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The Unexpected Charm of Patrick
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2024-12-25 09:06:57Isabella
The office party wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. Sure, the music was a little too loud, and someone had inevitably chosen a playlist that screamed “middle-aged dad at a barbecue,” but the energy was good. People were mingling, the food was decent, and I didn’t have Logan hovering over me like a smug shadow.
Logan, of course, was off doing his executive thing—talking to the higher-ups, shaking hands, and charming the pants off everyone. Well, figuratively. I hoped. That left me free to mingle without the constant tension of our... complex relationship. That’s how I ended up chatting with Patrick from IT.
Patrick was adorable in a nerdy, bespectacled way. He had an easy smile, a button-up shirt, and a knack for telling stories that were surprisingly captivating. I was drawn to his unassuming demeanor—
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