Chapter Seven

I woke the next morning to my alarm clock blaring and my head pounding like someone was hammering down my temples. Hannah was glaring down at me, fully dressed with my arms crossed. I stared around a few minutes, a bit disoriented. 

I tried to open my mouth to speak but I felt weak to my bones. I tried to speak again and instead began to cough. I sat up quickly still coughing. Hannah went away and reappeared with a glass of water which she handed to me. She sat beside me and patted my back as I drank the water. 

I emptied the cup in my stomach surprised at how thirsty I was. I wiped my brow and my hands were slick with sweat. I stared at my clothes a bit confused, the air condition was on yet I was sweating.

Hannah cleared her throat. She had a serious look on her face, the kind she always assumed when she wanted to say something she felt I might not like. “You have to see a doctor Lexi and you’re calling in sick at work today.”

I said, “No, I have tons of things to do at the office. You know Eve and if she sees me slacking, she could just take over my clients and you know how she is.” 

“I understand your concerns Lexi but your wellbeing is also important too. You can’t go to work in this condition. You need to see a doctor."

“It’s no big deal Hannah” I said exasperatedly, “It’s probably just food poisoning or something. You know how I tried the meal from the new restaurant across the street, that’s probably the reason. I just need a cold shower or something and I’d be good to go.”

“You’re as stubborn as a mule and there’s probably nothing I can say to change your mind.” Hannah stood and grabbed her handbag. “Alright then, see you later in the evening and please, be fine Lex. I love you okay?”

“Love you too Han Bar.” I smiled at her affectionately calling her by the nickname I’d coined for her shortly after we met. She grinned, gave herself a quick glance in the mirror, patted her electric blue coloured hair and swung her bag over her shoulders. She waved and walked out of the room. 

I sat alone in silence for some minutes before dragging myself off the bed and made my way to the bathroom. As I stood, I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me yet I couldn’t give in to it. I walked slowly, measuring my steps and noting that every step was difficult. I felt utterly weak and just wanted to crawl into bed, under my covers, take a fetal position and sleep. I felt so sleepy. 

However, I had planned to do some snooping to get across to John Rhodes today. I couldn’t afford to slack today. If I did, it gave Eve the chance to outsmart me and for all I knew, Eve might also be on to John Rhodes as well. I had to get to him first before her. 

I made a quick detour. Maybe some music would help alleviate my spirit and wake me up. I turned on my Bluetooth speaker, turned up the volume and played some hardcore rock from the speakers, not minding that I was breaking one of the apartment building rules. It was just for today.

The music helped and I felt energized a little bit. I took a cold shower which helped to jolt me awake and cool my growing temperature. I stared at the outfit I’d chosen the previous day and decided against it. It was a maroon coloured dress with an elaborate arm. I scanned my wardrope and instead chose my comfort, simple yet classy white plain dress with a single flower design that ran from the left shoulder to my stomach, like a form of sash. It fell a little above my ankle and was just really perfect for how I felt. 

Instead of the chignon, I’d wanted to pack my hair in previously; I combed out my curly locks and even combed out the bangs. The hair fell nicely around me, it was a few inches below my bra line, close to my waist. I’d have to visit the hairdresser’s soon was a cut. I’d probably cut the bangs again too, they were a little too long and falling a bit into my eyes. 

I didn’t have the heart for a full makeup. So, I applied some lip gloss and wore my comfortable ballerina flats. 

I stared in the full length mirror of my room and was pleased with the results, I felt comfortable and still looked a bit presentable. Certainly not my best but it would have to do for today. I didn’t even care if all my colleagues would be looking over my five foot one inches self. Actually, I was a little below five foot one but I never told anyone that. When approximated, my height came to five foot one and that’s what I always told everyone. 

I applied some cologne and left the apartment Just then, I got a call from Maria, my self-professed office wife and work bestie. I walked into the elevator, punched in the button for the last floor with my phone in my ear. 

“Hello beautiful!” Maria’s cheery voice said over the phone. 

“At least one of us is happy this morning.”

“What’s up? Are you fine?”

I sighed. “No, nothing. I’m just a little woozy that’s all. I think I have food poisoning.”

“Goodness!” Maria exclaimed, “Why didn’t you call in sick then?” 

“Nah. Have to get some work done.”

“There goes my work wife being a workaholic.”

“It’s office wife and work bestie idiot.” I said jokingly. 

“Nuhhhh. Definitely work wife. There’s an alliteration in it!” 

I laughed. Maria was ever, the grammar expert. She did major in English Language while she was in college. I said, “Coffee from our place?”

“Truthfully, that was why I called but I don’t know if you fell up to it considering your wooziness.”

“It’s alright. I’ll grab it on my way.” 

“Thanks work wife. You’re the best, see you soon!”

I laughed as the phone died in my ear. Maria wouldn’t ever budge to call me her office wife. I guess I was stuck with work wife until forever. 

I made my way out of the apartment building and decided against taking my car. For some reason, I wanted to take the bus and just not battle the mental stress of driving and navigating traffic myself. 

Thankfully, the 8am bus was just about to leave from the bus station, so I was able to catch it. That gave me about an hour to get to work and also get some coffee from I and Maria’s favorite café which was a little away from the office but still along the route to the office. 

I got on the bus and saw an empty seat by the window which I took. I admired the view of the beautiful city I lived in as the bus began its journey. 

I got down at the café, Stevie’s Coffee Shop, that was the name. As I got in, I immediately sighted Stevie at the counter and made my way towards him. I beamed at him and fought a wave of nausea and the smell of coffee and baked pastries in the café. This was weird. I loved Stevie’s. I loved the smell, I loved everything that made it Stevie’s yet why the sudden nausea? 

I ignored it, blaming it on the food poisoning and tried to keep my smile on. Stevie smiled at me. “Hello, little lady!”

“Hi Stevie.” I said, trying to match his enthusiasm despite how weak I felt. 

Steve reached across the counter and patted my cheeks. “You okay hun? You look a bit pale and your temperature is a little above normal. You alright?”

When he spoke more than one sentence, Stevie’s thick Italian accent showed. I nodded and swatted his hand away from my left cheek playfully. “Come on Stevie, your little lady is fine.”

Stevie hesitated like he wanted to say something to me and instead smiled. He said, “The usual to go?”

“You got it!”

He smiled at me again with his brown eyes twinkling and brushed a stray strand of his brown curls away from his face. He went to get my order ready and I sat on one of the stools at the counter. 

I paired at my watch, 8:25am. I was still on time. 

Stevie appeared with a paper bag customized with Stevie’s Coffee Shop in yellow and the silhouette of a woman drinking coffee on it. I handed him my credit card and he shook his head, “It’s on the house my little lady.”

“Really? Why thank you Stevie! Maria would be so elated.”

“I also added some of that Croissant you two like to the order.”

I couldn’t help the large smile on my face. “Thank you Stevie! That’s mighty generous of you.” 

Stevie smiled and said quietly, “I’m always here for you my lady.” 

I smiled and tried not to think too much into his words. Maria and Hannah believed he had a crush on me but I didn’t exactly believe so. I mean, not every guy who is nice to me and gives me coffee for free has to have romantic interest in me right? Plus Stevie might be a little too old for me. I didn’t know his age but I think he was probably in his late thirties to early forties which is too old to date by my standards. I was only twenty six! 

I fought another wave of dizziness as I climbed down the stool. I stood for a moment until my vision cleared before walking towards the door. However as I walked, I felt my vision become blurry and blurry and my head getting lighter and lighter. 

I don’t know if I opened the door or how it happened exactly but I found myself colliding with a strong solid mass, strong arms catching me and then kind piercing blue eyes looking into mine. Then everything went black.