Five
1030 Words
At the headquarters.
"Good morning sir," Jacob's assistant greeted once he got down from the car."Good morning ma'am," he added when he saw Adria also alight from the car.
Jacob didn't leave a response, he just started towards the private elevator, Adria and his assistant followed.
"Are they here yet?" He asked his assistant after they got into the elevator.
"Yes sir, they just arrived and are waiting for you in the conference room."
The elevator door opened when they got to the top floor. Adria was surprised when Jacob took her left hand and held it in his. She looked at him but his face read indifference as usual, she couldn't depict his reason for holding her hands, it had been so long since he voluntarily did that.
He walked out of the elevator, still holding her hands, he had their fingers intertwined like they were both happy with each other.
Not saying a single word, Adria let him lead her into the conference room. When they got to the door, Jacob's assistant hurried from behind to open the door for them.
They walked in and everyone seated around the long table got up on their feet in respect to the CEO and his wife.
Adria's heart started to beat fast because all the eyes in the room were on her. She looked to the ground as she followed Jacob to the head of the table.
"Sit here," he pulled out a chair for her. It was the seat on the right-hand side of the head seat.
Adria couldn't get her eyes off her man, he was filled with power; he was power, and she loved this part of him too. She loved the way he walked with incorporated power written over his every action.
Every other person sat after Jacob sat.
"Surely, you all know why you are here this morning," He started talking but Adria got distracted.
She was busy looking around the place. It had been years since she came around. She looked across the table, they were all men seated there, except a lady seated amongst them. They all were wearing suits, looking all professional. She felt like an alien, she had not been in an office environment for so long.
She was still looking across the table when she saw a familiar face. She smiled involuntarily out of excitement at first but stopped to confirm that it was him. She was still staring at him, trying to be sure when she got a wink from him; he recognized her.
She smiled when he winked at her but looked away for a second before looking back at him. She was really surprised to see him seated there.
"...and that's why she's here today, this is as important to her as it is to me. Mrs. Lewton, a word for them?" Jacob called her out of her distraction. She turned to him, lost on what he was calling her for.
"Say something to them," Jacob repeated, making her look at the people at the table. They were all waiting for her to say something but she didn't even know what they were expecting to hear from her.
"I...uhm, I..." She stammered but Jacob cut her.
"She's just excited about how successful the process has been." Jacob helped her.
She nodded to what he said to save herself from the embarrassment. After that, she tried to stay focused as he rounded up the meeting. When it was all over, many of the men started to leave while she just sat there fiddling with her fingers.
Jacob also stood so she followed but he whispered to her;
"Wait, I'm not leaving yet."
"Oh okay," she nodded and watched him go stand with the only lady at the meeting. She looked away and saw the man who winked at her earlier coming to her.
"Adria," his smile was broad, she remembered that smile so well.
"Heyy Dave, look at you." She returned the smile.
"How have you been, it's been so long since I saw you, how many years? I think five years, I haven't seen you in five good years and now that I have, I have to admit; damn, do you look stunning."
"Thanks," Was all she could say.
"Stunning Isn't a word good enough to describe how you look, you really look beautiful,"
"Thanks," she went again.
"You are still with Jacob, huh?"
"Uhm...yeah," her smile went dry; Dave noticed but decided to act like he didn't.
"Okay. Can I have your number, maybe we can catch coffee together sometime?" He got out his phone.
"Oh okay," She took his phone and inputted her digits.
"Okay, I'll call you." Dave saved the number after she returned the phone to him.
"What's going on here?" Jacob suddenly appeared from behind Adria, putting his hand around her waist. She turned to him with a surprised look.
‘Did he just hold my waist?’ She had to ask herself because she knew he avoided touching her and now, he was holding her waist as if they kissed in the elevator before coming to the conference room.
"Oh Jacob, this is Dave..." Adria wanted Jacob to be introduced to her old friend but he cut her halfway through her words.
"I know who he is."
"Oh. I was just surprised to see him here, I mean I didn't know you were working with him."
"She doesn't know we are working together on this project?" Dave directed a question at Jacob.
"Of course she does, she knows every single person who's on this project." Adria lifted her eyes in surprise when Jacob said that."Or don't you Adria?" He looked back at her when he asked.
"Yeah, yeah I do. He's mentioned you before, I just forget things sometimes."
"I see," Dave smiled, he knew she was lying, he knew Adria wasn't happy, he knew when her smile was fake and unhappy.
"Yeah," Adria nodded.
"Okay, In that case, I'll be on my way now. Take care of yourself," he smiled at Adria again before leaving.
"What was he saying before I got to you?" Jacob questioned her the moment Dave left.
- Writer
