The Sneeze Saga Continues

Courtney stood confidently at the podium, surveying the crowd of colleagues and clients gathered before her. She had spent hours preparing her speech, and she was determined to deliver it without any interruptions. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak, her words flowing smoothly at first. But just as she was hitting her stride, Courtney felt it coming on - that familiar tickle in her sinuses, the warning sign that a sneeze was building in pressure. She squirmed slightly, trying to subtly shift her weight and alleviate the discomfort. Her eyes scanned the room, searching for a distraction, but Mark's teasing gaze was fixed on her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Courtney's face grew hot as she struggled to contain the sneeze. She bit her lip, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. But it was no use. A massive sneeze exploded out of her, echoing through the room like a gunshot. The audience gasped in surprise, and Courtney's eyes widened in mortification. She tried to recover, launching into a hasty apology and attempting to continue her speech. But it was clear that she was fighting a losing battle. Every few sentences, another sneeze would threaten to derail her, and she would have to pause, her face burning with embarrassment. Mark watched her with a mixture of amusement and concern, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. When Courtney finally finished her speech, he made his way over to her, a sympathetic expression on his face. "Hey, I think we need to talk," he said, his voice low and gentle. "Private conversation, okay?" Courtney nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. Maybe he had some new ideas for how to help her control her sneezes. She followed him out of the room, her heart pounding in her chest. As soon as they were alone, Courtney let out a massive sneeze, the sound echoing off the walls. Mark's eyes sparkled with amusement, and he smiled softly. "Sorry," Courtney muttered, her face burning. But it only got worse. Sneeze after sneeze exploded out of her, each one more violent than the last. Mark's smile grew wider as he guided her towards the tissue box, his hand on her elbow. "Here, let me help you out," he said, his voice teasing. Courtney's eyes were streaming with tears as she grabbed a handful of tissues, blowing her nose repeatedly. Mark chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I think we're making progress," he said, his voice low and soothing. "You're not exactly the most dignified person right now, but I'm glad I can help." Courtney glared at him, her face still red and puffy. But despite her embarrassment, she couldn't help but laugh. Mark's teasing was just what she needed to take her mind off her misery. As she blew her nose for what felt like the hundredth time, Courtney caught Mark's eye, and he smiled back at her, his expression soft and gentle. For a moment, she forgot all about her sneezes, and just felt... happy.