CHAPTER TEN: LIKE THIS
1113 Words
LIORAÉ
“I am not like him.”
I looked up at Soren with my eyebrow going up. “Like who?”
“Your ex-boyfriend. I will never hurt you.”
“I don’t need you to snake empty promises to me.”
“They aren't empty promises.”
“We don't mean anything to each other for you to make such promises to me.”
“I want you to mean much more than you can ever imagine to me.”
“My answer stays the same.”
“I won’t stop trying.”
The table was filled almost immediately. He had ordered almost everything on their menu. “Whatever you want to eat,” he commented. I rolled my eyes and stuck to what I was familiar with.
I tried to focus on my meal, but my mind kept going back to his statement. ‘I am not like him… I want you to mean much more than you can ever imagine to me.'
After what Evan did, I shouldn't be moved by such promises, yet I felt my heart prickling at the thought of it. He was the first boyfriend I had had straight out of college, and he had come with empty promises.
He had been so good at keeping them, but now that I looked back on them, I was sure that he was just so good at lying and concealing the truth. He must have been a serial cheater while praising her for wanting to wait till they were married.
“You’ve been sighing a lot.”
I turned to Soren, who wore a concerned look on his face. I shook out the image that stayed imprinted in my brain.
“Are you okay?” he followed, causing them to turn to him. “If you want to take the rest of the day off, then you can.”
“I do not need to,” I said immediately to stop him.
I couldn't afford to think about things like that. I was a new hire, and what would people say when the new hire is coming to work late on her second day and already taking half days?
“I don’t mind; I am sure I can handle the rest of the day alone.”
My eyes caught the driver, who had fear and surprise written all over his face. He gripped the steering wheel with both hands so tightly that it felt like something unimaginable was going to happen if he dared let go.
“Mr. Vale, I can handle the rest of the day,” I muttered. From the look that the driver gave me, I was sure he was not like this to his former staff. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me whatever you want.”
“Are you this kind to all your other staff?”
His face fell into confusion, and he shook his head. “Do I need to?” He paused, and I cleared my throat awkwardly. That explained the look from the driver.
“I need you to treat me like your other staff; after all, I am just your staff.”
“You aren't just my staff; you are…” My hand covered his mouth before I could think. I know I was the one who began this conversation, but I could not bear the driver hearing it.
“Forget I said anything.” His smile grew wider as he held my gaze. Why did it feel as if I had lost this battle?
The rest of the ride was silent, and as we pulled to the front of the office, his door opened and he got down.
“I need to get something.” I made up an excuse and let the driver take me to the parking lot in the basement. I had to hear what he had to say, even though it might hurt my pride.
“You seem to have a lot to say to me.” My eyes stayed on his through the mirror. He looked taken aback by my comment. He coughed and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“I have never seen the boss treat anyone the way he treats you, letting you ride in the back of the car beside him, letting you eat lunch with him, and talking to you with emotions.”
“What kind of man is he?”
“The kind you think he is.”
I hated the way his response sounded like riddles. “What does that mean?”
“Didn’t you get the notes from the last assistant?” he asked.
I blinked proudly. I had gotten the notes, but everything written was different from the reality I was currently seeing, which was the reason I had to ask.
“I did but…”
“He is different.”
“How do I get him to revert to the man he was?”
“Don’t,” his answer was sharp. “Maybe his new state would flow to us all; we don’t know.”
“You know, if people change too quickly, they might be dying.” His face fell into horror. I was now regretting my decision to stay back and talk with him.
I walked back to the office, and Soren was casually spinning in my chair with a ball in his hand. I stood in place as he held my eyes.
“Mr. Vale, you are in my seat,” I murmured gently, hoping not to attract the attention of the rest of the floor.
“I was waiting for you,” he shrugged.
“Is there anything I can help you with, sir?”
“I just wanted to be sure you are okay.”
“As you can see, sir, I am fine.”
“Good.” He got up. I could see that he had a lot more to say, but instead, he gave a small head nod and walked away into his office.
I lowered myself into the chair with a sigh, ready to get back to work. When my phone rang.
“Hello, Mom?”
“Evan told me that you got a job at his company,” she was rambling. “I had no idea, but that is such good news. Come home with him; I am going to cook something delicious.”
I knew I was not ready to go back and forth with her, so I nodded. “Okay, Mom.”
“Good, I always knew you were sensible,” she said with hearty laughter. “See you later tonight.”
“Bye, Mom.”
- Writer
