By letting me return to work, they meant they were following me to the office. I should have known that was the case because there was no way clingy men like them would willingly let me return alone. Though I had stopped fearing them, I knew they still thought I would run from them, hence their decision.
“Girl!” Chris ran into my office, not bothering to knock on it. “Where the hell have you been?” She yelled accusingly as she walked over to me. “Do you know how worried I was? I went to your house thrice, but you weren’t home. I even tried your cell phone!”
“I apologize for that. It’s just… Well, I had some matters to take care of,” I smiled, responding with the only believable lie I could think of.
“Some things to take care of? And you couldn’t be bothered to tell your best friend about it?” She stood in front of my desk, with her hands placed on her waist and a dark glare at me. “I doubt we are even best friends, Bella. Seems like I’m the only one who values this friendship.”
Her remarks sliced through my heart like a sharp axe, not because of the words, but the sadness in her tone when she said them. It was the angriest I had seen Chris, who was always smiling.
“No, that’s not true.” I got up from my chair and walked over to her. “Believe me, Chris. I would have called if I had the means to. But -”
“The means to? Did you fall into a rabbit hole?”
“Something like that.” I meant the reply as a joke, but she took it the other way.
“I see.” Nodding, she drew a step back, giving me a disappointed stare. “I should have known I was nothing to you. You are even joking about this?”
“Chris, I -”
The door opened and Fred stepped in, accompanied by Blue.
“Good morning, bosses,” Chris greeted them, and I followed.
Wouldn’t want to sound disrespectful by not doing that. Even though it felt odd.
Blue lifted an eyebrow at my greeting, and I resisted the urge to chuckle at the rare look on his face.
Chris looked towards me before she turned to face them, looking like she was barely breathing. “I will be on my way now, bosses, you can go ahead -”
“No, it’s alright,” Fred interrupted as he drew two steps towards her, smiling. “I came for you.” He closed the distance between them and leaned in to whisper.
Curious, I strained my ears towards them, hoping to catch whatever it was they were discussing, but wasn’t able to.
“What?!” Chris screeched as she turned to look at me, with her eyes wide. “That can’t be true!”
“It is,” Blue responded, seemingly aware of what his brother whispered to her.
“God!” Chris placed her palms over her mouth. “This is….” she trailed off, as she sought the right expressions to use.
“Take your time, girl.” Blue winked at her before he turned to me. “We want you in our office in an hour, best journalist.” With those words said, they left my office, leaving me together with Chris, who was staring at me in awe.
Whatever they told her seemed to have shocked the hell out of her.
“I’m sorry, Chris,” I whispered. “I shouldn’t have -”
“Why didn’t you inform me about it, baby girl?!” She rushed over to my side, with her eyes sparkling. “How could you keep something like this huge from your best friend?!” she accused, puzzling me further.
I blinked. “What’s it? What did I keep from you?”
“Were you that embarrassed to tell me about it? Do you think I will judge you?”
“About what?”
“Baby!” she screamed as she twirled around, jumping about like a kid. “This is news! I can’t believe it worked! You know I didn’t tag you as someone capable of doing that!” She placed both hands on my desk. “Tell me, how did it happen?”
“What happened? You are confusing me, Chris. I thought you were angry. Why are you now hyper? What happened?”
“Girl!” she screeched.
“What’s going on, Chris? Why are you excited?”
“How did you get together with them? Were they the ones that pursued you or… Girl! Don’t tell me you did! I don’t know if you had that in you. That’s wonderful!”
“Wait.” I placed my hands on her shoulders to calm her down. “What are you talking about? Who did I get together with? What did he tell you?”
“Are you really dating them?” She whispered, looking at me with sparkling eyes.
“Them? Who are….” My eyes widened when I realized what she was talking about. “What the hell did he tell you?”
“That you are dating!” She clapped, grinning like a kid. “I can’t believe you kept this from me, but I will let it slide since the boss worked and told me why you didn’t call me.”
“Why didn’t I contact you?”
Did he mention they weren’t human? What the hell was Fred up to?
“You went on a holiday with them! A freaking holiday in the mountains!” She looked dreamily at me. “Now, that’s something I never saw coming. It must be nice to date the bosses.”
“A holiday in the mountains?” I scoffed at that. It’s just like Fred to think of something like that.
“That’s a right girl! I can believe you freaking kept that from me! You should have told me about it the moment I stepped in. Tell me, would you have told me about it if the boss didn’t do that?”
“You didn’t let me do anything. I would have -”
“You know what? Keep it for now. I have some tasks to fulfil!” She winked.
“Task? What’s that?”
“To spread the news!” She rushed towards my door before I could stop her. “The entire office needs to know their bosses are taken. I need to tell those leeches to keep their claws away!”
“Chris!” I screamed, but she was already out of the office, yelling out as she hurried down the hall.
“I’m fucked,” I sighed, plopping down on my chair. There was no doubt about it. By the end of today, everyone would know I was dating the bosses. So much for having a best friend.