The Date Planner

1.13. The Mystery Girl

Back at the office, I engage myself so much into work that I have not even a single second to spare on other things going on in my life.

Liza thankfully doesn't question my sudden unbounded zeal for work and helps me around the whole time, trying her best to keep up.

A whole week goes by in work, arrangements, reports and analysis that I really don't have time for anything or anyone.

It does help me avoid Jason as much as possible and Clinton's incessant calls, messages and voice-mails too.

My only contact of relaxing conversation none but Liza who did admit she remembers who was the mystery girl the night of the gala I caught her red-handed with.

Promised she would call her back and let me know if I will have to arrange a date for them soon too.

To which I just winked her all the best.

Though she's been giving a sort of 'I-know-you're-hiding-something-from-me-and-I-know-you-will-eventually-spit-it-out-and-I-just-can't-wait-to-actually-hear-all-of-it' look to me the whole week.

God, she knows something's up.

Other than that, I don't really have any highlights for the week.

Today(Saturday) is no different to be honest. It's late evening, I haven't had dinner yet. And I still have tons of work to do.

I look at my wrist watch to check the time and realize it's 7:30 already, no thanks to Liza who made me realize it's already late otherwise I would've spend the whole night at the office.

We pack our stuff in silence since we're the only ones left on our floor to go home, most of the lights are already closed making the floor look like a whole scene from a typical paranormal movie; in which any sorts of monsters might just jump out of the corner to eat us out in, one, two-

"What is going on with you?", Liza stops her packing before standing up with a hand to her hip, jutting it out.

I eye her P. I. stance before sighing because I knew I couldn't lie to her face.

"I-", I start but I'm cut off by a loud ping from the elevator of our floor.

My eyes widen as I see a figure running out of the elevator towards us, his footsteps loud enough to be heard on the empty office.

And presence so loud, I just want to hide under the nearest desk.

"Oh, hey Clinton. What brings you here at this hour?", Liza who knows nothing of what went down at the gala, asks him.

Her brows furrowed as she notices Clinton's hard stare at me. She turns to me in confusion as if I know the answers to everything.

Which I do in this situation but...

"We need to talk", Clinton states, ignoring Liza's presence completely.

"I... Uh...", I start awkwardly but swallow down the lump in throat as it suddenly turns too dry that I need water.

I just stay quiet and look at him like I've seen a ghost, literally.

Liza's gaze flickers from me to Clinton before she clears her throat.

"I'm gonna go and pull out the car, meet you downstairs in a few?", she asks, breaking the silence.

"Mhmm", I nod because that's all I could muster at the moment.

Though Clinton has other plans for the day.

"I'm sorry Liza but I think you should probably head home considering it's going to take a while with what I'm about to discuss with Justine here", he states before putting his hands in his pockets and standing firmly as if she's about to deny him.

Liza looks at me for confirmation once as if asking 'should I really?'.

"Uh...should I be concerned?", she asks me rather than him.

"No, it's perfectly fine. You can trust me", he nods at her.

Her though, she's still looking at me for confirmation completely ignoring him.

"It's okay, you can go", I muster out somehow, nodding stiffly once again.

She looks at me, pointedly once again then takes a step back only to stop.

"I'm going to inform Ralph downstairs that you're still up, okay?", she asks, referring to the security guard.

"Thank you", I answer half in relief and the other nervously before giving her a small reasurring smile.

She returns it with one of her own before heading out.

I watch her retreating back as she finally disappears from my view. I don't even realize I'm looking into nothingness, lost in my own thoughts until Clinton clears his throat.

I jolt with a start and shake my head.

"Yeah Clinton, I don't think it would be great if we discussed stuff in here, there are CCTV's everywhere so...", I trail.

"Sure, let's go"

***

We were back to that McDonald's driveway where we had our first random date. I've no idea why.

This time leaning against the car and waiting for each other to speak up. We had eaten our meals in silence, waiting for the other to speak but none of us really did.

The silence was killing me on the inside. I had no idea what he wanted to talk about and honestly after that earth shattering kiss I just couldn't look at him straight in the eye before re-living the memory it.

Which was mildly disturbing and made this situation even more awkward and me, on the edge.

From the corner of my eye, I could watch the wind grazing his hair, faint light from the McDonald's board falling on his face; giving his face a different sort of shadow, as he was lost in his own thoughts just like me. He looked so beautiful in that moment, I almost thought he was a picture.

Until his head snapped in my direction.

"What is going on, Justine?", he asks quietly.

"I don't know what you mean", I clear my throat and cross my arms and almost shrink into myself a little, wishing I could avoid this conversation altogether.

"You know what I mean. One minute you're interested and the next, you're pushing me away and running off. And then I see you with Jason and it's maddening!", he exclaims, fully turned to face me.

My eyes soften a little at his statement but I don't face him.

The intensity of that statement scares the s**t out of me and I don't know what I might end up seeing in his eyes that will further break me apart.

I sigh.

"Clinton, I...", I try but my throat becomes dry by the minute.

I swallow hard and it burns in my throat as my heart thuds wildly inside my ribcage.

I release a shuddering breath and close my eyes the minute I sense the familiar burn behind my eyelids.

I don't want him to see me cry. I can't.

"You're my client, Clinton", I whisper out, somehow.

"That's bullshit and you know that", he shouts, taking me by surprise.

His hands reach forward to take my hands in his and make me face him.

My heart skips a beat and in that moment I want nothing more than the earth to swallow me because the intensity of my tears increases another notch. I instantly look at our hands and try to blink the tears away.

"Look at me, Justine"

I shake my head, my throat clogging up, instantly.

"Justine, please", the plead his voice.

I couldn't take it anymore, this was killing me.

I lifted my head and met his gaze with my slightly blurry one.

His eyes softens at my tears and he reaches forward to catch one by his thumb only to brush it away.

His hand comes forward only to hold my chin in a delicate hold.

I close my eyes in pain and feel tears streaming down face not able to meet his eyes and tell him the truth.

So I asked him of the one thing I've been wanting to do since the very first time he did it to me.

"Kiss me. Please", I whisper softly, as I open my eyes to look at him.

His features harden a little but then I feel the first of his lips touch on mine and I feel it all. The intensity of his words and how much he meant them in every way possible. It was like he wanted nothing more than to do this right now.

His gentle, urgency clear by the desperation of his lips and the hands that cupped my face, holding me firmly, like they never want me to let go.

They mold to mine like a jigsaw puzzle and I feel the tingles shake me to my core as they travel through my body, making me shudder at the intimacy of it all as my back presses against the car.

Never in a million years I thought something like this would ever happen and then it did. Hopefully in the best way possible as I decide what I really need to do now.