I walk out, straight to the coffee stand, I need something- anything to calm me down, if not I might just explode.
Asshole.
"Sie?" I flinch. I look and find Vier approaching me. "All good?" he questions, taking in my expression. "I am fine, just annoyed," I say, forcing a small smile.
"Did the boss say something?" He questions, tilting his head.
Not like I could tell you, "Um, how is boss normally?" I ask, wanting to know how others perceive him. "Um, over coffee?" Vier says, chuckling as we head towards the pantry, "So?"
Vier chuckles, "You are quite eager, huh?"
"No, I mean… I am just curious." I mumble, busying myself with work so he doesn't see me getting embarrassed, "Boss is um… how do I say?" He chuckles, "He is very composed, talks less-"
I scoff, "No, no… continue, please." I say, flashing a smile, but then, he talks less? Like seriously?
He eats my peace out, like never!
Vier frowns at me, "I don't know what's going on between you two…" He chuckles, "But for the rest of the company, the boss is kinda unapproachable. He only talks when it's business, no gatherings."
"Means, he is no fun as well." I mumble to myself, but he chuckles, "We are just employees."
I take a sip, "Um, Vier… how is he with ladies?"
Vier looks at me, "Do you like him?" He asks, I choke on my coffee, coughing as he hands me a glass of water, "Opps."
"Seriously, Vier?" I say in between the cough, drinking water, calming down, I sigh in relief, "No way, that's happening. I just asked because I am curious… I said, 'curious' okay?" Vier chuckles, nodding his head.
"Yes, ok… got it." He suppresses his laugh. "But let me warn you, he doesn't like physical contact… he gets angry. The last manager… who got fired, u know why?" Vier asks, I frown.
So, he hates skinship? Didn't seem like it. Huh… what's this now?
"Why?"
"She tried to seduce him… he fired her." Vier chuckles, "Everyone keeps a distance from the boss… and there is quite a gossip these days." Vier says, smirking at me, and I frown, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It includes you."
I frown, "Me?"
He nods his head, taking another sip. "The company thrives in gossip and these days even more with how… boss lets u off."
I gasp, "What do you mean by he lets me off? Off what? For what I remember, he just keeps adding to my trouble." I realize, I said too much. I gulp, looking away as I clear my throat.
"I mean… he keeps picking on me." I add, not wanting him to get weird scenarios in his headspace, Vier chuckles, "He is like that, he is serious if it's important business." I nod, making sure he thinks this is what my reaction is all about.
"So, you mean… he has never dated?" I ask, but I bite my lip, again… stupid, stupid mouth.
"No… I just wanted to know if he is not like the old, creepy boss… u know?" I say, chuckling playfully, looking away. Vier shakes his head, laughing, "No… There have been some rumors, but never been acknowledged."
"Rumors?" Too many rumors, huh. Gosh.
Vier shrugs, "Like… there is a fiancé? Maybe… but it dissolved into nothing. Maybe it was just a rumor."
Fiance?
I nod, "Come on, get fresh so we can work… like I said, he is very strict, so we need to come up with an idea before the deadline." He says, suddenly standing straight, I blink my eyes, "l will take another cup… and join you." I say, filling the cup again.
"Sure, then see you." Vier says, throwing the plastic cup, "Don't take too long." He adds, walking away, and I sigh, heading out onto the balcony.
I lean against the railing, wondering… a fiancé, huh?
But… if he is someone who hates skinship… then, it can't be that he is playing around with me, what does he want from me?
It can't be he is into me… It's been two days.
Two fucking days, we know each other.
But if he has one and he is doing shits to me, then… he is so so wrong, fuck.
I can't get my head straight.
No, Sie… just stay away from him.
He is a very dangerous man.
_______
Luthien's Pov
What did she say? I am not her type?
I felt speechless, the audacity she had to say that to my face!
Not when all she does is smell like different men, what does she do to smell like others? I fucking don- wait a minute, what's wrong with me?
No, no… fuck.
Pushing my hair back, I settle down on my chair, still cursing under my breath. No way a woman like her should get me this worked, what even am I doing?
"Work… right!" I mumble, gulping as a groan escapes my lips when I feel her scent linger around the office, I bang my head against the table… what is so different about her that I can't even control myself?
I suddenly recall the moment she found me on the stairs, limp and flushed in embarrassment. I don't even remember much, just that fuzzy feeling I always get around her, and it led me to trip at the bottom of the staircase.
It happened the same, the last time we met… I couldn't control myself.
What happens to me before her? Ugh, I grab my hair, annoyed at the riddle my emotion entangled me with.
Just then, the door opens, Chris walks in grinning but frowns seeing me, I clear my throat, letting go of my hair as I sit straight, tucking my hair to balance, "Hey." I mumble.
"Something up your ass? You look constipated."
I growl at his comment, "Mind it."
He chuckles, shaking his head as he stands before me, "You have about three hours free in the afternoon, want to use it for?" He asks me, I extend my hand as he gives me the tab, and I check my schedule.
"Chris…" I start, he looks at me, tilting his head.
"You haven't found your mate, too… right?" I ask, putting the tab on the desk as I look at him. My eyes widen as his face reddens a little, flush creeping up his neck, and I gasp, "You did!" I stand up, scoffing as I look at him and out the window, in disbelief.
"You didn't tell me because?" I scoff, walking to him while he stands looking anywhere but me, scratching his head.
"Um… boss-"
"Boss?! Fucking hell." I retort, still offended.
He sighs, "Okay, Luthien… I am sorry, I didn't tell you." He starts, how dare he not tell me something like this? I am his best friend outside of the hierarchy.
"And why?" I hiss, biting my lip.
"You know… You haven't found one yet, and I didn't want you to feel lonely." He says, making me scoff. Lonely?
"Like hell." I look away, pushing my hair back.
"Of course I am happy for you, dude." I mumble, facing him, seasoning with an eye roll.
"Since when?" I add, poking my inner cheek.
I widen my eyes as I see him look away, how long had it been?
"About a year and a half…" He says, that long?
I chuckle, in disbelief… my hands on my hip as I look out. "A year and a half? And… you weren't even planning to tell me." I mumble, feeling hurt a little. I hear him gasp as he rushes to my side.
"No, it's… I am sorry, Luthien." He apologizes sincerely.
But I am mad.
"You thought I would be envious? Jealous? Or-"
"Sad." He cuts me off, "And… hurt. I wanted to be there for you.. These past few years were hard on you." I gulp, his words making me silent as I look out, leaning onto the window with my head as I sigh.
"I… thought, knowing I got a mate would put you through the same phase… You will remember her." I gasp, looking at him, "Chris… no." I stand straight.
"What?" He asks, blinking his eyes.
"You are wrong." I say, heaving a sigh.
"But… you confined yourself, you were in pain and hurt when she rejected you-" He halts, and I bite my lip, looking away.
I sigh, pushing my hair back, "I was… hurt, yes." I look back at him, "But… trust me, not because I was rejected."
I see him frown, "What do you mean?" he asks, confused.
Should I tell him?
I look away, conflicted… I have kept this a secret for so long.
"She wasn't my mate… not really." I look at him and I see him gasp. I chuckle, leaning against the window with my back, facing him, "The fuck- no way, but… You were almost getting married."
I shrug, "Since… I can't find my mate, so dad thought it would be better to… You know."
Chris gasps, leaning against the window as me, "Luthien… this is crazy shit."
"I know." I mutter, looking down.
"Then…"
I look at him, "Then?"
I watch him gulp, "Why were you hurt? If she wasn't your mate… why?"
I gulp, my chest tightens as my eyes moisten, how can I even say this to him? I have been struggling to accept this all these years, then how can I expect him to understand?
"Luthien?" He mumbles, holding my arm. "You know, I am here for you, right?"
I look at him, gulping, "Chris… my mate, she is dead."