Jared
Next day, I woke up and freshened up quickly. I had a business party tonight. I had to ask Allison about the color code and timings. I also had to return back early tonight to prepare for the presentation I was supposed to explain tomorrow for one of my clients.
Allison. Damn, the name was refusing to leave my mind. Good god, don't rewind back to last night.
Her face. All sad and hurt. That thing was still refusing to leave my mind since last night.
I wanted to say sorry, I didn't know why, the more I spent time with her, the more I wanted to say sorry and that I had a lot to say. I had come up with plans, but those plans were nowhere implemented. I had thought I would make her suffer, but now all I wanted to do was sit with her and explain about last night. I didn't owe her anything. But I wanted to.
I was really upset. I couldn't concentrate as I had breakfast and dressed up for office.
Last night, I had almost called her, but figured it would be best if I spoke to her face to face. I wanted to get this out of my system once and for all.
There was a limit to how much a person could occupy your mind without doing anything, and Allison Marshall was crossing every boundary of it. I had to make her stop and tame my hormones under control.
~¤~
I walked in to find Allison at her desk, working on her laptop with full concentration. Her hair was tied into a tight bun and her eyes scrunched as she typed fast. Her eye power must have increased as she narrowed her eyes to read and then continue tapping on the keyboard. But nevertheless, that was weird. I had never seen her come so early.
"Allison?"
Her head shot up, "You?"
"What are you doing here? You are early. Its still 8:00," I said, checking the time, embarrassed to look at her directly.
"I had some extra work to do so I came fast," She replied in a full business manner tone and haughtily went back to typing.
She was really pissed off. Great. Just what I needed. I had no doubt she was spitting in my coffee today.
"Um, okay. So, I will leave," I announced.
She nodded and gave a small shrug, typing away furiously and pausing to take a sip of her beverage in between.
Give the keyboard a break. You will damage it, girl. I wanted to stay here a bit longer. I needed a topic to start a conversation. Think, Jared.
"What's the color code for tonight?" I asked really politely.
"Black for men and purple or red for ladies," She said listlessly without looking up.
Fuck it. I needed the arguing Allison. Not the 'I-don't-care-at-all' Allison.
If there was one thing that pissed me off, it was that people ignoring or being indifferent to me. I hated being ignored. People could curse me, praise me or admire me but indifference was something I really didn't like besides the Kardashians.
Yet, I couldn't say anything useful right now. I had no extra work for her and she had already done her part. She wasn't even supposed to serve me coffee until two hours later.
"Thanks. Have a good day," Saying, I left feeling like a complete idiot.
She didn't even realize I had made an effort to speak politely. I wasn't asking for a certificate but we had both grown comfortable in this semi hostile, bantering zone and being civil felt quite odd.
~¤~
"Sir, your coffee," Allison set the coffee down on the table and turned to walk out. I liked how she never seemed to remember my order to stay until I tell her to go.
Maybe she did it intentionally to defy me. At this point, I didn't mind. I was the one who wanted to pacify her. I looked down at the black liquid. Oh definitely, there was spit inside, she wouldn't leave it so easily. Damn it, I didn't care.
I tasted it. Seemed the usual. Say something. Say anything. Do it, do it.
"The coffee is marvellous," I said and cringed at how desperate that sounded. She turned back with a suspicious expression.
"It's the same. Black and bitter," She said, raising an eyebrow.
Like your soul, her eyes said everything.
"Do one thing. You can give sugar and milk from tomorrow. I feel I need to change my palate again," I smiled stupidly, "Two sugar cubes and a dash of milk."
No, no. Say sorry. It isn't that hard to say. Be a man and apologize. I opened my mouth before closing it again.
"As you say, sir," She said, looking utterly bored and impatient.
She was waiting for me to order her to leave.
Think, think Jared.
Yes.
I tilted the coffee cup a bit when I saw she was not looking my way. She was checking the events for tomorrow in the files in her hand. Coffee spilled on my hand.
"Ow, ow... shit," I stood up. Woah, it really hurt. And even more when you intentionally did it. I jerked my hand, blowing gently on it.
Her expression cleared for a moment. Then, she went away, her heels clicking. Feeling like a first class moron, I watched her go.
Wow, great move Jared. What were you expecting? To blow and soothe on your burn? It hurt a lot. I gave my hand another jerk and winced when it stung, sucking gently on the red, raw skin.
"Here."
She had came in with an ice pack and handed it to me, "Apply it, sir. It will lessen the pain."
I could feel one wall breaking down as I gulped. I didn't assume she would return. I genuinely believed she would leave.
"Um... can't you... uh...?" I was hoping she would do it.
She glared at me and came forward and took my hand and pressed the ice pack against it. I winced as she roughly grabbed my hand and smacked the ice pack against my hand. I took this opportunity to say sorry, but stopped as I realized how near she was to me. Well, if she thought so.
I stared at her face. There were two freckles on her nose. I never observed that. Her eyebrows were raised in an annoyed way as she grabbed my hand. Her palms were so small and warm against my large and cold ones. I wanted to see those eyes of her but they were blocked by her glasses and she was staring down at my hand. She didn't even look up once as she looked like she wanted to drill a hole into my palm.
"There. It's done," She said and stepped back and keeping the ice pack on my table, "You can apply ointment now."
"Thanks a lot," I said, blinking fast, suddenly feeling very shy.
Wasn't I supposed to apologize? Where was my virility? Why the fuck was I feeling shy? Why did she come back? It was just an ice pack, for christ's sake.
She turned and started walking out.
"Allison?" I asked again.
She sighed and turned, "What, Sir?"
"Um... what color dress are you wearing tonight?" I asked. Way to go Jared. The 'Most Stupid Person Of The Year' goes to me.
She had a deadpan expression now, "Purple."
"Great. So-"
"May I leave sir?" She asked, clearly wanting to leave now.
"What? Uh, yes you may go," I sighed.
Before she was about to go, she looked back once, "The next time you think of deliberately spilling coffee or any other liquid beverage, do it on your shirt or pant. That way, I don't have to help you out and you will go straight to the doctor. You can manage by yourself after that."
"Sorry," I whispered softly but she didn't hear it as she left.
As she went away leaving me open mouthed, I swear I never felt this embarassed before. I almost went and banged my head against the wall.
Stupid guy. Always messing things up. What would it take to say a simple sorry? Now go apply cream on this burn.