.
Alone in the hotel room, the silence felt heavy. I couldn't shake the longing for his touch, even though I knew he was going to marry someone else. It felt selfish to want him, but I couldn't help it. Despite the rationality of it all, the ache remained—a battle between my heart and mind that left me feeling lost. So I stayed there, grappling with the conflicting emotions, resigned to the solitude that surrounded me.
With a finger twirling in my hair, I dialed Sally's number, urgency evident in my actions. "I need to escape," I groaned as soon as she picked up.
"Sucks to be you. How are you holding up there?" Sally's voice sounded slightly preoccupied.
"I want him. And it sounds messy knowing he's going to marry Athena, but she's a complete bitch," I confessed, frustration coloring my tone.
"Then go get him. I mean not to get yourself tied by the knot."
"No...I can't just do that," I replied, my voice tinged with uncertainty.
She was silent for a while, letting her words hang in the air.
"Then find someone else. As your friend, getting tied up in a love triangle will hurt you. You are not his first priority," she advised gently, her tone conveying concern.
I sighed, feeling the weight of my words. "You do have a point," I conceded, realizing the truth in her statement.
"Then do what you gotta do sis. Put on your big girl shoes," she said, her voice firm yet supportive.
Lost in thought for a while, I grappled with the complexities of the situation. I knew I couldn't continue to be his second choice, especially if it risked causing problems in their relationship.
"I'll figure something," I finally said, determination creeping into my tone.
After an hour of hashing out possibilities with her, I crawled back into bed, exhaustion weighing heavily on me. As I closed my eyes, sleep threatened to overtake me like a time bomb. The soft duvet slid off my bare legs, and in the darkness, a familiar scent filled the air, instantly calming me. I could sense his presence over me, his dark hair barely visible in the dim light, his scent a comforting blend of mint and whisky.
His fingers gently caressed my cheeks, his touch both familiar and electrifying. My heart raced as he twirled loose strands of hair away from my face, his husky voice breaking the silence of the room.
"I can't stop thinking about you," he confessed, his words hanging heavily in the air.
I felt a rush of emotions flood through me at his admission. "I'm starting to second guess my choices," he continued, his voice filled with uncertainty.
In the darkness, I could barely make out the outline of his eyes, but I could feel the intensity of his gaze. Panic gripped me as I realized the proximity of our encounter. What if Athena saw us? She was just in the other room. Despite the thought, his touch on the strap of my spaghetti top sent a wave of emotions through me, his fingers grazing my bare skin and sending shivers down my spine.
"I..." I struggled to find the right words, my mind racing with conflicting thoughts. "I want this, but... it feels too wrong."
He fell silent for a moment, his expression contemplative. "Nothing is wrong in my eyes, especially considering the type of person she's becoming. I'll find a way to break off the proposal," he assured me, his voice resolute.
His words filled me with a mix of relief and guilt. "If you're leaving her for me, what's to say you won't do the same thing to me if we're together? It's not worth the risk," I confessed, my voice tinged with uncertainty.
But he was quick to reassure me, his tone unwavering. "You're worth it. You're the one I want. I only want you," he declared, his sincerity evident in every word.
"You're my boss, Amir. We're breaking the rules," I reminded him, a sense of caution creeping into my voice.
He smiled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Rules are meant to be broken once in a while, right?" he countered, his confidence infectious.
"These rules are forbidden," I insisted, trying to maintain some semblance of rationality amongst the whirlwind of emotions.
"I want to take you to dinner, butterfly," he proposed, his tone soft yet determined.
"Butterfly?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow in amusement.
"I mean, it suits you. Or I could say, princess? My princess," he suggested, his charm a curious blend of endearing and slightly offbeat.
His unconventional approach caught me off guard, but I couldn't deny the attraction I felt towards him. "You're being cringe," I teased, unable to suppress a smile.
"Is that your way of accepting? Dinner by the beach?" he persisted, undeterred by my playful retort.
"No, Mr. Bezos," I replied, emphasizing his formal title.
"Amir, for you. Never call me that when we're alone together," he insisted, his body shifting closer to mine as he wrapped an arm around my waist, seeking comfort in our closeness.
But reality quickly set in, and I couldn't ignore the complications of our situation. "Athena is literally in the next room. I want to avoid this interaction that we're having. It's not healthy," I confessed, a sense of unease settling over me.
"Forget her," he urged, his voice tinged with desperation.
"That's not possible," I countered, the weight of the situation pressing down on me.
"I don't feel like marrying her anymore," he confessed softly, his words barely audible against my hair.
"You have to," I reminded him, a sense of responsibility guiding my words.
"Something is missing, an important piece to the puzzle, and it's definitely not her," he continued, his tone reflective.
"So, you're saying it's me," I concluded, the realization hitting me with a mix of uncertainty and anticipation.
"Well, I guess there's one way to find out," he murmured, his breath warm against my skin.
Without further words, exhaustion began to overtake me, and I felt my eyes growing heavy as sleep beckoned. His hand remained around my waist, drawing me closer into his embrace as we both lost ourselves in the comfort of each other's presence.
The next morning, I slowly opened my eyes, the haze of sleep gradually dissipating as reality washed over me. I remembered falling asleep with Amir next to me, but as I felt the other side of the bed, I realized he was gone. Relief flooded through me as I confirmed my clothes were still in place.
With a yawn, I stumbled towards the bathroom, rubbing my eyes to clear the sleepiness. However, before I could even make it to the bathroom, my attention was drawn to the sight of breakfast laid out on the side table, accompanied by a note. And on the mini sofa in the room, a luxury shopping bag and a shoe box awaited.
Curiosity piqued, I made my way to the sofa and picked up the bag, revealing a stunning red dress adorned with red diamonds. My heart skipped a beat as I read the note nestled within the bag.
Good morning, butterfly. So I see that you've found my little gift. Your outfit for our date. I can't wait to see you in this. Oh, and I got the shoes in a size 7. Hope it fits.
A smile tugged at my lips as I read his words, the anticipation building within me as my heart raced with excitement. The throbbing sound echoed in my ears, signaling the beginning of what promised to be an unforgettable day.
As I approached the bedside table, my eyes fell upon a plate filled with an assortment of fruits and toasted bread, accompanied by a fresh glass of orange juice. I couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through me at the sight. Picking up the note beside the breakfast, I unfolded it and read the simple yet endearing message:
"Butterfly, I got you breakfast. Eat something and think about me a little while you're eating."
- A -
A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I read his words. Despite his unconventional approach, there was an undeniable charm in his gestures. It was strange how someone so anti-romantic could still manage to make my heart flutter.
Yet, despite the fleeting moments of happiness, a pang of realization hit me. Despite everything that had happened, Amir was not mine to keep. And with that sobering thought, I couldn't help but feel like a fool for allowing myself to get caught up in something that could never be truly mine.
Despite the number of tasks that filled my days working alongside him, I found myself back at the project site, preparing for another day of coffee-fetching and note-taking. It felt like ages since I had last been here, navigating the bustling corridors of the building where he was hosting the new project.
As I made my way towards the coffee room, I unexpectedly ran into Alex, one of the project's key figures whom I had met just the other day.
"Eleanor," he greeted with a genuine smile as our paths crossed.
"Alex, it's good to see you again," I replied, starting up the coffee machine.
He cast a brief admiring glance over my outfit. "You look good, I have to admit."
"Um... thank you. Not so bad yourself," I replied with a smile.
"Assistant, huh?" he remarked.
"Yeah, Mr. Bezos' assistant to be exact. Can be stressful at times, but it's work," I explained.
"I figured. So, do you live in Canada?" he inquired.
"No, I'm from the states. And you?" I asked.
"Here. It's sad. I assume you'll be here for the project with Mr. Bezos," he said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Yes, I leave in a couple of days," I confirmed.
"Will I ever be able to see you again after?" he asked, his tone tinged with uncertainty.
"Well... I mean, I'm not sure, but we can exchange numbers just in case," I suggested.
He smiled warmly as we exchanged numbers. "Not a problem," he replied.
"Sure," I replied with a nod.
"Well, I should be heading back before they notice I'm out for too long. I'll call you. Is that okay?" Alex asked, his tone hopeful.
"I don't see why not," I nodded in agreement.
With a final nod, Alex left me alone in the coffee room.
Later that evening, I found myself excited about our impending date, yet a hint of guilt lingered in the back of my mind. Athena, was conveniently sent back to the states by Amir to handle some urgent errands. It seemed all too coincidental, and I couldn't shake the feeling that it was his way of ensuring we were alone.
Leaving the shower, droplets of water cascading down my skin, I wrapped myself in a towel, absently staring at the outfit he had bought me. The gesture was undeniably thoughtful, but the situation felt fraught with forbidden allure.
With limited options and a mix of excitement and apprehension, I made the decision to go ahead with the dinner date, despite the risks involved. Running my fingers over the silky red fabric of my dress, I couldn't help but smile at the anticipation of the evening ahead.
As the doorbell rang, I quickly shook off my reverie and hurried to answer it. Peering outside, I saw no one at first, momentarily puzzled. Just as I was about to close the door, my eyes caught sight of a beautiful bouquet of red roses placed on the doorway.
My heart skipped a beat as I reached for the bouquet, relishing in the fragrant scent of the flowers. A small note fell from amidst the petals, and I eagerly picked it up, unfolding it to reveal the handwritten message inside.
"Straight from my garden. Can't wait to see you, butterfly."
A smile spread across my face as I held the note close, feeling a flutter of excitement in my stomach. With the bouquet in hand, I closed the door behind me, ready to embrace whatever the night had in store.
Thank you for tuning in today's chapter. We have finally made it to 1k. Thank you for the support. I appreciate it.
Krystal