Chapter 44: The Club

Michelle

I ran out of the office, my face and neck in burning hot. I stood running as I took the stairs to the janitor’s room. I got there and sat on the chair, placing the pizza on the table. I placed my face in my open palm, trying to dispel the emotions running through me.

“What was that?” I asked myself as I thought of what just happened in Vincent’s office.

“What was what?” A voice spoke out loud.

“Ahhhhhhhh!” I screamed. I didn’t know I wasn’t the only one in the janitor’s room. “What the heck!” I screamed, scampering away for safety.

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s okay,” a voice spoke out. I opened my eyes snd glared at him. “Why didn’t you make some noise at all? You scared me!” I said.

“It wasn’t my intention,” he countered back. I was sleeping when I heard someone talking.”

I stared at him for some minutes. He was about my age too, and average looking in terms of loos. I still haven’t seen a man who could beat that grumpy guy called Vincent. Even though with his cold demeanor, it instead added to his charm. Why I’m I thinking about him now?

Looking back at the guy who stared at me, I noticed he looked tired, and famished. It was also a new face. Did the company hire another cleaner?

“I haven’t seen you here before. Who are you?” I asked, my racing heart calming itself from the false alarm seeing he was no harm

“I’m Aaron, and I came in for my sister due to her sickness,” Aaron answered.

“Oh! I wish her speedy recovery. Who is she though?” I asked.

“Amelia,” he answered. I tried to figure out any Amelia, but I didn’t think I know who that was, probably because I really don’t interact with anyone, just few people in the company.

“Okay,” I answered simply, everywhere becoming silent. My eyes caught sight of the pizza on the table. I didn’t have the appetite to eat it again. I opened it and took out my half eaten one. “Do you care for some? It might be cold though,” I asked him.

“Huh….yes, please,” he answered, moving forward to pick a slice, and started gnawing on it. He finished a big slice within seconds. Woah! He was really hungry. I thought.

I pushed the carton towards him. “You can have the rest. I’m full anyway,” I said, finishing mine and stood up from the chair to get to work.

“Thank you so much…..Miss…” he trialed off.

“Michelle. My name is Michelle, and just call me that. No need for formalities,” I said, giving him a smile before walking off.

~

The day passed by slowly with me thinking of how Vincent was going to kiss me, and how I had close my eyes expecting it. Did I really wanted him to do it? I was grateful for Liam interrupting us, but deep down, I wanted it to happen.

Throughout the day, I was hearing, and somehow eavesdropping on people talking about their date to the ball. Everyone was evader and happy.

“I wonder who Vincent was going to ask to be his date for the ball,” I thought aloud, my heart feeling uncomfortable at the thought of another lady in his arms. I shook my head at my thoughts. “What is as wrong with me? Why does it concern me about who he wants to take as his date”

“Boom!” I heard a voice shouted behind me. In an instant reaction, I turned and slap the person.

“What the fuck, Michelle?” Liam spoke, holding is left cheek as he glared at me.

“Liam? You scared the living soul out of me, and that was just my reaction,” I defended, not apologizing. He deserved it. Who told him to think of scaring me?

“You are so uptight. Anyway, I’ve come to rescue the princess,” I frowned at his words. What nonsense was he up to now? I wondered. Ignoring him, I turned to leave. It was closing period, and Evelyn had texted me saying she had something important to say.

“Wait, wait! Okay, on a serious note now. Will you be my date for the annual ball?” He said suddenly. I stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter.

“That was funny. I’m in no mood for jokes now, Liam. Excuse me, I have somewhere to be,” I said, walking away from him.

He caught up to me in a slight jog. “I’m serious about this, Michelle.”

“Yeah, right. I will be your date,” I countered back sarcastically.

“Good, thanks,” Liam said and walked away from me in a fast pace. I stared at his back, dumbfounded. It was a sarcastic comment! He disappeared away from my sight, and I shrugged my shoulders and went to pick up my bag and walked to Evelyn’s office, waving goodbye to Aaron. I thought of going to check on Vincent, but I was still too shy about what almost happened and decided to do that tomorrow.

“Just the person I was expecting!”

“Hey….,” before I could talk, Evelyn picked up her bag, walked towards me in a fast pace, took hold of my arm and dragged me away from the office and dumped me in her car.

“What is going on, Evelyn?” I asked, baffled to why she was behaving oddly.

“I’m taking you to my home. There is somewhere we must be in two hours time,” she answered, starting the car and driving out of the company’s driveway.

“Where is that?” She hadn’t told me about us needing to be somewhere in her text.

“I can’t tell you now,” she answered, smirking at me. I had a premonition it was t something I will like, but decided to trust her.

“So, have you had a date yet?” I asked her. Her cheeks turned pink instantly.

“Yes. A guy I had been crushing on asked me to be his date at lunch today,” she answered, blushing slightly as she swerved into her home driveway. I smiled, happy for her.

“That’s my girl,” I said, squeezing her hand which was in the steering wheel.

“Thanks, Michelle. Now that I’ve successfully bring you here, our next destination is the club,” she said, staring at me. We both stared at each other.

I take back my word. I shouldn’t have trusted her.