Unedited
Exam season was coming to an end, it had been the same routine for the past three weeks and it had started to get draining.
My last exam was tomorrow and straight after that we had a conference at work for some unknown reason.
Speaking of work, Mr Styles has still been a little off then usual but there were moments were it felt just like old times. I told him about my fathers heart attack and he asked me a rather strange question, "does your father have gout?" I looked at him oddly and shook my head no, he then proceeded to tell me that his father had it and he's scared that he will too. I didn't quite understand where he was going but maybe the topic made him afraid, especially because he just a little younger than my father.
"I was thinking we could go out tomorrow evening" Dan suggests, I was sat on my desk while he was drawing on his sketchbook.
"Your exams may be over but not mine" I sigh.
"I know but a little meal won't do no harm"
"Nope, I can't go"
"Fine" he huffs. "You'd don't have to be an ass" he comments.
"I'm not starting this" I say as I pack my stuff up, "I'm going library, don't follow me"
Without hearing his last word I slam the door behind me and head to the library, maybe I was a bit hard on Dan but after all I did have exams and things had been a little rocky since our love making, he insisted we do it again and I made up some sorry excuse. I loved Dan, but not the way he craved love, I loved him like a dear friend.
I sat in the library for hours on end, before I realised it was almost midnight. I packed my stuff up before making my way down and I stopped in my tracks when I noticed a man outside my door. He was skinny looking and dressed in all black, Dan steps outside and I hid behind the wall as I spied on them.
I could faintly hear their mumbles and they sneakily exchanged something in each other's hands, I was petrified when I heard the man walking back through the exit, which was my way. I quickly ran to the side of the hallway and pretended to be coming out of the communal toilets. He must've bought it because he barely gave me a glance.
What could this have been? I wasn't sure at all and I didn't want to pester Dan about it. For all I knew it could just be his illegal art supplier, but even then I was staring to feel like that was a lie too.
He would often tell me he's going to the studio, or picking up some pieces. Now I'm not accusing him of cheating, not at all, but I definitely knew that his outings weren't just art related. Nevertheless, I shrugged it off, I couldn't accuse Dan of anything when I was the one who practically cheated on him and falsely made made love to him.
"Hey" I tiredly sigh as I walk into the room, Dan changing into his night wear.
"Are you going to bite my head off again" he scoffs.
"No" I chuckle. "Have any visitors while I was gone" I hum as I unpack my bag, he was now getting ready for bed.
"No one, why'd you ask" he speaks hesitantly.
"Oh just, I assumed you'd be bored out of your mind all that time"
"Nope, just in the room all evening" he laughs. Liar.
"Right, well maybe after work tomorrow we can grab that lunch ok" I go over to his bed and kiss him goodbye. He clutches on to my wrist.
"Sleep with me tonight" he pleads, I bite my lips and nod.
We lay down together and it comforted my aching nerves, tomorrow was my last exam and if didn't pass these exams I wouldn't be able to proceed on to next years course.
"Why have you been so tense lately" he asks and I stare up at the ceiling.
"Work, exams" I state the obvious.
"I can't help but think it's something else, are you hiding something from me?"
"I could ask the same to you" my eyes turn to him before returning back to the ceiling.
"What do you mean?"
"Well you've been acting awfully shifty"
"It's nothing, well it's my parents. They've been arguing over my gran whose been quite ill, the problem is we've got no sos e to keep her and their now making an extra room in the house"
"Oh, your father did mention reconstructing something but I must've dozed off" I laugh.
"Ella"
"Yes" I smile.
"Do you really love me"
I stop. I turn to him and give him a sceptical look.
"Well of course, I made love to you didn't I"
"I can't help but feel you don't feel the same or that you're just not ready, I mean I don't blame you after everything with Drew-"
"Look, I do love you ok" I gulp and kiss his palm, I see his body ease.
"Alright, I'll do anything for you ok, I hope you know that" he yawns and slowly starts to drift off.
"I do" I sigh with guilt.
~
My exams were finally over and I sighed in relief, it was now summer break and the first place I had to spend it was at work.
I phoned my parents on the way to work and texted Dan about the exam, although it seemed as if his phone was switched off the whole day and I wondered if he remembered about our lunch.
I got to work and something seemed different, the buzz was much more of a fast paced and everyone seemed to be in some sort of panic.
I found Tasha waltzing around with paperwork and folders in her hands as I approached her.
"Why's everybody acting so weird" I ask her with a chuckle, I had a coffee in my hand and seemed quite relaxed.
"Oh god, you don't know"
"Don't know what?" I ask blankly.
"There's never a conference and if there is it usually means he's letting people go"
"Y-you mean fire them?" I ask in worry and she nods.
"What the fuck, he never told me this" I shake my head in disbelief.
"He doesn't tell anyone" she laughs, of course he wouldn't tell anyone, but I wasn't just anyone to Mr Styles whether he liked it or not.
"You better hurry up, the meeting starts in five mins" she rushes away from me and I decide to take the lift to Mr Styles' office before going to the conference room.
I hurried out of the lift and found him just in time, he was leaving his office.
"Hey, Mr Styles" I quickly approach him and he gives me a smile.
He looks my outfit up and down and looks at me quizzically.
"I came from college, had my last exam today actually" I tell him.
"Ah, how was it" he asks.
"It was alright, I don't know what else to say really. I can't exactly say it went horrible because you'll fire me- speaking of which"
"I'd love to hear more Ella but I'm running late for this conference and so are you" he chuckles walking over to the lift, I follow behind him.
"Yes about that, well what is it about?"
"You'll find out in a bit"
"Oh cmon, just hint me something"
"Nope"
"Pleaaaasssseeeeee" I whine as we enter the lift.
"Tut tut tut" he shakes his head. "You will find out like everyone else"
"But I'm not just everyone else" I fold my arms. "And you know it"
"I'm your boss"
"I'm your sons ex who you happened to kiss" I raise my brows at him and he laughs awkwardly. "I'm quite offended you're not telling me" I pretend to be upset. He laughs and tucks my hair behind my ear. The lift door opens.
"You'll find out now" he whispers lowly in my ears and walks ahead of me, I quickly jogged behind.
When we walked into the room the seats were almost packed, I quickly found Tasha who had luckily saved a seat.
"You better kiss my ass, I had to shove a lot of assholes for this seat"
"I shall show you deepest affection -"
"Good afternoon everyone" Mr Styles welcomes and I laugh to myself at everyone's overly cheery response yet anxious face.
"You May Be all wondering why you're here today. Well," he pauses with a smile on his face before unravelling the board behind him.
"£300,000" he shouts clapping his hand. Was he being sarcastic?
"All because of your work the company made an extra £300,000 then expected!" He smiles widely and everyone sighs in relief before cheering and clapping.
Out of the sudden, champagne bottles were passed around and everyone was talking and cheering amongst themselves, that was until Mr Styles caught everyone's attention again.
"Just to show my appreciation, I have decided to host a ball. A Styles and co ball!" Again everyone cheered and now I just joined for the sake of it, I was laughing and noticed Mr Styles glimpse my way and smile.
We all sat and chatted for a while before everyone went back to work, I waited for the room to be empty, it was just me and Mr Styles.
"That was quite the surprise" I smile as he moves the board to the back of the room.
"I knew you'd love it" he smiles smugly.
"You know, you had everyone thinking you're firing them" I laugh and he looks at me in humour.
"I mean, maybe I just might. You'd be the first"
"I'd love if you actually meant that" I laugh standing from my seat.
"I do" he smiles
"You couldn't sort a Peterson statement to a Mcsmith report without me" I scoff and stand at the door.
"See you at the ball"
"See you" I laugh and quickly leave.