THE ALMOST MOMENT
1133 Words
ROSE POV
It was already past working hours but I was still working in the office. I was tired but I already promised to be done with this today. I heard footsteps only to check and it was Adien ‘What’s he still doing here by now? He walked slowly and sat beside me
“Still working?” He asked leaning towards me that I could literally feel his breathe fan my cheeks
“hmmm” I couldn’t answer properly. This was someone I once admire and crush on in secret sitting so close to me
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you after working hours”
“I'm fine—I’m just doing my job”
After a while he continued “Why do I feel like you particularly hostile towards me--- Did I do anything to deserve it?”
My gaze still fixed on the screen I asked “ Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know, let’s say I just felt it--- aside that; You don’t make eye contact with me, you hardly smile around me, you always get tensed around me and the list goes on and on”
“That’s because I’m trying to be professional, you’re already aware of the rumors spraying around the office”
“It's not the first time, why care about baseless rumors”
“I care, it’s my reputation on ground” I said finally looking up only to catch him also staring at me
“I’m sorry, I’ll put a stop to it---”
I cut him before he could finish “ better not, it will only make things worst”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
For some reason, hearing him ask this in such soft tone triggered something in me--- I felt like pinning him on the table and doing ‘what the f**k I’m I thinking’
I cleared my throat before answering “Nothing”
Everywhere became quiet for a while, then he spoke again “I’m sorry about earlier with Diana--- she’s always like that”
“It’s fine, I’ve dealt with her type countless times so I’m quite used to it”
“No wonder you almost made her cry” he said before chuckling lightly but I didn’t reply because I suddenly felt angry when he mentioned her.
He sighed deeply “Why do I feel you’ve seen through me”
“you do feel quite a lot of things Mr Reanon”
“You caught me--- I wanted to talk to you alone so I gave you the work knowing it would keep you working late”
“You should have just said so”
“And you would obviously decline “
‘That’s true though’
“ Fine--- go ahead and ask what you want to know but no personal questions”
“But what if what I want to know are all personal?”
“ Then it’s left to me whether to answer them or not”
“ Fair by me. Where are you from?”
I made sure to give him unclear vague answers for him not to suspect my identity--- remember I’m still in disguise
“What about your parents”
“they’re late”
“I’m sorry--- mine too”
“I know---” ‘That was not meant to be said out loud
“How did you know?”
‘Think Rose--- your identity is at stake’
“I—I mean if your dad was alive, he would be the CEO right? not you and you look so independent like someone who’s used to looking out for themselves”
He nodded his head in agreement ‘what a relief’
“I know this is personal but have you ever had a mate before?”
‘Should I say the truth or should I lie? If I say the truth, what if he suspect? Lie it is---’
“No”
“What about now?”
“Still no”
After a while I also decided to ask since we’re asking questions “should I also ask?”
“Of course”
“is it true you rejected your mate because of Diana?” this time I looked at his face when asking to see his expression
“where did you hear such nonsense --- of course it's not true”
“Well--- everyone is talking about it” ‘or I just wanted to know’
“Diana has nothing to do with why I rejected my mate --- it’s complicated. Diana and I were just a fling and she knew it would end eventually”
“doesn’t seem like it, she seemed quite possessive”
He sighed again looking down “I didn’t want things to end badly believe me, I hope she’s ok wherever she is --- maybe we weren’t just met for each other”
‘why do I feel so emotional right now?’
It was quite and we were both staring at each other, it felt like the temperature increased because I felt hot. Before I could register what was going on, his hands were on my laps not in a perverse way but in a comforting way, like he was trying to comfort himself or me?
He started circling his fingers on my laps, it almost felt like he was doing it purposely and for some reason I liked it. This is the first time we ever had a genuine conversation and I can fell the walls between us cracking slightly or is it the walls of my heart?
Just now looking at him, I realized how handsome he is--- it’s not like I never knew he was handsome, but I never got to see him this close; his eyes, nose and those lips
‘Rose you need to stop before it’s too late’
By now, he was already so close that we almost kissed. Just when our lips were about to connect the front door was pushed open and the gateman entered surprised seeing us still in the office
‘At this point, I need to thank the gateman for stopping me’
“Sir you’re still around, its already late” the gateman said to Adien in concern
“It’s fine, we’re about to leave, sorry for the stress”
“of course not, I’ll come back after you’re done sir to lock up”
“Thank you”
I was already packing my things to leave when he apologized
“I’m sorry--- I got carried away”
“Me too”
“you know you remind me of someone”
I smiled before replying “ I’m sorry to hear that” knowing exactly who he meant
“don’t be--- I’ll drop you off”.
- Writer
