Twenty Five

***AUTHOR’S NOTE***

***Hey guys! Well, this little writer wants to thank everyone, I mean everyone who has read this story to this point***.

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“Okay. Good day sir.” A huge sigh escaped my lips as I cut the call I just had with my former boss, Mr. Cumming. Deciding not to over think things, I walked back into the living room to join Ruby and Jeremy. It has been a week after her breakdown and even though I insisted on her still resting, Ruby refused and said she would love to continue her classes.

“Mr. Powers just came in, he asked of you.” Jeremy informed me as I sat back on the couch that I had just gotten up from. He threw me a knowing face which I rolled my eyes at. Soon, his smile turned into a short frown. “Hey, are you fine?”

Immediately, I added extra perkiness to the pretense filled one on my face. “Yeah, I am. Why?”

“I don’t know. You suddenly don’t seem happy.”

“Hmm.” My lips twitched. “Didn’t you say…?”

“Yeah. He is upstairs.” I smiled in response and made to waltz my way to his room. I felt I ought to tell him about the recent development in my life- a development that made my heart squeeze.

After his gruff voice ushered me in from the other side, I slowly entered, shutting the door as quietly as I could. “There’s my sweetness.” Throwing him a delicate smile, I walked into his outstretched arms and he fully engulfed me into his seated figure. Looking up at me, he asked, “What is wrong?”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t look… you don’t seem like yourself.”

I closed my eyes and while I opened them seconds later, I let out shaky breath. “My former boss just called.”

Dominic sat me down on his laps, making me feel like a child. A loved child. “Is he troubling you?”

“He wants me to come back to work for the company.” I felt that tight squeeze again and as my eyes flickered to meet Dominic’s, his line of sight averted.

“Oh,” he said. “What did you tell him?”

“That I would think about it? I… He wants us to meet once before I make my decision.” Silence engulfed the atmosphere and I sat there on his laps, playing with my fingers. It was a turn of event I did not expect. At all.

“Will you accept his proposal?”

I heaved a heavy sigh. “I don’t know. I… I should because getting that job in the first place meant my dream coming true. But I don’t… the mere thought of leaving Ruby and… you. It makes me sad.”

“Well, I agree it will be difficult not having to see your beautiful face everyday. And yes, Ruby will miss you. But this is your dream job we are talking about here, I feel you should not let this opportunity pass.”

“But…”

“You are part of our family already, Grace. That you will not be living with us doesn’t mean we won’t see you ever again. Oh damn, I will freaking miss you and will definitely find a way to regularly reach you.”

Smiling softly, I reached for his cheek. “That is so warming. But I have not made my decision yet. I guess I will be seeing Mr. Cumming tomorrow after all.”

“Cumming?” His nose twitched as he pondered amusedly on the name.

“Trust me, despite the temptation, we could not, we could never make fun of his name. He can be a fun boss but most times freaking stern.”

He chuckled, planting a kiss on my left cheek after. “I guess I will be watching Ruby tomorrow.” I nodded as I swum into the heart fluttering moment, my cheek laying on his forehead, my eyes closed. “Make sure to wear a disguise though.”

“Why?”

“Oh, you will find out. Just put on a disguise.”

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Running into what used to be my office, I jammed against the door to catch my breath. To think that I would be chased down into my former place of work, by freaking paparazzi!

It happened so fast. One moment I was debating in my mind, next, out of nowhere, they all came flashing their cameras in front of me. It took a miracle to get out of their encirclement.

As I gradually found a steady breathing, I took off the scarf over my head and the sunglasses that covered more than just my eyes. It is a shame that my disguise didn’t work. And I actually thought I looked unrecognizable when I looked at myself in the mirror.

My eyes roamed across the room, nostalgia setting in gradually as I recalled how my journey led me to finally getting to a suitable position in the company. After Kyle’s death, I became so involved with work (my means of distraction then) that after a while, I got promoted.

It really is a big shame that I destroyed my new position by indulging in another distraction.

I held my hand out to caress the smoothness of what used to be my desk. It sort of delighted me that no one occupied it after I had left because now that I might be coming back, there will be no awkward moments when trying to claim desks.

Trust me, office related conflicts can be weird.

“Grace.” A bit startled, my hand on my beating chest to appropriately demonstrate it, I turned to face Mr. Cumming who stood by the door wearing a large smile.

“Oh.” I was relieved. “I thought it was one of the paparazzi.”

“I apologize about that. For some weeks now, they have been lurking around to see if they can get a snoop on you or something. I should have remembered to warn you about them when I called.”

“I did wear a disguise but…” My hand bearing my disguises spread to complete the statement.

Mr Cumming closed the door behind him and offered that I sat. After we got settled, he began, “I don’t want to waste your time. So, I will go straight to the point. Like I said yesterday, we will like you to come back to work for us.”

“Why the sudden… ?”

“I feel rather ashamed to be the one admitting this, but your recent relationship with the acclaimed billionaire, Mr. Powers will benefit our company immensely.” My face lit up in perplexity. “The board thinks even just your consistent presence here will benefit us publicity-wise. And,” His hand further gesticulated. “,we feel along the line, you can recommend us to Mr Powers who can be kind enough to connect us to affluent men willing to help us grow bigger.”

“Huh.” Still overwhelmed with disbelief, I did nothing but nod my head slowly as his words kept playing over and over in my head. After a while, holding out an inquiring finger, I asked, “Is it just me or did I not hear you say anything about my talent or my diligence being the reason for me being offered my old position?”

“Well, uh…” His voice began to crack as he struggled to find a suitable response. “Of… of course there is that factor also. We just…”

Unable to take it anymore, I got up abruptly, the look of surprise on Mr. Cumming’s face not unnoticeable. “It is very *nice* to know why I am getting this job back and you just made my decision way easier.” I grabbed my disguises and made for the door. “You know what?” I turned to give him one last piece of my angry mind. “You should feel ashamed!”

And I stormed out, my entire life bidding goodbye to the company that occupied a huge part of my memories. Putting back on my disguise, I decided to take a different route that inevitably leads to my house if I went by foot.

So, I decided to pay a little visit to my apartment. It has been a while after all and spending some alone time there won’t hurt at all. As I found my way to the rear, rarely used door of the building, my upset mind glad that it wasn’t locked, I ventured onto the empty alley that was meant to be the starting point of my foot journey.

After a few steps, my phone chimed indicating that I had received a message. Feeling reluctant to expose myself to external energy considering the fact that I was still trying to cool off, I eventually opened the message.

***You should have taken the job. Now watch how I deal with you for not deciding to leave Dominic’s life.***