54 - UNWANTED EMPLOYEE

KYLE’S POV

It was eerily quiet when I punched my pin into the security keypad of my company, which seemed a bit weird because Aria was supposed to be here but still the security system hadn’t been activated yet. A sense of unease settled at the pit of stomach as I stepped further into the silence, trying to sense her but I had walked halfway through and there was still no sign of her, maybe she took a short detour here – *or maybe something happened to her.* I shut the memory away before I could ponder further it, instead I whipped out my phone to call her, it rang for only a short second before it went straight to voicemail.

Just then, as if my coincidence, I spotted Janine approaching from the door and walking towards me down the hallway, she had a confused expression on her face mirroring my own expression and she would be in no way to explain the dilemma I was currently going through.

I wasn’t sure if she could detect the surprise on my face at her oddness of being here, if she did she didn’t show it. Janine always seemed to be the type to overcompensate when it wasn’t needed and then act clueless about it.

I raised a brow at her “Janine? Working hours ended a long time ago” she could pull off a workaholic too and again when it wasn’t needed. I ran my company in a way I didn’t need to overburden anybody, but she was ruining that streak for me.

“I could the say the same about you boss” she had a sly smirk on her face that I think I was supposed to interpret as flirting but yes, I suck at reading signs.

“It’s my company Janine” I sighed, turning around and walking towards the meeting room where a bottle of wine secretly lay at one of the hidden cabinets. I secretly glanced over it, hoping I would be able to get rid of Janine in time of Aria arriving which should be anytime now, what was taking her so long?

“What are you doing here by this time Janine – ”

“Aria texted me to be here, she said you picked me to replace her in planning the banquet dinner” Janine said, her eyes innocently fixed on me before she took her hands deep in her pockets to fish out of her phone as if she sensed the weirdness in her statement and needed to pull out proof. I watched her scroll through her phone, tapping and swiping before she shoved her phone in my hands without question.

“Here” she said and unconsciously I took the phone from her and glanced at it and truly it was Aria’s chatbox

*You’re up next, he chose you to replace me, so come up to the company by 9:30 for the planning.

I stared hard at it, trying to make sense of the whole situation. Did she change her mind on her way here? Why would she do that? How is that earthly possible? I glanced back at Janine who still had her eyes fixed on me while I stared with a confused expression on my face but for some reason she didn’t seem fazed by my confusion.

I shoved her phone back at her and pulled mine out to send Aria a text.

*Where are you and why is Janine here?

A reply came almost immediately and my heart skipped a beat before my fingers tapped on the text.

*I’m not interested in that position anymore, Janine would be a better person for the job.

*What do you mean by that Aria?

I sent back in a heated second by that was it, there was no chat bubbles, her profile picture had suddenly disappeared and my messages weren’t delivering. Did – did she just block me? Suddenly, a strange panic seized my chest but I had to maintain my composure because Janine was still standing right before me, her eyes carefully watching and in an obvious way.

“Is everything okay?” she asked me and no, nothing was okay. Aria had blocked me, Aria was moving on and leaving me behind stuck in a circle and with a guilt I was yet to confess. My mood had turned sour and I had the innate urge to drive to her house and demand an explanation, there was no way I was going to let her quit – no I needed her beside me, I needed her around me, I needed her with me.

“Go home Janine” I said absentmindedly hoping she would get the hint and walk away but she stood still, dressed in sweatpants and her hair tied up. It was just strange seeing her in a casual setting without the glasses, the high split skirt and black panty house hugging her legs. Aria wore panty hose most of the time, with her lips stained red begging to be smudged by my tongue over her lips as I held her by waist and pressed her weight unto me – no, focus Kyle! How could I focus when all of a sudden, the only thing I could think about was Aria, her hot skin and creamy thighs wrapped around my torso. Her eyes boring into mine at the height of pleasure, drawing out the ectasy of the moment and getting drunk on it.

I collapsed on my chair that was at the head of the table, where I sat that I could easily glance at her during our meetings. Janine still stood watching me and while it annoyed it also made me curious so I looked up at her and she held my gaze.

“Why are you still here?”

She shrugged in response “You seem sad, do you not like that I’m here?” her question caught me off guard and I could only stare at her with my mouth slightly open.

“What – ”

“I mean you turned sour when you found out Aria wasn’t showing up”

“I didn’t – ” but she didn’t let me finish

“Aria denies but do you perhaps have feelings for her?” she asked and again catching me off guard.

I stayed silent at first unsure of what to say but like a reflex the words fell out of my mouth “No” I said. Janine seemed to give a satisfied smile and she walked slowly towards me, holding my gaze with her eyes and for some reason it seemed impossible to look away. She stopped right in front me where I was eye level with her breast and she looked down on me.

“Then I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if I do this” and just she placed her lips on mine without warning and catching me off guard.

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