* X x * x * x * Chapter 21 * x * x * x X*
Kaye feels elated as her excitement for the day has not died down even one bit. A smile would frequent her lips and it's not going unnoticed by her siblings as they went over dinner.
"So, when are you gonna tell us how your first day went?" Cassie asked Kaye before taking a sip from her glass.
"I thought you'd never ask," Kaye exclaimed before swallowing the food in her mouth, "but oh my god Cassie, Oliver! You'll never guess what happened!"
"Why, what happened?" Oliver asked curiously as he put a mouthful of his food in his mouth.
"Guess who I am working with— more like, for?" She asked them with anticipation.
"I don't know, JZ media something?" Cassie answered, her eyebrows furrowed as she sliced through the chicken meat resting on her plate.
Kaye eyed them expectantly waiting for another response.
"What the hell, spit it out!" It was now Oliver's turn to get annoyed. "What, you work for Jay-Z or something?!'' he hissed.
"Manners on the table, Oliver." Cassie eyed his brother who acted like he didn't hear her. She can be quite a mom sometimes and both Kaye and Oliver are used to it.
"Technically, yes, but actually people we know." Kaye just won't give out anything.
They sighed and thought for a moment then both their eyes grew big upon realizing.
"Nah, you're trippin'," Oliver said grinning.
"I wanna say, that's something hard to follow. Didn't you say the company has been there for 10 years? Do you mean work 'with', and not 'for?'" Cassie is still in doubt.
"No, I'm not kidding. And I work under Z's supervision. Well, not really, I mean, under her POC's." She put down her utensils and rested her back in the chair. "Their parents founded the company hence the name. It was named after them." Then she continued with her meal like normal.
"Well, that was certainly unexpected." Cassie looked at her with curious eyes. "This company, it's sort of a huge business, right?"
Kaye pondered for a moment before answering, "I guess you could say that, though I'm not entirely sure. For me, yes."
"So they are a big shot or something?"
"Kind of?" Kaye shrugged.
"They sure don't act like one." Cassie giggled. "They act like they're always up to no good."
Kaye pouted to her sister, "that's why you shouldn't judge people that easily."
"I don't mean it in a bad way, honey. It just so happens that one of them going after you and the other, I don't wanna talk about." Cassie said and shook her head.
"Ooh, chief x employee romance, that's spicy~" Oliver teased her.
She blushed at that. "It's not like that! We're not even dating, she's not seeking me out and we're just friends and it will stay like that."
Cassie let her sister talk and chatter some more and she would just simply observe her sister's reaction.
Oliver made a face and replied, "You're kidding me right now. You both go on dates whenever you have the chance."
"Yes, but that's not called dating. We're just hanging out." Kaye defended herself.
"Po-tay-to, po-tuh-to." Oliver finished his meal.
"Stop it, Oliver." Cassie sighs. "Congratulations again on your first day. Now, wash up and take a rest. Oliver will take care of the dishes."
Oliver tried to voice his complaints but soon died down in his throat. He's happy for her sister and he'd gladly wash all the dishes for a week.
Cassie thought about the business card she received from Zach. She didn't really take another look at it since Zach even showed her her ID for some reason she doesn't really get it.
"Thanks, Cass." Kaye dubbed the napkin on her lips and hugged Cassie after then went to her room.
She washed up and headed to bed hoping to get a good night's sleep but some things aren't always that easy. She had nothing on her mind but her boss, that is Zach.
She likes her so much but thinking about it, it would be inappropriate to go beyond being friends, given their employer-employee relationship. She couldn't help but worry.
*********
Jeremy opened the door to her house and found Z casually slouching on the couch. He went towards the fridge and came back holding two beers in his hand walking across the living room.
He tossed one to Z which she catches with ease, opened the can, and took a sip.
"So, how did it go?" J asked, bubbles forming on his upper lip.
"Nothing special. I just walked her home." She looked at her beer and paused. "I think want to stay friends with her for now. I mean, it's just the first day. I want to see if this is just an infatuation or a simple fixation and I don't want to make things weird for her."
"Fair enough." Jeremy shrugged his shoulders and agreed with what she said.
Jeremy took containers out of his bag and placed them on the table in front of them. "C'mon let's eat. Mom sent all this food. I told her that you had a long day."
Z lit up at the sight of side dishes and start digging in, "Wow, thanks, man. I'll call tomorrow to thank her."
"You know I got your back, right? J smiled and started munching on the food and turned his focus to the television. It's showing a news report of a virus that seemed to have originated from another country.
They ended up with a couple more beers and later on decided to take it easy for today and not squeeze in some work-related stuff.
Z, with fresh clothes, threw herself in her bed. The beers are giving her an early hangover thinking if she should have another. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and her hand mindlessly opened her photos and looked at the recently added pictures. She considered uploading some of it on her page but decided against it. She thought she'd ask Kaye for her permission first. She dropped her phone beside her and tried to get some sleep.
An hour has passed and she still couldn't get a wink of sleep. She checked her phone again, the time is already a quarter past midnight. She thought of sending a message only to drop her phone again.
"Ugh, forget it. It's late."
On the other hand, Kaye was contemplating whether to send her a massage as well. Both of them are thinking of the same thing as the moon gleaming brighter in the night sky.
She couldn't fall asleep and what happened today kept on replaying in her mind. She still couldn't get around the fact that they now work at the same company. Such a coincidence!
They couldn't get each other out of their head till they recalled the night they kissed. Kaye lay flat on her stomach, kicking the air, and squealed against her pillow producing a muffled noise. She smiled at the thought but dismissed it right away.
After some time, the adrenaline rush died down and they finally drifted to deep slumber.
********
Morning came without them noticing that they had fallen asleep.
Kaye went down ready to head to the office and saw two of his bosses at the register. "Good morning, Mr. Scott, Ms. McCartney." She smiled at both of them.
"Blergh, what's with you this early in the morning?" J said as he paid for their order. " You can just call us by our names like before."
"She won't drop it apparently," Z sighed and smiled professionally. "Good morning, Ms. Jones. Can we get you anything?"
Kaye got taken aback by her reaction and replied, "Woah, that's something. I'm good. I had my breakfast this morning so I'll get going now. I don't want to be late on my official first day." She fixes the folder cuffs of her blazer and turns around to leave but a hand on her arm stops her from doing so.
Z, startled by her own action, stated, "Let's walk together. The order will be out in a few." then removed her hand slowly from Kaye's arm.
Zach bit the inside of her cheek as she couldn't help but relish the fleeting warmth she felt when her hand came in contact with Kaye's arm.
"If I turn up late then it's your fault." Kaye shrugged trying to brush aside the heat crawling up from her neck. She felt helpless when mere seconds of touch from Zach would make her weak in the knees.
As the two battle themselves out, they don't notice J leaving them both to go to the kitchen.
"Mornin', gorgeous!" J said as he leaned his shoulder against the wall.
"Get out," Cassie said bluntly.
"Alright, alright. I'm going out now. I just wanted my day blessed with your presence is all." He winks at her before going out. He has been doing this every time they drop by. He left with Cassie shaking her head at his silliness and smiling to herself.