43 - DANCING RING

ARIA’S POV

“Nothing happened between us” Shawn assured me a hundred times even though I had told him a million times that I did not care if anything happened between him and his co worker. How could I care when I was far from innocence, when I was still bothered with the attraction I felt for Kyle. I looked at Shawn, and at this time Janet had conveniently excused herself from out midst. There wasn’t a single ounce of guilt hiding among the crevices of Shawn’s smile lines, his smile was hard enough and his cold hands seemed permanently glued to my waist.

I needed a break, I just got off a five hour flight before I was thrown into this overwhelm and I needed to sit down – no I needed to lie down, or better still I needed to run away.

*He saved your life Aria, you owe him that. It’ll be selfish to break his heart.

So I stuck around, for as long as people rallied around me and shoving their hands in mine for handshake, I could only think of one thing – Kyle.

*I don’t want to hurt you Aria.

*You already did Kyle.

***

The next morning, Shawn was still very much asleep while I got ready for work and it was so unlike him. He was usually the first person up, dressed up and already eating breakfast before I even thought of fluttering my eyelashes open.

“You’re up early” I heard him say while I tied my hair, and just a cup of coffee more before I stormed out of the house.

“And you’re still asleep which so is unlike you. Did you get fired?” I jokingly said.

“The big case I’ve been telling you about is over. We won so I could take a breather” he told me and I looked at him.

“What was it about?” I wasn’t entirely curious but Shawn loved to talk about his job, it was like a shot of dopamine straight to the bloodstream. Immediately, he beamed and sat upright on the bed.

“It was a murder case, a young man was being prosecuted for murder by the state. He shot someone on the orders of his father. It was a very complicated case and it’s funny how I’ve had a similar case a few years back but it got thrown out”

“So what happened” I asked just the same time I checked my watch to find out I was running late.

“I have to get going” I announced interrupting the joyride of talking about his job. I walked to where he sat on the bed to give him a goodbye kiss and he took the golden opportunity to pull me towards him.

“You should call in sick, so many things I could think and a jet lag being the most valid one” he said to me and I gave him a look of surprise.

“Since when – what is this behavior Shawn?” I joked

“I’ve missed you, we should spend the day together” I inhaled his bare skin and I could perceive a hint of my bath wash on him and I know if I smelled his hair, it would have my shampoo all over it.

“I need to give in a report this morning, I can’t miss work today” or I wanted to see Kyle’s face and while I’m reminiscing I would be unconsciously throwing my fingers on his face. Immediately, I looked to the ring on my finger – still shining and bright.

Shawn saw me looking at the ring and he said “We should throw an engagement party”

“We had a party yesterday” I reminded and the thought of having another suddenly felt exhausting. I didn’t feel like dressing up and planting fake smiles on my faces for people I didn’t even know that well. Shawn liked those kind of things, he liked to party and show off, wear fancy suits and swaying to the sweet melody of music in the background with a glass of vintage wine in his hands while he gloated off to people, I was rather more quieter and reserved.

“That was different, just a few friends over to witness my proposal. We could have an actual party in a hall, lots of wine and food and all our friends too”

“You’re just looking for an excuse to party” I teased and he even drew me further in his hands.

“I’m actually looking for more excuses to show you off and announce to the world that you’re mine” he said to me, planting a kiss on my cheek.

I stood up from the bed and straightened my dress while he looked up at me with puppy eyes, and yes I had zero resistance to his puppy eyes and he very well knew that “Fine, but you’ll be in charge of the whole thing”

“Not a problem sweet heart”
***
There was a special thud in my chest while I walked into the office building; I wasn’t expecting to see anyone because I was going much earlier so I could unpack my thoughts before anyone showed up. I also needed to print a few documents for the meeting that morning – I dreaded it because Kyle would be there seated at the front before us with a thickening tension that others didn’t seem to notice.
I took a while in the printing room distracted with scrolling through social media feeds and when the electronic ping of the printer whirred in my ears telling me it was done, I picked up the documents and headed back to the elevator to get ready for the meeting.

I was still distracted by my phone when the elevator doors flung open to reveal Kyle standing just infront and ready to step out and he stopped when his eyes met mine, behind him was Janine and Monica.
His eyes drifted from my face to my finger and my heart seized for a second – he knew, of course he knew, Janine was right there and her mouth ran faster than faucet, a leaking one that had no fix. In no time she was pulling me aside to look at my ring again while Kyle walked away. I didn’t watch him leave even though I badly wanted to – the longing was there but I just had to ignore it.

The meeting started not long after, but I wasn’t paying attention because my eyes were still stuck on my fact which was now a purposeful act to distract myself from the tension that automatically ignites when Kyle and I were in the same room.

“Why do I still see Venzos automobile on our list, it is no longer news that we cut off ties with them. So tell m Miss Janine – why is Venzos automobile still on our active list which you claim is updated”
I heard Kyle yell and immediately my head snapped up – Oh shit! I was the one who printed the list that morning before handing it to Janine, and I had been so distracted with my phone that I didn’t do a double check.

“I – I – thought” Janine was stuttering her way through and Kyle’s eyes was like a spitting venom ready to strike and without even noticing it, I threw my hands up

“It’s my fault” I said walking out of my seat to the front while Kyle’s angry look was now tainted by surprise.

“You of all people should know better Aria Thorne” he said to me

“I know and I apologize” I tried to keep my voice professional and devoid of any sort of emotion whatsoever. I kept my head straight ahead, even though I was looking at Kyle, I could barely see him.

“Fix it” he ordered as I walked to the front and Janine mouthing a thank you to me. Just then, my skirt caught on the sides of the table which propelled me forward and while I tried to steady myself by hanging on to that same table that was causing my death, my ring trickled out of my finger and made a noisy sommersault on the table while I fell into Kyle’s waiting arms were he sat. The room fell silent except for my ring still doing it’s round on the table.

Kyle and I reached for the ring together but Kyle grabbed it first and I threw him a look

“What are you doing?” my voice trembled and I grabbed my ring from his hands and slipping it back onto my finger.

“It’s true – you’re actually engaged?” he whispered to me and that was when I noticed I was still sitting atop his laps, immediately my face reddened with embarrassment as I stood up immediately and without another word I picked up the documents and dashed out of the room.
I walked to the printing room, my heart still in a frenzy and I grabbed my chest to steady my heart beat. How does he always manage to do it? How does he always manage to keep me hot and bothered for him without even as much as raising a finger.

“So it’s true?” I heard his voice behind me and my heart doubled again. Oh damn you Kyle!

I turned around to him “What does it matter to you?”

He walked closer to me at a threatening distance and even if I wanted to back away there was no space to do so. He was invading my space, forcing me to look at him so that I could see no one else. His hands lingered above mine unconsciously and his gaze was unwavering.

“You’re engaged?” he repeated like he was trying to make himself believe it but I nodded anyways.

“Is this how you want to punish me?” he asked but I didn’t say anything, I just my eyes on him and then he asked.

“So you’re completely over me Aria?” the question was triggering and even with how close he was standing to me, I wanted to punch him square in the face and that was when I noticed a red bruise on his jaw like he had been punched.

“what happened?” I reached for it, and Kyle tensed at the feel of my fingers slightly grazing his face but he didn’t pull his face away and I should have pulled my hands away but I didn’t.

“You haven’t answered my question Aria” he said instead and just then, in that very compromising solution – Janine walked in.