A bet that changed their lives

Part 7 - In Anticipation

Derek couldn't keep calm, one more day and he would be meeting Arya again. Only this time, she will be working for him, which meant more interaction, more opportunities to know her. He was currently on his way to Mark's place, they had decided to go to office together. The driver had to take a detour due to some road maintenance work and now, they were passing through a quiet, middle-class neighbourhood. There was nothing extraordinary about it, really, except for a familiar girl on her way to a florist. Derek did a double take, he couldn't figure it out if he actually saw Arya or was his mind hallucinating. If his mind was, he wouldn't really be surprised because he had had enough of it last evening when he was at his penthouse, trying to complete reviweing a few files, while his mind was hellbent on making him imagine Arya's presence around him.

He peered out of the window again, but she was nowhere to be found. He shook his head as he scolded himself for behaving like a lovesick teenage boy. Wait, did he really just call himself lovesick? "I have officially lost it, believing in something as fictional as love." He glanced outside again, her absence making him confirm his suspicions that he had hallucinated her presence on the street. He mentally rolled his eyes as he tried to distract his thoughts. The girl had occupied his thoughts for too long, he needed a break now, he needed to have some clarity before he picked up Mark or before they reached office.

***

This time of the year was always difficult for her, always a bit emotional. It reminded her of the time she lost everything. Every year on this date, she used to get up early, go to the neighbourhood florist, purchase two red roses and be on her way to the resting place of her parents. Today, like every year since she had lost them, was her parents' death anniversary. This time, however, she had lots to share with them. After all, she was going to enter the big, bad corporate world. She had also got a chance to pursue her dream of working for a publishing firm. She had decided to be happy today, instead of being melancholic over what she had lost. And she knew that her parents would be happy too upon hearing that their baby was all grown up now.

***

"Yesterday was no good, I bet today is going to be worse than that. In fact, worse than all the previous days combined," grumbled Mason as he was getting ready to visit his brother again. He couldn't understand what was it that his brother was trying to achieve by calling him to office, fifth day in a row. Wasn't yesterday enough to make him know that he is absolutely not interested in even being around him, let alone work for his company? Their relationship was too broken to be mended, and such forced interactions were definitely not going to earn any favour. He missed Aunty Debbie, the way she could knock some sense into his brother's head, and even in his head if need be. He was counting days to her arrival; he was missing her, her motherly affection and delightful talks. Complaining one more time about his brother, he walked out of his house and locked the door, mentally preparing himself for the day ahead.

***

The day was over in a jiffy, it was already time to wind up and head home. Derek was looking forward to wrapping up the day soon. He wanted to have enough time to make himself more presentable tomorrow. He had a crucial meeting coming up and a positive outcome would result in one of the biggest turnovers in his company's history. Of course, the preparations were for the meeting, definitely not for someone who shall not be named, he repeated this over and over again. He felt like a child on Christmas morning, but he convinced himself that it was due to tomorrow's meeting, and not because of his new employee.

Mark was extremely busy today. Other than the ride to office this morning, they didn't really get the time to catch up the entire day. And as Derek picked up his phone to call Mark, he saw his message that was sent 20 minutes ago, "Will be late, have lots to deal with. See you tomm bro." Derek got ready and left his office, passing by an empty, small office that would be soon occupied tomorrow. He couldn't help it when his lips curved into a slight smile. Arya would soon be here, working on the same floor. He couldn't wait to have her around, have her presence around him.

***

The day would have been quite sombre, had Brooke not been there to distract her and engage her in random activities almost every moment of the day. And Arya was glad, thankful for the lively girl. Now, as she lay on the bed, she could sense her nervousness kick in as tomorrow was going to be an important day for her. First days at new places were also difficult for her. She was used to adjusting to situations and places, but there was something about new places and people that really unsettled her, before she could finally overcome that and be herself. It was more important now to overcome her fear as she wasn't in college anymore, or some small company. She was going to be working at a popular company, directly under the boss. She had to man up and deal with such changes.

Arya set her alarm and tried to sleep, as sweet memories of her parents, her childhood consumed her, along with dreaming weird scenarios of her first day at work - slipping on the tiled floor, spilling water on important papers, and worse, ending up breaking something of value on her boss' desk and getting fired as a result.