"Why did you revert back to factory settings Donna?" Keith asked her without looking at her. He continued scrolling through his phone.
They had left the house together and they were now riding to work in the same car, but that had only been possible after he had managed to force Donna not to follow him in another car. She had thought it more better for them to arrive at the company separately, her reason being that she didn't want them to be seen arriving together.
That had slightly angered him, "You don't want to be seen with me?"
"Don't think too much Keith," Donna had chuckled, "I'm always seen with you, it's just... nevermind."
And he didn't mind. Because she had gotten into the car with him.
But now, she had gone back to calling him "Mr. Preston" despite the fact that it was just them in the car, and the driver. She was now being formal with him as she went through the Donovan file, sitting beside him in the back seat.
Donna turned her head to look at him, "Sorry?"
Keith sighed, "You've called me "Mr. Preston" several times already in just a space of a few minutes. I much rather prefer you call me Keith."
Donna smiled, "Calling you by your name at work would raise a lot of eyebrows and rumors might start up. I'd rather avoid that. The relationship we share is after all, just professional."
Keith had a lot to say to reply to that, that he wouldn't mind what rumors would come up, and he didn't want just a professional relationship to exist between them. If the rumors got too much then he would just make it official and date her. He chuckled and then smiled. She living in his house already made him feel like they really were dating and living together. He liked that.
He liked that very much.
"Sure," he said in reply to her, "Of course."
She flashed him a smile and brought her head back down, focusing on studying the documents. Today, they would be meeting with Mr. Donovan's lawyers, the last time the meeting had not been able to hold because of the whole incident with her daughter's kidnap. Somehow, she had been shocked when Keith had told her he had canceled the meeting because of that.
"You spent most of the night going through that document, and you're still going through it," Keith pointed out as he watched her now.
"I have to be thorough," she replied to him without lifting her head up, "It's a huge deal involving a whole lot of money, every phrase and clause has to be well understood."
Keith chuckled. Yes, Donna had always been thorough when it came to work, he just didn't know she was the same about work at home as she was in the office. It made him proud and relaxed. She was very much more than competent enough for him and Ortho Speare.
He chuckled, remembering Laura telling him to fire her and have her replaced. He remembered the exact words she had used then and he repeated them, "Goddess of secretaries."
"What?" Donna asked him, her attention still on the document on her laps.
"Nothing. We're here," he announced to her and unclicked the seat belt.
Donna lifted her head and closed the file, "I'll go in first and then you can come in minutes later."
Keith frowned and looked at her now, "Why would I do that?"
"So they won't know we came in together," Donna stared at him as if this was something he was supposed to know.
Keith let out a breath, rolled his eyes and shook his head, then pushed the car door open, "We're going in together Donna. Don't argue it."
Donna tried to protest. She quickly stepped down from the car and ran to Keith's side, "Mr. Preston...!"
The fact that she was still calling him "Mr. Preston" really annoyed him, "Walk in front of me Donna, don't follow behind."
Donna knew she could not convince him otherwise, they were almost at the entrance anyway so she just ran to be a few paces in front of him, clutching on to her bag and agreeing that her boss was just difficult.
They walked into the building and Donna visibly increased her pace, she walked straight to the receptionist's table to grab her morning coffee which Paige always made for her.
"Hi Donna," Paige greeted cheerfully but gasped when she saw Keith just few places behind her, "Oh my God, Good morning Mr. Preston."
Donna chuckled and Keith smiled.
Paige reached over the counter and seized Donna by the shirt with her index and thumb finger to pull her closer, and then she whispered, "First, how are you guys coming in together?!"
Donna pulled back with another chuckle and placed a hand over her mouth to respond to her also in a whisper, "It's a secret."
Paige narrowed her eyes at Donna with a smile, before she winked, "You have a guest waiting for you Donna, I already sent him up to your office."
Donna frowned slightly in confusion, "A guest? For me or for Kei... ahhhh... Mr. Preston?"
Keith chuckled out now but turned away from the women. Donna had almost called him Keith in front of another worker, and the way she had recovered was just too funny. His chuckle turned into a light laugh as he walked away, heading for the elevator.
Donna frowned but it wasn't in anger, she leaned in closer to Paige and asked, "Who is the person you sent up to my office?"
Paige grinned and her face heated up in a blush, "All I can say is, he's a man and he's come here for you before."
Donna tried to guess whom the person was since Paige wouldn't tell her. The first person that came to her mind was Wayne, but why would he come here first? To apologize to her? If he was the one up in her office, she honestly didn't know how she would react to him.