Six: What the heck?

For the past three days, I had been working my ass off. In particular, I was working because I really needed to brush off every crazy thought in my head. Seeing dad had left me so devastated. And, to worsen this, I had no one around me. Erin was the only one who comforted me, but she was away, probably still angry at me. 

I sipped from my mug of coffee, sighed. Also, I had been working so hard because I really needed my company to be the highest ranked company for the year. If that got to happen, I would earn more profit, as well, my company would stand out even more. 

Taking the handout Rachel had prepared for the presentation of my next meeting, I began to go through it. About to swipe to the next page, someone knocked on my door. Had Rachel returned? So quickly?

"Come in," I said, my eyes still glued to the paper in my hands. "That was quick. Were you able to get enough?" I asked as soon as she walked in. 

Noticing she didn't answer me, I glimpsed at her. But then, my glimpse turned into a long stare. I was so dazed. Aaron had returned?

Aaron was another friend who was as good as Erin. Though we had had a couple of issues in the past, I never wanted to stop being friends with him. He was very supportive, loyal and… weird to admit it, but well, he was very handsome. 

"Hey, honey pie." He walked to my table. As he did so, I couldn't help but notice him. 

As usual, he was looking good. He was in a grey joggers pant and shirt, the white sneakers shoes perfectly matching his dressing. Obviously, he had just had his hair tapered cut, which was absolutely nice. Those blue eyes glinted so much happiness, his small lips smiling widely at me. I found it awkward, but the truth was, seeing him changed my mood big time. I was glad to see him. 

"Aaron." When his name left my lips, I smiled. 

He left his travelling bag standing beside the leather chair by the other side of the table, and turned around the table to reach me. When he stood beside me, I just kept gazing at him in wonder. 

"Wanna keep sitting there?" He smirked

I blinked, realizing I had stared at him for too long. "Oh, hi." Shit, I was stuttering! Why? "How're you doing? It's been a long time, you know?"

"Yeah," he agreed. 

Uncomfortable, I stood up, stared up at his 6"3 height. "So, you wanna like… get a drink?"

He chuckled weirdly. "I'm Aaron. Stop being icy. And, if you're still angry, I want you to calm down. Jani and I aren't together anymore."

I swallowed a lump in my throat. I should have know something wasn't right. He couldn't just have come here for no reason. Because his girlfriend had dumped him, his plan was to crawl back to me? So stupid. This was one of the reasons I never believed in love. Love was just a kind of game thing.  

I cleared my throat. "That's not my problem. Whether or not you like any woman, I care less. It's not like there's anything between us."

Uniformed, he grabbed my waist, pulled me to him. I gasped, abruptly furious. Had he forgotten who I was?

"It's a new dawn, Louella. I'm back for you, and you alone. We can give it a chance, you know?" He winked. 

"Idiot!" I spat out. With so much force, I pulled my body from his grip, frowned hard at him. "Don't make me disrespect you. Truly, when you chose me over her, I was upset. But now, all of that is in the past. If you aren't careful, trust me, you'll lose this friendship."

"But I'm—"

"I'm not an option, and would never be one." I took my coffee from the table, intentionally not wanting to pay attention to him. "It's either you go back to the Jani girl, or find another woman. Being with me is impossible. Probably, when I achieve my goals in life, I'll think of having a relationship with a good man."

"What's the meaning of this? I'm not—"

"I've said what I want to." I turned to him again. There was no doubt he was angry, but just didn't want to show it. "You can see I'm busy, so please, leave for now. We'll speak some other time."

"Ella, I—"

"Please." I cut him off for the third time. 

He sighed. "Not a problem. But, just know this one thing, I've arrived. I've returned, only to take my property."

With that, he turned around the table, took his travelling bag, and made his way out of the room. As soon as he did so, I sat back on my chair. 

Propping my elbow on the table, I raked my fingers into my hair, shut my eyes, sighed. I was scared. The things that made me the strong woman I was, the things I had decided to try to get rid of, all of them, were slowly coming back. 

First, I had seen Kelli after a long time. Second, Becca haf appeared from nowhere. As well, I had seen my dad and his wife. Now, Aaron too? Why were these people never willing to stop ruining my life? Though I didn't want Aaron to leave, I also didn't want him to be around me. At this point in my life, all I wanted to do was to focus on my work. 

A bit upset, yet trying to remain calm, I took the handout, returning back to work. Not again would I allow these people to rule my emotions; ruin my life. My past was a lesson, and now, it was up to me to make my future a blessing. 

***

Neo and Leo stood beside me as we waited for Rachel. I took a glance at my wristwatch, exhaled, literally being so impatient. When was she going to get here? All I had told her to do was to get a robe from a nearby store. Was that too much to handle?

"If you don't mind, you can go in. When Rachel gets here, we'll ask her to bring in what you need," Neo suggested. 

I dropped my hand on my waist, stared at him with uninterest. "What're you trying to do? Favor me so I'll give you some cash?"

"No, no." He shook his head violently.  

"So, what do you want? Did I complain about me having to wait here for her?"

"I was only suggesting."

"Don't need your suggestion, biggie," I mocked, snapped my fingers at his face as if I was snapping some senses into his head. 

He nodded. When I heard Leo chuckled, I shot him a glare, and he lowered his head immediately. 

"I'm so, so sorry for taking your time." Rachel finally appeared. She hurried to me, panted as if she had been running for a really long time. 

I rolled my eyes. "You're ever late in doing things like this. I guess you're only smart at doing your work."

"Sorry, ma'am."

"Whatever." I took the shopping bag from her, stared at the cloth brand she had bought it from. Versace? Not so bad, I thought. 

"Do you need anything else?" She asked. 

"No. Just ask the other men to come here as early as six in the morning. And, as for Leo and Neo, you guys don't have to stay in front of my room. You're free for the night," I instructed. 

"Okay, ma'am," they both said. 

Immediately, I inserted my door card. And, when the door opened up, I waved at Rachel, walked in, and shut the door behind me. Finally, it was time to rest. I had had a long, productive day. 

For no specific reason, I had decided to sleep at the hotel tonight. Well, I guessed it was because I didn't want to feel alone. The balcony's view from here covered the busy road and other interesting stuff, while the view from my house covered the boring, scanty streets and maybe my compound. Staying alone in my silent home wasn't so good for my health, and that was maybe the reason I preferred the hotel for tonight. 

Exhausted, I threw my bag against the neat bed, and took the robe from the shopping bag Rachel had just given me. Without wasting time, I walked to the standing mirror, unzipped my dress, and stared at my reflection for a while. 

It was weird to stare at my reflection for no reason, but the scar on my shoulder made me do it. I had gotten the scar on the day mom and I had had an accident while picking trash from roadsides. It had been a really hard time for us. And, anytime I remembered those days, I would just smile or cry.

In a jiffy, I slipped off my singlet and slip-short. Taking off my panties and brassiere, I reached for the robe, and put it on. Since I was off to the bathroom, there was no need for me to tie its string. Packing my hair in a ponytail, I twirled around, heading to the bathroom. 

A few steps away from the bathroom door, the door knob sounded, which made me freeze in my position. Fear suddenly gripped me. Had someone come in here before I had done, on the aim to kidnap me or something? Ah, shit, Leo and Neo weren't out there, so who could I call for help?

Gently, I tiptoed backwards, so I could get my phone. But, before I was able to do anything, the bathroom door opened. Seeing a dude coming out from there, I gasped, grabbed the silky string of my robe, trying to cover my nakedness completely. 

"Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed, and turned around to quickly do it. To my surprise, the dude wasn't saying anything. 

Done tying the string, a bit furious, I curled my hands in a fist, scowled hard, turned back to the dude who had come into my room, and was even using my bathroom. But, the moment my eyes caught the person, my jaw dropped. I moved my lips, but couldn't even say one word. 

He gazed at me with widened eyes, seeming shocked as well. Seth Lee in my room? What the heck?