My heart was racing as I alighted the taxi and hurried across the road to my apartment.
When I spotted the delivery guy standing at my porch, I sighed in relief.
"Oh thank goodness you're still here. I hope I didn't waste your time?"
I approached him and noticed how he was staring at me in a weird way.
"Not at all ma'am," he responded and handed me a pen so I could sign. Taking it, I began to sign but for some odd reason, I could sense his gaze on me.
Once I was done, I looked up at him and as expected, he was openly staring at me.
"Thank you, is that all?"
"Yes. But will you be able to take it in?" He looked concerned.
I gave it a thought because I knew it was heavy. I ordered a small sized washing machine as my other one got spoilt beyond repair, however, it occurred to me that he lifted it alone.
"Did you carry it all by yourself?" I gave him a puzzled look and he rubbed the back of his neck while smiling charmingly.
"Yes ma'am," he answered and I parted my lips in awe.
Before I could say another word, he had already bent down to lift it up and without wasting time, I unlocked the door and let him in.
"Thank you so much. Please this way."
I directed him to where I wanted the machine to be kept and once that was done, I felt like a huge burden got lifted off my shoulders.
When he straightened himself to face me, I noticed how his black hair fell in front of his face and it reminded me of someone I knew.
Wait! He was the one who always delivered things to me! How did I miss it?
"You're Clifford?"
He looked slightly different, maybe that was why I wasn't able to recognize him.
"Yes ma'am," he smiled at me and I saw a look of excitement in his face.
"Oh my goodness, I didn't even recognize you….I'm so sorry, I thought it was another Clifford…it didn't even occur to me it was you. So you're Clifford Edson, I only know you as Clifford. I never even found out your surname." I kept rambling and all he did was stare at me while smiling.
He was charming but I already had my eyes on someone who was way more charming.
"It's nice that you still remember me," he spoke and I smiled back.
For some odd reason, the more we stared at each other, the more I noticed something unusual about him but I couldn't pinpoint what it was.
My phone rang and it brought me back to my senses but the moment I saw the dialer, I froze.
"Mr Damion?" I called out his name as I answered the phone.
"Where are you?"
He sounded calm, too calm for my liking.
Now what was I going to say? That I was at home due to urgent reasons? No, that would land me in so much trouble.
But if I lie he would sense it. That was how much he had known me.
"I'm sorry for leaving…"
"That's not what I asked," he interrupted me and I could sense irritation in his voice.
Actually, he hated it when I didn't answer his question directly and I ended up doing just that.
"I came home because I got a call that my order just arrived."
"And it didn't occur to you that you should let me know." He sounded too calm and I wanted to just bury myself at that moment.
"I'll get going now," Clifford reminded me of his presence and my gaze instantly shifted to him because I had forgotten he was there.
"Did you leave me just to go meet a man? Didn't I tell you your personal matters should be separate from work?"
I shut my eyes tightly as I held my breath because what I did was totally wrong.
"Get back here this instant!"
With that, he ended the call and I didn't wait a second to see whether the delivery guy left or not, I just left the house in a hurry while shutting the door behind me.
I ran like my life depended on the job…actually, it did.
I stopped the nearest taxi and hopped in.
Throughout the drive, I was lost in thought. This was the first time I left his side without taking permission so it really put me on edge.
Would he fire me? That was the first reasonable thing I could come up with.
Thankfully, the driver was fast and in no time, we were already in front of Miss Beverley's company.
Once I paid the driver, I ran as fast as I could in my high heels but it didn't hurt because I had gotten used to it over the year.
Unfortunately for me, a cool wind blew against my hair and it came in front of my face, causing me to slam into someone. The person held both my arms to stop me from falling and when I looked up, my entire body went numb.
His eyes were dangerously calm as he stared down at me and it pained me that I couldn't tell what he was thinking.
"Mr Damion," I managed to utter his name before maintaining a good distance from him.
"Miss Arleen Theodore."
It was then I knew I was in deep trouble since he called my full name with a "Miss" on top to spice it up.
"I…"
"Let's get to the office first," saying that, he walked past me and entered the car.
I couldn't control my heartbeat anymore and I felt as though cold water was splashed over me. Without wasting time, I rushed to the car and got in. We sat side by side and I noticed how he looked out the window in silence with his chin resting on his knuckles.
Once the engine started, he glanced at me but I refused to look. The silence was suffocating and he kept staring at me till we got back to the office.
His company was located in San Francisco CA where everywhere was bustling and full of life and my apartment was nowhere close since I stayed at Downtown while he at Lower nob hill so I didn't regret using that opportunity when we were at Beverley's company to go home. Altogether, I still felt sorry for myself.
On our way in, we met the managing director and other important people which made me realize the meeting would soon commence.
"Get the necessary files and meet me at the board room." Damion instructed and I nodded and zoomed off.
Well, I didn't mind not eating as far as it covered up for what I did. In less than 5 minutes, I was already in the meeting room sitting on a chair slightly far from them so I wouldn't interfere. I was there to listen and take down important notes as well as fill him in on anything he needed.
His father was already present and it made me realize I got the timing wrong for the meeting. I felt like burying myself but I couldn't because the ground didn't let me.
When I turned my head to look in Damion's direction, I flinched at the way he was staring at me like he couldn't wait to pounce on me.
Finally! I got an expression I could read. Nonetheless, it wasn't a pleasant one…I was doomed.