IT WAS HIM!
Clifford Edson!
The delivery guy!
This was the person who delivered things to me to a point I felt like he was my personal delivery guy.
It was after I moved to a new apartment that he no longer delivered stuff to me until that fateful day when I didn't recognize him.
Who was he exactly?
Was he someone important?
Did he disguise himself as a delivery guy while having much wealth?
In no time the meeting began and I had to throw out every thought out the window so I could focus.
But in spite of that, my eyes would still dart to him especially when he had something to say.
He was wearing a well polished black suit with no tie. The two top buttons were undone.
As if realizing where my gaze was, I looked at him and found him smiling at me in a knowing manner.
Was he aware I would be here?
Wait! Was he stalking me?
Because this wasn't a coincidence anymore.
When the meeting finally came to a close, I picked up the notepad I came with and got ready to leave.
"Miss Arleen."
I halted and took a moment before turning round to face him. He was grinning as if he knew the questions running in my head about him.
"Aren't you happy to see me?" He stood very close to me but it didn't feel uncomfortable.
"Honestly, I'm bewildered. I don't even know if I should add a title when calling your name." I told him and his eyes twinkled.
"No need for formalities. I love it when you call me by name." The way he said it made me feel like he was flirting.
And at the thought of flirting, my mind reminded me of what he whispered to my ears back at the grand opening celebration.
"Are you here in someone's stead or…" I trailed.
"No, I came in my place," he answered and it made me even more curious as to what he was doing.
"Who are you…like really?" I finally asked.
"Let's have a date and talk, how about that?"
Instead of answering my question, he gave me a suggestion.
"A date?" I repeated.
"Yes…tonight, by 9pm."
"I don't think I…" I was about to refuse when he made another convincing offer.
"I'll tell you all about me, I promise."
I observed him closely and the more I thought about it, the more I saw no harm in it.
"Alright, 9pm it is…what's the address?"
"Don't bother, I'll come pick you personally," with that, he winked at me and left.
I stood there for a moment wondering if I made the right decision or not.
"It's just a casual date and nothing more," I mumbled to myself.
"Arleen?"
At the call of my name, I turned in time to see Mrs Jacob standing behind me.
"Yes, Mrs Jacob?"
"Let me drop you off."
*
Seated in the backseat with her in her Toyota Corolla, the driver silently drove us to our destinations.
"You seem to be very close with that man."
At her statement, I frowned until it dawned on me who she was referring to.
"Clifford?"
"Now that only confirms that you're really close." Her smile stretched as she gave me a look to enlighten her on it.
I'm used to calling important people with respect so me calling Clifford by his name without any Mr in front of it only made her even more curious. Several times she had even told me not to call her Mrs Jacob but her real name which was Grace.
"It's complicated," I simply stated.
"No matter how complicated a situation is, you can always uncomplicate it." She smiled and it made me sigh as I thought of a way to tell her.
"I've known him for a long time now but like a casual person so it came as a shock to see him in the meeting." I successfully explained.
"Casual person? A childhood friend?" She probed.
"No, he's not a childhood friend. He's just a friend."
How do I tell her he's my delivery guy? It made no sense.
"From the looks of it, he seems very fond of you." Grace wriggled her brows at me after saying that.
"How so?"
"Don't you see it? He's into you." She announced.
At this point, I had nothing to say because I was totally into someone else.
And speaking of someone else, I had to go to his place.
I would've forgotten about that if I hadn't gotten reminded of him.
"He's quite the man so it won't hurt to give it a try." She suggested and I stared at her like she said something totally out of line.
"I'm not ready to commit to anyone," I lied.
"Is it because of Mr Damion?"
Her question went both ways. It could mean that she was asking if it was because I revered my boss to an extent I didn't want to settle down or it could mean that she knew I was in love with him.
"No, it's just a personal decision." I lied again.
"What if Damion ends up wanting you not just as his secretary but as his woman?"