10 - Forbidden Kiss

Immediately Kyle broke apart from the lady and rushed towards as I dropped to the floor to pick up the files that were littered across the floor and I wished it didn’t have too that, because now it was awkward as I tried not to lock eyes with him and also not bump heads with him.

That plan was working until he brought the files he had picked to me, and just then his hands brushed mine – accidentally? I wasn’t so sure because of how his eyes drilled into mine in that very moment, though it lasted only a second it felt like an eternity that I wanted to hold unto but I was the first to pull my eyes away and breaking the silence that was enveloping all three of us in his office, however awkward.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt, I just wanted to drop off some files.” I said awkwardly, walking towards his large mahogany table with a placard with the words CEO written on it.

“You weren’t interrupting – this is Sophia, managing director of Venzos automobile company, her dad is the owner and we – ”

“We were just discussing on ways we can improve on our contracts,” the sexy Russian broke in looking between me and Kyle, “Although we can’t move on without a proper analysis of the sales pitch which we’re all looking forward to – you’re Aria right?” she smiled sweetly at me and honestly I’d have awere – damn those cheek bones.

“Right.” I replied trying to match her smile, both those lips were just in Kyle’s mouth and I just couldn’t unsee it, or shake the weird feeling that had already built up.

“I’ll try my best, I promise. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I said before walking out of the office, I was almost at the elevator when I heard Kyle’s footsteps behind me and he called my name.

“Aria wait.”

I was reluctant to stop but he grabbed me by arms just before I stepped into the elevator and he spun me around to face him.

“Did you actually just come up to drop my files.” he asked and I scoffed, he was still so full of himself.

“Absolutely.” I replied.

“That didn’t mean anything – what you saw – Sophie and me”

I looked at him but I couldn’t form the words to say because they were stuck in my throat and I knew if I managed to say a word, it would come out all croaky so instead I turned to elevator pressing the button that would take me down floor when Kyle spoke again

“Aria – ” he paused before his next statement, “Are you perhaps – jealous?”

My widened immediately, the same time the elevator door sprang open and I stepped in to avoid answering that question but Kyle stepped in with me immediately.

“You haven’t answered my question damsel.” he still kept his eyes fixed on me and his voice spilling out in a velvety texture. It was swoon-worthy voice but the image of him kissing Sophie – finding him half naked in Sam’s house and worse – the night he broke up with me began to swim in and out of my head.

“Why would I be jealous Kyle – we’re nothing. At least those are the words you said the night you ended everything.” I said my heart splitting at every word but I turned towards the door and hoping he wouldn’t say another word.

“Aria – ” he called the moment the elevator opened again and just as I stepped out I wished he’d hold me back even if it was just for a split again, and yet again he let me go just like he had done several times before.

***

KYLE’S POV

Later that evening, I was still at work way after closing hours and unable to get any work done because Aria had been stuck on my mind all day, I couldn’t get the look on her face after she walked in on me and Sophie out of my head – the disappointment and sheer shock of it all so similar to how she had looked the night I broke up with her. There was no possible way to explain that there was nothing going on between me and Sophie, I had met her at a club in New York and she had latched unto me since then, plus it was easier to keep her around with the deal going on but Aria was the last person I wanted to walk in.

*We’re nothing*

She was right, we’re nothing but why did I feel guilty. Why did my heart skip a beat when she walked in, why did a certain electricity zing through me when I lightly brushed my fingers against hers – this were the questions that plagued me every moment but I had no answers to them. How do you even answer such question when the attraction was on an all time high, spilling on the floor while I stepped over it in a bid to avoid it – to forget about and pretend like it doesn’t exist.

It was way past 8pm and I assumed everyone would have left work already, I wasn’t normally a workaholic, but I could only drench my thoughts in work to avoid thoughts about her. I stood up from my chair with a stretch, pushing the pile of files I was supposed to work on to a corner and I grabbed my suit jacket alongside with my suitcase and prepared to leave.

Outside my office, it was eerily quiet but I could see a ray of light coming out of the company’s workspace and library which was just a few rooms away from mine. Did someone forget to turn off the lights or was someone still there. I took the elevator immediately up stairs and when I got to the floor I could hear sobs coming from that room, like someone was crying but they were trying to be secretive about it. Immediately my curiosity got the better of me and also because it was the right thing to do, I walked briskly to the workspace room, it seemed empty but yet I could still hear the sobs coming from within the room except I wasn’t seeing the person crying.

“Hello.” I called out and I immediately I heard someone shuffling, I walked further into the room the same time the other person came out and it was Aria – I paused.

They were tears in her eyes even as she looked at me with shock on her face and when I looked down at her hands, she was holding the necklace – her father’s necklace and there I was the familiar and overwhelming feeling of guilt weighing down on me again and I could have just bolted, turned around and even left California altogether the same way I did years ago – but I didn’t, I couldn’t – not with my heart breaking seeing her in tears.

“I miss him.” she said, more tears falling from her eyes and it was the most heart breaking sound I have ever heard.

“I miss him so much.” she added in more tears and I didn’t even realize when I marched up to her and pulled her into my arms, in my own desperate attempt to hold her – protect her, something I should have done a long time ago and I wanted to make up for it now.

“I’m here Aria, I’m right here.” I whispered in her hair, pulling her tighter to me and she let me – and then she looked at me with those doe eyes of hers – bringing back the memories of the delicate girl I was in love with, the tension building around us again and weaving it’s intricate patterns. I locked eyes with her and the magnetic pull was undeniable, different and yet so intense – it only pulled me closer with my eyes fluttering close and when I tried to kiss her she pulled away with a questioning gaze in her eyes

“Kyle?”