This Monday was surprisingly dull. Before coming today, I was expecting to be loaded with work, you know, Monday stuff, but it was quiet.
There are work but it doesn't make me busy. I want to be busy so my mind will stop thinking about the woman who's been messing my head for a couple of days now.
Just because I wanted to do something, I even ask all of my colleagues if they needed something, scanning or even buy them something outside.
Nobody. Nobody wants anything, what's wrong with these people?
It's 11:00 in the morning when I hear the heels clicking in the floor, I know exactly from who it was and I didn't even bother looking up.
Alex stopped in front of her door and cleared her throat, getting everybody's attention, including mine.
To my surprise when I looked up, she was already looking at me.
She's so beautiful.
She was wearing a yellow skinny slacks ankle length and she partnered it with white sleeveless silk top, candy in my eyes.
She looked like she was in the mood, oh how she brightens this morning.
She took her gaze back to the staff and spoke.
"We have a very important guest, rather a new colleague arriving later.." She stopped and looked at her watch.
"Actually in 20 minutes, he'll be arriving here. If you would notice, the meeting room 1 was converted to an office during the weekend and that will be the new office of our Business Operation Manager, so please lets give him a warm welcome later, he's very dear to me."
Was she smiling? She is smiling. This person must be super important to her.
Thinking about that, I felt a little pinch in my chest.
Whoa! What was that?
My hand automatically reached for my chest like it was a physical pinch that I can somehow touch.
With my confused eyes, I met Alex's that was already looking at me. She has a confuse look staring at me and my hand in my chest.
Was it worried across her face? No, my mind must be playing me.
I didn't wait for Alex to enter her office as I excused myself to go to the bathroom. As I walk away, I could feel her eyes were following me and I ignored it and quickened my step.
That woman is really messing my head.
In the bathroom, I tried to compose myself and pull it together.
Why am I acting like this? Why do I feel that pain in my chest when I thought of somebody being important to Alex? It wasn't like me, not at all.
It took me long enough before I come back to the office. Everybody was standing and I could hear Alex introducing the new Business Operation Manager, I could hear enthusiasm in her voice while doing so, again, that pinch in my chest is there.
I shook my head and tried not to think much about it.
As I squeezed myself between my colleagues, I could hear the girls giggling.
"... So please, a round of applause to our new B.O.M., Mr. Brian Brown Thompson!"
Exactly as I squeezed my head from the crowd, I saw Brian standing beside Alexandra with her arm around Brian's waist.
Brian B. Thompson.
B.
Brown.
Fuck!
I suddenly wish the floor will swallow me when Brian's gaze turned in my direction.
I expected him to be surprised or shocked when he saw me from the crowd, but he just gave me the sweetest smile, should I return it?
I was still in shock so I don't know how to react to that. My eyes was just wide and I think my mouth was hanged open.
My eyes turned to Alex when she noticed that Brian was just looking at me. Our eyes met and I could read confusion in her face.
Not long when Brian walk towards me. I felt like everybody's eyes were on us, again confused as to what was happening.
"Hi gorgeous!" He greeted me casually.
I didn't notice that he was already in front of me, looking at me with the same loving eyes.
"B-Brian!" I whispered but I'm sure he heard it.
And as if I was not surprised at all, he gave me a warm hug in front of everybody, in front of Alexandra. Not knowing what to do, I just stood there while he hugs me.
Everybody was silent, just looking at us including Alexandra.
I could see confusion written all over her face but there's something else, there was something in her eyes for a split second and it was gone.
Her heels clicking the floor walking towards us.
"You know each other?" Her tone a little bit high from normal.
Brian broke the hug but his arm didn't leave my shoulder and turned to Alexandra who's already in front of us.
"Oh, yeah. Al, This is Cara. The Cara!" He emphasized the mention of my name like there was something behind it.
Alex who was hit by realization, looked at both of us with her eyes widened.
"Ohhh. Cara, Your Cara!" She said, again emphasizing the mention of my name.
I looked around and saw the surprised faces of everybody. Some of the girls looked disappointed and some are envious.
I quickly recovered and freed myself from Brian and pretend-fix my dress.
"I'm sorry, what? I'm not His Cara, I am Cara." I imitate how they both emphasize mentioning my name. I made sure that it was heard by the others as I don't want them to think something else.
I glared at Brian who was just smiling at me, looking amuse.
"We went to the same school, we're friends!" I tried to clear it with everybody though I know I sounded defensive, specially to Alexandra who was now giving me a meaningful look.
Brian let out a teasing laugh while Alexandra smirked.
I walked away and went to my table still with eyes following me.
Damn you, Brian. I cursed him.
I felt the whole afternoon was about me. I think the whole building knows already as when I went upstairs to get lunch, I could see people whispering as soon as I walk past them.
Lisa of course couldn't stop herself and made her way to my table.
"Girl, you're so lucky! Mr. Thompson is soooo handsome and oh my god, did you see his eyes?" I looked up to her and saw her eyes gleaming like she was in a dream, a beautiful dream.
She elbowed me when I ignored her and went back to my documents.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna ask for details." She was just smiling and walk away day dreaming.
I was thankful that Brian did not bother me the whole afternoon, I'm not sure how will I handle it if ever he would come to my table with everybody looking at us.
I was looking at the time in my computer, counting down the minutes, as soon as it reaches 05:00 O'clock, I stood up very fast ready to leave.
"Um, Cara..." I heard a manly voice called out my name.
I shut my eyes closed when I hear it was Brian calling me.
Noooo! My mind shouted.
He was in front of his office with his hand still on the door knob preventing it from closing.
Alex's door opens as well, her confused eyes looking at me and Brian alternately.
"Cara? Can you come see me, please." It was Brian.
That something again in Alexandra's eyes when she heard Brian asked for me, but then again it was gone for a split second.
"Cara?" Brian repeated.
It made me back to my senses and walk towards him.
As soon as Brian close the door, I repeatedly hit him in his arm which caused him to laugh uncontrollably.
"Did you know I am working here? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you give me a heads up?" I told him in between.
He caught both my hands and stopped me, he was still laughing.
"If you were answering my calls, and I don't know, returned even just one of my messages, you would know." He tried to explain, still my hands imprisoned by his.
I took my hands away and sat on the chair that is in front of his desk.
I processed what he said. He was right, I didn't even check his messages. If I did, I wouldn't be surprised and what happened earlier might not even happened.
But then I remember something.