"Huh?"

"What do you mean 'huh'?" Austin said, his tone laced with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Which part of what I said didn't you get? Let me break it down for you."

Joy didn't respond immediately, her silence hanging in the air. Austin waited for a moment before looking up, only to find her struggling to suppress a laugh.

"What's so funny?" he asked, genuinely puzzled.

Joy couldn't quite explain it herself. It was just that her lips seemed to have a mind of their own, curving upwards no matter how hard she tried to remain stoic. Her cheeks were defying gravity, refusing to be held down.

"I don't know, give me a sec, let me just laugh it out."

Austin couldn't for the life of him understand what had tickled her so much. Watching her trying to contain her laughter made him chuckle too, and he leaned back, joining in the amusement.

"Alright, laugh all you want, but if you dare say 'no', you're toast today."

Joy then sat up, crossing her legs and facing him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Her giggles sounded like she'd just stumbled upon a treasure trove.

"Hey, Austin, are you secretly crushing on me?"

"Dropping the 'boss' already?" he teased.

"Watch your tone!" Joy suddenly adopted a more authoritative demeanor. "If you're thinking about dating me, you better get your act together. I'm quite the catch, you know."

"Understood," Austin replied with a grin. "Dear Miss Campbell, might I have the honor of calling you my girlfriend?"

you're crushing

figuring out your friends' love situations. Didn't you notice I had a thing for you?"

meeting left a lasting

you talking

don't remember our first encounter? Out of all

mix of surprise and indignation. "And here I thought you didn't even recognize me when I greeted

temples, the connection between those events painting

couldn't see clearly," he explained, chuckling at the memory. "So that's why you

want to admit that during their interview, she had harbored a

her aware of the

the unreachable boss, and she

joining the

by the natural resentment an employee feels towards

have

She found herself cursing Austin more

his lips.

you'd confessed

feelings earlier!" Joy lamented,

thigh. "We

by now. Why all the ambiguity? Why not

what about you?" Austin queried. "Do you like

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