Love Finds A way

003

The front doors parted to let us in as we headed towards security.

Laura tagged along the morning after the incident with Xavier and I couldn't help my gratitude and surprise. She usually had to leave home at irregular hours, so being able to resume at 8 AM like the rest of us was welcomed. Besides, I needed her that morning. While I would have gone to work either way, it was great to know there was someone on my side.

When I walked towards the gate, I gave the guy at the girl the usual charming smile and he winked. I was past the guy before I realized he'd been hitting on me. That was when the situation replayed in my head and I realized his sweep of my body wasn't him doing his job — Dennis was hitting on me.

It had never happened before and I couldn't contain my surprise. I was still dazed when I walked past the front door where Marie, the secretary, usually sat.

“Hey Marie. How are the appointments coming along?” I asked, slipping into usual conversation subconsciously.

“I'm okay,” she said.

The smile waking on my lips dies off in that instant. I could have gone to the counter to talk to her if I wasn't anticipating a long day, and Laura didn't pull me by the hand.

"You saw that, didnt you?" I asked as we waited for the elevator.

Laura doesnt respond. She's dressed in a blue shirt that could pass off as white, black pencil trousers tailored to her body, and heels. Our plan was already a go, I believed and I really wanted to ask her about it. However, I couldn't bring myself to talk about it, especially with the possibility of someone listening in.

"Just let it go," she responded after smoothening her dress.

She might not realize it but she'd been shaking since the day started. I didn't fault her for a second. Apart from being so hot it was a sin, and possessing that intense aura that made you unsure where you stood around him, Xavier was president of Tongues. One word and she'd be jobless.

The elevator doors slid apart at the same time I thought up a reasonable response that wouldn't be easily understood by eavesdroppers. I crumpled the words and buried them inside me.

Facing the people in the elevator, I knew at once that they'd heard the news. It was as though there was a Tongues Discord group where all the gossip was posted. and the only person who was unfortunate enough to not be a member was me.

Lips forcefully shut, face stern, fingers curled into fists, I walked into the elevator and stood at the back with Laura. When I came in earlier, I had thought of using the ride as an opportunity to talk to Laura but with the way they didn't ask what floor we were going to — they confirmed my suspicion that they knew who I was and that we were — going to the same floor as we were.

The whole building knows who you are, Sammy. They think you're a slut. A very cheap one who whored herself out to the boss and is now trying to rise higher by becoming friendly.

What do I do? How do I prove that the night didn't go that way?

I worked crazy hard to get as far as I'd come but who would believe me? The only way to make that fool pay for tarnishing my reputation is for the plan to work.

When I was sure the eyes were not on us, I slipped my hands around Laura's and gave her a squeeze. She seemed to understand what I meant since she gave me a squeeze back.

Today is definitely going to be a good day! I thought as I strolled out into the tiled hall.

***

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Jeremy, head of finance department, wasn't in when the incident with Xavier happened yesterday. And he didn't show up for the remaining two hours I spent in the building. But he was when I walked through the front doors of Acc-Fin.

U

“Sam, got a minute?” were the first words he spoke, one hand holding his door ajar, his face unreadable.

No, I don't. I have all the work you guys drop on my table to finish.

“Sure. I'll just drop my bag and-”

“Don't worry about it,” he said, cutting me off. Jeremy had never been patient with those underneath him. And it seems he wasn't planning on pretending to be any different. “It'll only take a minute.”

I gave a curt nod and walked into the open door. As soon as I was through, he let go and was on me before I even considered whether I should sit.

“What the f**k did you say to the president yesterday?”

There were two ways to deal with Jeremy. One was to be direct and you'd be out of his office before you knew it. The second, which is the one I preferred whenever I wasn't in the right mind for a talk-down, was to play smart.

“Well, I said a number of things yesterday. What exactly are you referring to?” I asked in a sweet tone.

“Don't mess with me, Sam.”

Letting out a sigh, my handbag still clasped underneath my arm, I walked toward the chair facing his messy table.

“Look, Jeremy. I know you want me to answer your question, but I don't-”

“Cut the s**t, Sam!” he cut in again, slamming his fist on the table as he spoke.

A blink was the only sing of surprise I left on as I stared at the man standing in front of me. He was in his usual no nonsense era. And only when I was really looking at him did I notice his shirt was slightly rough.

Jeremy only let that happen when he'd spent too long wringing his shirt, trying to solve a puzzle. Something I don't believe he's an expert at.

My lips were about to part again, hoping the direct approach would get me out of this situation and to my table when he spoke again

“Do you know what I had to deal with right after finishing a six-hour meeting yesterday? Do you? It was Mr Emerson calling me to ask what I was doing in my department. I spent all of the feel-good emotions I got from the emotion sucking up to him yesterday all because you decided that promotion could come without hard work?”

There had been a tingling in my chest the instant the hit the table. But now, it was riding a dangerous wave as it crashed around my chest, looking for an outlet. It was taking more energy than I could afford to keep myself from hurling words at Jeremy.

“Jeremy, I-”

“I don't want to hear it!” he barked, cutting me off again. I was used to Jeremy's impatience and him cutting me off endlessly. What I wasn't used to was it happening because of Xavier. “Whatever you want to do, keep it out of work. I have zero interest in him calling me again. And one more f**k up, Sam. One more f**k up and i promise you'd be getting your termination letter before you can realize you'd done wrong.”

A sigh left his lips as he walked to his chair. He sank into it for a second before getting up again, walking to the window behind him. I watched as Jeremy leaned on the wall and let out another heavy sigh.

“You can go.”

No words came out of my mouth. I fought to keep the emotions threatening to spill from showing on my face. When I got to my seat at the far end of the room.

There, I stared at the screen and watched the time change from seven-fifty-eight until eight-fifteen, just one thought in my head.

Xavier.