FOUR
1108 Words
Dressed in a well-tailored black suit, Greg looked stunning and as Ariana glanced at him walking towards them, she was amazed at how astonishingly good-looking he was. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, his thin lips pursed as he listened to his secretary’s report on something.
“Goodday, sir,” Emily greeted as he approached them. Ariana tried her best to recall, but this man in front of her seemed different from who she’d been in bed with two nights ago.
“Good morning, Emily. And who do we have here?” Greg asked, fixing his gaze on Ariana and smiling surreptitiously.
“She's new here, sir, and she’ll be working with the HR department,” Emily said.
“Good morning, sir,” Ariana greeted.
“Hello. You’re welcome. We hope you have a wonderful working experience with us,” he said, smiling at her and moving on.
“Oh, my God, Mr Greg is so handsome. I’d literally die to have a taste of that hot tall glass of chocolate!” Emily whispered to Ariana excitedly, oblivious to Ariana’s discomfort. Ariana was mute. “Hello?”
Emily touched her arm, snapping Ariana back to reality. Ariana heaved a sigh.
“What’s up with you? Are you alright?” Emily asked.
“I’m fine, yeah.” Ariana said. She honestly didn’t know what to say or do if Greg had claimed that he knew her in the presence of all these people. She was grateful that he said nothing to show he knew her, but then she worried that he had forgotten who she was. How possible was that?
“Are you sure about that?” Emily asked, seeing the worry on her face. “You don’t look fine to me.”
“Can you just show me to my office? I’ll tell you.” Ariana said.
Emily led the way. “What’s the matter?”
“It’s him,” Ariana whispered. She looked around to make sure no one was within listening range.
“Him? Who? What are you talking about?”
“Come on, don’t be slow,” Ariana said, giving Emily a look.
They just got into the office and Emily stopped dead in her tracks. “Wait… what? It’s Greg?”
“Yes, Greg. I’m shocked as well,” Ariana said, throwing her weight on her seat.
“Wow!”
“I don’t know how to go about this , really,” Ariana said.
“But he didn’t seem to know you when he spoke to you. Do you think he remembers?” Emily asked.
“Exactly what’s been going through my mind. Like he just kept moving without saying anything to show that he knows me. But I don't think he’s forgotten, I mean… who would?” Ariana said.
“Girl, i don’t know what to say, really. Whichever way this pans out, make sure you play your game well,” Emily said and got up. “I need to get back to my office. I’ll see you later.”
“Alright, thanks,” Ariana said as Emily walked out.
Ariana buried her face in her palms as the thoughts of her night with Greg came back to her again. She shook her head, banishing those dirty thoughts to the back of her brain.
“Focus, Ariana,” she said to herself.
About an hour later, there was a knock on the door.
“Yes, come in,” she said.
The door opened gently and she raised her head to see who it was. There, standing right in front of her desk, was Greg.
“A small world it is, isn't it?” Greg asked.
“Good… good morning… good day, sir…” Ariana stuttered.
“Relax, I’m not a beast,” Greg said, smiling. Damn! He had a very charming smile and Ariana found herself staring at him.
“I didn’t know when you left,” Greg said. “You snuck out or something?”
Ariana was mute.
“Look, I'm sorry for what happened, okay? I just…” Greg started to say but Ariana cut him short.
“No, I should be the one apologizing, I’m sorry,” Ariana said. “If i had not gone to that pub and gotten myself drunk, i don’t think anything would have happened in the first place.”
“Well, it’s not a crime to want to chill out, but you actually got a little too drunk. You’re lucky nothing bad happened.” Greg said.
Seriously? What happened between them wasn’t bad enough? But of course, she knew what he meant. “Thank you very much, sir.”
“Greg. Call me Greg.”
“I can’t do that, sir. I just started working here at your firm, and I wouldn't want to pass the wrong message.” Ariana said.
Greg smiled again. It wasn’t difficult for him too, and with every smile, Ariana found herself admiring him.
“I searched everywhere I could for you, I went back to the pub and waited for hours on end hoping you’d come around,” he said.
“Oh…”
“And when I saw you this morning, I just knew my stars were working overtime,” he continued. “I’d never have believed I'd find you again this quick.”
“Why were you looking for me?” Ariana asked. Who was she kidding? Of course, she knew why he was looking for her.
“It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? I couldn’t just get my mind off you and the things you said at the pub.” Greg replied.
She’d said things at the pub? How much had she said? Oh God!
“I don’t know what it is, I might have said, sir. But I'm really sorry for whatever it was. I was just broken and hurt and I needed to clear my head and…” she stopped. She was giving out too much information. “I’m sorry, sir.”
“Who’s Ryan, if i may ask?” He asked, suddenly.
Ryan? How did he know about Ryan? Damn! She must have been so drunk that she’d said so much.
“Err… I don't want to talk about that, sir.” she said.
“Very well then,” he said and got up. “I’ll be leaving for my office. But I want you to know that you can find a friend in me, okay? Because I have found one in you already.” He took my hands, bent down, and kissed them.
“Have a lovely day, Ariana,” he said and without looking back, he walked out of her office leaving her dazed.
- Writer
