11.

-HER-

The drive back to my house was a blur. The house was silent when I stepped inside it, hinting away that nana was asleep. I didn’t bother to wake her up as I headed to my room.

I changed into my pyjamas and instantly went to bed. My stomach growled at me, reminding me that I hadn’t had dinner but I didn’t feel like eating anymore.

Sleep was nowhere to be found so I settled with my phone again. I decided to check social media and it didn’t take me much time until I ended up on Amanda’s page. I scrolled through her page, looking at her posts and photos.

Amanda was blonde with beautiful blue eyes. She had a beautiful body and modelled for many small brands. She lived in Stramere, a city in the far east of the country. She often visited Itaville to meet Derek. Their relationship started off as a long-distance one. It wasn’t until last year when they had finally met in person.

I met Derek a couple of years ago at a mutual friend’s party. At that time, he hadn’t met Amanda in person and their long-distance relationship was falling apart. We had instantly become friends because I listened to his problems and provided him company whenever he needed it.

At one point, we spent so much time together that I had started to grow feelings for him. He always sought me out whenever he’d have a fight with Amanda. I was always there whenever he needed me. After some time, I had started to expect something in return from him because I was putting a lot of effort to maintain our friendship. I had patiently waited but we never seemed to be getting anywhere.

I mindlessly scrolled through Amanda’s pictures. As he had complained, there was no picture of Derek on Amanda’s social media page. Most of her posts were about her, related to her photoshoots and travel. I had never met her. Derek never wanted me to meet her because he straight up told me that Amanda didn’t like me.

Whenever Amanda visited him, he would stop talking to me. Once, I just happened to see them by coincidence while they were on a date. Derek was very furious at me after that. I remembered how I had locked myself at home for days after that incident.

I felt more and more self-conscious as I looked at her pictures. She was physically very attractive while I was average in all aspects. While I couldn’t compete with her in that aspect, I tried my best to be a good friend to him and support him emotionally. I hoped that someday he’d acknowledge and look past all the physical attraction.

I stayed up pretty late looking at their pictures. Next morning, I was again late for the office. I only had the time to grab a sandwich before I left. The traffic made it worse and by the time I reached the office, I was very late. Priscilla and Mr Toles were going to be pissed at me.

When I entered my office, I walked straight to my cubicle. I ignored all the looks from the co-workers. I tried my best to act oblivious despite all their judgemental looks. I checked the emails right away before printing out the new applications for our new clients and heading straight to Priscilla’s office.

“What’s up with you?” She frowned at me as soon as I stepped into her office.

“Sorry… I was late again,” I mumbled as I handed her the papers. She shot me a mean look before looking at the papers. Meanwhile, I shuffled on my feet nervously and looked out at the office through the glass wall of her cabin.

“I thought it was a single deal?” She arched an eyebrow at me before I explained her everything that happened while we were out looking at the properties.

“We’d need to consult Mr Tolentino before proceeding with this,” She said pressing her lips in a thin line. I almost groaned in front of her when she said out that guy’s name. I didn’t think he liked me from the first day. I somewhat replicated his feelings.

“Are they here, today?” I asked, again looking out of the glass wall, searching for those two brooding men, one of them with horns.

“Not yet,” She answered before adding, “They’ll be here sometime in the noon for a meeting. I’ll push these papers then,”

After that, I left her office and headed straight for my cubicle to do the rest of my work. I knew exactly when they had stepped in the office. I had this strange feeling of being watched that I only got when he was around. I just had to look over my shoulder for confirmation.

His grey eyes were already on me as he entered the office with his friend, or colleague or whoever it was, and headed straight to Mr Toles’ cabin. His friend had the same look of annoyance and sternness decorating his face. The office seemed to be the last place where he wanted to be.

Both of them were in business suits. It seemed like they were coming straight from their office. Theodore's horns never failed to stand out. I always had to remind myself not to stare at him.

I turned to my computer and pretended to work as they walked by me. Though it was useless since I’d had to meet them soon in Mr Toles’ office. Bethany peeked out of her cubicle wall before giving me a curious look. I deliberately ignored it and got straight to work.

When I was called to Mr Toles’ office, I tried to look as stern as possible and went there. They were already waiting for me with Mr Toles, just like the first day. The seat beside Theodore was the only empty seat. I took it with a straight face before handing the file to Mr Toles.

I was silent as Mr Toles talked to the men. From the corner of my eyes, I was looking at Theodore. He seemed somewhat cold and distant today. Although I still got the strange sensation when our elbows brushed but, he didn’t turn towards me instantly as he generally would have. I was sitting close enough to have gotten a hint of his musky scent with the same signature cologne. I was secretly starting to like it.

While Mr Toles examined some papers, the men talked to each other in a low murmur. I was silent all the time, listening to them. From what I had picked up, they were talking in some other language that I wasn’t versed with.

Hearing Theodore’s deep voice laced with an accent made my stomach dip. I found it silly how I was turned on by something so normal… maybe it was due to him. While I sat in silence and listened to their incomprehensible language, I examined Theodore from the corner of my eyes.

He looked his best as usual. I stared at his Adam’s apple as it bobbed while he swallowed. My mind had already started to put pictures of me running my lips over it. Hmmm… how would he react to that? I should’ve tried that while we were alone. It would have been interesting.

The more I thought about doing things to him, the more it turned me on. I sunk deeper into my seat as blood rushed to my cheeks.

When he slightly moved his arm and the tip of his sleeve slightly tugged up, something flashed under it. My eyes instantly caught the sighed of a… watch?

It looked strange. Instead of numbers, it had strange symbols. But what caught my attention was a small trident’s symbol in the centre of the watch. It somewhat looked similar to that of the logo of Seidon’s company. I was long lost staring at it.

I snapped out of my daze before I looked up. A pair of angry blue eyes were already glaring at me.