LICENSE TO LOVE

8: Hidden Agendas.

I woke up with a start, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. The golden glow made the room feel warm and inviting, but the bed beside me was already cool. I could still smell Craig's cologne on the pillow next to me, and I felt a mix of exhilaration and unease as I remembered the night before.

Our kiss in his car felt like a dream now, thrilling and tender all at once. As I looked around the room, it seemed both familiar and new. The sleek furniture and simple decor took on a different meaning in the light of our intimacy.

I spotted a note on the nightstand and reached for it, my heart racing slightly. Craig's handwriting was neat and calm: "Good morning. I had to step out for a bit. I'll be back soon. — C." The words offered a touch of reassurance, but also left me wondering what would come next.

I slipped out of bed, pulling on one of Craig's oversized shirts I found draped over a chair. The shirt was too big, but it smelled like him. As I wandered around the room, the sense of anticipation for his return mingled with a tinge of nervousness. The day was unwritten, and I remember how blank my imagination was with him back then, few months ago in the Cafe when we first met.

I walk around and my eyes catch a figure moving around down the compound. I realized it was the same lady I saw earlier in GLAZE building. I walk slowly and carefully to the window and peek through. A sense of uneasy curiosity pulling me to the glass. Outside, I saw her. She moved through the compound with a confidence that spoke of both familiarity and authority. Even from this distance, her presence was striking.

Veronica was elegant, her tailored suit accentuating her poised and professional demeanor. She looks daunting despite the wear she was on. Her movements were deliberate, but there was an undercurrent of something more personal in the way she navigated the space.

Her hair was pulled back in a sleek bun, and her expression was focused, yet there was a subtle tension in her posture. I could almost sense the history between her and Craig, the way her gaze lingered on certain spots, as if each corner of the compound held a memory.

Watching her, I couldn't help but feel a pang of insecurity. Her presence here, especially in this grand setting, seemed to cast a shadow over my own place in Craig's life. The opulence of the compound felt almost oppressive as I considered the relationship she once shared with him. It was clear that she was not just any assistant; she was someone who had once been deeply important to Craig. He just couldn't let her go, it seemed.

As I continued to observe her, I wondered about the nature of their past interactions and how they might affect the present. The sense of history between them was palpable—one that made me nauseous and envious. I turn around as the doors behind me swings opens to reveal Tom. Tom Owen.

"How are you, Blaire?" He lets out a soft smile, walking towards the curtain to which I moved away from and fold my arms.

"Better than I was a few months ago." I force a smile out--one which he knew too well.

"Perfect." He walk towards the door and the stops and turns back, "you'll need it today!" He continues towards the door as another figure emerges just before his departure. It was her.

~~~

As I walked into my room, I was struck by the unusual sight before me. There they were—Tom by the window, Veronica perched on the edge of my desk, and Blaire seated on the bed. The scene was charged with an unmistakable tension, and I could almost feel the weight of unspoken history pressing down on us.

Tom's casual stance and the nod he gave me were a quiet acknowledgment of our long-standing friendship. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about our shared understanding.

Veronica's posture was rigid, her face a mask of professional composure that barely concealed the emotions bubbling beneath. The way she met my gaze with a mix of surprise and something more vulnerable made me pause. Her presence here, in my space, was both unexpected and loaded with history.

Blaire's tentative smile as she looked up at me was a stark contrast to the scene. There was a look of concern in her eyes, and I could sense her unease about the situation. Seeing her here, caught in the middle of this complex web, made my chest tighten.

I cleared my throat, my voice steady but carrying an edge of curiosity. "I didn't realize we were having a meeting," I said, my eyes moving from Tom to Veronica and then to Blaire.

Tom shifted slightly, breaking the silence. "We were just discussing some things," he said, his tone neutral but hinting at the gravity of the conversation. "Veronica came by to talk about some old business, and Blaire—well, she's been here just this morning."

"She look like she's been here more than just this morning. Am I wrong?" Veronica hisses, looking at Blaire. The fact she couldn't even say her name was amusing.

I turned my attention back to Veronica, who looked at me with a mix of defiance and something softer, almost regretful. "I needed to see you," she said quietly, her voice carrying a weight of unresolved feelings.

I nodded, my gaze shifting to Blaire, who seemed to be holding her breath. "Alright," I said, trying to keep my tone calm and collected. "Let's sort this business out."

As I moved further into the room, I could feel the air shift slightly, but the underlying tension remained. I knew we had a lot to address, and whatever emotions and histories were at play, they needed to be faced head-on.

Tom accompanies Blaire out while I wait for their leave before closing the doors. I relax my hands on the door as my head and take a deep sigh. Veronica walks up from behind and places her hands on my shoulder. It could never be like Blaire's, no matter how hard she tries.

"Craig. You've been avoiding me all these while since I delivered that girl's job application to you." She begins.

"That was months ago, Nica." I turn away and walk to the window.

"Exactly. It's been months since we spent time together, C." She says calmly.

"What's there to talk about, Nica?! We're done. No strings attached, alright? We've been over this years ago." I exhale and then head towards the door but she grabs my hand tightly.

"No, we're not over, Craig. Tell me you love cause I know you still do. You're just playing games with her. We both know that. That's how you did with those girls back in highschool." She states confidently.

"That's all I'm the past now. Remember you're just my assistant. I put you there as a reminder of the mistakes I've made in the past. But her--" I point towards the door, my face flavoring with anger yet maintaining a calm demeanor at the thought of Blaire.

"Blaire?" She asks in confusion.

"Yes, Blaire. She's different and she's mine. Now let go of my hand." I yank it out and walk towards the double doors of my room.

Before I fling it open, she threatens, "You wouldn't want your Bryan Winchester to find out what's going on, would you? You have short amount of time, Craig, you'd do well to use it wisely." She looks at me with malicious eyes, "beside me, your fiancée. Tell your lover girl I said "Hi". "

She walks out, swaying her hips with her heels banging against the marble floor--the sound of impending doom about to befall.