72 - I HOPE YOU'RE FIRED

I woke up the next day cradled in Kyle’s arm even though I had barely slept the whole night, I disentagled myself while he slept soundly, his face relaxed and calm like he had no worries in the world. I rummaged through my bag beside the bed for my bed and I turned it on, I hadn’t looked at my phone since I ran out on Shawn at the engagement party and the moment my phone came on, it started blowing up. There were series of texts and calls mostly from Sam and then Shawn, a few others were from people I knew and I knew it was regarding the blog post.

*Please call me back, let’s talk.

*What’s going on? Have you seen the blog post? Are you okay?

I scrolled through Sam’s text but I had no appropriate response to any of them because I was still bearing the grudge so I pushed it aside but there was a text from Shawn that got my attention.

*Kyle is not who he says he is, don’t you want to find out?

I stared at the text from Shawn trying to place the pieces together and figure what kind of relationship Shawn would have with Kyle that would put information like this at his disposal, but just then Kyle stirred in his sleep and opened his eyes looking at me, immediately I put my phone away.

“Sleepy head” I cooed, moving to him to kiss him full on his lips and run my hands through his hair and he relished in it.

“Did you sleep at all?” he asked

“Barely” I said back “But we have to go to work today, last nigt was a disaster at best”

Kyle studied me with his eyes before sitting upright on the bed and I continued talking “There’s the wrong information making the rounds on the interntet, making it out to be what we’re not, what you’re not”

“I don’t care what they’re saying Aria, come here” he stretched out his hands for me to come to him and like an iron to magnet, I gravitated towards him and into the coziness of his arms as he held me close to his chest, his masculine scent drifting into my nose and creating a sense of peace in my head. I allowed myself to sink deeper into his hands, allowing myself to trust him and push the bad memories that threatened to surface further. We looked at each other now, our stares locked in and the intensity of our gaze wrapping around us and pulling us even closer but just as our lips touched, both our phones went off at the same time and we instantly pulled apart. We looked at each other strangely before going for our phones and when we checked, we held a familiar stare.

“HR?” Kyle looked at me and I nodded, with my eyes skimming through the mail that I was just sent by HR of the company.

*Dear Aria,
I hope this emai finds you well, I am writing to inform you that a meeting has been scheduled to discuss you’re the current rumor making its round on the internet as to regards your relationship with Mr. Kyle Hart……

My eyes widened and I threw Kyle a look and he met my eyes at the same time, but he didn’t mirror my expression. My eyes went wide with full panic while he seemed rather relaxed.

“Why would HR send you a mail to discuss if you’re going to get fired or not, it’s your company” I said to him and he shrugged.

“That wasn’t what my email is about”

I stayed quiet urging him to go further and explain in simple terms what he was saying so I could understand. He sighed, running his hands through his hair in the usual way he does when frustration was creeping in

“That was an email from the board of directors telling me to fire you because they’re saying it’s not a good look for me or the company”

My mouth fell open “What!”

“I know it sounds crazy but I have no intentions of firing you, I want you around me and I want you in the company more than anyone else – ”

“But?” I cut him short

“But nothing, I want you there, it’s company and my say is final”

Later on, Kyle and I were both dressed up for work and meanwhile my heart pounded loudly in my chest through out the period we rode together in his car and I wished he’d keep on driving and driving till we were totally out of range and it would be just us in whatever island we found ourselves but before I could pull myself away from the reverie, Kyle was pulling up into the parking lot of the company and my hand trembled.

“You okay?” he threw me a concerned look, taking my hand in his and I nodded in response.

“But can we go in – separately?”

The silence lasted for only a second before Kyle nodded.

I got down from the car and headed into the building but the moment I stepped in, silence fell throughout the room and everyone fixed their eyes on me. My palms began to sweat and I felt my legs trembly but still I held my head up high to maintain my composure. I could feel their eyes on me and the whispers in the corner but I pretended not to

*“Word on the street is that she’s getting fired today”

*“I always knew there was something going on, just look at her – so shameless”

*“The boss is hot, I don’t even blame her. I’d do it too”

I was almost at my desk when Janine approached me with a deep scowl on her face, her eyes not meeting mine and she said “You’re needed upstairs for the board meeting Aria”

“Janine – ”

“Goodbye in advance Aria, I hope you’re fired”