Page 14 of Blue Gold

He strolled further into the office, stopping right in front of me.

“You forgot these at the restaurant,” he said before giving me a small paper bag.

I took it from him and looked inside to find my gloves.

“Oh, I didn’t even notice they were missing.” I took them out, then put them back inside the bag. “You came all the way here just to give me this?” I frowned.

He seemed a bit hesitant before nodding, and I worried I might have sounded too harsh.

“Thank you. I truly appreciate it. But I’m sorry you’ve troubled yourself all the way here.” I placed the bag on my desk when a thought occurred to me. “How did you know where I worked?”

“Marrie helped me. She found your name in the telephone directory. Your company address was there, too.” As he spoke, he constantly rubbed his wrist.

Ignoring my urge to reach forward and stop him, I asked, “Marrie?”

“She’s the owner of the restaurant.”

That’s right. He said her name that time I went there.

“I see,” I sighed, half hating myself for being so cold. But what was my other option? To pull him into a tight hug?

“I-I’m sorry for suddenly coming here. It’s just that you said you’d visit the restaurant again, and it has been three weeks.” He paused and took in a short breath before forcing his stare up. “I guess I just wanted to see you.”

My heart fluttered at his confession, then broke due to the sadness in his eyes. If only I could have collected him into my arms right then.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been incredibly busy with work.” In order to forget you.

With his bottom lip tucked under his teeth, he looked around my office. “Yes, of course. Again, I don’t know why I came… I guess it was nice to meet a new friend.”

A friend? So that’s what he sees in me?

“A friend?” I asked, holding his stare.

He stayed quiet for a minute, almost like he wasn’t sure what to say, before nodding. “Yes. You see, other than Marrie, I don’t know anyone here, and not knowing English makes it even harder to make friends.” He wrapped his arms around himself. “Then you showed up, and finally, there was someone I could speak to that made me feel less lonely.”

So focused on my attraction to him, I didn’t stop to think about his motivation to see me. Elliot was lonely and needed a friend. It made so much sense now, didn’t it? Why else would he seek comfort in someone fourteen years his senior?

“It’s not easy. Not being understood, that is,” I said and watched the comfort spreading on his face. Finally, he didn’t look as nervous.

“Are you at least trying to learn English?” I asked.

His cheeks turned red before he gave me an apologetic smile. “I'm really bad with languages, and working almost every day, I don’t have the time to find a tutor⁠—”

“I can help.”

I realized what I’d just offered a little too late, as Elliot had already gotten excited.

“Really?” He smiled, pressing his palms together.

Since it was too late to back down, I nodded. “Yes, of course.”

For the past three weeks, I’d desperately tried to stay away from him because I feared something could bloom between us. Understanding Elliot didn’t see me that way might have hurt, but it also made everything a hell of a lot easier. Because now, seeing him wouldn’t be the result of my greed and lust but to help him. I also knew that the moment he learned English, his life would be much easier, and he deserved that. And so much more.

“Oh, thank you, Daniel!” He beamed and, in a moment of pure excitement, reached forward and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug.

He smelled so good and felt even better, enough to get my pulse rising and my skin hotter.

Not wanting him to notice my reaction, I politely pushed him back. “You don’t need to thank me,” I said while patting his shoulder like some old geezer.