"Hey!" I heard Cassius call out to me as I bursted out of my apartment like it was on fire. I was trying to get my blonde hair under control, which was proving difficult to do as I worked.
Fuck! I can't believe I overslept.
"Hey!" I called back in a hurry, barely stopping to say a proper greeting.
"How was your...?"
"Sorry, can't talk," I yelled to him before running down the hallway leading to the lift. Mr Valentine is definitely going to have my head.
I ran into the parking lot, ready to race out of where only to stop abruptly, my eyes wide as saucer in disbelief at what stood before me.
I was blocked in by a blue Toyota Jeep.
Arg! I wanted to scream loudly in frustration.
Is there some cosmic power in play today that is determined to get me fired.
I looked around the parking lot urgently like I will magically find the owner of the car, but I was all alone.
"What is it?"
I jumped at the sudden sound of Cassius voice so close to me.
I turned to face him wearing a frustrated and scared look. "You scared me."
He looked at me sheepishly, before muttering. "Sorry. Didn't mean to. Thought you heard me coming."
I didn't. My mind was more focused on more important things. Like how the fuck am I going to get to work. I am already late as it is.
"Is there a problem?"
I kept a glaring eyes at the car that has me blocked in as if somehow I can make it move with the will of my mind.
"I am blocked in. And I am already fucking late," I growled in frustration, resisting the urge to kick the car that has been blocked.
Cassius looked from my car to the car that has been blocked for few seconds before muttering. "I see. Why don't I give you a ride to work."
I could hardly believe he will do that for me.
"Really!" I was ready to jump at his offer when I remembered that he too has somewhere to be, and his workplace and mine are at the different direction. Won't that make you late for work? I frowned at him.
"I am already late, so few more minutes wouldn't make much difference," he smiled at me.
I was reluctant to inconvenience him, but I have no choice.
"Thank you so much for doing this," I said gratefully as we headed towards his car.
"No worries. You just have to pay me back," he said jokingly, a teasing glint in his brown eyes.
Despite being aware of the fact that he was joking, I decided to play along. "And how can I pay you back?" I smiled at him.
The light flirting in my tone didn't escape, neither did it escape the tall dark and handsome walking beside me.
The expression on his face changed slightly at my words, but before he could say anything we arrived at his car.
It was an ash SUV.
He went around the passenger side and opened the door for me.
"Thank you," I said blushing at his action, before entering the car.
"You are welcome," I heard him say before he went around to driver side.
"So about my payment back," he began as he took us out of the parking lot, but I had my attention on my phone and was barely listening.
I wanted to call my best friend to know how she is doing, and if she is still coming.
"Mmhmm," I answered distractedly, while I opened my call history for Sophie's number.
"How about we have..."
I lost track of what he was saying as the phone started ringing. One second, I raised one finger at him as my best friend voice came on the phone.
I was glad to hear it sound bright like it usually does.
"Hi, Soph."
"Hey," she returned back even though she has already said hello, when she picked.
"How are you?" I lowered my voice to keep our conversation out of reach from Cassius. Not that I don't trust him or anything. But this is something private for my best friend, and wouldn't be nice to be known by a third party.
Instead of answering how she was doing, she thanked me for my help last night. I know she was evading, but I didn't push.
"Are you still coming?"
"About that..." She started in a tone that let me know that she was about to chicken out. She probably thinks that her coming will inconvenience me, but like I said she is family.
"No, Soph. Please come. I want you to come. If not, then I will come to you," I said seriously. I don't care the consequence that will follow, or what Amelia will do. I will go to my best friend.
She paused for a second before saying. "There is no need for you to come. I will come to you."
A smile appeared on my lips at her agreement to come. Now I will be able to make sure that she is really okay.
"Let me know when you get to the airport, I will come and pick you."
"Okay," she said softly.
"Love you."
After she said it back, I pressed the end button to end the call, and then relaxed back against my seat. We were nearing my work place, and now to do the difficult call. Calling my boss.
I tried calling him as I was leaving my apartment to tell him I was going to be late but he didn't pick. Maybe I should try again. Or not, since I am already close to work.
"Are you alright?"
I turned to look at Cassius with a questioning look on my face.
"You look worried," he answered.
"Yeah. Just worried that I am going to be fired for being late," I mumbled in a dull tone, while staring out to the streets.
"You could just tell him that you had an emergency."
His words got me thinking. If I could find the right excuse, maybe I wouldn't be in so much trouble.
"What kind of emergency?" I asked with eager excitement that made him smile.
"Your cat died."
"I don't have a cat," I blurted out.
"He doesn't know that," Cassius muttered with another smile as he slowed down in front of the office complex.
I thought about the kind of person Mr Valentine is. He didn't come off as someone who is pet friendly, so I don't think using the death of a pet will fly.
"Give me something else," I eagerly asked.
A thinking look appeared on Cassius face as he tried to come up with a lie that I can tell as the reason for being late.
"You had a running stomach," he said after few seconds spent on thinking.
"That is a good excuse," I said happily, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "Thanks for the ride," I added rushing out of his car.
I raced up my way to the revolving doors, and then the lift, but it was in use.
"Not again," I moaned inside and then hurried towards the stairs.
When I arrived at my office I was almost at the verge of collapse. I looked towards Mr Valentine's closed door and wondered if he was in. He did say that we needed to be somewhere. Did he go without me?
I slowly made my way to the door, but hesitated to knock on it. I was acting like a student who has been called to the principal's office.
"Emma quit being a wimp and knock on the door already," my inner voice scolded.
I took in a deep breath and then knocked.
My heart started to race anxiously as I waited for the permission to come in.
When none came, I knocked again. And got the same response.
Silence.
Braving being scolded if he was inside and just didn't want me in, I turned the door handle and poked my head inside.
"Mr Valentine I am sorry for being late, I had..." I trailed off when I realized that I was speaking to no one. The office was empty.
"Huh," I straightened up fully, feeling a little reprieve that my scolding is going to wait a little longer.
I was about to turn and leave when I spied his computer, and the little voices inside me began to speak. They wanted me to go and snoop, but the fear of getting caught had me rooted in one place, but that didn't stop me from staring at the compute with longing.
Amelia did say she wanted secrets right. Does it matter how I get it?
I looked back towards the door to make sure that it was still closed, and Mr Valentine was lurking behind me waiting to announce himself once I revealed my intent.
Finding no one behind me I hurried to the computer, my heart beating so loudly in my ears that I almost couldn't hear anything else.
With my hands trembling like leaves I turned on the computer only to see that it requires password.
Fuck! I exclaimed in my mind, and then tried to think of possible password combination which were all wrong.
Since the computer was a no go, maybe there will be something in his drawers.
While I was rooting around in his drawers I heard the door open.