Chapter 10
It was Monday already and I knew I had a lot of work waiting for me to be done. I should have done a few things at home, but I was too lazy to do that. Also, my mood wasn't really that good after I spent the night at Raouls'.
Arriving at my desk I saw the pile of files that needed to be taken care of. I didn't even want to put on my computer cause I knew how many emails I would have. The phone was already ringing the whole time.
I threw my purse under my desk and made some coffee first.
While the coffee was running I picked up the phone.
So many people wanted something from Mr. Hensley. I had to tell Eve again to not let all these useless callers through. She had to do a better job to abstain from them.
As I always did I grabbed the newspaper and coffee to bring to Mr. Hensley. He was already there and no surprise; he was on the phone again.
Quietly I put down his newspaper and placed his coffee on his desk and left his office. Ready to get to my own work.
About halfway through the morning I heard my phone buzz.
Got time for lunch today? Xx
The text was from Eddie. I felt like talking to a friend after this horrible weekend and texted back that I'd be there around one o'clock.
I felt there was no end to all the emails I had to answer. Also Mr. Hensley had a lot of new assignments for me as well to take care of.
Now I felt so stupid that I didn't do anything yesterday. I knew I'd be sitting here until tonight again.
Answering emails I picked up the phone, which was really driving me crazy right now.
"Yes Eve?"
"Mr. Hensley's appointment is here, can I send him through?", she asked.
Shit! I forgot to check the agenda this morning. With all the other things that had kept me occupied I totally forgot.
"Yeah sure."
My hands flew across my keyboard trying to get as many things done as possible before lunchtime.
Again the phone rang and I really wanted to unplug it. Just when I answered it from the corner of my eye I saw Mr. Hensley's client was standing in front of my desk.
Without looking I held up my finger to keep him from talking.
"...Yes, I understand... hmm.. yes, I'm very sorry...I will make sure it will be there tomorrow. Okay, thank you.. Bye."
I threw the receiver down and cussed under my breath.
Then I pointed my attention to the gentleman standing in front of my desk.
He put down his shades and held them in his hands.
"Hello Miss Prasad, nice to see you again", Max spoke, a smirk was plastered on his face.
I wondered what was so funny.
"How may I help you?", I asked.
"Are you okay? You look stressed", he stated.
"I'm fine", I answered annoyed.
His arm was casually leaning on my desk. I tried my best to keep my eyes on my screen, as I could feel him checking me out.
Fidgeting in my chair I saw his appointment in the agenda.
"One moment please", I said as I called Mr. Hensley.
He said it was okay to let him go through.
"Sir?", I said to him. He was looking me dead in the eye and it was making me nervous.
"If you would follow me."
"With all the pleasure in the world", he answered.
I got up from my seat and adjusted my black skirt. My high heels dragged me away from my safe desk, on to Mr. Hensley's office with Mr. Smooth talk behind me.
I knocked on the door and I heard a hum that was a sign I could open the door and let Max in.
"Can you get us coffee please?", Mr. Hensley asked as he stood up from his chair to greet Max.
I nod my head in understanding and closed the door behind me.
After I brought them their coffee I got downstairs to talk to Eve.
"Hey girl. You got a minute?", I asked as I stood in front of her desk.
Her blond ponytail was softly bouncing left to right as she lifted up her head to me.
"Hi! Sure I do!", she answered.
I wanted to say something but before I could speak she eyed me to come closer. I bent forward a bit, my arms leaning on her desk.
"Girl! Have you seen Mr. Hensley's appointment! He's so hot!", she squealed.
I gave her a look, letting her know I obviously did. She let out a giggle.
"He's okay", I answered.
"Are you crazy?"
"No, I don't think he's all that. I heard he's a real womanizer", I told her.
"Maybe, but my hormones are driving me insane when he walks in here", she said, her cheeks turning a little red.
I laughed at the sight of that. She could sometimes really act like a teenage girl seeing her crush.
After our gossip about Max I talked to her about the phone calls she needed to brush off. She understood and I went back to my desk.
Just as I put my bum on my seat the door of Mr. Hensley's office opened.
The two of them walked out and Mr. Hensley stopped at my desk.
"I'll be out for lunch now", he said and looked at his watch. "I think I'll be back in an hour and a half."
I nod my head in understanding.
"Miss Park", Max said with a nod. There was this shimmering in his eyes.
I continued my work as they approached the elevator. A gave one quick peek as I heard the doors open and I saw Max eyed me and gave me a wink just before entering the elevator.
What is it with this man? I didn't have much time to think about it as the phone started to ring again.
After my boss came back I texted Eddie to meet me in front of 1980, one of our favourite lunchrooms.
"Hi girl!", he greeted me as I walked up to him.
I let myself fall into his arms and let him hug me tight. I stayed there for a few seconds.
"He sweetheart", I said as I pulled back from his hug.
We walked into the diner and sat down at our regular seat.
"How's everything going?", he asked after we placed our orders.
Before I started talking I heaved a big sigh.
"Are you okay?", he asked concerned.
"Not really... I don't know", I answered shrugging.
"You know you can tell me anything right? Does it have something to do with Max?"
My eyes shut right open and focused on his face when he said his name.
"Whoah, that's some response on his name", he chuckled.
I let my eyes rest on the menu card that was placed in the centre of the table. They scanned the items listed on it but my mind didn't process it.
"It has nothing to do with Max", I started. "I went to see my parents last weekend after I came back from my business trip."
"Oh..", he said, knowing the relation between me and my parents.
"Let's just say it all ended up with me sleeping at Raoul's'", I said.
He gave me a pity look and shook his head.
Then a waitress arrived at our table with our lunch. She placed the plates in front of us together with our coffee and then she left.
"Girl, why? You know you're better than that, right?"
I grabbed two sugar cubes and gently let them down in my coffee mug. I grabbed my spoon and started stirring, not letting my eyes make contact with his.
"Well, obviously you don't cause you fall for this every time. You know he's just using you and you allow him. Next time if you feel fucked up you call me and I'll come over okay?", he said in a demanding tone.
Then he picked up his utensils and began eating too.
"I was supposed to be going out with Claire but she ditched me", I explained.
"What a bitch! How many times has she done this now?", he asked.
"I don't know, but that was like the last thing I needed to feel even worse", I softly spoke.
All the bad feelings I felt last weekend came back again. I swallowed a few times to keep my tears from falling.
"I know sweetie, but like I said, next time just call me, okay?", his voice spoke in a sweet tone.
"Will do. But enough about me, how are you?", I asked him.
He started talking and telling stories about how him and Jerry were re-painting their bedroom. It was hilarious cause none of them were really handy.
"Sorry", he apologized as his phone rang.
I nod in understanding and got up to go to the restroom which was across from our place.
"Rosa, I need to go. They need me at the diner", he explained while standing up.
"It's okay, go. I'll be fine", I answered.
"Next one is on me", he said giving me a hug.
I laughed and punched his arm.
"Don't be so silly. You know I don't care about that. Now go!", I said as I got back on my seat.
I shoved my plate away and grabbed my coffee mug, I looked in it and saw it was empty.
"Excuse me", I said to a waitress.
"Please hold on ma'am, I'm right with you", she said.
I kept staring at my empty mug and didn't realize the man that apparently had been sitting behind me has now gotten up. He was sitting down were Eddie sat.
"Excuse me..", but my voice trailed off as I saw who it was.
"Do you mind me sitting here?", his deep voice spoke.
He sounded so intense every time he spoke to me when it was just the two of us. His eyes were concentrated on mine and his lips were parted a bit, waiting for me to answer him.
"Yeah, I do actually", I said annoyed.
The waitress was standing at our table, ready to get my order.
"What can I do for you?", she asked looking at me, then at him, then back at me again.
"Another latte macchiato for me. He's leaving", I said as I shot him a glare.
"Espresso for me please", he said and the waitress wrote it down while lifting her eyebrow.
I shot him another glare when I heard him order.
"How are you?", he asked like we were supposed to meet here.
I raised my eyebrows at him. Was he serious?
"I'm fine", I decided to answer
"Busy at work?"
"Yeah, very busy, so I don't have much time actually", I answered.
Then the waitress came with our orders.
"Can you pass me the sugar please?", I asked him.
He shoved the little basket with a smile.
"So you have sugar in your coffee", that's good to know.
"What do you mean?", I asked frowning my eyebrows while I stirred in my coffee.
"When I take you on a date this Saturday", he smirked.
I rolled my eyes at him.
"I told you, I don't want to date you."
"You do, you just don't want to admit it. I know you had fun last time", he stated.
"No I did not", I answered.
"Well, you liked me showing you around at the apartments last week", he said again with this intense look.
"That, mister, was not a date", I said pointing my finger at him.
"True, but you did like it."
"I liked the apartments yeah", I confessed.
"There is this apartment up in the hills, which I know you'll love", he said taking a sip of his drink. He swallowed the hot beverage and my eyes focused on his face. I observed every motion he made, from putting the cup to his mouth to his Adams apple going up and down while he swallowed. It intrigued me and I didn't know why. I never paid so much attention to a man's motions like I did with him.
"So, what will happen if I say yes?", I dared him.
He tilted his head to the side bit and looked at me with amusement.
"So, Miss Parks is interested..."
I laughed at him, he looked funny.
"You have such a beautiful smile", he said with a serious tone. "I promise you, if you let me take you to that apartment, I'll make sure you'll laugh a lot and have a good time."
"Up in the hills you said huh", I said questionable.
"Yes, I'm sure you'll like it", his voice spoke.
It turned silent and I was thinking about what he just said. It seemed fun and if I knew one thing for sure. He did know good apartments and I was curious to see this one. I never really been into the hills.
I could feel his eyes burning on me while I was thinking this through.
"Will we spend the night there?"
A big smirk appeared on his face. I heaved a sigh, I could have known!
"We will spend the night there, but that's only cause you have to see the sunset from there", he spoke and winked at me.
Then we both laughed.
Was this real? Did we just laughed together and actually had a normal conversation?
"Can I assume that's a yes?"
While laughing I confirmed his question.
"See, I'm not that bad. Make sure you'll be ready around five P.M, I'll be picking you up then", he said while snapping his fingers to a waitress.
He grabbed his wallet as she came walking up our table.
"Can I have the bill please?", he asked as he checked his walled.
"Yes sir", she answered and walked away to get the bill.
"You don't have to pay", I said putting my hand on his arm.
He looked at my hand and then me.
I pulled my hand back, not fully aware what I just did.
"Sorry", softly spoke.
"It's okay, you have soft hands", he smiled.
"Here you go sir, the bill", she said and placed the map on our table in front of him.
He opened it, put the money and a big tip in it and closed it.
Then he got up and so did I, we were now facing each other.
Why did he look so good? Why did he smell so good? I wanted to burry my face in his neck. I wanted his arms around me, I wanted to touch the fabric of his tailored suit and stroke it softly with my fingers.
"Rosa? Did you hear me?", he asked looking at me quizzically.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?", I said distracted.
"Let me walk you back", he said again.
"No, I'm fine. I guess I'll see you Saturday", I said with a smile.
"Saturday it is", he said.
Outside the café we said our goodbye's and I walked back to my work.
I couldn't believe we actually had a decent conversation and he made me laugh. Now I was looking forward to Saturday. I was very curious about that apartment and the view from the hills.
I didn't care how busy it was at work, the busier, the better cause that way the week would pass by fast.