"I know, Ella. But Trevor doesn't want me to be his girlfriend. He wants me, but not like that. It's still very confusing, for both of us, that's why we're having dinner tonight to talk about it. It's just, I don't want to make a big deal out of me being his girlfriend. But at least then, I'll know where we stand. I mean, what am I supposed to say when someone asks me who I am to him? And I don't really want to go to a restaurant. I just want a quiet night with him so we can talk. But anyway, I have to start working. I have a lot of notes to make on the notes I made. It's a summary of what was said in yesterday's meeting."
"You make a lot of notes."
"I like being prepared."
I sat back on my glorious white leather chair and looked out at the view in front of me. My mom would've loved this view. I took out my phone and sent her a picture with a short message:
Thinking of you, Mom.
Just thought that you wanted to see this. It reminds me of you. Can I come say 'hi' later?
Love you,
Amabel x
I started typing all the notes on my laptop to print them out and to email them to Mr. Walker. I placed them on his calendar too. Then the office phone rang. "Good morning, Ella speaking. This is Mr. Walker's office. Yes, Sir... uhm you'll have to make that appointment with his assistant... I'll put you through..."
"This is Amabel, how may I help you... Yes, Sir. Mr. Walker isn't available at this moment. Can I fit you in for a meeting on Thursday? How does two o'clock sound? Great. Thank you, Sir. Have a nice day." I wrote in my diary:
Thursday appointment, Mr. Conner, 14:00
Then I made the same appointment on Mr. Walker's calendar, including mine. "Good afternoon, Mr. Walker."
"Good afternoon, Ella. Please, call me Trevor." Oh shit! He's here.
"I'm assuming I don't need an appointment, Miss Avery," Trevor said, coming around the corner to my desk. I cleared my throat, blushing immediately and replied, "Uh, no, Mr. Walker. You don't need one. In fact, Mr. Walker's been expecting you. Please, follow me." I stood up, got my iPad and grazed against his body on purpose. We stood in front of Mr. Walker's doors, Trevor slapped my ass and then we went in.
"Ah, Trevor. It's good to see you, Son." Mr. Walker said.
"Father, it's good to see you too." Mr. Walker kept looking at me and Trevor. We were standing next to each other and I wondered what's going on inside his head.
"Is everything alright, Mr. Walker?" I asked after a few moments of silence.
"Mmm? Oh, right. Yes, everything's fine. Come, take a seat." Trevor took a seat in front of his father's desk as I sat on the side. That's where I'm always seated during a meeting. Trevor looked at me as if he wanted me to sit next to him. I lightly shook my head at him, barely smiling. I didn't want my personal life to interfere with my professional one.
I knew that Trevor didn't focus on a single thing his father said. And to be honest, neither did I. He was sitting right there. Right there for me to go and kiss him. But I won't. Not here. Not now. I love the person that invented a recorder. It literally saved my life.
Every now and then, he would look at me and give a naughty smile. I would shake my head slightly as if telling him to stop doing that and to start focusing on what his father is saying. Then, there was silence. "Would you like some coffee, Mr. Walker?" I asked.
"That would be lovely," they both said in unison. Well... that went well... Kinda..
"I'll be right back, Sir," I said, nodding my head to Mr. Walker. I stood up and placed my iPad on the chair to keep recording.
I walked out. Holy shit! Things are getting intense there.
Trevor's POV
I couldn't help but watch as she left. It felt strange when the door closed and I could no longer see her.
"So, how's the business doing?" Father asked.
I cleared my throat and answered, "It's going well. Very well, actually. I have two of my best employees working on a project to expand and to raise our incomes. It will also create more work." I felt really proud of how well my company is actually doing. It's my own.
"I'm really happy to hear that, Trevor. It makes me proud to know how well you're doing. And it makes me realize that you're ready to take over when I step down. That's if you still want it?"
Fuck! My father, the one person who never trusted me with anything, wants me to have his companies? What the hell am I supposed to say? If I say 'yes', I will do more of the things I love. But Amabel might quit her job. She won't have a relationship with me and work for me. I'm torn between the things I love. Get the companies I've dreamed of getting because I worked really hard for it or keep the woman I love...
We have to talk about this tonight anyway. But I'm still not ready. Oh, she's gonna hate me. I have to be honest with her, or I'll lose her for good.
"I really want it. But..."
"But, what? Is something wrong, Trevor?" he asked.
"It's Amabel, isn't it?" How the hell did he know? Sometimes I think that he can hear your thoughts. He's been able to do that since I can't remember.
"How did you-"
"I know. I know that she's your girlfriend, Trevor," he said. She's not my girlfriend. Then what is she? Now I know why it's so confusing for her. But there's still the matter of ...
I have to keep it a secret. If I don't, everyone in my family will hate me.
"No, Father. She's not. She's not my girlfriend. I - urgg. I don't know how to explain it. She's everything I want, but I don't think she'll ever be my girlfriend. I really like her, but I don't know. I don't know if I really want this. If I really want her that way."
"Careefull, Trevor. You'll only hurt her. She doesn't deserve that. If you're having doubts about her, then maybe you shouldn't be together. Because she wants to be with you. You need to tell her how you feel, because this - this is confusing both of you. And if you keep pushing her away and pulling her back, you'll lose her for good." Maybe my father had a point.
I need to tell her how I feel.
Then, I heard the door open and she came back in with a tray. She placed it on my father's desk and left. Oh, she just closed the door. When she sat back down, I couldn't stop staring at her. My father and I made plans for our next meeting.
"Well then, I guess that's it. Thank you, Trevor. I'll see you tomorrow." I got up and walked out with Amabel. She closed my father's office door and turned around. I pulled her to her office and kissed her against a wall.
"Trevor," she mumbled between our kisses. I want her to stop talking. I just want to kiss her. "Trevor, hey, wait," she said and I stopped immediately.
"What?" I asked out of breath.
"Not here. This is not professional. I'll see you tonight, okay?"
"Sure. I'll pick you up?" I asked. She nodded and then smiled. For a moment, we just stared into each other's eyes. She slowly leaned up to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. That was adorable. I hate the way she walks away from me. I can't take it.
So I turned around and walked to the elevator. "Bye, Ella."
"Oh, bye, Trevor," she said.
Amabel's POV
I kept thinking about that kiss. It was unprofessional, but that was a gooood kiss. My lips are still tingling from it. I started typing on my laptop and then I realized that I forgot my iPad in Mr. Walker's office.
I knocked on his door and heard, "Come in." I went inside and said, "I'm sorry Mr. Walker. I forgot my iPad. Need to make these notes for you."
A worried look appeared on his face. "Is everything alright, Sir?"
He stared at my iPad and asked, "Do you record every meeting?"
"Yes, Sir. You know I do. That's why my notes are so fully completed. Why do you ask?"
He took a deep breath and sighed as his head dropped. "No reason. Thank you."
I turned around and walked away, shaking my head. Maybe he was just confused. I sat back on my chair and looked at my phone. A text from Mom:
Thanks, Bells. I really needed that. You're welcome here, always. Can you maybe bring me some chocolate. I crave one. I'll see you at five?
-Mom xx
I chuckled at Mom's words. She really needs chocolate when she uses the word 'crave'. I sent her another text:
I'll bring you the chocolate, Mom. I'll ask my boss if I can get away early. If I can, I'll see you at five. I love you
-Amabel xx
Not a moment after, she replied:
I love you more, honey.
I went to the kitchen to warm up Mr. Walker's lunch and took it to him. "Thank you, Amabel. This will be good."
I smiled at him. I wanted to ask, but I was too nervous. "Is there something I can help you with?" he asked me. I felt really stupid being so quiet. "Mr. Walker, is there a possibility that I can get off early? I want to visit my Mom. But only if it's okay with you."
He tilted his head and replied, "Of course. Go. Have fun."
"Thank you, Sir." With that, I turned around and walked away. Only one more hour and then I can see Mom.
Ella needed my help with a few documents that were stacked on her desk. Even though she made a table for document deliveries. They still stack it on her desk. "So, are you excited about tonight?" she asked.
I felt my cheeks warming up and said, "Yeah. I think tonight will be fun. It will clarify a lot of new territory for us. So. Yeah. I can't help feeling like something's off. Out of place. Maybe I'm just tired."
"Yeah, girl. Take it easy. You're putting too much stress on yourself." I chuckled and glanced at the clock.
"I have to go. I'm gonna see my Mom. I'll see you later or tomorrow?"
She looked really shy to ask, so I said, "I'll see you at home."
"Right, yeah," she said with a chuckle pointing with her pen. I grabbed my bags and walked to the elevator. Getting downstairs to the main lobby, I greeted Jessica and Caleb and luckily caught a taxi easily.
The drive to the hospital went faster than I expected. I guess I wasn't really paying attention. The driver stopped right in front of the doors for me, so I gave him a bit of extra cash for his kindness. I quickly stopped in a small shop and bought my mom a chocolate.
Getting onto the elevator, I saw a little girl holding her mom's hand. I missed a lot from my childhood with my mom. She was in the hospital for most of the time. I got off of the elevator and went into her room.
"Hey Mama," I said.
"Hey honey. How are you?"she asked.
"I'm good. I brought you this," I said, handing her the chocolate. It wasn't a big one, and I know I'm not allowed to, but if she only has two more months left, I figured I'd give her something to enjoy. I wanted to see her happy, even though I might not have her around anymore.
"Aaahhh, thank you. I've been craving one for like forever. Thanks, baby girl," she said, pulling my head to her, giving me a fat kiss on the cheek.
"How are things between you and Trevor?" she asked. I started blushing.
"Ooo, you've got it bad for him, don't you?" I blushed even more and playfully and softly pushed her arm.
"Yes, Mom. I really like him. Actually, I love him. But he's not ready to be in a relationship. So, I figured I won't tell him. I don't want to make him feel the need to get into a relationship if I tell him. I don't want him to feel bad." She nodded her head. Wow. She agrees with me.
"I agree. So, you love him?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows up and down.
"Mom! Stop it! You're making me shy," I said chuckling into my arms.
"You look happy," she said. I took a deep breath and sighed. I was happy.
"I am happy. I'm with you, eating chocolate in secret. And I asked Laurel if we could play a few rounds of Rummy."
She looked at me and said, "Bring it on."
So, we played for a few rounds and then another few. Laurel brought us some tea. I poured us some and then stuck out our pinkies as if we were drinking like royalty. We laughed so hard. This was one of the best visits ever! It made me realize how much I'm going to miss her.
"I win!" she shouted.
"Damn! How do you do it? Are you cheating?" I asked. She dropped her mouth open, pretending to be shocked. My mom was smiling. She was laughing. She was happy.
"I would never cheat, Bells. I'm just that good at playing cards. You know, I have this app on my phone, so I've been getting a lot of practice."
"You're playing games on your phone?" I asked surprized. My mom never wanted games on her phone. I guess she wanted to keep herself busy.
"Laurel helped me. It's actually quite fun and addicting."
My phone vibrated. A text from Trevor:
Trevor (Today: 18:03): Hey, I'm here.
Amabel (Today: 18:05): I'm at the hospital with my mom.
Trevor (Today: 18:06): Look to your right...
I looked to my right. There he was. Standing with flowers in his hands. I began to smile.
"What is it?" Mom asked.
"It's Trevor. He's here..." I said, beginning to blush. I called for him with my hand. He came into the room and said, "Hi, Mrs. Avery. How are you?"
"Hello, Trevor. I'm doing well. My daughter is here." My mom's doing good because I'm here?
"I brought you these flowers," he said and handed them to my mom. She smiled brightly and said, "Thank you so much, Trevor. They're beautiful. I love them."
I think my heart just stopped for a moment. He got my mom flowers! I'm so proud of him. He never ceases to impress me. With each day that goes by, I love him even more.
"You're welcome, Mrs. Avery."
"Trevor, please. Call me Emily."
First name basis with my mom... She must really like him.
"What are you two going to do?" Mom asked.
"I'm taking your daughter to dinner. That's if you still want to go?" he asked me.
I wanted to, but spending time with Mom was just... something I needed. Mom took my hand and said, "Go. Have dinner. I want to sleep anyway."
I didn't like the sound of that. I looked at Trevor and I knew... I really love him.
"Are you sure, Mom?"
She cupped my cheek and said, "I'm sure. Go. Have fun."
I got up and kissed her forehead. I walked to get my bags. "Take care of my daughter, Trevor," I heard her say.
"With my life," he answered.
He came to me and took my hand. "Good night, Mama."
"Good night, baby girl." I released my hand from Trevor's and gave my mom another hug and kiss.
Trevor took my hand again and closed the door.
"Bye, Laurel. Thank you. Take care of her, please."
She came to me and said, "Always. She's safe here. And who is this?"
"Ah, this is Trevor. Trevor, this is Laurel. She's been taking care of my mom for as long as I can remember."
She stuck out her hand and Trevor shook. "Nice to meet you, Laurel. Amabel speaks very highly of you," he said.
"Aww. Amabel." She couldn't say anything else.
"Jonathan is downstairs," Trevor said. I knew he wanted to go.
"Okay. We have to go, Laurel," I said and gave her a hug.
"Enjoy. It was nice to meet you, Trevor."
"You too, Laurel."
Walking with Trevor, our fingers intertwined. I began to think about our future.
"You okay?" he asked me as we went down in the elevator.
I rose to my toes and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for getting my mom flowers. I really appreciate it."
"I'm taking you to dinner, so I got her flowers."
I smiled brightly and got to the car with him.
"Miss Avery, Mr. Walker," Jonathan said and opened the door for us.
I know that Trevor doesn't like it if I look at him, but as we drove I let myself look at him. And if he asks, I'll tell him that I'm admiring the view.
And I did. I love looking at his beautiful face.