“What in the fuckin hell” Sandy mutters lowly.
“Did he just say that!” Sandy says and I roll my eyes.
“I bet I didn’t hear him well… what does he mean by that” I blurt out getting pissed off already.
“So… are you gonna agree” I arch my brows.
“No way!… he can’t just boss me around Sandy!, I’m not a kid and obviously not his girlfriend” She giggles.
“He might have a reason for saying that you know”
“What reason…. sandy this Is my house remember, he can’t just force something on me like he owns me, its so annoying jeez!”
“Its obvious girlfriend stop being such a dummy!” Sandy says and continue eating.
“What’s obvious?” She drops her fork and come over to me. She place a palm over my temple and sighs.
“Jeez… I should have known your brain is full of wools for you to notice anything gawd!” I swat her hand away and she chuckles.
“That ain’t funny sandy” I say as I glare at her.
“Okay emmy…. I know it isn’t, but can’t you try and think of what he did, mehn you should have seen his face, it was an angry jealous wreck” She giggle and I scoff.
“Why would he be jealous?. I mean he’s supposed to be glad I’ve gotten a new job after he made me lose the other” I say still stupefied at what he’d said earlier. Sandy groans and pinch my cheeks.
“Ouch!… what’s that for”
“For acting like a dummy emmy for fuck sake can’t you see the reason he said those words!” I rub my cheeks to ease the pain.
“What reasons Sandy?” She facepalm her self and sigh.
“Okay emmy… I’d spell it out in bold letters for you!… He likes you dummy, and he’s jealous cos you’d be working as a secretary to a guy… and you know how some bosses act with their secretary, he dosen’t want another guy hitting on you… there I said it out now, got that right?” She rolled her eyes dramatically while I could hear my heartbeat rapidly.
That can’t be true… he likes me?. Well I know he does but as a friend. But the times we had kissed, the times he had cuddled me, it didn’t feel as though liked me as a friend.
“Awww… don’t tell me you like him too emmy” Sandy cooed as she watched me lost in thoughts. I took a deep breath.
“Stop it Sandy, you’re taking things a bit too far!. I bet he’s just did so out of impulse nothing else” She arched her brows in amusement
“You think so?” I roll my eyes
“I don’t think so… I know so sandy come on…” I say airily. She chuckles.
“Then tell me…. why you went on a date with him” I gasp in surprise.
“What in the hell!… how did you know that!” I blurt out stupefied. She giggle and flip her hair dramatically.
“Sandy O’Reilly’s magic.. you don’t thank me…” I glare at her.
“Okay fine… Nick called me the other day, said you told him you were at my place and we were having a girls night… really emmy that was such a cute lie” I itch my hair, a blush heating up my cheeks as I remember the incidence.
“C’mon emmy spill it out” She say teasingly. I groan internally. How do I tell her all that had happened, its so embarrassing.
“It’s not gonna hurt you know…. I’m gonna stay pretty quiet” She grinned and zip her mouth, throwing the imaginary key away. I face palm myself and groan. Oh jeez!… this gonna be so awkward. I suck in my breath and roll my eyes.
“Fine!” I blurt out and she squeals. I narrate all that had happened, from the first time we had kissed, how he had asked us to be friends and that night’s incidence. I watch her eyes twinkle mischievously.
“I… need a drink emmy” She voice out before walking to the fridge to take a can of juice. I could only itch my hair in embarrassment. she sit across me again, and fans herself with her palm.
“Wait a sec emmy… you mean he freaking kissed you!… twice?” She whisper yelled. I stare at my wristwatch and watch it tick slowly.
“Sandy… it’s almost late ain’t you gonna get going!” She gasp feigning hurt.
“You hurting my feelings emmy” She pout and I chuckle
“Stop it sandy… I don’t wanna talk about that!” I roll my eyes and get off the stool. I open the cabinet and brought out the things I’d need in preparing dinner. Sandy gets off and comes over. I hand her a plate of onions. She giggles and take it.
“come on you can’t ignore this let’s talk about it…. please” She coos and I scoff.
“There’s nothing to talk about Sandy!”
“Stop being such a grouch emmy!…. there is a lot to talk about”. I mentally smack myself regretting why I told her already. I bring out a plate of carrots and began to dice.
“Ok so what do you wanna talk… about”. I drawl airily. She grin and takes a knife as she began to slice.
“I know its gonna be pretty awkward asking you this… but when he first kissed you… did you… you know enjoy it?” She winks and grin. I chew my lower lip, blushing terribly.
“I dunno sandy… I guess I was shocked to notice” My nerves tingle as i recall that moment we had kissed. I know I didn’t want that to end. Sandy scoffs.
“Stop lying emmy… your face is all pink from blushing you know” I palm my cheeks and she grin.
“You’re one heck of a perv sandy” I curse and she laughs.
“Look Emilia… imma tell you a little girly advice. Don’t act like a stubborn freak okay. Listen to what your heart says about him. Use your head to think too, cos sometimes what our heart says could mislead us… Do you like him emmy?” She drops the knife and watches me intently. I avoid her gaze and sigh. I hate to think I do. But its pointless. I can’t stop myself from thinking about him. His blue orbs staring at me under his dark lashes. The feel of his lips on mine, the feel of his arms around mine….
“If I were to use my head, I’d say he’s just a friend…” She arch her brows
“And what does your heart say?” I place a palm on my chest.
“its just beating nothing else” I smirk and she burst into laughter.
“I think I’ve gotten an answer girlfriend” She says inbetween her laugh.
“sandy that dosen’t mean anything okay… he’s just a friend nothing else” I drop my knife and walk over to the sink as she laughs.
“I pray so emmy, and I hope its not too late to realise you have a thing for the hottie”
“Sandy!!” I reprimand and glare at her.
“Whatever!” She says and roll her eyes…
“So what’s for dinner?” She asks. I turn off the faucet.
“Pasta….”
***
“I don’t want Becky to know of this sandy” I tell her as she picks up her clutch from the bed. Liam has been in his room since sandy arrived and he had declined dinner. He seemed a bit tensed.
” Why emmy… you don’t wanna stand being teased huh?” She grins and I chuckle
“No sandy… its not that. But I don’t wanna make a fuss about this. It was purely coincidental…” She arch her brows and scoff.
“You think so?” I roll my eyes.
“I know so sandy… stop giving me that funny look!” She laughs and brush back her jet black hair.
“Okay girlie if you say so… its almost late damn!” I grin at her widely.
“Well you caused it, sticking around and trying to gossip” I say and get off the bed
“Duh… not like I’m complaining… cheerio girlie” She pulls me into a hug.
“Are you sure you don’t wanna consider working for him, it’s gonna be fun you know, you can act like a spy and watch his back for those cops trailing him” I roll my eyes dramatically.
“Shoo away Sandy O’Reilly!” I poke her ribs and she laughed.
“I’d jump on that offer if I were you emmy” She says and walk out of the room. I trail behind her and sigh.
“Thank goodness I’m not you” we walk out of the door and I walk her to the gates.
“Well… I wish you luck with your new job emmy” She drawls and scoff.
“I’m gonna drop by your apartment tomorrow once I get out of work okay?” She shrugs.
“Okay emmy… good night”
“Night sandy… tell Becky I said hi” She nods and walk out of the gate. She got into her car and drove out. I sigh and walk back in. I sit on the couch for a while as I listened to the soft movement underneath the floorboards. I itch my hair in frustration as I recalled what sandy had said earlier. Do I really like him, or I’m attracted to him cos he’s acting nice now. I stare at the washing machine at a corner of the room and sigh deeply.
I know he’s been nice lately but I can’t just give in to all that he says, especially without a good reason. I’m old enough to make decisions on my own for Pete’s sake!. I walk back into my room and had a long bath before snuggling under the covers. I say a quick prayer and push off the thoughts from my head, I’m starting work tomorrow and I don’t plan on going late…
I grin at myself in the mirror as I brush my hair. I’m putting on a cream coloured knee length skirt and white shirt, tucked into the skirt neatly. I pack my hair into a tight ponytail, making sure no strand was out. I applied a small amount of gloss and slid my foot into a pair of black flats. I look real different, and I’m glad for this new change. I get off the chair and pick up my black shoulder bag. I took one last final look at myself before walking out of the room, smiling widely.
Liam walks out of the staircase bare chested, his hair in a beanie. I stare at his tatted arms and abs and chew my lips trying to focus. His eye stops on my figure. I suck in my breath as he stares at me, his gaze so intense that I try to breath normally. He’s been locked up in his room since last night and I have the feeling he is pissed off cos i have gotten a job.
“Morning liam” I mumble a greeting. He amble towards me and stops inches away from me.
“Where you going” He asks calmly, I curl my toes nervously.
“I’m starting work today…” I voice out. His gaze turns dark.
“I thought we had an agreement last night”
“An agreement…. We never agreed on anything liam!” His face was taut and I could see he was trying not to lose his cool.
“You have no idea the mess you’re getting yourself into right? I roll my eyes, getting pissed off already.
“I’m not getting myself Into any mess liam!… its just work remember!”
“And I want you to work for me not anyone else!… is it the cash huh?… I’m gonna pay you more” I stare at him angrily.
“Money?…. everything is not about money liam!… i can’t just sit at home doing nothing okay!”I say raising my voice.
“Who said you were gonna be sitting idle at home?… you’d be working as my secretary and there’s gonna be plenty of work…”
“…. its not the same thing!.. I’m still locked up here and I’m going to die of depression if I sit at home doing nothing!” I interrupt him angrily. Why does he think he can boss me around for fuck sake!.
“You aren’t gonna fuckin work there….” He says coldly. I scoff in anger.
“Don’t tell me what to do liam, the fact that we are friends dosen’t give you the right to make decision for me okay!” Getting angry on my first day of work is a bad omen. He stares at me darkly.
“I’d make a lot of decisions for you…. as long as they are right” He says through gritted teeth. I puff put my breath and adjust my glasses.
“I’m late for work liam” I shoved past him and storm out of the apartment. He’s succeeded in ruining my happy mood jeez! I walk out of the gate in anger, ignoring Nana who was staring at me from her apartment porch. I stop a cab and slide in telling the driver the address. I lean against the headrest and breathe out slowly.
This is so annoying!. Why does he feel I’d give in to every of his whims!… He can’t just boss me around all the time. I’m not a kid and certainly not his girlfriend jeez!. I look out of the windows as cars rolled past and try to put myself into a happy mood.
The cab pulled in front of the huge company and I got out hastily. I paid the cab fare and walked into the lobby. I took the lift for the manager’s office and watch the blinking light as it went up. I puff out my breath nervously. The lift slides open and I step into the small reception. I’ve been here yesterday but I can’t stop being nervous. I approached the secretary desk where a chubby looking woman was sitting behind it and typing on a laptop.
“Good morning miss..” She looked up at me and smiled
“Morning miss Roberts, you’re the new secretary right?” I nod and smiled back.
“Oh… okay, I’m here to welcome you, I’m Linda… and you look so pretty” She held out her hand and I shook it warmly with a blush
“Pleased to meet you Linda… and thanks” I grin liking her instantly. Work here won’t be bad afterall.
“Mr Reuben is having a call conference and would be free in thirty minutes, actually this is supposed to be your table but you’ve got to see him first, do have a seat miss” She gestured to a couch.
“Okay thanks a bunch miss” I mutter and walk to the couch. I bring out my phone and plug in my earphones and began to listen to music as I waited for him.
Thirty minutes later I was ushered into the manager’s office. I thanked Linda and walked into the office. The office was quite spacious, and furnished expensively. He was sitting at the desk, his eyes glued to the laptop.
“Good morning sir” I greet nervously. He looks up from the screen and stares at me
“Morning…” He drawled and shut his laptop. He lean back on his swivel chair and roam his eyes on my body.
“So you resuming today right” I nod nervously. He had a neat line of beard and tanned skin. His hair was oiled back perfectly and his face chisseled with unsmiling eyes. He didn’t look scary at least but strict.
“There’s much work to do today and I’m afraid you’d be working your ass off pretty hard on your first day” I chew my lips and nod again. He points to a neat pile of files on the table.
“These files are from the firm I want you to analyse every one of them, enter each one of them into a register and send the soft copies into the company’s email… it needs to be ready in two hours”. I pick up the large stack of files
“Okay sir…”. This is gonna take four hours jeez!
“I’ve got an appointment at three, hurry up with that and I’d assign you to another task.” I nod and walk out of his office. I walk back to the secretary desk Linda was sitting on before. I drop them on the table and drop my bag. I blew out a breath and sat on the swivel chair. i powered on the laptop and itch my hair. I glare at the large pile of files and grumpily set to work.
••••
My back ached terribly and my throat was dry. I stood up from my desk and arranged the files into a heap. It had taken me three hours to finish the work he had assigned to me. I couldn’t go any faster. This is so tiring!. I blew out a tired breath and walked into his office. He looked up on seeing me.
“You’re an hour late” He scowled. I bit my lip a bit hard and dropped the files.
“I’m sorry about that sir… I had to crosscheck for flaws” He chuckled softly.
“I hope you’d be able to keep up, I don’t need a lazy secretary understood?” I blink my lashes and nod.
“Go over to that cabinet and sort out those files. I want them arranged neatly. Be quick about that, the board meeting is to hold in an hour… and you’d be accompanying me” I itch my hair and adjust my glasses.
“Okay sir” I mutter tiredly and went over to the huge cabinet with a lot of files in disarray. I clench and unclench my teeth angrily. What was the previous secretary doing anyways, there’s so much work! I puff out a breath and set to work hastily.
|•••••|
I stare at my wristwatch for the hundredth time as I typed away on the laptop. First day at work turns out to be hellish and so tiring. I thread my fingers through my hair, and rub my temple to ease the throbbing headache. Its 6pm already and I’ve barely eaten anything save for few snacks Linda had been kind to buy for lunch. My eyes were aching terribly from staring at the screen for long.
Reuben had left an hour ago and had left me with another pile of file to handle. I entered the last of the file into the register and turned off the laptop. I slam it shut and place it into one of the drawers. I placed the file Into another drawer before getting off the chair. I yawn tiredly, slung my bag over my shoulders and walked out of the reception. I took the lift for the ground floor and walked out of the lobby into the busy streets. I plan on going over to Sandy’s apartment but hell!… I’m dead tired. I waited for a cab and that seemed to take ages. I finally got Into one after thirty minutes of waiting. I told him my home address and slump back on the seat tiredly. I texted sandy and Becky I won’t be coming over again. The ride was unbearably slow cos of traffic. I curse under my breath and shut my eyes.
“Miss…. we’ve had a breakdown” I flutter my eyes open and sit up. I had dozed off tiredly.
“What?” I ask him, a bit sleepy. He stared at me through the rearview mirror.
“I’m sorry miss, the car broke down” Oh shit!, why on earth does it have to be now I glanced at my wristwatch and gasp
“How long have we been stuck in traffic” I blurt out in surprise.
“An hour miss, you were asleep throughout” I itch my hair and paid the fare. I got out of the cab and looked around. I heave a sigh of relief when I realised I’m just a street away from my apartment.
“Ok… I can walk the remaining distance” I tell him and he drives away. I cross over to the other side and enter the street leading to my house. it was pretty quiet its just 8pm though. I took long strides looking around me at intervals. I turned a corner and bumped into someone. It was a guy with dreads, I flinch at the stench of alchol.
“I’m… sorry I wasn’t watching” I apologize. He grins at me and reveals his stained teeth.
“Woah…. who do we have here” He drawled drunkily. He whistled lowly blocking me from walking. I arch my brows and clutch my bag tighter. Oh no!… a street thug!. I step sideways and he stepped in front of me again.
“Not so fast Missy” He drawled and stepped closer. My breath hitched in panic and I took a step back.
“Don’t you dare touch me” I blurt out and held my bag closer to me. He grin again and move closer to me
“Come on sexy pants… let’s play dirty” He lick his lips and brought out a switchblade. I gasp and move back quickly, preparing to run. He grabs my arm tightly and I kicked him in his groin. He release his hoId on me and I turn round hastily, I bumped into another guy and I fell to the floor, fear settling in my stomach.