“Eli, can I get the files that I’ve asked you last week?” I nodded and immediately handed the pile of papers on her, “My god, thank you for this, I’ll make it up to you!”
“No worries, scan that before the presentation, familiarize yourself,” she giggled while walking back to her cubicle. I chuckled and went back to my business.
Two years had passed after mom’s last cardiac arrest the led to her death. I went home, I was late, but I promise to make sure that both of my siblings will have a comfortable life. Jane is graduating from her engineering course, she has Latin honor, while Dan got rank two on his moving up.
I took a glance on my ring finger. I didn’t have the heart to remove it, so I let it be, I forget the idea about meeting him again, we moved out from our old house a month after mom’s death, I asked Ana to hid me from Grayson. I’m not assuming, but fear crept me, I didn’t know that man.
I finished my tasks before lunch, when twelve strikes, I stood up and grabbed my card. I land on a corporate job, I decided to take a break from my old job, and tried this new one. I have to work for Jane and Dan, and a part time work like that won’t suffice our daily neccessity.
“Eli, haven’t you got any boyfriend?” I wasn’t surprise with the question, I was often ask the same question.
“Not on my mind as of now, I’ve got to save for my siblings,” I answer, before chewing my bread.
“You’re not getting any younger, Eli. Haven’t your sister got a job? She’s graduating right—”
“Wait, is that a wedding ring, Eli?” I halt, and looked at the ring they were pertaining, “OMG! Are you married?!”
I chuckled and shrug, “Nah, it was just a childish game before, I got this as my souvenir before going home,” I saw how their faces got disappointed.
“Do you want me to set you up to my cousin? He’s a sought lawyer in Rabiya, I’m sure you’ll be interested on him—”
“Thank you for the offer, Sunny, but I have to refuse, but I’ll let you know once I’m interested, as of now, it’s a no, I’m sorry,”
“Hmp, fine!”
Our lunch break ended up good, and we have to go back to our own works. I heard we will be having our new director, I’m currently working on a engineering company for a year now, so far, I’ve adjust to this kind of work—an office worker.
“Guys, meeting on the conference room, we will be meeting the new director today,” Miss Catherine announced, we all nodded and stood up.
“That must be the one hey are talking about, the new director,”
“I wonder what happen to Mr. Salazar, did they bought out the company? I haven’t seen him after the seminar,”
“Beats me, I don’t know,”
“I bet the new director looks like Mr. Salazar, fat, bald and shorty,” I couldn’t help but to chuckle, “Right? Who would want to buy an almost bankrupt company, right?”
“Enough with the chitchat Kristine, settle yourself,” Miss Catherine said that made them quiet. The main department including us consist of twenty-two employees, excluding the other departments. Most of them graduated in prestigious schools, and—
“Let’s give around of applause to the new director,” I just clapped my hands when I heard that, but my shoulder dropped when I saw the man in front of us.
Marco?
----
The whole introduction was uncomfortable, I’m not bothered by the fact that he was our new director, the mere fact that he was treating me sensually is what makes me uncomfortable. He should have at least treat me professionally, since we are in the working place. I’m not delusional, I know what I feel.
“I take back my words, the new director is hot as fuck!” I shrug and continue to fix my things, preparing to go home.
“Eli, come with us! There’s a newly open bar downtown!”
“Uh, no, I have to pass—”
“You promise me last time, that when I ask you again, you’ll come, right?” I sighed, and just let them drag me to whenever they want.
We end up going the newly opened bar just down street, I told them not to go wasted, it’s Friday, so the bar was jumped packed.
“Eli, try this one!” Nicole chirped, I can’t hear her clearly because of the loud sound inside, but I realized she was asking me to try her drink, which I oblige.
“I have to be home by ten o’clock, okay?!” I said, all of them nodded and gave me a thumbs up before taking their shots again.
We take shots, and dance, I’m not a party girl, I just know how to drink responsibly. I dropped a message to Jane, telling that I’ll be home a little later than usual, which she responded with a big thumbs up.
HOWEVER; My plan to go home at ten o’clock didn’t happen, I just found myself, drinking my seventh shot of a fucking hard liquor.
“Nicole, I have to go home,” my voice was groggy, and my sight was blurry, I can still hear the loud bang of music, but I seemed to not control my movements. I tried to talk to them three times, but they are having they are having their own world.
I sighed, and drank a glass of water before standing up carefully. I’m drunk, not tipsy, but I have to go home, good thing, I saw some taxis before we enter the bar.
I successfully went through the wave of people in the dance floor, I was about to walk through, when someone hard pushed me, that made me lose my balance, I was expecting a loud thud and an impact of my body to the ground, instead, a broad and warm shoulder envelop me.
“Careful, baby,”
I must be dreaming, I can see him right now.