When he finally answered me, I knew he was being vague, but he was still being open. I knew it wasn’t easy for him to talk about, and I’d felt bad for even asking him to open up about something so personal. However, I was touched he would speak to me about it at all. He wasn’t the kind of man who gave in easily. I knew that just by the few encounters we’d had, so I was glad he was willing to be open with me. Even if it wasn’t a ton of information, at least it was something.
I’d also surprised myself by stating that I’d be his distraction. After hearing his conversation with Rachel and building up that wall, he was able to knock it down in a matter of minutes. I think it was the visual that kept replaying in my head. The thought of him sitting on the bathroom floor naked with all those scars was too much. I didn’t want him to resort to that. Why couldn’t he use me? I’d bow to his every command in the bedroom if it would help distract him from himself.
Sitting up in bed, I stretched my arms over my head and turned to look at the clock. It was only eight in the morning, so I had plenty of time to get ready for my one and only class of the day. It was nice to have a laid-back afternoon that wasn’t jam-packed with class work; although, I wouldn’t waste the day away. I still had a lot of studying to do.
After getting out of bed and making a pot of coffee, I sat in the living room and pulled out some of my notes from the previous day. I’d just flipped the page when I heard my phone chime with a text.
Leaning over, I grabbed it off the coffee table and smiled when I saw Mel’s name.
Mel: Today is going to be a crazy one. Do you want to pick up some lunch for me and come eat while I work? Pwetty Pweezz!!
Me: That depends. What do I get out of it?
Mel: The grand experience of what you’re getting yourself into.
I laughed out loud at her text. It would be cool to see what she went through all day. I could be her shadow for a few hours.
Me: Are you sure John won’t mind?
Mel: Would I invite you if he did? Besides, he’s in and out all day.
Me: Okay, what do you want?
Mel: A gyro. Gah, I’ve been craving one since forever.
Me: I don’t get out of class until 1, so I won’t be there until around 2.
Mel: That’s fine. The snack machine will obviate my hunger.
Me: Nice word usage, nerd. I’ll see you later.
I tossed my phone on the couch and went back to reading over my notes. Since I had something to look forward to for the day, I was sure it would go by faster.
*
Me: OMG the day dragged on forever. I’m on my way.
Mel: Don’t talk to me about dragging days. lol I’ll see you soon.
I hailed a cab and made my way toward the law firm with food in tow. My thoughts of the day going by quickly faded away as soon as I’d stepped foot in class. Due to Professor Hine being sick, she’d gotten someone to cover for her who apparently had no idea what the hell he was doing. I thought class would never end.
On a brighter note, I was able to find a restaurant close by that made gyros. It smelled amazing, and I couldn’t wait to dig in.
I made it to the law firm right before two and checked in with the front desk to get my visitor’s badge before they allowed me to head upstairs.
When the elevator opened on level twenty-three, my eyes widened in fascination as I looked over the beauty. There was a crisp, white room decorated in blues and light greys, with a mahogany-colored desk against the far wall which seated a man and a woman, both with headsets on.
I walked toward the desk and waited patiently for one of them to put a call on hold to direct me to Mel’s office, but after five minutes of being ignored, I reached into my bag and pulled out my phone.
Me: I’m here. Come get me from the front. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are too busy to tell me where to go.
Mel: I’m on the phone, just walk back here. Go down the left hallway, take your first right, go all the way down that hallway and make your second left. You’ll see me.
That didn’t sound hard at all, I thought sarcastically. Dropping my phone back into my purse, I took one last look at the employees, who never looked up. They seriously needed a class on customer service.
Glancing to the left and right, I saw there were two ways I could go in. Following Mel’s directions I took the left way. As soon as I got past the hallway, the whole area brightened. Every office was glass, which let the light from the windows shine through. There were literally no solid walls. It made the area look ten times bigger and that much harder to figure out where I was going.
Walking past a few offices, I noticed a hallway coming up and remembered Mel told me to take the first right. Just as I was about to turn down the hallway, I noticed a man through the glass heading in my direction.
I moved a little bit to the right so he would walk right past me, but apparently he had the same thought. I found myself face-planted into Donicko’s chest for a second time, causing me to almost drop the bag of food.
“Ms. Blake, we should really stop meeting this way,” he stated as he pushed back on my shoulders, which he was holding firmly.
I moved out of his grasp and chuckled lightly. “Sorry about that.” I gazed around the office, pretending to be lost so I wouldn’t have to look him in the face.
“Are you meeting someone? Your sister, perhaps?”