75 - END GAME?

ARIA’S POV

Dahlia was right there at the door after she had flung it open, her lips smirking and at me in particular before she focused her attention on Kyle and she walked in with a confident stride.

“I was requesting coffee specifically because I have some business to talk about with you”

“But you said –” Kyle was going to say until she interrupted him halfway.

“We say a lot of things Kyle” and then she flickered her gaze to me and with a pointed look she said “Most of them we don’t mean”

At this point, the members of the board had began trooping out one after the other leaving just Kyle’s father behind and he stood up now and walked towards where we all stood and he joined us but I felt mostly distant from the conversation because actually I wasn’t a part of it.

“Well Kyle, I met Dahlia the other day and she indulged me in a very fascinating conversation that could boost your company globally, isn’t that wonderful?” his father said to him and Kyle looked from his father to Dahlia with one eye brow arched.

“What’s conversation?”

“Well that’s what I want to discuss at coffee, come on” then she latched unto his arm acting totally oblivious of my presence and she pulled him away with her, his hands slipping away from mine. I desperately tried to hold unto them but she was way too fast for the both of us. Kyle turned around in protest to look at me but before I could even say anything his father stepped before me blocking my view of Dahlia taking Kyle away from me.

“Well since you don’t work for the company anymore, you might as well leave now” he said to me, the harshness in his tone and the indifference in his eyes stared right back at him and daring me to confront him. He hated my guts but the only question was why?

I nodded, ready to step around him and leave but he grabbed unto my hand and pulled me closer to him so he could whisper in my ears, I could perceive the faint scent of tobacco oozing off him with an undertone of peppermint.

“Yourself and Kyle are not end game, can never be not while I am here” he whispered and I turned to face him with shock written all over my face.

“The earlier you realize that, the better for you. I want what is best for Kyle and girls like you only take and take until there’s nothing left. You see Dahlia? Her involvement with my Kyle is going to take him places, and I’m sure you want what’s best for him. What you guys had was a college fling, it’s time to grow up now” then he released my hand, throwing me a look from my toe up to my head before letting go.

I held my emotions within me, forcing myself to keep the tears trapped in my eyes as I walked to my desk to pack up my stuffs. My entire body shivered but I wasn’t cold, I couldn’t explain what is was neither could I describe the strange feeling that rocked my entire body. Kyle’s father’s words went round and round in my head

*Yourself and Kyle are not end game

I remembered the look on Kyle’s face before he was selfishly snatched from my hold, rather I tried to remember it but I couldn’t conjure the exact image in my head leaving me conflicted on how he truly felt. I mean, he did come to my rescue at the board meeting, he did tell me he loved me the night before so I should trust him, I should give him the benefit of doubt that he was going to stick by myside regardless of Dahlia digging her claws in his and despite of his father.

“So I guess you’re leaving huh” Janine said to me while I packed up my things and to my surprise, there was no resentment in her voice

“I’ll miss you the most” I said to her and I meant it.

“So tell me the truth – are you guys really going out? I mean you and the boss, the rumors – ”

“I’m in love with him Janine – I have been since college” I said in all truthfulness, my gaze meeting hers and she sighed.

“Then why were you trying to set me up with him – what of Shawn? What is going on Aria?”

“I’m as confused as you are” I told her and she sighed again but this time she pulled me for a hug, her arms wrapping around me and sending a sense of comfort to my body.

“I think you guys look good together” then she smiled before walking away from me and in that moment, I felt a sense of peace and a sense of approval, I didn’t understand why it mattered but then again it did.
I went back to an empty house, Shawn had moved out. Most of his clothes were gone but every other thing was intact but I could still perceive his woodsy scent around like he had just stepped out of the shower and rallying around putting his clothes together. Right there on the kitchen counter was a small picture frame of us turned upside down, and when I turned it back up it was smashed, it’s spiderweb cracks mirroring the one developing in my heart from Kyle’s father’s words and the sadness settled on me again.

I poured myself a glass of whiskey from the cupboards later that evening after forcing myself to not think about Kyle and what he could have been discussing with Dahlia. She wanted him and I knew it, from the way she looked at him like she was ready to devour him and the nasty looks she threw my way. I scrolled through my phone suddenly worried that I hadn’t gotten a text from him yet when suddenly my doorbell rang, I wasn’t expecting anyone.

I walked to the door, with my glass in hand and I opened it swiftly to find Kyle standing before me with a bouquet of red roses in his hand and a sweet smile on his face.

“I’m here now baby”

The butterflies fluttered even harder.