Isabella
“Holy heavens,” I mumbled to myself, staring at this man’s upper body.
“His chest. No, his abs,” I thought confused by the glorified image in front of me.
This wasn’t like a model from the magazine, or seeing the thirst trap of a man on social media. I could see his heart move up and down as he breathed. It was real, this was my reality…
“I think I need to wash this,” He dropped his shirt on his table, but I could swear I barely heard that.
The truth was I wanted to touch it, I wanted to feel it. His skin, those abs, and have my hands on his racing heart.
“Isabella,” he snapped his fingers on my face, and immediately I was brought back from my thoughts.
“Yes,” I said struggling to take my eyes away from his body.
“My face is up here,” He said proudly, and right now I wished I could dig the ground and just hide from this embarrassment. “Damn it”
“I know,” I cleared my thoughts, and widened my eyes a bit now staring at him like I wasn’t ogling a few moments ago.
“Could you help me get another shirt,” he said calmly staring intently at me.
“Yes sure,” I pushed my hair and nodded my head leaving his office when he called me back
“You need the key,” He said and I turned to him confused.
“To my car?” He added.
“Oh yes. The key,” I chuckled nervously and went to grab it from him.
“Thanks,” I said awkwardly and started to leave when I halted in my tracks again.
“I’ll take this, and these,” I picked up his stained shirt and the cup of coffee, giving him a forced smile before leaving his office.
“Get a hold on yourself, Isabella,” I hit my head lightly, before heading you’re the elevator to get his shirt.
**
I grabbed him a blue shirt I thought would look okay with his suit, and made my way back to the office when someone called my name.
“Micah,” I stood in front of the building shocked to see him there.
“Hi,” He smiled at me, while I reciprocated genuinely.
“What are you doing here?” I asked taking a step closer to him, while he did the same.
“I came to see you,” He said simply gazing at me intently.
“At my workplace?” I asked giving him a suspicious gaze.
“Right, that sounded wrong,” He said and we both laughed
“Well, you haven’t been home for days,” he explained which was true.
“Right,” I said and smiled, pushing my hair behind my ears as the wind made them scatter around my face.
“let me help you with that,” He took a step closer carefully and helped me arrange my hair carefully. I felt his presence closer to mine, his face closed to mine, and as much as I tried to be subtle about this not affecting me, it did give me a weird feeling.
“All done,” He said and took a step back
“Thank you,” I smiled and felt my cheeks heat up at that moment when my phone rang causing me to immediately reach for it.
“Perfect timing,” I whispered staring at the name “Mr. Devil,” clearly on the screen.
“I’ve got to head back to work,” I said to him pointing at the building.
“I’ve got to go too,”
“So I’ll see you later?” He furrowed his brows at me.
“I’ll call you,” I responded and immediately turned around to leave when I heard him say bye making me smile to myself as I made my way to the elevator..
“I was starting to think, you wanted me shirtless,” He said immediately after I walked into his office. I wasn’t in the mood for any joke nor was I interested in having a conversation with him.
I dropped the shirt on his table and turned around to leave when he called out my name. I heard his footsteps approach me, while I stood still in that position waiting to hear whatever he had to say.
“Isabella,” He called out again, this time I turned around to stare at him. I couldn’t fathom what this frustration was for when clearly I was the one who happily ruined his shirt.
“Anything else, sir?” The tone I used in asking that, could tell him I wasn’t in any mood to stand his presence.
“Thank you for this,” he raised the shirt, and I nodded turning around to leave his office.
“What is wrong with me?” I question myself recounting back onto why I was so out of place immediately after I spoke with Micah.
“Micah,” I repeated rushing over to my desk. That was it. I was in such a good mood with Micah until my phone rang, my face squeeze as I recalled.
I hated the fact he called and interrupted my moment with him. “Was there a moment?” I couldn’t tell, but the fact that he called and ruined it all made me pissed.
“Why?”
“But why?” I said out…
“Why did I behave differently after my conversation with Micah?”
“Why? Even after I had ogle at his body?” I thought, biting my nails…
“Do I like him? Micah?” I gasped when the realization hit me…
“No, no, no, no, ” I shook my head rejecting the idea, but also smiling sheepishly and touching my hair, as I remembered the moment.
“Oh my gosh,” I scream mentally when my phone rang dragging me away from my delusions.
“Hello?” I said over the phone, staring at the unknown number.
“This is Dominic,” My eyes widened. I sat upright and placed the phone on my ears now unsure of what to say.
“Good afternoon sir,”
“Hi Isabella,” his voice was calm. It had this peaceful aura to it and I almost fainted at the realization that he knew my name.
“Of course he did, I am married to his grandson,” I reminded myself, trying to hold off the excitement I felt.
“Would you be available for lunch today?”
Oh my gosh! Was this real?
“Yes sir,” I said nervously…
“I’ll meet you at the restaurant close to the building,” He said.
“Do I inform Mr. Tristan?” I asked wanting to make sure, if this was a family something, or if it just happened to be me alone.
“Not at all, just the two of us,” He responded.
“Okay sir, I’ll see you there..,”
“Say…,” I draw on thinking of a time convenient for the two of us.
“By 1:30 pm” He responded and I nodded like he could see me.
“Alright, I’ll see you then,” I said and let him hang up.
I smiled brightly after that call. I was excited and same time I was worried about what the meeting was about.
**
Fifteen minutes before the time, I got ready and started to arrange my desk. I arranged my hair and made sure I looked good which I don’t do usually for my lunch break. But this was different, and I had to make the best impression.
“This is the last of those files. I updated it and I sent you an E version to your email,” I said and dropped a folder on his desk, while he skimmed through it.
“I saw the email already, did you make the correction I asked on these,” he asked pointing to the folder and I nodded.
“What about the updated E version?” He asked.
“I’m working on the docs and once I’m done I’ll share it with you,” I explained to him.
“Alright then, I’ll go through this later,” He closed the folder.
“Thank you,” He said and I looked at him weirdly again.
“Wtf is it with the thank you?” I turned around to leave.
“Lunch break?”
“Yes sir,” My hands were on the doorknob ready to twist them when I responded.
“Let’s go, I made a reservation for both of us,” He said casually and grabbed his coat.
“What?” I turned to look at him stupefied. How could he just say it like it wasn’t shocking to the universe?
Did he make a reservation? He wanted to have lunch with me. The two of us? Eating? Together?
My question was a lot and when he got in front of me, he placed his hands on mine and helped twist the door knob.
“After you,” He says like a gentleman, while I stare at him dumbfounded.
How much more surprise did Mr. Devil have for me, and how much more could I deal with without having a heart attack from the shock?
Or was this just a lie? Pretense? To kill me? Or worst jail?