AYLA
Monday. I hate Monday. Being woken up by an alarm at 7 a.m. after a lazy weekend is exhausting. I feel like I ran a marathon. I groan in frustration as I turn on my back on the soft and warm bed which simply doesn't want to let me go. I open my eyes unwillingly and sigh. I look at the white ceiling and the recent events come to my mind. And, as I remember what day it is, I clumsily jump up from bed with renewed energy.
The project, my mind screams with excitement and I let out a large smile.
I hurry to the bathroom and discard my silky nightgown in the laundry basket and walk in the shower. After a ten minutes shower I wrap a towel around myself and dry my hair. I go to the walk-in closet. I rummage through the clothes and come out dressed in blue skinny jeans, a sleeveless black and white striped camisole and a beige blazer, wearing a pair of black heeled ankle boots. I let my hair in loose waves, apply some mascara and eyeliner, a little nude matt lipstick and perfume, take my laptop case and bag and I'm ready to go.
It is a sunny day today. As I step out the apartment building I'm surprised to see my car in the parking lot. It has been at the service for the last two weeks. I go in and revel in the familiar feeling of cream-coloured leather under me. I put my things on the passenger seat and put the belt on, then turn the ignition and take off.
On the road to the office I let my mind wander to yesterday's events. I didn't expect Gavin to actually tell me what happened, but I appreciate the fact that he tries to maintain our new found friendship. As he was talking about his first love I could see and hear the hidden pain he tried to contain all these years. The thought that a woman can emotionally hurt a strong man like Gavin Kingston is unimaginable. I felt at that moment a connection with him. We both went through similar heartbreaks and betrayal and the way we cope with them, working to escape the reality...
I shake my head to clear my thoughts and focus on the road. After a 45 minutes drive I'm in the parking lot of Kingston Inc. and then in through the doors. As today is the first day in the CEO's floor, Gavin told me yesterday that I can come at the office a little later so right now it is 8:55.
Beau is waiting for me in the lobby. When he sees me, a smile takes over his face. He looks cute when he smiles. It is a far cry from the regular serious expression he keeps sporting around the office.
"Good morning, Mss. White", he greets me as soon as I reach his side.
"Good morning, Beau. Can we forget the formalities? I think we would both feel more comfortable with each other as we're going to work together", I suggest.
"Sure", he agrees.
We get in the elevator and he presses for the 15th floor. The ride up is silent. As the doors open we get out and I take my first step in this new beginning. He leads me through the desks and I can feel the curious eyes of the employees around us. We stop in front of a door and after a look inside, I realize that it is a small office. He gestures to a more imposing door next to it.
"This one is the CEO's office, make sure to knock before going in", he instructs and then opens the door before us. "And this... this is your office. This door", he gestures to a door on the wall between the rooms, "opens to the CEO's office. Both of you have the key."
I nod. I look around my new office taking it all in and I like it. A mahogany desk to the left with a swiveling chair and two other chairs in front of it, a glass wall opposite the door overlooking the busy city, cream-coloured walls, a small light brown couch near the glass wall with a small coffee table in front of it. There are empty iron shelves at the wall between the rooms and two cardboard boxes on the desk.
"What are those?", I raise a questioning eyebrow at Beau.
"I took the liberty to take your stuff from the management department so you wouldn't have to make the walk between the floors", he responds.
Huh, so thoughtful of him, I say in my mind.
"Thank you, Beau."
"Don't mention it", he waves me off but I can see a slight blush on his cheeks.
***
As I put in place the last baby cactus I realize that it is two minutes before 10 and I have to go to Gavin. I take the 'Clifton Resort' file from my desk and my iPad and phone and, with a last glance in satisfaction at my work, I walk out the door and go to the next one. I knock three times and after I heard a 'come in' I walk inside.
A small smile takes over my lips as I see him in his chair. He is on a call and anger and frustration is radiating from him. Those strong emotions manage to make my smile falter.
He's not in a good mood.
But as he looks at me his whole demeanor changes. The anger dissipates and a warm and joyful smile takes over the hard lines on his face. He gets up from his chair and comes towards me and he takes me by surprise when he gives me a side hug and kisses my cheek. He did that yesterday too and, like then, I feel my cheeks flush. He puts a hand on my lower back and leads me to a black leather couch and we both sit down.
He is wearing a gray suit with a black shirt and a gray tie. The suit fits his body perfectly and the gray highlights his green eyes. I feel a warm sensation spreading across my chest and I try to figure out what I'm feeling when his hard voice brings me back to present.
"You have to see to that", he says to the person on the other end of the call, his voice filled with frustration. "Take care of it. I want updates in 24 hours", and with that he hangs up.
He sighs and passes a hand through his golden locks. His shoulders are tensed and, without realising it, I put my hand on his arm. He turns his attention to me, the tension on his shoulders visibly evaporates.
"Are you okay, Gavin?", I ask and he nods. I start to take my hand off his arm, but he takes it in his rough hand and puts them on his lap.
"Have you settled yet?", he asks in a more calm voice.
"I did, thank you."
His looks at me for a few moments and his gaze is scrutinizing me. I can feel that he wants to ask a question, but he keeps to himself. I raise my chin at him in silent question.
"I saw the footage on your floor", he sighs and I nod.
I expected that from the moment it happened.
"And...", I trail off indicating for him to continue.
"And... I saw Ms Carter going to your desk and I heard a few of the words spoken, but I want you to tell me what exactly happened."
"Have you asked Ms Carter?", I know he can hear the irritation in my voice.
"No, I came directly to you with the questioning because I trust you and I trust you to tell me exactly what happened."
The trust he has in me is making me anxious. He knows me for three days and he puts his all trust in me on a matter like this. But I don't dare question him. I don't want to lose his trust on me. I want to trust him too.
"After we came from the lunch, I went to my desk and then Alice came", I say. "She began to say that I didn't win anything and that she thinks I have a hidden motive to help others and she doesn't believe me. Then, she said that you are hers", I look at him at the last part waiting for a reaction.
"I am hers?", he says with incredulity, gesturing to his chest with his eyebrows raised. I nod. "Where did she pulled that from?"
"She began to say to anyone who listened to her in the office that you two have something going on", I inform him.
"When did it start?", he asks with furrowed brows.
"Over five months ago, I think", I respond. "You didn't know?"
He shakes his head. "I did hear about it a few dats after the day it started, but I didn't do anything about it. I thought it would cease at some point." He looks lost in thought.
I can't take it anymore. I need to know.
"We're friends, right?", I ask cautiously. He nods looking directly in my eyes. "Friends tell each other almost everything."
He nods again. "Ask."
I sigh. "Has something ever happened?"
He thinks about it. Then as if he realizes something he whispers: "Fuck!"
I widen my eyes in shock. So it did happen! I don't know why I feel like crying. My hand is grabbing at the edge of the couch and my mind is going haywire. I look at the coffee table in front of me.
What is happening to me?
"It happened, but didn't", he says and I turn my head at him in confusion.
What is he talking there?
He shakes his head in annoyance; at himself or at the situation, I don't know. "Seven months ago I was frustrated about something and I went to a club to take my mind off things. After I drank a few shots she came over at me and, in my drunken state, I kissed her. I didn't know who she was back then. We went to a hotel room and, when we were about to undress, I walked away. Nothing else happened", he explains. "Is this rumor still going on?"
I feel relieved after that.
"Yeah", I nod. "She's keeping it alive. Almost every day she comes at the office she tells everyone how close you two are, she even made up stories about your relationship, gifts you gave her...", I trail off knowing that he got the point.
In the last seven months she came up with such believable stories that it was hard not to think they are true. One day she said that he took her to a lovely restaurant in Cambridge, another day she described a whole night in which he told her that he loves her. Other days she came with new things on her, like a red LV bag, a silver necklace and a bracelet.
I had a feeling it was not true, but even I began to believe them at some point. There was no proof though. Every time they were in a room he wouldn't even glance at her or he would walk past her like she wasn't even there. When someone in her group of supporters would ask her why is he acting so distant with her she would tell them that they made a deal to keep it quiet and to keep appearances at the office.
But, true or not, she isn't keeping it quiet.
"I'll do something about it", he says.
Now I'm beginning to freak out. "What are you going to do? You can't tell her that you know from me."
"Are you afraid of her?", he asks in a dangerous tone.
"No, but she and others would think that I try to gain something from you. By now they all know that I work with you on this project, so they might think the worst. Please, Gavin."
He nods accepting my request. "Don't worry. I'll say that I know from Beau. After all, he is the one who told me first."
