CHAPTER THIRTEEN: ONLY IF SHE WANTS
1802 Words
LIORAÉ
Even in this dress that made me look like a princess, I was still feeling out of place. Everyone had a perfect face, like this was some kind of fashion show where everyone was struggling to get the perfect prize.
“You look nervous.”
“That is because I am.”
“You don't have to worry; I will be standing right beside you.”
His words were supposed to make me feel better, but instead they made me wonder. Was there something I needed to be nervous about? He led me to the table that had four chairs around it.
Adrian, Soren’s younger brother, was already seated there with a woman who had her hair styled dramatically. Her skin was darker; maybe she was back from a beach where she had lounged all day. The closer I got to these people, the more I realised how far apart we were.
“Soren”
Before I could register what was going on, she got up and wrapped her hand over his neck, pulling him into an embrace. She held on for a solid minute as my mind ticked in response. Soren’s hands stayed by his side, and that made me feel better.
“I have told you how much I hate hugs,” he said as she pulled away.
She took a step back, breathing heavily as she rolled her eyes. “You hate hugs? “You used to love mine since we were children; I wonder what changed,” she added the last part thoughtfully.
“I grew.”
“That is right.” She took a step forward and held his cheek between her fingers, squeezing it like he was some child she was captivated by. “You are now a grown man.”
He pulled his face from her grip and threw a discontented smile her way. “You can't do that any longer as well.”
“You don't seem that pleased to see me, even though I have been gone for months.”
“When did you get back?”
“This morning,” she said, like she was bragging. “Yet here I am to support you.”
“I hope you don’t mind, brother; I got her a space at our table.”
“Wasn’t it Mom who asked you to do so?” Soren asked, barely glancing at his brother. Adrian nodded and took a deep breath.
“So who is this beautiful woman?” Adrian motioned to me, and Soren sidestepped, almost covering him totally.
“My assistant,” his voice was sharp and smooth.
“Oh, hi.” This woman, whom I am sensing must be Elara, moved towards me. Her hand grabbed mine and held it with glee in her eyes. “I do hope that you don’t leave,” she leaned in and whispered. “He can be such an ass, but the more you get to know him, the more you…”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Forget everything I just said; he is really an ass.”
“Quit saying nonsense,” Soren mumbled, pulling her back by her shoulders.
“How many is that now this year?’ She asked, raising her finger in the air and mimicking counting.
“Five,” Adrian responded.
“Five assistants this year,” she sighed. “I hope you stay.”
I was not sure of that anymore. This job was something I wanted to do, but now it felt all wrong. Soren’s attention to me was wrong, and I doubt if I would be able to survive even another moment.
“Enough rambling,” Soren said, and everyone suddenly went quiet. “The event is about to start; why don’t we sit down?”
“Sure,” they both mumbled and slid back into their chairs.
Soren pulled out the chair for me before I could get to it. “What do you think you are doing?” I whispered close to his body.
“Aren’t you going to get in?” he asked. I had no choice but to get in.
Adrian’s and Elara’s eyes stayed on us as they wondered what was going on. This must be out of his character, so why was he so different with me? He pushed the chair forward and slid in beside me, with Elara by his other side.
“I see you would have no problem retaining this job,” Adrian whispered, his voice carrying some sort of excitement.
Why were they so obsessed with finding a long-lasting assistant for him? I excused myself from the table for a bathroom break, not because I really needed to use the toilet but because I needed a break to breathe properly from the watchful eyes on me, especially from Vivienne at the table just adjacent to us.
She stared so intently at me; I was sure that there was something on my face. I stood in front of the mirror and inspected my face. It was spotless, free from makeup, save the lipstick I had retouched before coming in here.
I pulled the stick out of my purse and pressed it against my lips gently. The colour shone brightly at me in the mirror. The door opened and Elara strutted in, stopping at the next station, her bag making a small thud as she dropped it.
“How are you finding the party? Is it to your liking?”
Why was she so nice? It felt really weird that she was this way. If she was Soren’s betrothed and he was treating me kindly, was this a normal reaction, or did she not want Soren as well?
“I do not care for events like this,” I explained, and she smiled with a nod.
“I could tell.”
“You know,” she started again after a long minute of silence between us. “Soren and I go way back; we've been friends since we could say our names, and our families expect us to get married.”
I am almost tempted to ask her what she wanted, but it seemed like she didn't need my urge to express herself.
“I, too, have developed a crush on him and hope we can be together.” My throat constricted and felt hot at once.
I was developing an active crush on my boss, yet I knew I was not worthy to compete with his childhood friend, who had his mother’s approval. Of course, it was ridiculous of me to think that there was ever going to be anything more between us. He deserved a woman like Elara to stand by his side.
“And I will not let anyone or anything stand in my way.” I could hear the subtle snide remarks thrown at me. I was glad she spoke because I had nothing else to say.
“Of course,” I replied with a nod.
“I am glad my message is passed,” she added and turned to me, throwing a huge smile, her full teeth on display.
I was not even sure what I was supposed to feel in that moment. She had passed her message loud and clear, and I would be a fool to ignore it. I placed my lipstick back into my bag and left the room after murmuring an excuse.
For the rest of the dinner, I tried to stop Soren from doing all the little things that could make Elara misinterpret the situation, but my efforts were futile. He poured me a drink while blatantly ignoring Elara’s glass tilted in his direction.
By the end of the night, I was sure she would not like me. How could she?
“I will take a taxi from here.”
Soren’s forehead creased as he looked at me ridiculously. I had been waiting for his car to come. As his assistant, I had to see him go before I went, and when the driver pulled the door open, I knew it was my cue to leave.
“The night isn’t over now, is it?”
“The event is over, Mr Vale.”
“Soren, there’s no one here,” he said. How could he be so consistent about the wrong things? “GET IN.” His voice came out more like a command, and I knew I had no other choice but to obey.
I climbed into the car, and the car shut behind me before he climbed in the other side.
“Can you give us a minute?” he asked the driver when he opened the door. The door closed, and we were trapped in the silent, humming car as the air from the air conditioner made me shiver.
“Lioraé,” his tone was back to being normal, rid of that commanding tone he had used with me earlier. “What is wrong?”
“Nothing Mr Va…” His grip on my chin, pulling me closer, caused his name to cease from my lips. I stared at his intense grey eyes; I feared I might be swallowed in them.
“Nothing yet. You went from calling me Soren to Mr Vale?”
“Nothing can happen between us; I might be your mistress or even a booty call.” What the heck was I saying, and why did I even imagine it? “But in reality, we both know that the woman who can stand beside you is someone like Elara.”
I pulled my chin from his grip, ready to get out of the car.
“Did she say something?”
“Does she have to?” My voice rose. Anger pulsated through my veins even though my mind was blank as to why I was mad.
“Lioraé, trust me, I only see you.” He held my face and pulled my hair from my face gently. His lips trailed my face and then my lips.
I felt my head angle forward even without me wanting to, and his lips grazed against mine; a gasp escaped my lips, and my eyes shut, ready for the kiss. Oh, how much I had missed it. My breath hitched in my throat as I imagined what that kiss was going to do to me and what it was going to mean.
“Lioraé, I will only kiss you if you want me to.”
His voice broke the fantasy I had dived into and I was grateful for it. I took a deep breath, ready to get my heart broken.
“Then I hope you don’t, and we respect that the only thing that can happen between us is a professional relationship.” I opened the door and stepped out.
“Goodnight, sir.”
- Writer
