Chapter 5
Dinner was splendid, mom and I were able to converse well though none of us mentioned what happened in the morning.
I guess we didn't want to ruin the happiness, so we kept that aside and enjoyed the meal.‘We have to go back to the designs, Kira,’ I reminded Kira who wasn't ready to stop talking about the new movie she just watched.‘Oh!’ Her eyes dimmed as she looked down at the plates on the table. ‘Let's get this into the kitchen and wash them then,’ she got up from her seat.‘It’s okay, you girls can get back to work, I will do the dishes,’ mom was on her feet, but I stopped her.‘We would do the dishes, you just go in and get some rest, okay?’ She looked at me and I knew she wanted to say something but decide against it.Kira and I packed the plates and cutleries and headed into the kitchen.‘I am glad you talked to her, even though you said nothing about the engagement,’ I could feel her smile, so I smiled in return. ‘I told you I will talk to her but not now. Besides, she isn't ready to say a thing about it, so I didn't want to push my luck and have her hate me.’‘Thank you for easing the tension, I could feel it in the air when we walked into the dining room,’ Kira rolled her eyes dramatically. ‘I almost suffocated due to it.’‘You are being dramatic,’ she laughed then, and lather up the water in the sink before she starts to pick the plates one by one.I helped in rinsing and cleaning the plates with a washcloth. We finished in no time and went back to sorting out the designs.**********THE NEXT DAY—7:55 A.M.A bright light hit my face causing me to stir, I am always sensitive to sound, smell, and light. Even if I was in a deep slumber, as soon as my ear pick up the tiniest sound, I would get up.
Which is why I tried to get the light away from my face by draping my hand over my head. It worked and I turn around to continue sleeping when a hand shoved me hard.‘Get up, Lexi,’ I heard Kira's voice before I could see her. I tried to shove her away and get back to sleep but she wasn't having it, she shoved me again and I snapped my eyes open just to glare at her.‘You are going to be late for the meeting,’ she rolled her eyes at me, and I gasp, jumping out of bed.‘Why didn't you wake me, Kira?’ I accused and she rolled her eyes again.‘I have been trying to get you to wake up one hour ago, you kept rolling around in your sleep but didn't get up.’‘You should have done something that would wake me at all costs,’ I got down from the bed and hurried to my wardrobe. ‘Like drawing the curtains open only to have you shield your eyes from it, and go back to sleep?’ I could hear the accusation in her tone. ‘What is the time?’ I scurried around my room, trying to pick out a dress that wouldn't take up more of my time and still look nice on me. ‘You have one hour left, make do with it,’ she pushed me toward the bathroom. ‘I will help you pick out a nice dress, go clean yourself up.’I smiled at her and rushed into the bathroom, with time not in my favour, I didn't have the luxury of treating myself to a scented bath. So, I take a quick bath and walked out of the bathroom in less than ten minutes.True to hear words, Kira had picked out a nice blue shirt with a black pleated skirt and laid it down on my bed. Lying next to it, was the underwear she'd pick to match. A small smile crept its way to my lip, as I apply lotion and scent to my body, before slipping into each one of the things she picked out.‘Is there anything that doesn't look good on you?’ I turned around to see Kira leaning against the door, with a smile on her face.‘That's because you have eyes for the good stuff.’‘Come, I will drive you to ABM myself before going to work,’ I picked up the designs we worked on last night and push them into my bag before walking out of my room.‘Good morning mom,’ I placed a kiss on both her cheeks, and she did the same, her face radiating.‘Good morning angel, are you girls leaving already?’ She furrowed her brows.‘Lexi will be late for her meeting if we delay for another minute,’ Kira kissed her cheek. ‘But we would have the food in to-go, so we can eat it in the car.’Mom walked into the kitchen and return with wrapping paper and a paper bag. I took it from her and wrapped the breakfast in it before rushing out of the house with Kira.Hop in,’ she called. ‘I have to get you to your destination and get back to work in thirty-five minutes.’‘I appreciate you helping me to get to my meeting before the scheduled time, but I would be grateful if you don't--’The car ignited and jerked forward so fast that it plunges us forward. I would have been sporting a swell or bloodied face if not for the seatbelt holding me in place.‘--speed up,’ I completed the sentence I was making before she sped out of the garage.I know Kira all too well. If she set her mind to beating time, she would. But at the cost of you losing your intestine and breath.‘What were you saying?’ She smiled at me, but I was too focused on getting my breath under control and not throwing up my intestine to scowl at her.As if that wasn't bad enough. ‘Hold on tight babe, we are about to speed things up,’ she grinned.‘Oh, God! Save your daughter,’ I cried, clutching the handheld above me, and cursed at nothing as Kira stepped on the accelerator.Chapter 6 Kira's car stopped in front of the extensive building exactly ten minutes before nine.‘You are one hell of a reckless driver,’ I scowled at her, but she shrugged her shoulder. ‘At least, my reckless driving got you here in time for your meeting,’ she unstrapped her seatbelt and got out of the car after me.‘I'll go in now. You should get to work before your boss screams off his head.’A ghost of a smile brightens up her features, and she pulled me into a hug.‘You've got this girl. Go show them what you are made of and win the deal, okay?’I shook my head–smiling. ‘Thank you, babe.’ I pulled out of her grasp and turn to make my way into the company.Having just a few more minutes to get to meet the CEO, I ran as fast as I can toward the elevator, my feet propelling me forward over the marble floor of the company’s lobby. With my gaze fixed on the door of the elevator, I silently pray for a car to stop on this floor as soon as I reach the metal door.To my relief, the door
Chapter 7Six, seven, eight...I counted the second between each number change in the elevator indicator on my mind. That is how I preoccupied myself after I moved away from Mr green.It didn't make sense but at least it helped me focus on why I was here in ABM in the first place. I made it my mission to figure out how many seconds or minutes it takes for the elevator to get to each floor.Ten seconds for each floor.The irony of the situation is that I couldn't get away from him even though we aren't close, I could feel his gaze on me this whole time, his scent filled the elevator as if it was out to taunt me and remind me that I am in an enclosed space with a man that is out of my league.His presence deterred me from my mission, but I forced myself to pretend he didn't have any effect on me. I offered a quick thanks to God the moment the elevator stopped on the last floor.I was out of the car as soon as the door slid open, attempting to escape him before I do anything I would regre
Chapter 8‘Lexi,’ his husky, implacable voice pulled me out of my daze, and a deep frown marred my head.How did he know my name?Then I remembered that he’d scheduled this meeting with me, which means he must have found out everything about me beforehand. My brain lurched back into action when I recalled his greeting.Without looking at him, I greeted him, tilting my head a little.I felt his gaze slide over my profile, but I kept my attention trained on the file in front of me. My heart was racing in my chest, my stomach quivering madly until I was forced to start twisting the button on the wrist of my right sleeve.‘Shall we begin?’ He asked. The question wasn’t directed at me, but his gaze didn’t leave my face.The management team leader gets up and started to brief everyone on what the meeting was all about. Due to the bankruptcy my father faced over his company, I didn’t get the chance to go to college so I took online classes on interior designing to he Apparently, my job is to
Chapter 9 Aziz Mustafa, I repeated the name in my mind.Not only was I fantasizing about someone that could never be mine, but I also just met and had a meeting with someone out of my league.‘I know what you are thinking?’ He said, effortlessly putting a stop to my thought.‘What?’‘Your face gave everything away, you are thinking. What does a man so powerful and rich want with me?’ His face was impassive, it was hard trying to figure out what he was thinking.‘If I should tell you that isn’t what I am thinking, then you would know it is a lie.’ I swallow hard. ‘So, I would like you to tell me what it is you want.’Schooling my face, I looked into his eyes and tried to keep my emotion at bay. He had seen into me in ways that even my mother never did, and I would not let him see anymore.‘Now, that is exactly why I handpicked you for this job,’ a smile graces his lip briefly and then it was gone.‘Handpicked? That means the meeting wasn’t necessary.’ My confusion was apparent in my vo
Chapter 10I tossed and turned on my bed for the umpteenth time, my mind filled with his words.‘I need your help, and I need you.’He didn’t elaborate on exactly what he needed my help with but the deep meaning behind those who didn’t go unnoticed. He sounded like he was in trouble and desperately need someone to save him and that is what confuses me the most.What kind of power do I have? How can I help him? Why did he choose me of all the sophisticated ladies that would die to worship him?‘Argh, fuck it,’ I cursed, getting down from the bed. Sweat covered my whole body, soaking through my flimsy nightgown. I felt feverish suddenly as I made my way to the bathroom to have the sixth shower tonight. His words refused to leave my thoughts. Weighing down on me, the more I try to shove it aside.‘What the heck is that supposed to mean?’The cool water hit me hard, grinding my teeth as I forced myself to stay under it just to get my temperature under control. I slid down to the ground, r
Chapter 11 The sun was up in the sky when I woke up the next day. Since I had nothing to do for the day, I took my time getting out of bed and crawling my way into the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a quick shower before hitting the gym. I stared at myself in the mirror and sigh at plain Jane staring right back at me. Every day, I am reminded I am nothing without my smart brain. That was the only appealing part of me. Except that isn't true… My subconsciousness hit me hard and with a sigh, I pull my gym suit on. The shrill sound of my phone grabbed my attention and I moved away from my wardrobe to answer whoever is calling. ‘Lexi,’ Kira’s voice filled my ear as soon as I swiped the green button. ‘How was the meeting?’ I am sorry I was too busy to call you,’ I can’t tell my best friend my head had been in a mess yesterday because of a certain CEO. I know, so how was it?’ Always the impatient one. ‘It went well, babe,’ I decided to play with her a little. ‘And?’ That’s Ki
Chapter 12 ‘Hi Lexi,’ Nathan Smith greeted me as I walked into his gym. ‘Hey Nathan, how is business faring lately?’ I greeted with a nod of my chin. ‘It was great. I am grateful to people like you who wouldn't stop coming back,’ he grinned at me before walking off to attend to one of his customers. I had been drawn to Nathan the first time I saw him, and it wasn’t romantic. The way he carried himself with confidence and kept pushing to succeed even if he was only just a gym owner. His positivity helped me as well, he has just rented this place out to start building his dream when we met, and we clicked as friends at once. He is married with two kids, and he gave me the honour of meeting his beautiful wife and kids. I was the first client to ever visit his gym because back then, I had a bloaty stomach and I wanted to cut back on some fat a little. So, I registered with him, and he put me through rigorous exercises to help me achieve my goal. He didn't know what to name his gym a
Chapter 13 AZIZ ‘... And we were able to secure the Henshaw hotel contract bidding. The contract will be delivered to your office today, sir, for signature. Then we would begin with the construction,’ Henry, the managing construction team leader rambled on, but my mind barely registered most of his words. I still couldn't get over the shock of being rejected twice a day. Back in the gym, I thought for sure Lexi was going to say yes with the way she clung to me and kiss me back so greedily. Her body moulded perfectly with mine, and the way she wouldn't stop moaning and thrusting her tongue into my mouth assured me I would have her in my arms soon. The shock I felt when she pulled away and still in her dazed look, tell me she can't accept the relationship I want with her. ‘Mr Mustafa, sir,’ my gaze rises to find everyone looking at me, expectantly. Gazing back at them, I tried to piece together what I have heard so far so I can say something relevant to the discussion going on wit