Anita finished her treatment at the hospital and was discharged but Joseph didn’t show up throughout her stay. She got home and found him playing games with Charles, she greeted him and he ignored but Charles replied by asking how her health was.
“I am now fine, thank you for your concerns” she told him and left them to their game.
Charles cautioned Joseph by telling him not to take his anger out on the poor woman who has fed him and took care of him like her own son ever since she came to their house but Joseph was not ready for all his preaching.
“She’s only acting pitiful so she can take as much attention as she can. I don’t care about anyone but myself so spare me the sermon” he stated sharply before dropping the game’s console that he’s lost interest in the game while Charles just sighed, he didn’t even know what to tell him anymore.
***
The day for the exhibition was fast approaching and both Tom and Amber were preparing as if their lives depends on it, which it really does depend on it. They made sure to get everything necessary needed and practiced the questions draft sent by Lawrence’s team together.
She spoke with Lawrence a couple of times before he concluded that they will postpone all talks till further notice and wrap it up when she comes over for the event. Tom paid her an upfront for her job which she used in clearing the hospital bills and also paid some in advance before she leaves so that her mother would not be disturbed.
She finished her work at the office that certain day and went to the hospital to bid her mother goodbye because she will be leaving in two days’ time. She met her mother knitting a scarf and couldn’t stop gushing over its beauty.
“When did you learn how to knit? This is awesome” she complimented as she touched the knitted scarf making her mother blush. “I couldn’t watch myself die of boredom so I attended the classes organized by the hospital for the patients” her mother explained with a smile.
She patted her mother’s shoulder and told her “Well done, thanks for holding out” with an expression full of love and that made her mother stop for a while. Her mother dropped the knitting pin and stared at her for a while, “Is something wrong?” she asked and Amber shook her head.
“I will be travelling on an official business for a while so I will not be able to stop by. Make sure you take your drugs as prescribed, exercise and stay happy for me. I will not take too long time before I come back to see you” Amber said and her mother held her hands gently.
Her mother looked into her eyes with a smile and said “I can take care of myself. If you act like this then I will feel like I am a burden who is preventing you from going far. I can look after myself so go on your business and have fun”. The words were too touchy for her and she hugged her mother immediately while apologizing endlessly for leaving her that way.
She talked about some other things and finally told her mother not to be surprised if she sees her appear on the TV and her mother told her that she will look forward to it. She spent some time and was about leaving when her mother told her to get a box for her on the small shelf.
“Since it is kind of chilly at night, you should keep this on to stay warm” she said while pulling out a cream knitted muffler out of the box. Amber wowed at the pretty knitting pattern as she stuck her head out for her mother to put it around her neck.
She scribbled her hand around it lovingly for some seconds before muttering a teary “It’s so pretty”. She hugged her mother for the last time and went away from the hospital.
Tom gave her the next day to prepare herself for the journey and also have some rest ahead so she didn’t go to the office. She was cleaning up when someone barged in and jammed the door hard making her heart skip a beat as she tiptoed to see whoever the person was only to find Emily trying to find her way around the room while staggering.
She was reeking of alcohol and wasn’t in her right senses. She flung her bag to a side and kicked off her shoes to different angles before slumping into the sofa. Amber sighed at the scene in front of her and turned back to resume what she was doing but noticed that she was sleeping in a wrong position. She contemplated on whether to help her sleep well or just leave her like that, so she can deal with the pain the following morning.
She ended up choosing to help and dragged her to a more convenient position. She was about leaving when Emily grabbed her hand and pulled her a little. She stopped to see what it was about and Emily sat up.
“What do I say to mend your aching heart? I am just a bitch who doesn’t deserve to say anything to you” Emily said and Amber sighed at her nonsense before flinging her hand away, “You should get some sleep, you are drunk” she remarked but Emily drew her back again.
“I know what I did to you is not forgivable but what do I do if I still love him? I have always loved him way before he met you, he ignored my signs and went for you but he found out that you are not compatible. We decided to try things out and it worked, our only sin is that you are our friend. Can you not let me have him? I cannot even go to him freely because of you but I don’t think I can bear it anymore” Emily explained drunkenly and Amber pushed her hand away from her body in anger.
“The both of you disgust me” she spat at her and Emily chuckled weirdly. “I know! I know I am disgusting and annoying but what should I do when I feel like this? I feel like trash but I still love that I can love him freely. I guess there is nothing I can do to make it work” Emily shrugged before managing to stand up.
She turned to face Amber properly before giving a small smile, “Do not ever forgive me, that way I can still long for you sometimes” she told her and went inside while Amber just stood there speechless. She couldn’t fathom if her roommate was just being plainly shameless or trying to provoke her.
“This is ridiculous” she muttered and marched to continue her work.
Tom’s call came through after some minutes and he told her to meet her at the park of her house where he was waiting. She quickly threw on a jacket on her singlet and rushed out to meet him.
“Is there something wrong? You have never called me out this late” she said as soon as she got to him but he just motioned for her to get in the car.
She got in and was about asking why he was there again when he told her to fix her seat belt. She became really curious with his action but fixed her seat belt nonetheless before turning to him, “Where are we going to?” but he only smirked and zoomed off.
The car halted in front of a big clothing store and he motioned for her to get down. She followed him sheepishly into the store and one of the staffs ran to attend to him as they went inside.
“Please give her the best quality wears only. The ones suitable for official settings but elegant too” he ordered and she was led to the clothing section where clothes were picked out for her.
Although she had spent so much time at the mall of her company, helping VIPs with their shopping, it felt weird how she was being shopped for. She just stood there without even being able to reject the offer because she was really concerned about the clothes to wear when she finally goes for the trip but she was glad that Tom was considerate enough to figure that out on his own.
Tom kept wowing at the dresses and clothes that were picked for her because she was so stunning in all of them. The atmosphere felt weird at first because of their boss-employee relationship but they started to feel comfortable and they could shop with fun.
She finished shopping with him after two hours and he drove her back home. “I am really sorry for making you do this” he said with a sober voice and she shook her head. “I chose to do this, you wouldn’t have force me against my will. We both needed ourselves and decided to help each other out” she corrected him and he smiled in relief.
They bid each other goodnight and she was about unbuckling the seat belt when it got stuck. She tried all her possible best but it wouldn’t budge so Tom had no choice than to lean and help her. He leaned closer to her and tried unbuckling it too but it was hard to do. He tried forcing it and it snapped suddenly making her fly into his arms. He held her into his arms to shield her by reflex and she also held tight to him for her dear life.
Her heartbeat increased rapidly once again as she held unto him in a tight hug, her jacket had draped down her shoulder due to the effect of the jump and she was bare in his arms. The singlet she had one was a strap hand and low neck cut one which ended up showing half of her chest.
They both froze in each other’s hand with their temperatures rising each seconds and his eyes roamed her chest without permission. He gulped down a large globule of spit as the sight in front of him was causing his body to act against his will.
“You keep tempting me” he muttered as his eyes linger around her and she closed her eyes briefly before leaning in for a kiss on his lips to his surprise.
He couldn’t even kiss her back at that moment because of her bold action and by the time he was sane enough to return the kiss, she withdrew with immediate effect and covered her mouth with her hand.
“I am so sorry Mr. Tom! I got carried away for a split second” she apologized with hiccups overtaking some of the words. “It’s ok.. ay… ay” he stammered and she jumped out of the car.
She packed her shopping bags and ran into her apartment before she dies of the embarrassment. She didn’t know what gave her the liver to kiss her boss and she was regretting it so hard.
“I must have been mad, why did I do that?” she thought as she hit her head on the wardrobe lightly.
She didn’t know how to face him the following day when she sees him but realized that she wouldn’t be seeing him since she would be going to the airport herself so that calmed her down and she was about to sleep for the night.
***
She got to the airport the next day with her flight booked to Paris. She was waiting for her flight when she saw a familiar figure approach her, she waived the thought that she might have seen wrong but she realized she didn’t when Tom pulled up in front of him in a blue suit and white inner shirt. His square shade was sitting on his well-built nose and his hair shinning so much, everything about him was screaming fine.
She opened her mouth in awe as he approached her and she stood up to adore the view better.
“What… what are… are you doing here? Sir?” she managed to stutter out and he removed his sunglass dramatically before stretching forth his hand.
“We are now partners, it’s only polite for me to send myself off because you are now me and I am now you” he responded with a very bright smile. That was the first time she would see him smile genuinely like that and it indeed lightened up her heart.