Chapter 63: Chapter 61

Song: '7 Years Old' by Luke Graham

Once, I was seven years old, my mama told me

"Go make yourself some friends, or you'll be lonely"

Once, I was seven years old

It was a big-big world, but we thought we were bigger

Pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker

By 11, smoking herb and drinking burning liquor

Never rich, so we were out to make that steady figure

Once, I was 11 years old, my daddy told me

"Go get yourself a wife, or you'll be lonely"

Once, I was 11 years old

I always had that dream like my daddy before me

So I started writing songs, I started writing stories

Something about the glory just always seemed to bore me

'Cause only those I really love will ever really know me

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ELIJAH’S POV

I reached the office a little later than usual, I lost track of time.

When I went back home to get ready she was gone already which is a good thing.

Being outside didn’t help at all, it made me more irritated and agitated.

My head is in such a conflicted space, and I don’t like being unclear.

This is the first time in my life that I’m so indecisive and again she is the reason for it.

I’ve had a hard time with my feelings so far but why am I so confused about her?

I do hate her, right, then what’s with the confusion?

Why am I having so mixed feelings?

I realized lately my mind is so occupied with her whether for good things or bad that I don’t think about Rachel as often as I used to.

It’s being angry at myself.

Has her presence become so distracting that I’ve started forgetting about Rachel? Surely not.

There’s not a single thing that I like about her but still, like some new teenage boy who's hit puberty, I can’t help but be consumed by her.

But whenever she’s in front of me, we always end up fighting.

I’ve never been the one to show my emotions to anything so openly even if it was of dislike.

But when it comes to her I just lose all sense of control.

I want to break her so badly but whenever I do I end up feeling guilty and somehow she always emerges stronger.

The image of her sleeping on the couch again popped into my mind.

Urgh, this turmoil is not what I signed up for.

I was supposed to rejoice in her pain.

I thought I was too numb to feel anything, I’m very heartless and rigid, I am someone whom people fear crossing paths with.

And I have no wish to change that about myself.

But what is it about this particular girl that’s changing my insides to react differently to her?

You still don’t realize, do you? Nudged my subconscious.

Realize what?

That you don’t hate her, in fact, you…

“Oh my God, is that really you,” I was standing a little further in the corridor to the conference room when my thoughts were interrupted by a very loud voice.

I was thankful for the interruption but not for the voice it came from.

Daniel.

Why do I know his voice? Because his voice irks me. I didn’t know the guy existed a while back and now for unknown reasons, I can recognize his voice.

I think you do know the reason.

“Yeah, I look sexy, don’t I?” replied the second voice much chirpier and excited than the first.

Now these are the vocals I’m all too familiar with.

What the hell are they talking about?

I walked ahead towards the sound of their voices. I decided to maintain my distance so they couldn’t see me but I could and listen to what they’re talking.

Eavesdropping much, now, are we?

But when my eyes landed on them all I could see was one thing, or a person.

Hannah.

My breathing seized as everything else faded from my view or maybe my eyes refused to see anything else but her.

She looks different, much different.

Today she’s not wearing her usual baggy tomboy clothes but is wearing business attire.

She’s not looking like a high school teenager anymore.

She looks like a woman.

A woman who means business, who is confident, who owns the room when she walks in, who doesn’t hide in plain sight but demands the attention of any and everyone.

I don’t think I could’ve ever imagined her looking like this.

Then how do you imagine her?

Her face’s usually devoid of makeup, but today, it has color on it, her cheeks look flushed and her big beautiful hazel eyes are more accentuated than how they usually are. Her hair that are usually held back by a band or half bun today cascading below her should in soft waves encasing her lean face.

Her lips look different, too, they have a neutral shade on them different from the usual pink.

Someone has checked her out a lot. Are you getting hard just by looking at her?

“Are you trying to make it harder for me to leave, Hannah?” once again my thoughts faded in when he started talking again. My fists clenched tightly.

“What if I say I’ve put all this effort just for you?” her eyes gleamed while mine hardened.

As long as it’s only your eyes that are hardening we don’t have a problem.

“I’ll say you’re really making my last day memorable,” he bowed down to her.

“Of course, have to give you a parting gift. Forgetting me won’t be that easy, Dany,” she flipped her hair pompously.

I was so right about her, what a slut. The thought only made me grit my teeth.

“I don’t think I want to forget you, Hannah. After all, you’re legally my work wife,” he winked at her.

“Shh, it’s our secret, no one can know abou…” she looked here and there but got startled when she saw me standing in the other corner, her eyes wide.

I didn’t budge my eyes from her, wanting to make sure she knew I’d been listening in on them.

And she’s supposed to give a fuck about it, why?

We both continued looking at each other, my eyes filled with fire whereas hers filled with confusion. I’m sure my face doesn’t give away anything but my insides are seething, if only I could go over and smack the life out of him.

As for her, I don’t know what I would do to her.

Oh, I have some ideas! Some wild ones.

“Oh, good morning, Mr. Elijah,” his voice was filled with fear and nervousness. I clenched my fists harder resisting the urge to plum him to death.

My eyes met hers again but before I could say anything a hand landed on my shoulder.

“Ah, here you are. I’ve been looking for you all morning, El,” not now, Eva. I said in my mind but didn’t answer, my focus still intact on someone else.

She is having an office affair right in the middle of the hallway and dares to meet my eyes so shamelessly, does she feel no remorse?

Remorse, what for? Oh, right, because she’s married to you.

“Elijah, I’m talking to you,” Eva’s tone was a little whiny as she shook me, but then she saw where my attention was, “Hey, guy. Hannah,” she nodded in acknowledgment but her tone was much more harsh than before.

I know I’m making the situation uncomfortable for everyone but honestly, I don’t give two shits. I want to make her uncomfortable.

“Elijah, we need to talk, your dad is looking for you, we really have to go” Eva pulled me this time and I let her, but not before throwing daggers at the two people in front of me.

……………………………………………………....

HANNAH’S POV

“Ah, I messed up again, didn’t I?” as soon as they left, Daniel put his head on my shoulder and banged it lightly a couple of times, “Just by his stare I thought he’d strangle me.”

I took a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding in, the tension was so thick it could’ve been seen through naked eyes.

What was he trying to do, though, why does he always have to make every interaction so awkward that I have to clean up after?

What was he even thinking? It’s not what I needed before my presentation today.

“Nah, you didn’t do anything, that’s just his resting bitch face, he’s just weird,” I said truthfully.

“You know I only called you my work wife because of Leanne, right?” he mentioned back to the comment his fiancée made about how she would only tolerate me as his work wife because she really liked me and we instantly bonded, “Hannah, if I wasn’t leaving already he would’ve fired me right here right now,” poor guy is probably right,

“Hmm, maybe,” I shrugged, “I don’t know what problem he has with you?” I really don’t.

“Are you serious, you really don’t know?” his eyes went wide like I’d said something absurd.

“How would I know, I don’t live in his head,” I only live in his house and am just married to him casually, nothing serious is what I wanted to say but sufficed only by rolling my eyes at him. What’s wrong with him?

“Because he likes you, Hannah, that’s why, you're blind!” he smacked my head lightly. All the color drained from my face at his statement, “he gets jealous when he sees you with me or anyone else. Though, I am sure he doesn’t know this either just like you,” my eyes have never been wider than they were in that moment and they refused to come back at their original size.

“Hey,” he snapped his fingers to break my trance.

I blinked my eyes a few times and when I was finally back to my senses I burst out laughing, hard.

“You’re so funny, Daniel,” I rolled my eyes once again but this time with a mocking face.

“Deny it all you want but it’s true,” he folded his arms, the hilarity of his words slowly faded away and a worried expression took over.

“There’s nothing like that, you’re delusional and that’s absurd, too,” him, liking me? Yeah, right!

“Don’t believe me, only time will tell. Wanna bet?” he forwarded his hand forward.

“We’re so on,” I said with as much surety as I am of my name and shook his hand.

“I’ll miss this office, you know,” he said with fondness, “I’ll miss you all very much.”

“Aww, we’ll miss you too, Dany boy,” I side-hugged him, “Thank you for being here and imparting your wisdom to us,” I smiled while he chuckled back.

“I hate to disturb you both but can I talk to Hannah alone, Daniel,” said Eva popping out of nowhere.

Ugh, what does she want now?

“Of course,” he nodded his head to acknowledge her then turned back to me, “See you after the presentation, Hannah, good luck,” he patted my shoulder and left.

“Hi, Eva, what is it?” I asked as politely as I could, still not able to fake it as well as her.

“Well, I’d appreciate it if you call me ma’am, you know just like you call El sir, of course, because of the hierarchy,” she gave her signature smile. See what I mean?

“Of course… ma’am,” I nodded.

“Such a good girl, I see you’re trying very hard” She eyed me from head to toe then reached forward to fix my hair on my shoulder but I backed away refusing her fake friendly advances. Anger raise on her perfectly sculpted face, she concealed it but didn’t do a very good job so I can tell I’ve pissed her off.

Good on me!

“Are you feeling nervous, considering it was so last minute? I mean it’s your first presentation, it’s okay if it goes bad, you know,” she cooed with faux concern.

“On the contrary, ma’am,” I emphasized, “actually, I feel pretty confident, I think I’ll be alright,” I said confidently knowing my heart that I’ve worked my ass off on it.

I’m positive it’ll be accepted.

Margaret said I’ve done really well, too. I’ve taken her final approval already.

“Oh, how sweet, confidence of newbies,” I didn’t say anything. What does one say to this? “Anyways, I came to get you, personally,”

“Where to?” I asked with confusion.

“To the conference hall,” Huh?

“I thought this is where the meeting is,” I pointed to the one I was standing outside of.

“Oh, yeah, initially it was but there’s a slight change of plans. Surprise,” she smiled cheerfully.

“Sure, let me get my things then,” I went inside and collected my things while she helped me collect.

Not needed but thanks, I guess.

We left for the elevator and she pressed the button for the top floor, the 70th floor to be precise.

Huh, why are we going upwards?

Elijah’s current and my previous office is there.

There’s hardly anyone there.

“Why are we going up?” I asked her trying to hide the panic, my hands fidgeting as anxiety kicked in.

I’m still not used to being in elevators. My colleagues know that I’m claustrophobic so they were very considerate to me.

When I’m alone, I have my coping mechanisms but around people, I get more weird and panicky. I’ve still to master the craft of hiding this just like I do to all other things.

“Are you alright?” Eva asked looking at me strangely.

“Yeah,” I said not so confidently.

“Sure, you don’t look alright?”

“Just nervous about the presentation,’ I lied.

“As you should be,” smirking, she mumbled audibly enough.

I clenched my eyes shut for the next few minutes as we rode up the elevator, she didn’t say anything either.

I took a deep breath when the elevator doors finally opened at our destination.

Eva walked ahead of me into a corridor and I followed her. She stopped in front of a double door that I hadn’t seen before.

She turned her head and gave me a sly smile before she opened the door.

My jaw dropped at what I saw.

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Author's note:

Oooh! Hannah is certainly raising the temperature with her looks leaving Elijah in hot waters.

Is it just me or is jealous and oblivious Elijah Kinda hot?

Hmm, but why is acting so envious and irrational, he hates Hannah, right?

Men! Always confused about what they want?

Do you think Daniel can win this bet or will it be our little Hannah's unawareness that'll emerge victorious?

Please, like, share, and comment.

I love you all soooo much!😍