Guys,

If you’ve been following my work since early SBF days, thank you, really, from the bottom of my heart.

It’s been over a decade since i worked on this, and it still catches me off guard that people remember this story, let alone ask about it. haha.

This edition is that same story.

It has been dusted off and put back together for a proper release. If it’s your first time reading this title, welcome, you’re getting the full ride: the bet, the office, the chaos, all of it.

For the old readers: a few things have changed. Some of the rougher language and a handful of scenes have been reworked so this could go out through mainstream publishing channels.

Nothing that touches the story you remember or the characters has changed. There are a few lines that read very differently now than they did in 2013. Those are not negotiable, they have to change. I’ve updated them and maybe you might not be able to tell the difference.

If you notice something’s not quite as you remember it, that’s where the change is.

Everything else , the bet, the banter, the drama mama of it all is exactly as it was.

Thanks for sticking around this long. Hope it’s still worth the read.

This has been properly formatted and will be made free to read for a while before it goes into subscription.

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A dumb office bet. A slow-burn crush neither of them will admit to. And a wager that turns into the realest thing either of them has ever had. A steamy, funny Singapore-set workplace romance for readers 18+

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Chapter 1

I work in a small office in the industrial park near Tai Seng.

The small office of 20 staff is a close knit one and I must have accumulated quite a bit of good karma in my previous life to have a good boss.

It’s my longest staying job thus far and for the past 4 years since I joined, no one left. My co- workers come to work at 8.30 sharp with a smile on their faces and most will leave before 8pm with an even broader smile.

Perhaps it’s because my boss Mr Chan would personally chase everyone out of the office at 8pm.

I remembered it was probably my first month in the office when one evening he tapped me on my shoulder at 8pm and said.

Mr Chan : There is more to life than work.

That remark has never left my head since that day he chased me away from my desk.

In terms of pay benefits, we are perhaps a little less than 5%-8% lower than our peers but no one complained.

We’re a happy bunch of workers and even though there are some politics at play, it was nothing compared to what I’ve seen in some of the bigger offices.

Aside from a happy work life, I was the envy of quite a few male colleagues when I got to share a cubicle with one of the prettiest, spunkiest girl in the team.

Her name is Joan.

Now Joan is probably one of the best dresser in the office. She’s got an eye for colours and matching her outfits nicely with accessories. It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple pants and work top, or a skirt with long sleeve blouse, I’ve even see her in berms and slippers one rainy day, she looks stylish and cool.

Yes, she looks hot too.

I’ve been secretly thanking the tropical weather in Singapore ever since the first time I saw Joan step into office in shorts and slippers about 6 months after I joined the company.

My mouth literally gapped open when she settled into the cubicle with her damp clothes and started to dry her legs.

Most people usually have tissues in their cubicles but for me, I have a preference for using kitchen towels.

Yes those standing rolls of towels you use in the kitchen.

I prefer the thicker feel of the paper pulp.

That rainy morning, Joan put down her bag, opened her umbrella to air it at the empty space behind our desk and came straight over to my seat. She reached for my kitchen towels and without a word, started pulling and unrolling a good amount of them.

Joan : The rain is crazy today….. totally drenched…

I was fighting to peel my eyes away from her top that was partially plastered against her flat tummy. The damp smell of wet fabric reminded me of wet laundry.

As she ripped off a length, she spoke a little louder towards Mr Chan’s office.

Joan : Boss…… we need a sheltered linkway from our office to the bus stop.

My Chan look up from desk and came out of the office, coffee in hand.

Mr Chan : What was that again ?

Joan turned towards Mr Chan, angling her body about 25 degrees to her right but keeping her legs firmly anchored to the carpeted floor beside me. Her left feet twisted slightly off the floor, if she had a golf club, I guess she’s ready to swing.

I felt a bit of reaction in my pants as I watch Joan run the towel up the side of her legs as she spoke, absorbing the droplets of rain from her hairless legs.

I thought they looked a little shiny but it had to be the lighting, or my eyes must be playing tricks on me.

Joan : I said…. We need a sheltered linkway …. To the bus stop.

Mr Chan nodded before saying he’ll call the prime minister and talk to him about it in a nonchalant manner. Another colleague , Amy, sitting opposite Joan threw a ball of tissue at her.

Amy : Don’t be a bimbo early in the morning Joan…

There was some giggles before everyone got back to work.

Joan thanked me for the towels before adding a little loudly.

Joan : Thanks for the towels James…… and stop looking at my legs.

A few immediate wooooss…. And wahhss….and a rather audible ‘ pervert ’ sounded out from the rest of the colleagues.

Joan laughed and threw a ball of used towels at me.

That was the general atmosphere of the office I work in.

We laughed, we joked and we get things done.

Joan and I worked closely on quite a few projects and we got closer as colleagues. Perhaps it’s because we both love to read.

There was once we tried to eat snake together after a meeting ended early and we ended up at a bookstore.

We were at separate sections browsing different books for a good 2 hours before we decide to head back to office.

Yes we are close, but not to the stage that we’re dating, not that I mind. The thing is Joan is not available.

Joan’s in a relationship for a long time, attached to her boyfriend since her days in NUS.

It’s at least a 10 year relationship by my estimates.

Sometimes I would tease her asking if she’s ever getting married.

James : Eh Joan…. Turning 30 liao you know….. Ah… Thomas haven proposed yet ah ?

She’ll usually shoot me a sideway glance and if anything was within her reach, she would throw it at me.

Joan : Tsk…. Don’t kaypo can……. I already very sad liao…

She added with a sad frown.

Joan : That day this kid called me auntie…… what the hell…. Haha…

James : Aiyah…. Tell Thomas he don’t propose soon… I’ll propose liao ah…

Joan laughed and replied.

Joan : yah la.. yah la… You always say that…

She turned and gave me a haughty glance that oozes and scream slut no matter how you look at it before looking at the direction of my privates.

Joan : Wait till you grow some pubic hair first ok ? James ? hahah .

I laughed.

Well, Joan is 4 years older than me but you would not be able to tell that from her looks definitely.

She still looked like a fresh grad who just joined the workforce not too long ago.

She may be 4 years older than me, but I’m exactly 4 cm taller than her at 1.7m.

Her eye lashes are naturally long, and she has a habit of blinking a couple of times when she looks at you for a favour. That big round eyes and the moving lashes coupled with her biting her lips was enough to make everyone give in to her in the office.

Since I was one of her closer colleagues, I would always tell her off, adding that she looked exactly like the porn star from the Jap av I downloaded when she does that.

She would usually give me a sweet coy look, blink a couple times more before showing me the finger.

Sometimes it amazes me how different Joan can behave depending on circumstances and the people she interact with.

She came from a good school and a strict family background,she struck me as someone prim and proper, yet she’s so at home whenever she’s talking with those uncle contractors or ah beng vendors.

Joan : Wah lao eh…. Knn… uncle Tong… don’t tiao kang jiak wa leh….. this is different from the sample you submitted. Buay swee lah…

I simply cannot imagine hearing something like this from a girl who came from RGS.

On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve heard her challenged a unreasonable client citing contract clauses that I don’t even realise existed in a manner that’s even more professional that the lawyers conducting themselves in court sessions.

Joan can be a typically ah lian if she chose to, she can change her tone to a spunky chic party girl if she wanted , and when it’s time to be professional and firm, her demeanour left everyone in no doubt that she meant business.

This is Joan for you.

Her naturally firm and full B rack and long shapely legs made her one of my regular masturbation targets.

Needless to say, I fantasised quite a bit about her.

January 4th , 2013

Friday

Joan is a January baby and her birthday falls on the 4th. More than hand the office was on leave since it was the 1st week of the new year.

Joan too was supposed to be on leave that day and I was surprised to see her turn up at work.

My section was empty, the closest colleague is at least 5-6 m away facing in a different direction. Thinking that no one would appear since I’m right at the corner of the office, I had sammyboy forum on full screen.

I was happily browsing the pictures and reading the stories online when I felt a smack across the back of my head.

I honestly felt my balls shrank to the size of a pea and I quickly closed the window and stood up.

The moment I turned around, I saw Joan with her eyes wide opened with her hands on her hips.

I wanted to speak but I could only managed some mumbling I could not even make out myself.

James : Ermmm..berummm…iwasnmmmm

Joan made a gesture of trying to smack me again which caused me to dodge but she did not follow through with her action.

I saw her powered up her PC before she went to the pantry to get her coffee.

10am

James : Hey… I thought you’re on leave ?

Joan : Well… just feel very sian…

James : Oh. I almost forgot.

I took a new roll of kitchen towel and scribbled happy birthday on it before passing it to Joan.

James : Nah…. Happy birthday…

She laughed and accepted my gift with both hands and a slight bow.

Joan : Thank you, James. I’ll need this… haha.

I was about to ask how is she celebrating her birthday when she took a look around us before sitting back down. What happened next completely caught me off guard.

I saw her beautiful face scrunched up, her eyes watered and she started to cry.

I felt my balls shrink again, probably to the size of a sesame seed as I struggled to understand what was going on.

It was those silent sobbing, she sobbed so hard her body shook. There was hardly any sound coming from her but her tears flowed freely.

In the back of my head, I wanted to crack a silly joke that went something like ,

“ Are you that sad you turned 31 ? “

I was glad I kept my mouth shut because Joan got off her chair and sat down on the carpeted floor before struggling to talk.

It was a soft sobbing mumble but I manage to make out what she was trying to say.

Joan : Thomas and I broke up 2 days ago….

Her head was lowered and she buried herself in her hands and she sobbed away.

I stood up and checked the immediate surroundings before joining her on the floor.

I gently nudge her shoulder and gave them a squeeze.

I did not disturb her for a good 15 minutes, allowing her to release her pent up emotions as much as she could.

I helped her up to the chair when I saw she was trying to get up.

James : I’ll… I’ll bring you another cup of coffee. The old one cold liao..

I went to the pantry and got her a fresh cup of coffee before heading back to the cubicle.

I passed her the cup of coffee and I immediately pursed my lips hard, pressing them together.

I sat down on my seat and my hands squeezed the sides of the handle so hard it turned my knuckles white.

Joan : Sorry… I know it’s very silly…. Go ahead… laugh at me…

She dried her tears before going on.

Joan : As my cubicle mate, I was expecting at least some sympathy from you James…. Not this…

I kept really quiet and just stared on. I was really trying to calm myself down.

Joan : It’s my birthday after all…. Can’t you just be a little nicer to me…

She came forward and smack me on my thigh and added.

Joan : Stop it…. I just ended a relationship… what you’re doing is very rude..

I took a deep breath and replied.

James : I’m… sorry…

That was all I managed before I had to purse my lips again.

Joan : I don’t get what’s so funny James… you’re quite a heartless chap….. I was still about to ask if you’re still considering proposing to me….

James : I’m….sorry Joan…

I could not hold it any longer and I let loose a short burst of giggling.

It was a genuine giggle that centred around something funny.

Joan gave a sigh before turning away from me.

What Joan spoke next was the beginning of a very interesting journey for the both of us.

It was our very first wager as colleagues.

Joan : I bet you would not be able to make me laugh today. …

I replied immediately.

James: What are we betting on ? haha.

I felt quite sorry for Joan when I heard her speak. I could really feel the sourish sadness when I heard her reply.

Joan : I’ll buy you dinner lor….. since I’m probably going to be alone for my birthday.

I replied almost immediately

James : You are on..

I left the cubicle and I went to borrow another colleague’s mirror she had on her desk and brought it back to Joan.

The moment I handed it to her, she burst out laughing, spitting saliva and letting loose some mucus at the same time.

Joan : Hahaha…..idoit…

I handed Joan some wet tissues for her to clean up her face. It turns out the marker I used to scribble Happy birthday on the kitchen towels smudge all over her when she used them to dry her tears.

It was not too bad, she just had dark smudges of black all over her face and it was really quite a funny sight.

James : So…. Did I win the bet ?

Joan laughed.

After a few seconds later, she nodded her head.

I smiled.

Joan composed herself shortly after and demanded another bet. She’s not someone who takes losing lightly.

Joan : James …. I bet I can make you cry during dinner.

I laughed and shook my head.

James : No way…

She just laughed and asked if I’m taking up the bet.

James : Sure….. what are we betting on ?

Joan smirked and shot me a sideway glance.

Joan : Winner gets to slap the loser.

I guess given her lousy mood, she really needed to vent her frustration out on someone that day.

Well, at least I get to have dinner with Joan.

I agreed.

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