“You will never guess who I just met at a meeting” Jake says, walking into the staff kitchen. I t was 5 in the evening and was on my third coffee of the day. Today’s been stressful and this little walk to get my coffee is the only thing that drags me out of the office.
“Who” I ask.
” Andre fucking Ultonei, I didn’t want to believe it but the man actually did it, what he said he was going to do even back in 2018″
I spun around ” are you sure it was him, I swear he moved out to India and had no desire to come back because of reasons I’d rather not go over again” Andre was someone we knew when all of us were starting out.
At some point Andre wanted to work with us but he realised it wasn’t for him. He packed his bags and moved out the next week.
” well, he did look different but his name gave it away” He sarcastically replied.
” wow, so original. Well what is he doing here then”
It’s got to be a good enough reason to leave his life in India to come back to the city again. When he swore to never return again. Which is saying a lot for him, since a lot of his family is here.
” He’s here to open a franchise of his watch company here in London, he invited us to his opening tomorrow”
Jake was right, he really did what he said he would do, all those years ago. He was obsessed with those fancy high tech watches but hated the fact that it was so expensive.
He wanted to create the affordable version which I guess. Now he has.
” Where is it, you know I have that meeting in Manchester tomorrow” I said thinking about my plans. It would be good to see him again and catch up but I have to put business first.
” yeah its in London, but not until 8 so you will be back in time. He also said you can bring Nick if you want” he tells me.
“alright, tell him I’m coming but not with Nick, he has a conference in Ireland tomorrow”
Jake nods as he walks out my office.
I turn back to my coffee, finishing it by adding some sugar. I really do hope it gets me through the night.
2 hours later, I was really feeling the effects of work taking its toll on my body. My drawings were getting lazier and my eyes kept on closing and opening back again.
” You know if you just went home, you could actually go to sleep instead of trying so hard to stay awake here”
I jumped when I heard Nick’s voice. At first I thought I was dreaming but I when I found him leaning against the door with his arms crossed I realised I wasn’t.
” I work better in the office” I said tidying up my desk, shoving my multiple packets of peanuts into my desk drawer.
” but you sleep better in your bed” he commented back sharply.
Touche.
Nick came around and placed his hand on my shoulder.
“come on, lets get you home” he helps me grab my bag and stuff before leading me out.
We walked out of the office and down to the lift. There was only a few people left here working. Jake likes to keep the office open late so that people can stay working here till late.
” why did you come, don’t you have to get your flight in a few hours” I say as Nick drives me home. We had music playing in the background.
” Molly messaged me and said that someone needed to take you home. You live closer to the airport anyway so”
I looked over at him ” so your not actually here for me but for my accommodation” I rolled my eyes at him.
” didn’t I just say that molly messaged me, you really shouldn’t over do it at work like that” he says.
I scoffed. ” That’s rich coming from you” he works more than I do, and not in the most healthy way either.
Luckily for him we arrived at my place. Nick helped me out the car and grabbed a bag from the back.
Nick made us some late night food whilst I showered. Long nights at the office always made me feel dirty and in need of a shower.
“that’s a view I never get tired of” Nick spun around from his position on my bed. He was kneeling over on my bed, placing a glass of water on my side table, next to a plate of what I can see as chocolate cake.
” you’re so weird you know that right” I shrugged” I’ve been told”
We settled into bed finally.
” you knew him?” Nick asked when I started to talk about Andre.
” yeah, how do you know him” I asked confused.
Nick sat up, readjusting the pillows behind his head. ” I’ve heard about him, he was at my office this morning” now I was the one sitting up.
“what was he doing there?” I asked.
Nick licked his lips. ” I’m not sure, all I know that he’s not really trusted. Did you know his company started out as a scam”
That I didn’t know.
” what do you mean, I never heard that” albeit I didn’t really know about his business at all but I’m sure I would’ve heard about a scam in the news.
” it was a few years ago. He would use influencers to promote his watches and most of them were fakes when customers started to order them” he explains to me.
I’ve heard of these methods, sadly its used more than any of us would like.
” He was never malicious in any way. He even left the city to find a better life, I can’t imagine him purposely trying to scam people” I know that I didn’t know much about him, not now. But if I go from what I knew from him before I just cant see this happening.
Nick turned to me. ” just be careful, he knows you and jack are successful and are earning big so he might just be using you” Nick implies to me.
I sighed deeply. ” we weren’t just friends Nick, we were all pretty close he would never use us not like that” I was confident in this.
Nick narrowed his eyes. ” how close”
I rolled my eyes at this. ” we didn’t fuck if that’s what you’re asking”
He leaned in further. ” no, I’m asking if you had feelings for the guy. But if you did fuck him that information would be valuable too”
I had to laugh.
” Are you worried that i’d leave you for some old friend” I said moving into his lap. I ran my fingers through his hair.
” it may have crossed my mind” I bit my lip.
” I wouldn’t have tried hard to get you to just toss you to the side for some other guy Nick. I love you don’t you remember that” I said to him.
I never even thought of Andre that way, not in the slightest.
” I remember but thanks for reminding me” he grinned at me.
Nick slid his hands around my back.
” look don’t worry about it, you know that I am always very careful with who I get involved with especially in business. If there are any red flags I’ll make it known” I reassured him. He didn’t have to worry about that, and I was going to make sure of it.
” if you notice any amber flags, point those out too”
I laughed, ” I promise. Now since you’re leaving me for three whole days after this can we stop talking about Andre and do something else” I suggested. Nick was only supposed to be going for a conference for the first day but I practically forced him to stay longer.
He had family over there and he should visit them.
He’s all work work work, he needs to make time for family too and just me.
” I thought you were tired, actually I know that you are tired” he confirmed. He was right I was indeed tired but I can sleep later.
” you know you’re right, let’s go to sleep then” I said turning over so that my back was facing him.
I arched my leg up and got into that position every girl does when they want their man.
Guilty as charged.
” you’re so fucking naughty” Nick whispered harshly in my ear as his fingers went to pull down my shorts, exposing my naked body.
I giggled as he peppered kissing all the way down my neck. I instantly felt his hard member against my back and vouldnt hep but moan outloud.
” so just to clarify, Andre never ” I rolled my eyes at Nick’s words.
I turned around to face him. ” Andre never had the chance Nick, don’t worry about him” I said to him, lightly brushing my lips with his.
” do you understand” I pressed my body into his.
Nick nodded as he kissed me back. ” okay Selene, I won’t mention it anymore” he said.
If only I could believe that.
The following morning I woke up without Nick. I had really wished that I could have seen him off but he would have left really early in the morning.
I walked into the kitchen in my sweats. I didn’t need to be at the meeting until lunch so I had time to be lazy this morning.
I wanted to not think too much about Andre this morning but after Nick’s words last night and the vivid dream that I had last night I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
I really wanted to believe that Andre was here for reasons that were honest and good but my gut was telling me something different. When he left for India all those years ago there was slight anger towards me.
Not in a way that was necessarily dangerous but I think it was jealousy. Jake after all did value my partnership more because I would be the designer for our business.
I quickly found the contact I was looking for, I never did this but for this time only I had to.
I rang her up on her personal number that she gave me last year.
” Would you think I was crazy if I said I already knew the reason for your call Selene” she said into the phone. I could already imagine her grinning as she said this.
” well I mean yes, that is slightly creepy” I replied.
” well since you pay me monthly to check up on your accounts I always know when new things come into your life. Nick was clean as a whistle which was impressive but this Andre guy, he is the definition of dodgy”
I pulled the phone away staring at it. You can understand why I pay her. She gets a kick out of keeping tabs on the people in my life.
” Already? Does this mean you have the information ready to send to me now” I asked even though I knew the answer.
” is that rhetorical”
Told you.
” Just send it to me. Also can you stop unfollowing people you are getting me into trouble” I said already ready to hang up.
” you’re following some really questionable people, you’ll thank me later”
I groaned. ” bye Naomi” I said as I abruptly cut the call.
If she wasn’t good at her job I would never deal with her shit.
I’m praying for Andre that whatever she found. that it was nothing bad otherwise things were about to get really frustrating.