Our world collided

CHAPTER 5: The Connection

Layla is a reserved person. Outside her workspace and her colleagues, mingling wasn't her thing. Her priority was her work, and she made sure it stayed that way. But Ale, the new cleaning staff, had managed to walk through the walls she had as her defense. Layla and Ale now have conservative night talks, everything about their conversation is always so soothing, and she anticipates closer work than the actual work, all day.

They started having conversations about their personal life, and not just Charms Advertising.

It started like a joke. Ale casually invited her to have lunch with him. That was definitely a line that her principles never thought she'd cross. When she looked at Ale, she found it so difficult to break his heart this way, he looked all too excited. She didn't know when the words flew out of her mouth, “Okay, okay, I will. Just this once, Ale. I don't want rumors whatsoever going around. You know I just got this job,” she ended firmly.

Later that afternoon, they got to a small park near the office and went. They had beef kebab and chips. They sat under the shade of an almond foot. It was quiet and serene, they sat awhile eating before Layla began venting out all of her work stress.

To everyone's expectations, I can't keep up and be perfect, Layla said, pulling the hair on her face backward. “All my decisions, my words, they are being watched like a hulk over her kids, waiting for me to miss a step. It’s exhausting, really. And to add to this, Stasin keeps pestering me.”

She sighed.

Ale chuckled, in his deep voice, “Not everyone sees leadership as a responsibility. For some, it’s just a title.”

Layla studied him for a moment. “You’re good at this, you know. Listening. Offering advice. Are you sure you’re in the right profession?”

Ale smirked but didn’t answer,

It became a daily habit for Statin to be more persistent, he kept pulling strategies from his “book of charms”, in an attempt to win Layla over, he was so relentless. Layla actively had to keep dodging his disgusting flirtations, it was getting quite noticeable by the other staff.

“Layla,” stasin said, you know it's the weekend already, what are your plans? You know we could have dinner together, just us, in the same space, talking. It'll ease work stress, I think. What do you say? Layla?

Layla sighed, pressing the elevator button. “Stasin, thank you, but I'll pass.

“Over the weekend I am not your employee, no one will know, I promise Layla” he pleaded, stepping closer. “I know you want this as well. Don't turn me down, mama. You'd bruise my ego.”

“You know what I want?,” Layla said, stepping out of the elevator as the doors opened. “You’re my project manager. And you should respect your boundaries, and stick to your roles and stop putting your head where you are not needed, nor welcomed, are we clear?.”

Ale invited Layla out in-between one of their conversations. “There will be an art exhibit downtown,” he said casually, “it'll be a great opportunity for us to hang out and mingle a bit, I mean, you'd see faces that wouldn't look like your staff.” he ended laughing.

“I’ll think about it,” she responded. She couldn't let him know. She was excited.

The exhibit was rather intimate and intimidating. It showcased local artists. Ale walked around the gallery with so much composure, having a thing or two to say about different paintings, Layla was thrilled by his intellect.

“Is there anything you don't know?,” she said as they stood in front of the painting.

“Anybody can know anything, Layla,” Ale replied, smiling. “I just pay attention.”

The next day began with the trickling of rain drops. Layla could see through her window. Her mind kept going over yesterday's event, how intelligent and so simple he was. Her heart screamed that he was all she wanted. She lay on her bed, wrapped in her sheets. Then she heard a sound of shattering glass inside her apartment.

She immediately got up. She was sure she had locked the front door last night. Fear stroked at the edges of her consciousness. Before she could get out of bed, the door to her room was knocked down, and three masked men burst in.

“Stay quiet, lady, and no one gets hurt,” one of them barked.

"Oh my God," her voice says in a whisper.

One of the intruders looked at her sternly. "Shut it." He shouted.

He shoved her on the floor, tears rolling uncontrollably on her cheeks from her eyelids. She watched them take everything she had and left her house bare. Minutes later, they left. Her house was messed up and turned upside down.

Her neighbors came as soon as they left, they called the police, and before they could arrive, there was nothing left if the robbers to trace them. They couldn't assure them they'd reprimand the perpetrators. They kept asking shallow questions. The gang that robbed Layla has been terrorizing the town, they even have a popular squad named “the trid_terror”. Layla was merely a victim in their robbery flex.

Layla got inside and soon, her neighbors heard her quivering, struggling to breathe, and then broke the main entrance door. In an attempt to take her to the hospital, they looked for any means of identification, since her phone was stolen, they needed to reach out to someone. The same document had her bosses contact on it, immediately they call Vahrms Vale. They notified him of the situation and which hospital they had taken her to.

Layla didn't know how long we had been out for-she opened her eyes to a worried-looking Ale, pacing around her hospital bed,

She whispered a soft “what are you doing with here?”

“Layla?” His voice was calm and shaking, are you okay? Oh! Thank God! Layla, does it hurt, how are you ....shush don't say anything? I am here. Wait, hold on, DOCTOR!!!!! He screamed.

The doctor came in, examined her, and suggested she rest before her next dose of injections.

My apartment... they broke in. They took everything. I—Layla struggles to relate.

“Don't say anything, Layla, I've got you. I am here”, he reassures her, taking a seat behind her on the bed, so she rests her body completely on him.

He places soft kisses on her neck, palms and her back. He kept stroking her, and caressing her, till she slept off in his arms. Ale sat there holding on to her, like she'd stop breathing if he let go of her.

Layla slept for over 4 hours, it felt like 4 minutes to Ale. He sat and watched over her, taking every detail of her skin in his imagination.

Layla finally woke up. The first thing she said was “I am starving.”

“You’re hurt,” he said, kneeling in front of her. His hands on the nape of her neck, “do you feel pain?, how do you feel?”

“I’m fine,” she lied, “hungry Ale”.

“No, you’re not,” he said firmly. He looked at her softly. “But you will be.”

He got up, pulled out his phone and began speaking authoritatively. Over the phone. I couldn't make out what he was saying, but he looked more handsome when he is mad. My silly self giggled, wondered why I found time for admiration and jokes on a hospital bed, I might be having a death wish.

Soon a buffet of food, fruits, and veggies arrived at her hospital bed, everyone begging her to eat. She had her eyes in search of Ale, looking in every direction, but she just couldn't find him.

She suddenly protested “I didn't order food, please I think you've got the wrong room number” she said, with pain.

One of the chefs stated that “Mr Vahrms Vale Charms has ordered that this be arranged for you, ma, please eat, and our jobs might be dependent on you eating as much as possible”. He ended

“My my my,” I thought to myself. “Wait what? How did he know I was in the hospital, let alone send food?” I asked myself again.

The chefs and staff kept begging that I take something, I indulged, and boy!! The food was delicious.

I can't remember the last time I had this much of a proper meal since I left home.

I ate to my full.

The chefs were all so pleased. Seemingly I was beginning to think that my mysterious boss might just be in town, because how else would anyone arrange all of this from the states? He does have so much affluence, I thought to myself.

As the hours passed, I lay on the hospital bed, facing the ceiling, with my homemaker, watching a comedy show on the hospital TV. My thoughts were unsettling. I had deadlines for tomorrow, client reviews and an important meeting at 9pm. My thoughts were just up and everywhere, I wanted to leave, I felt fine, I needed to leave, still in my confused thoughts, a knock came on my door, and I screamed a vibrant “come in, the doors open”.

It was a delivery guy-a new Macbook laptop, an iPad and iphone, along with a get-well-soon gift had been sent to me. I asked the delivery guy for the sender's name. He raised his shoulders in denial. He had no idea.

“Ale,” she said, her voice breaking as she stared at him walking into her room,

“ I woke up, and you left. You wouldn't imagine what my boss sent to me. Mr Vahrms must be such a nice man……… kept blabbing and blabbing about how I felt, and all he did, I even told Ale that I thought he was the one that sent me new gadgets.

Ale wore a calm expression, smiling at how she was having her mouth up and about, being her usual self. He was sure he loved her…..but would she? A common cleaner like me. He finally said he must be a nice guy.

They had a very lengthy, heart-to-heart conversation. After a while, Ale urged, “Get some rest, Layla. You’ve been through enough.”

She nodded positively, even though she didn't want him to leave her side. He leaned close to her, confidently robbing her cheeks, he leaned in and kissed her on her lips, the kiss was tender, soft and…… “Wait”. I said to my heart,

Ale left the kiss with a soft peck on her lips, then kissed her forehead dearly and walked out of her room.

“What!” I whispered to myself quietly.

I asked myself, Who is Ale?

He was a cleaner—wasn’t he? But how could a cleaner afford to make me feel this way? Today, he spoke so much with precision with a seasoned professional? Like he was in control, wasn't he?

I tried putting recent events together, but it just wasn't adding up.

And then there was the way he had looked at me, and how he made me feel tonight. It's like he could reach out to my soul without words.

My thoughts were everywhere, I was so alarmed. What have I gotten myself into? He was a man, and how did I let him get close enough to my life? And why do I feel safer with him around?

I needed to do something about this and fast, I slept off with these thoughts.