stared at her, before she took her coffee out and handed their drinks to them.

It was silent between the three of them, as Lainey and Edward pretended to do their work, and Emery was booting up her computer. Lainey had noticed that Emery was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, and didn't say anything to begin with, but now she was just curious. Especially about the encounter she had with Shawn just mere seconds ago.

"So, are you going to tell us why you're wearing the same clothes as yesterday, why you're earlier than usual, and why you came to work with Shawn?"

Emery let out a sigh. "Fine, but you can't tell anyone!"

Lainey and Edward found themselves surrounding Emery as she started explaining her story. She started from when she was at work late that night and Shawn found her working alone at around seven o'clock, and how he stayed there until she was finished.

She then told them how he offered to drive her home because it was "too late to be walking home", and they ended up singing in the car, and she found herself at Shawn's apartment. She then told them how she cooked dinner with Shawn, talked about random things during dinner and then they done the dishes.

How she showered at his apartment, and he put her clothes in the wash and let her wear his clothes for the night. How she fell asleep on the couch, after Shawn had made it for her, and how she woke up from a night mare and found herself in Shawn's bed. How they spoke all night until the two of them fell asleep, and they woke up to sound of his alarm.

Then how she found herself in his kitchen eating breakfast, and him walking in with just a pair of pants on. Then how they flirted about her not wearing a shirt and him not minding it if she didn't. Then she got ready for work and they were on their way to Starbucks, and how he wouldn't let her pay for the coffees.

And then how she opened up about her sexuality after the conversation she had with Harry the gay barrister. And then he told her that he was proud of her for opening up to him, and then how he tried to hold the tray of coffees for her. And then now they were here.

Lainey and Edward sat there speechless, both of them gobsmacked at the story they just heard. Although a lot of it didn't sound like Emery or Shawn, they knew that she was telling the truth because they knew what she was like.

"Wait, so you and Shawn never done the-?" Lainey went to ask.

Emery shook her head with a laugh. "No, that was Shawn last night. I was working and you sent me a message, so I went to grab it but he was too quick and started talking to you."

Lainey pouted. "Damn, you could've gotten some real dick."

Emery let out a laugh, while Edward was just shaking his head. It was weird how they were taking it so well, considering the amount of flirting they'd done. But then again, if they did have sex, they'd be more surprised.

"Hey, I got to sleep at his house. What more could I want?" Emery asked.

"Uh, his dick of course," Lainey shrugged as if it were obvious. "If I were straight, I'd totally dick him down."

There was a throat cleared behind the three of them, and Emery's eyes flickered to Lainey's. She watched as her expression faulted, and she started laughing out loudly. Lainey and Edward made their way back to their desks, while Emery swung her chair around to glance up at Shawn.

"Long time, no see," said Emery.

It pulled a chuckle from Shawn's lips, to which made her laugh too. She hadn't really taken any notice of what he was wearing until now, and how could she of not? She spent so much time with him this morning. He wore a blacked out suit and black tie, with his hair brushed back. How did he manage to always look so handsome without even trying?

"Mm, apparently," Shawn chuckled. "Can we please speak in my office?"

Emery nodded her head, quickly saving the document she was working on. Shawn walked away, disappearing somewhere quickly, while she made her way to the office. But not before turning back to find Lainey pretending to penetrate a circle with her finger, which she stuck her finger up at.

She made her way into Shawn's office, taking a seat in front of his desk after removing her shoes. She waited for Shawn to come back in, and when he did, he made his way over to his desk.

"Is there something wrong?" asked Emery.

Shawn shook his head. "No, I was just checking up on your progress. How are the statistics going?"

"Almost done. I just have to send it through to editing, and then it'll be emailed out."

Shawn nodded his head. "Great. You can go finish it off now. Also, there's something on your desk too. I seen it when I was coming back in."

"What in the hell do you mean there's a surprise on my desk? There was nothing there five minutes ago," said Emery.

Shawn just shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Mail must've came in."

Emery threw her hands up, making her way out of the office. She was so confused. She never got mail, she only ever got emails. Nobody had the motivation to send her an actual letter or even a parcel. But what she was about to find was about to change everything.

Lainey and Edward watched her from their seats as Emery walked over to her desk, eyebrows furrowed at the sight of the box on her desk. Shawn followed her out of his office, knowing fully well that she'd like the surprise.

It wasn't tapped up, which was odd. She opened the lid of the box in confusion, finding a black blanket in there, with a small lump in the middle. There was a note on top, which she picked up to read.

"Emery,

I found this lady giving away this little guy online last night when you were over. I know he wouldn't compare to little Rogers, but I hope he's enough to keep you occupied.

Shawn."

She moved the blanket, finding a pair of bright green eyes amongst a black ball of fluff staring up at her. It let out a little meow, causing Emery to tear up at the sight of the little kitten. She looked up at Shawn with tears in her eyes, a small laugh escaping her lips. She gently picked up the kitten, cradling it in her arms.

The kitten meowed into her ear, and she let out a laugh. It took a few minutes, but the kitten adjusted to her and lay against her chest comfortably. Emery walked over to Shawn who was just a few feet away, stopping front of him with a smile.

"Do you like him?" Shawn asked.

Emery grinned. "I love him. Thank you, Shawn."

Shawn shrugged his shoulders. "It was nothing really, but you're welcome."

Lainey and Edward watched from their desks as Emery and Shawn spoke to one another. The brunette turned to her gay best friend as Emery hugged Shawn tightly, Shawn wrapping his arms around her too.

"She is so into him," said Lainey.

"I'm so into him," said Edward.

Lainey furrowed her eyebrows. "What?"

"Don't worry! But I think she is too."

"We need to get them together."

Edward quickly nodded his head at her, the two of them getting back to work. It would be a difficult task to get the two co-workers together, but they were willing to put up a fight. Emery has been single for quite a while, but they hope to change it.

Emery pulled away from her boss, stroking the kitten that lay against her chest. Shawn brought his hand up to pet the kitten, before locking eyes with Emery.

"I better get back to the office. I have a meeting soon."

"Okay. Thank you Shawn."

Shawn just sent her a smile prior to making his way back to his office, while Emery made her way back to her desk. She took a seat, her kitten still laying on her chest asleep as she continued working.

She was grateful for Shawn in that moment. She wouldn't of thought that he'd be that nice to give her a kitten, just because she was upset about her kitten dying. The brunette's reparation was changing in her eyes, she now knew that he was actually trying to do good.

Not like she had originally thought. She was so hateful towards him because he'd taken her job, but she was now starting to realise why he'd gotten the job instead of her. He was doing good for this company, and she was grateful.

Emery was sitting at her desk quietly, when the sound of footsteps could be heard. It rose her ears, and she looked up to find someone walking into the office area. He was tall, wearing a nice suit, had a beard, and cuffed back hair. Who was he? She'd never seen him before.

Lainey sent her a confused look, Emery shrugging at her, before they both watched him walk right into Shawn's office without even knocking. Lainey quickly picked up her phone, typing a message to her best friend who sat at her desk. Her kitten, who she'd named Ash, was asleep on his blanket beside her on the desk.

Emery's phone binged, and she looked down at it, finding a message from Lainey. She quickly paused what she was doing to pick it up and reply to the message.

LAINEY GRAHAM:
Who is that guy? I've never seen him before. 👀
read at 12:21pm

EMERY ELLWOOD:
I don't know. I've never seen him either. He must be a friend of Shawn's.
read at 12:23pm

LAINEY GRAHAM:
Maybe. But he's alright looking👀
read at 12:25pm

EMERY ELLWOOD:
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH LAINEY?!
read at 12:57pm

LAINEY GRAHAM:
HAHAHA, NOTHING! But I wonder who he is.
read at 12:59pm

EMERY ELLWOOD:
Mm, I'll ask Shawn later. Did I tell you about the package?
read at 1:01pm

LAINEY GRAHAM:
Sure you will, and what package? 😉
read at 1:03pm

EMERY ELLWOOD:
Ew, gross. No. The other night when I stayed at Shawn's, he had a package with him. He left it in his office, but I don't know what it is.
read at 1:06pm

LAINEY GRAHAM:
👀👀 Is he sneaking around?
read at 1:07pm

EMERY ELLWOOD:
I don't really know. He could be, but would he do that in spite of the company?
read at 1:09pm

LAINEY GRAHAM:
Honestly, I wouldn't know. But keep an eye out on him. 👀
read at 1:11pm

EMERY ELLWOOD:
Most certainly boss 🙄
sent at 1:12pm

Emery placed her phone down and continued doing her work. Ash was lying on the blanket on her desk beside her, rolling around and attacking the blanket. She giggled at him, reaching over to pat him, before she also got attacked.

He latched onto her hand, teeth drawn, claws out, kicking and biting at her hand repeatedly. She just watched in amusement, until he finally settled down. His weird behaviour went to licking her hand, which she thought was hilarious.

She gave him another pat, turning back to her work. She finished the document off, getting up with her key card to go to the printer. She picked Ash up too, as she figured something bad would happen without her there. Ash sat on her shoulder happily, checking out the scenery as they made their to the printer.

As Emery pressed the key card to the printer, she looked down at Ash who was watching the space around them. She turned around and stood by the door so he could see down the hall, watching a few people get up here and there. He let out a meow when a familiar smell lingered in the air, and she furrowed her eyebrows.

She turned around, finding Shawn making his way up the hall with the man who'd waltzed into the building an hour and a half ago. The two of them were walking right towards her, but that was because the printing room was the last room before the elevator.

She stepped back into the room, keeping an eye on the printing, while she also kept an eye on Shawn and the man. Ash let out a small squeak, causing Emery to let out a giggle. She gave him a pat, picking up the papers from the printer.

She went to make her way out of the printing room, noticing the package Shawn had been holding a few nights ago. He'd handed it over to the guy he was talking with, while she quickly looked away. She made her way down the hall way, acting like nothing had happened.

Ash meowed again, which caught her attention. She glanced down at him, finding him looking back over at Shawn who stood in the hallway. She just gave him a pat, making her way to the desk like she hadn't seen anything.

She didn't know what was in the package, she was curious as to what it was, but she wasn't going to question it unless it was necessary. She took a seat at her desk, gently placing Ash back down onto his blanket.

He curled up, sitting there quietly as Emery was stapling the papers she printed out, together. The sound of footsteps could be heard, but Emery ignored them as she finished off stapling the pages. She looked up at the worst possible moment, finding Shawn standing at her desk.

She smiled slightly, trying to act like she hadn't seen anything at all. He just smiled back, picking up the papers she just stapled from her desk. He read over them, nodding, before he smiled back down at her again.

"Finished with these?" Shawn asked.

Emery nodded. "Yes."

"Great, put them on my desk when you're finished."