Selene tightened her grip on the steering wheel, pressing her foot harder on the gas as she drove home from work. Her mind racing with thoughts,she could her heart pounding frantically inside her chest. How was she going to survive an entire evening with Nikolas?
After having lunch with Nikolas,on getting to back to the office, she had received an email,which contained the official invitation to the event. But what truly made her breath hitch was the second email, a personal one from Nikolas himself. Saying,he would be picking her up personally on Saturday evening the night of the event.
The thought alone made her stomach churn with unease,how was she going to pull this off? There is not possible way she could let him know where she lived.
Pulling the car to an abrupt stop as she saw the sudden flash of red from the traffic light. Selene exhaled sharply, leaning backwards as she hit her head back against the seat, trying to think of a way out. Maybe she could pretend that she was sick? Or… should she just quit?
Wow,slow down,Selene. It hasn't gotten to that yet! she scolded herself. He clearly doesn't even remember meeting you, so why do you keep freaking out so much?
The loud honking from the car behind her pulled her back to reality. As she quickly raised her gaze up to see that the traffic light had turned green.
"Shit," she cursed under her breath, realizing that she had been holding up the line. She quickly, stepped her foot harder pressing down on the gas, as she turned left pulling up into her street.
As she parked the car inside the garage, Selene sighed heavily turning off the engine of the car, she rested her forehead against the steering wheel.She needed to calm down and think this through.She had been juggling so much lately,with finding the perfect school for Cyrus, keeping up with work,trying to understand how her son's father turned out to be her CEO and now this. Maybe she should go to Sandy for help.
Twisting her lips in thought, she grabbed her bag,placing one foot in front of the other as she stepped out of the car. For now, she just really wanted to see her baby boy.
Twisting the door nob as she walked into the living room, two heads immediately snapped in her direction,Sandy's and Cyrus's.
"Mummy!" Cyrus screamed at the top of his lungs,throwing himself into her arms.
"Hi, sweetie," she said, a wide smile spreading across her face. As she hugged him, her gaze dropped to the coloring book on the laid open on the ground.Along with different coloring pencils scattered all across the floor.
Selene smile deepened, "I can see that you've been busy with your Aunty Sandy," she said, gently pulling back to look at his face.
"Yes, Mommy! Come see what I did!" Cyrus said, his voice laced with excitement as he grabbed her hand and pulling her forward. He picked up the book and handed it to her,his eyes lit up with accomplishment.
Selene's gaze dropped to the picture of what was suppose to be a green dinosaur but has shades of pink in it.
"You're such a big boy now, aren't you?" she said,stroking his hair slightly. But as she looked into his bright hazel-green eyes, her stomach twisted. They reminded her so much of Nikolas.
Her chest tightened. Her mind flashing back to The summit invitation.
As though sensing her worry. "Selene? Are you okay?" Sandy's soft voice broke through her thoughts.
She blinked,turning her gaze to her sister. From Cyrus who was already back on the floor, fully engrossed in his coloring book.
Selene hesitated. Wondering if it was a good idea to tell her sister about this.
"You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"Sandy said as though sensing her hesitation her voice laced with concern, and that was all the convincing Selene needed.
Finally deciding to open up,but she would only tell her about the invitation. Nothing else.
Turning her attention to Cyrus, she said gently, "Sweetie, why don't you go continue coloring upstairs?"Cyrus turned his attention to her "your Aunty Sandy and i have some grown up stuffs to discuss".
Cyrus looked up at her,his eyes now sad,twisting his lips into a small pout. "But I wanted you to color with me."he said his voice laced with sadness.
Selene chuckled,using her hand to call him over.when he came close,she brushed a hand over his curls . "How about this,when Aunty Sandy and I finish talking, I'll come up and color with you?"
Cyrus face instantly lit up. "Okay, Mummy!" he cheered, dashing upstairs with the coloring book in hand.
Selene exhaled deeply as she turned back to a now very anxious Sandy. She was just going to tell her about the invitation and her reaction to her boss nothing more.
" I'm waiting Selene",Sandy snapped crossing her arms.
Selene swallowed the sudden lump that had just formed down her throat. "Okay, so… my boss invited me out to be his plus one at an event." She blurted out quickly, as if saying it fast enough would make it sound less real.
Sandy's eyebrows raised, but not waiting for her to say anything, Selene continued talking.
"The worst part is that i think I'm attracted to him," she admitted,exhaling deeply as though she had just lifted a weight off her chest "And I'm scared of being alone with him the entire evening. What do I do?" With a puzzled look on her face.Although she that was not the only reason she was scared,but for now this was the only information she was comfortable with giving out.
Sandy's mouth fell open in shock. "You have a crush on your boss?"she asked her eyes wide with surprise.
Selene winced. Hearing Sandy say it out loud,made her realize just how crazy it sounds "Don't say it like that"
"Wait…is this why you've been acting weird?is this the issue you're having at work?" Sandy asked her lips curled into an amused smirk.
Selene groaned. "Stop it. This is serious."
"I know, I know…..So,you're going on a date with your boss?"Sandy asked, her eyes dancing with amusement.
"It's not a date! It's a business summit, and I'm his plus one because I'm his manager."Selene said frowning her eyebrows. Why would she think it was a date?.
Sandy scoffed. "It's a date because you like him." Using her elbow to nudge Selene playfully. "Wait… does he like you back?"
"What!…no!…well…..I don't think so." Selene stammered. There is obviously no way Nikolas likes her…right?
Considering how he treated her harshly when they first met.if anything,he probably hated her guts.
But then again…Selene felt her chest tightened.The had listened to her complaints about the workload. He had even personally instructed Helen to removed most of the files from her desk,thereby reducing her workload.That wasn't normal boss behavior… was it?
Sandy raised a suspicion's eyebrow. "You don't think so?"
Selene bit her lip. "Well… he did clear my workload when I complained, but I don't think that meant anything. He was probably just trying to be nice."
Sandy's expression turned skeptical "Does he do that for all his employees?"
"No… i don't think so…none that I've heard of," Selene muttered.Just because Nikolas had done that one nice act,doesn't mean he liked. She had heard most of her colleagues complain that he was a very strict and arrogant boss. So maybe he was just trying to be a little nice.
"What are you thinking?" Sandy asked,eyeing her suspiciously.
"Nothing. You ask too much questions," Selene muttered, using her fingers to massage her temples,she was extremely exhausted just thinking about this. "Are you going to help me or not?"she snapped
"And before you say anything," she added quickly, "the invitation is mandatory. I have to go. So I can't say no."
Sandy grinned. "Oh no, I don't want you to reject the invitation.I just wanted to know if he likes you back."
Selene felt her stomach flutter. "I don't know…" she mumbled. But deep down, she too wanted to know,if Nikolas liked her.
Sandy clapped her hands. "Alright, then! Let's go shopping!".
Selene blinked. "How is shopping supposed to help me?"her voice laced with confusion and a hint of annoyance.
Sandy smirked. "Well we need to know if he likes you,meaning you need to look absolutely stunning for this party.That way, when he sees you, his reaction will tell you everything."
"It's not a party. It's a business summit to meet prospective clients." Selene said crossing her hands. So far Sandy had said nothing to help her out.
Sandy waved her off. "Whatever, slowpoke. Here's the deal,you like him, right?"sandy asked and selene nodded her cheeks heating as she finally admitted to what she had been deceiving herself for so long.
"And you want to know if he feels the same way about you too, right?"
Selene hesitated. "Why would i want to do that"she asked confused. Even though she did want to know if Nikolas felt the same way,but how was that going to help her reaction towards him.
"Oh Selene…" Sandy groaned dramatically, slapping her forehead. "If you know he likes you, then you won't feel so nervous. You'll be on the same page."
"Oh" Selene's lips parted slightly,as the realization of what Sandy had been trying to say finally hit her.
She was beginning to lose her game,having been single for five years.She was beginning to lose track ok how these things worked.
"Yes Selene! So now, we just need to make you look drop-dead gorgeous and irresistible so when he sees you, his reaction will tell you all you need to know."
Selene exhaled deeply,as she applied more pressure to the massage to ease the pain she felt in her temples. "So… shopping it is."
Sandy smiled widened. "Shopping it is."
As Selene nodded in agreement, her mind spun with different mixed thoughts. Would Nikolas' reaction really prove that he liked her too? And what if it does?…. what happens next?