Chapter 61: Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Song: 'Feels' by Calvin Harris

Ah, yeah

Hey!

Now, nothing ever last forever, no

One minute you're here and the next you're gone

So I respect you, wanna take it slow

I need a mental receipt to know this moment I owe

Do you mind if I steal a kiss, tho? (Chop, chop)

A little souvenir, can I steal it from you?

To memorize the way you shock me

The way you move it here (hey)

Just wanna feel it from you (hey)

Don't be afraid to catch feels

Ride drop top and chase thrills (hey)

I know you ain't afraid to pop pills (hey)

Baby, I know you ain't scared to catch feels

Feels with me

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“Hannah, wake up!” Shane jolted me awake.

Did I fall asleep again and that too in a restaurant this time?

Oh God, I’m so sleepy.

There are only two things I absolutely love doing in my life.

One is food, obviously.

And the second is sleeping.

I can do it anywhere and trust me anytime. And not just light sleep, like I’m dead kinda sleep.

I straightened back up in the chair and wiped off the drool from my mouth.

We’re out for Daniel's farewell lunch, which was initially planned for Friday, but we shifted it to today due to my unexpected presentation. Tomorrow will be his last day here and over the weekend he’s shifting to LA for his new job.

Guess who planned his farewell? Me!

Guess who’s sleeping? Also. Me.

But I can’t help it, I’m too tired.

Last night I slept late and the office today is busier than usual. To say I’m alive on coffee would be a sound judgment.

Tonight will be even busier because no matter how much work I get done there’s still so much more to do.

Anyway, here I am with my internship gang at one of the finest restaurants with the finest food and all I can think about is my bedroom.

“Is it tough to work under the hottie?” asked Nicole wiggling her eye, “Ah, what I’d give to be in your shoes and look at that sexy face all day long!” she commented with dreamy eyes.

Think before you wish, girl, the glass slippers often bruise the skin.

“The hottie,” I made air quotes for emphasis, “is extremely hard-headed,” Sandra opened her mouth to interrupt but I beat her to it, “And no, Sandra, being family friends doesn’t make him go easy on me, in fact quite the opposite, in case you can’t tell by my current state,” I said stifling a yawn. She rolled her eyes.

“Is he really as harsh as he looks?” intrigued Jenna.

“Harsh doesn’t cut it, Jen,” I said as I munched on the complimentary bread while we waited for our order to be served.

“Perhaps, it’s something about you that makes him tick. I’m sure if it was me, he’d be acting very different.” Who else could it be but Sandra? She said pulling on her top to show her already displayed cleavage.

As much as I hate to admit it, I think she’s right.

There’s just something about me that boils his blood.

Maybe because I’m not his type?

Oh come on, Hannah, there’s nothing wrong with you, you’re fine as is, chimed a little voice in my head.

Oh, I know there’s nothing wrong with me, not being someone’s type doesn’t mean you’re not good enough.

And it’s not a case of being his type or not, it’s the type of circumstances that brought us together.

All those kisses and intimacy tell me maybe you are his type.

No! Clearly, his type is girls like Eva and Sandra. Long hair, petite curvy model-like figures, dressed like walking a fashion ramp and batting their eyes at his every breath.

You’re generalizing him, Hannah, you don’t know him well enough to judge him.

I’m not judging him, I’m just analyzing what I’ve seen.

“You know what, Sandra, I’m sure you’re right. But this farewell isn’t for Mr. Norman but for Daniel, maybe you can try seducing him,” I said with a little annoyance over her seductive gestures towards my man.

My man?

I mean… I mean to say my husband, no, I mean my boss.

Yes, you’re being possessive over your boss.

“No please, Hannah, I’m sure Sandra will be too much even for Mr. Norman let alone for little old me,” he winked at me. We all burst into laughing while Sandra brooded.

The lunch went great, we all talked about our respective bosses and projects, about Daniel’s new workplace, a little more about my privilege *note to sarcasm*, then again about Elijah and every part (visible) of his body, some invisible parts too, and then things in general.

All in all, it was a good break that rejuvenated me to function fine for the rest of the day.

Going back to the office I met Margaret for a meeting. We went through the changes that needed to be done. Though, there were not many since we both are on the same page still it took us almost two hours to go through all the layers and layouts I’ve made.

“Good work, Hannah, but you really need to hurry up because there’s still quite a lot to be done,” I nodded.

I went back to my workstation and spent the next few hours sitting in the same spot and getting as much work done as possible, asking for a coffee once in a while from anyone who passed by me. They were gracious enough to get it for me or probably they just pity me.

One by one, I saw people leaving as the working hours ended. I saw some concerned faces asking me to go home and rest a little. I can’t.

“You’re still here?” Margaret asked standing at the door, “Go home, girl.”

“I can’t,” I answered pressing my tired eyes from all the screen exposure, “I need to complete this print before I go home,” exhaustion was evident in my voice.

“Don’t work so hard at the cost of your health, darling, it’s not worth it. Generally, I don’t condone working late hours but your situation is different. Proving yourself to a man who’s looking for excuses to prove otherwise is a much harder task than a measly presentation,” she looked at me and I stared back at her with a blank stare, “Good luck,” she left.

“Go home, I don’t want you to stay here all night,” she screamed from afar. I smiled weakly.

Perhaps, she’s right. I know she’s right.

I’m going too hard on myself. But I have to, I don’t have any other option. I’m not trying to prove others wrong, I’m trying harder than my capacity to not prove them right.

I resumed my work and finally finished the layout I was working on. I looked at the time and it was 8:49. I didn’t realize it got so late.

I closed my eyes as I waited on my Uber ride.

Most of the lights on my floor were out, only a few lit to avoid a complete blackout. Being scared of the darkness, I can’t believe I’ve come this far to be alone in an immensely huge place with such low light. Honestly, with all the work and tiredness my mind didn’t comprehend the darkness.

I felt cold suddenly as the realization dawned on me.

I got out of the studio and started pacing the well-lit corridor. Every few seconds I would yawn or lean against the wall and close my eyes but fearing that I might fall asleep I would start walking back and forth again. I was going through a few stagnant moments when I heard someone.

I know that someone, I’ve learned to recognize this voice or rather lack of it.

This masculine and distinctly heavy voice.

“What are you still doing here?” I opened my eyes and low and behold it was him.

Elijah Alexander Norman.

“Standing,” I stated but obvious and rolled my eyes.

“Don’t act over smart. Have you seen the time?” he asked with his famous passive face.

“Not the first time I’ve been doing late sitting at the office, except this time it’s not for something trivial. You of all people should know that,” I said in no mood for pleasantries.

He didn’t say anything after but kept his eyes intact on me.

I saw a layer of concern on his face for nanoseconds but it was gone before I could know for sure.

My cellphone vibrated in my hand and I saw a notification for my Uber arrival.

Without saying goodbye, I picked up my laptop bag from the floor and proceeded to leave.

He called me up from behind, stopping me.

“Wait! Where are you going?”

“To hell,” I turned, “Wanna join?” can I blame my sour mood on sleep deprivation or is it just his presence? “I’m going back to the house, your house,” I added.

I’m immune to his deadpan angry stares but I answered it anyway.

“You have your car or is someone dropping you?” he clenched his fingers at the latter part. Why?

“Can you see someone else with me?” I looked to my left and right to prove my point, “If no then no, and if yes even then no. I’ve called an Uber.” Why am I explaining it to him?

“I’ll drop you,” he said it as an order.

“You, going home so early, it’s only,” I looked at my watch and my voice faded, the time was passing by so quickly “9:03. There’s still an hour or so left for you to come home,” I said sarcastically.

“Why, do you keep tabs on my arrival?” he sassed. Shit, that's not how I meant it.

“You wish,” I rolled my eyes, “Anyways, no thanks, I can go on my own.”

“It’s New York City, it’s not safe to use cabs this late,” is he hearing himself or has he lost the last of his existing brain cells, too?

“I’m sure I can manage on my own like I have done all the while. Also, even if something bad happens, at least there will be someone to hold accountable for,” I conjured, “or else, I’ll just be labeled a gold digger for a ride along, anyways,” yeah, not letting that go any time soon. His unpleasant and jarring words still sting deep within me.

He didn’t say anything after that and neither did I wait.

Wait for what?

Getting into the car I apologized to the young driver for being late. He tried to initiate small talk but seeing how sleepy and disinterested I was, he got the idea and stopped, thankfully.

Reaching home, I followed the same routine as yesterday and got right back to work.

I checked the time almost one and a half hours later and realized he had not come home yet. Wasn’t he leaving earlier today at the same time as I did?

Was he or did he say that just to give me a ride?

Nah, impossible, what rubbish are you thinking, Hans?

But still, it’s past his regular time to come home.

Oh, so you are keeping tabs on him!

No, I’m not, why would I? I was just saying generally.

I pushed the thought aside and resumed my work. There’s still some left but I’ve pretty much reached the finishing stages. Still, it’ll take a while though.

After 25-30 minutes the front door opened and closed back again but unlike the previous day the footsteps didn’t stop near me this time, they went up the stairs directly and faded away.

You’re not feeling disappointed, are you?

I guess it’s my sleepless conscience speaking because I disown all these thoughts in my fully awakened state.

I worked for the next few hours and finally completed it. Seeing the time I realized it’s past 3 in the morning.

I didn’t have to clear up because I was just working on my Macbook today. Closing the laptop, I put my head on the headrest of the sofa to relax for a while.

I’ll just close my eyes for a while and then I’ll go back to my room.

But before I could know it, sleep consumed me with open arms and I dozed off then and there.

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Author's note:

Is Hannah's subconscious right?

Did Elijah want to drop her or was he genuinely going home?

How do you think Hannah's presentation will go, will her hard work pay off?

And most importantly, can you guess what part of Elijah's body was the talk of the gang? 😉Wrong answers only!

I hope you'll enjoy this chapter while I go back into hibernation.🙈

Kidding. The next chapter comes very soon(ish)

Please leave your precious likes and comments, they make my day.

Much love😘