Utopia

Chapter-5

I was lying in my bed in my studio apartment still in my interview clothes. I was still a little disoriented by the uncommon experience I had this morning. It was too easy to believe that it was a strange dream I had because of my nervousness. But the appointment order perched on my nightstand was proving that it had happened. I was bound and gagged by Adrian Scott, left in the dark, and was then appointed as his secretary. It was a total mind f**k.

I took out my cell phone from my purse and called Millie’s number. She lifted after three rings.

“Hey, stranger,” Millie’s cheerful voice greeted me from the speaker. “Did you get the job?”

“I did it!” I announced, pleased with myself.

“Congrats, Hannah! I know you can do it!” She squealed. “How’s the interview and the boss?”

I had the urge to spill everything to her, right from the moment I stepped into the waiting room to the moment the appointment order was in my hands. I felt as though I would burst if I didn’t tell someone about the interview. But then I remembered the NDA. I remembered my signature on the yellow legal paper. I remembered Adrian saying there would be repercussions for breaching the agreement. I had to filter my every word. I had to walk a fine line between not saying anything important and saying enough to not make Millie suspicious.

“Interesting, for the lack of a better word. My boss, Adrian is quite a character.”

There. I said everything and said nothing. I wanted to give myself a pat of appreciation for my slyness.

“And hot, from the pictures I googled,” Millie said with a naughty tone. She would have winked if we were having this conversation in person.

“That picture did him no justice, though,” I said, remembering the sharpness of his jaw and the way it brushed my chin when he whispered in my ear.

“We are ready for an office romance then,” Millie said. I could hear her munching on chips.

“No way!” I said more forcefully than I intended to.

“What? You said yourself he is hot. You are going to be together all day. He doesn’t have a girlfriend from what I heard.” She said as though dating your boss is the most common thing in the world.

“I want him to take me seriously, Millie,” I said. “That is not possible if I jump in his bed. I don’t want to f**k up my first job.”

Everything I said was true. But there was more to it than that. I had seen the man up close today. Not only his face. But also into a sliver of his dark character. It was okay to fantasize about him in harmless dreams. But he was not the kind of man I want in my bed. I could not sleep peacefully beside him and couldn’t trust him enough to be alone with him in the dark.

“Whatever you want, girlfriend,” Millie said. “So, you wanna meet today to celebrate your new job?”

“Sure, we’ll go out. But not for celebration. I have just enough money to buy some pairs of work clothes and pay my rent. Celebrations have to wait until I get my first month’s salary.” I said, sighing. For once, I would like to have so much money I didn’t have to calculate and postpone every single pleasure in life.

“It’s my treat, stupid. A present for being an awesome girl. Now don’t argue with me and get ready to go out.” Millie said.

“What would I do without you, Millie?” I smiled into the phone, overcome with love and gratitude for my best friend. She was the only reason I was not in utter despair. She was my ray of sunshine.

“Hopefully, you’ll never find out.” She quipped.

**********

“You look knocking in that dress, Hannah,” Millie nodded in appreciation at the maroon blouse and navy blue skirt I was wearing. “Wear that on your first day.”

I smiled at her comment. We were at a clothes store at the mall. I selected three pairs of blouses and skirts for work based on Millie’s best judgment. She was the fashionista between the two of us.

“You think? Then my shopping is complete. Do you want to get something else?” I asked her.

“I have to get some cat food for Princess. You complete your payment here. I’ll be back in a sec.” 

Millie left for the pet store beside the clothes store. I carefully folded the dresses I tried and started towards the bill counter when I collided with someone.

“Ouch,” I let out a small cry. The dresses fell from my hand. Without looking at the one whom I hit, I bent and picked up the dresses quickly. I didn’t want to get them dirty even before wearing them.

“I’m sorry,” I said, rising up. “I didn’t see….”

My words stuck in my throat as soon as I saw the face of the man who hit me.

“Mr. Scott, what are you doing here?” I asked.

I felt like I was back in his chamber tied up to a chair. My breathing rate had increased and I hoped he didn’t notice. What were the odds of me running into a billionaire in a shopping mall? He was supposed to be at an Armani or a Gucci store spending hundreds of dollars on suits and shoes. For a second, I wondered if I was seeing things.

“Hannah Wells,” He said, his voice cool. “What a coincidence. I didn’t expect to meet you again on the same day.”

As he said those words, I was taken back to his office, to the moments after I had fainted.