DYLAN
I woke up with the nastiest headache ever only to find myself sprawled on my couch instead of being in bed, still in yesterday’s outfit minus my shoes.
What had happened?
I yawned tiredly and reached for my phone to check the time, wincing at how bright my apartment was.
Wait, brightness! What time was it?
A quick look at my phone confirmed my worst fear.
I was late for work.
Late-like-it-was-almost-time-for-lunch-late. How could I have let this happen? I staggered to my room as quickly as I could and opened the medicine cabinet for some aspirin which I swallowed without water. Stepping out of yesterday’s clothes, I trudged to the bathroom to get ready for work.
I splashed some water on my face, and just like that, memories from last night flooded my mind.
Fuck!
I had really made a fool out of myself, hadn’t I?
I remembered the feel of Brielle pressed against me as we tried to hide away from her friend, Silvie. How she smelled, how she looked, in that baggy shirt that showed off her long thick legs.
I sighed frustratedly. The image was just too much for my weakened senses. I adjusted myself in my boxers and proceeded to brush my teeth. Taking off the rest of my clothing, I stepped into the shower and took a quick bath.
Even as I dressed up, I scrolled through my thoughts for ways I could make it up to the lovely woman with an almost impenetrable exterior. I had openly wronged Brielle so much… questioned her morality and sense, when all she had done was be there for my dad at the time when he needed me the most.
Speaking of my dad, we had really had a long fulfilling conversation after Brielle had left us over at the hospital.
I had asked him why he hadn’t bothered to tell me about his sickness, and he had explained to me that he had felt guilty about how he had torn our family apart with his foolish decisions, and didn’t know how to tell me due to the huge rift between us.
I had laid it on thick, poured out all my anger and frustration on him, confessed my plan of trying to take over the company since I had suspected that he was cheating on mum again, told him how I really hated him with passion for ruining my life and that of my sister, and how because of him, I had no hope or belief in love and all of that mushy shit.
To be frank, it had been a relieving experience. I honestly didn’t know I had been concealing that much bitterness and resentment, it all felt like a huge burden had been lifted off my shoulders. I had told dad the truth…
that I didn’t know if I could forgive him for all that he had done, but that I was willing to give it a try if he’d also promise to forgive me for all the things I had planned on doing to him. You know what he said?
He told me that, there was really nothing to forgive… that the very fact that I was willing to come back into his life and consider him as a father again was the only thing he wished for in the few months he had to spend on earth. I never knew two grown men could cry like babies at the idea of a long lost reunion, but it had happened yesterday.
Now, you’d ask the reason why I had gotten so drunk last night. Well… I’ll tell you.
The thing is, I still felt so consumed by guilt and shame, and I felt so disappointed in myself. I honestly didn’t know what to do about it… I- I just needed to do something to numb the pain I was feeling deep in my chest, and at that moment, it had seemed like the only right thing to do. Looking back now, I realised what a stupid decision that was. All it had done was give me a whole new set of problems, while painting me as an idiot to the one woman I truly had some feelings for who I had also wronged terribly.
Sigh. Life as an adult really isn’t easy at all.
Grabbing my car keys and wallet, I locked up and marched out of my apartment to the car park, then remembered that I had left my car back at the club.
Sighing frustratedly, I reached for my phone and ordered an uber, while glancing at my wristwatch to check the time.
11:45 am.
I didn’t feel too good, but I was still going to brave the stupid hangover and show up to work. I mean, better late than never, right?
BRIELLE
I never really recognized, nor fully appreciated Shawn’s importance at the company until today, when I had to step in and be in his shoes while he recovered.
The good news though was the fact that I was in charge, and therefore could do everything I wanted while luckily not having the board breathing down my neck.
It was almost lunchtime, and everything was working just fine. I had called an emergency staff meeting as soon as I had arrived in the morning and explained to everyone that they would have to go the extra mile in this trying period as we all awaited Shawn’s recuperation. I had given a couple of people immediate promotions… mostly women whose files I had gone through and who seemed to be overqualified for their current positions.
Talk about girl power!
I knew I was going to have it with the misogynistic board, but by then… they’d just be all bark and no bite and I was absolutely fine with that.
There was a slight problem though. With my assistant, Sloane being part of those who had been promoted, I was kind of not having an assistant, so I had approached Dylan’s assistant Chloe, to ask for her help. Of course… she had been a bitch as usual, but we all have our inner bitches too, don’t we?
I honestly didn’t do much though, cross my heart.
I had just asked her to take a look around.
Did she see that times were changing and that if she didn’t get in line with it, she’d be caught up?
I had told her that I needed her help… that I really didn’t know what I had done to her, and equally didn’t care, but if she couldn’t put aside her bad blood with me for the good of the company, then I didn’t even see how she was going to remain in the institution for long since I wasn’t going to be the only one she was would be having problems with.
It had worked.
She had agreed to be my temporary assistant till I got my very own, though begrudgingly I might add.
Worked for me either ways.
It was currently lunch break, and I was contemplating between going out for lunch, ordering in, or skipping altogether, and I honestly didn’t know which choice to make.
Being in charge felt so good, and I wanted everything to turn out so great that everyone would see that I could handle this should I be given the chance, if you get what I mean.
I had a lot to prove in simple terms.
And even though everything was going strictly according to plan, I still felt like something was missing.
More like a someone, actually.
Yes, it was Dylan. Look, I admit it okay? Ever since he started working at the office, I seemed to have something more to look forward to whenever I was coming to work. Even when he was avoiding me like the plague, I someway somehow managed to still feel better at the thought that he was near.
Strange, right?
I felt the atmosphere tense all of a sudden, then there was a quick knock at my door.
“Come in.” I called out, and there he stood… my crush of ten years and counting, looking much much better than the last time I had seen him, and was that a bouquet of roses he was holding?
It was almost as if my thoughts had summoned him. We both seemed stuck in time, staring into each other’s souls… a very vulnerable state I suddenly felt the need to break.
“You’re looking so much better now.” I analysed, using that as an opportunity to better check him out.
Yeah, sue me. Last I checked, it was perfectly acceptable.
He was in a deep blue suit, minus a tie, a few buttons of his white shirt were undone, revealing tanned caramel skin. His hair was still wet, like he had just showered, and he was sporting a day’s stubble. He looked… nothing short of perfect as usual.
“Done checking me out?” He smirked, causing me to roll my eyes. “I was just checking to see if you’re in mint condition to work, seeing as the last time I saw you, you could barely walk.” I clarified. “I need hundred percent capable people to work with today since I’m in charge.”
He grinned. “If I had been the one to assess you like that, I’m pretty sure I’d be having a problem with human resource, but okay. I must say though, you’re doing a good job… too bad I can do so much better.”
I stood up and took off my glasses, praying inwardly for self-control so I wouldn’t lash out. He wanted to get a rise out of me, that much was so obvious. I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction.
Instead, I calmly circled my desk, and leaned against it. “I find it interesting you know, that you who turned to alcohol at the first sight of real pressure, think you can do so much better than me.”
I realised it was a low blow even before the words finished forming. “You know… I’m- uh, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
His smile had faded somewhat, but apart from the tight clench of his jaw, nothing on his face gave away any indication of emotion. “That’s alright. I guess I deserved that.”
Dylan closed the gap between us, his arms outstretched, silently asking for me to take the bouquet of flowers. I gently accepted them, sniffing them for a moment. “Thank you. They are lovely.” I whispered.
“I’m glad you like them, Brie. I-uh… I just want to say once again that I am sorry for everything; yesterday, all the things I have said, and done… and I- God, this is harder than I thought.” He murmured frustratedly.
Fuck, he was adorable.
I watched him take a deep breath and continue. “What I mean is, I’m honestly sorry for how much of a jerk I have been to you… and- and I am only hoping that I can get a clean slate… that we can start over as friends.”
It was as if he was looking right into my soul. “What do you say, Brielle?”
Should I forgive him?
“Uhh…” I trailed off, still not so sure it was such a good idea.
“Please Bree, please?”
Ugh, the look on his face was just too adorable to ignore. “Alright, fine. I forgive you.” I stretched out my hand for a handshake. “Friends?”
He ignored my outstretched hand and engulfed me in a hug. “Friends.”
Oh.
To be truthful, it felt so good to be in his arms, but…
No.
No.
No crazy thoughts. We were starting over as friends, and I was determined to see this through. I pushed him away gently and stepped back, a shy smile on my face. “Alright, I think that’s enough, friend.”
He chuckled.
“So… have you heard anything about Shawn from the hospital?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
“No, not yet… but that’s a good thing, right?” He questioned thoughtfully.
“I guess so.”
“I wanted to pass by first to see if everything was alright here before heading over to the hospital.” He explained causing me to smirk slightly. “Thought I’d balk under the pressure, didn’t you?”
Dylan laughed. “Oh, not at all. I actually wanted to see your beautiful face first.”
I blushed.
Was this friendship thing going to be possible at all?
I was snapped out of my thoughts by Dylan’s next words. “Well if you think because we’re now officially friends, I’ll go easy on you and make you win the position, you can think again.” He told me.
This time I was the one doing the laughing. “Oh game on, mister! We’ll see.”
******
DYLAN
I was honestly surprised that Brielle had forgiven me so easily, but it was a really good feeling to know that we were on good terms… finally.
It felt like I was lighter all of a sudden;
Like I was walking on clouds or something.
I was currently on my way to the hospital to visit my father, but I couldn’t get the beautiful vixen out of my mind. I wanted to skip all the formalities and jump right to asking her out, but even I knew it wasn’t such a good idea, especially after all the name-calling and the ignoring.
Baby steps!
I didn’t want her panicking and avoiding me altogether, so I was going to be her friend.
Cos, that was what she wanted.
I was going to try, for as long as it’d take.
Try being the keyword here.
As it was now, I was hanging on by a really thin thread, and I was determined to try not to ruin things before they even started.
I pulled into the hospital driveway and found a great place to park.
Thank goodness.
My phone rang just as I had gotten out and was proceeding to lock up. I pulled it out of my pocket and glanced at the screen.
It was my mum.
Shit.