Losing It

Lylah's eyes focused on the Tv screen as she tried to become fully engrossed in the movie she was watching.

But her mind kept wandering back to the events of the previous day. The meeting, Raj's condescending attitude, and his blatant flirting with the new intern had left her seething.

She tried to shake off the feeling of unease, focusing instead on the romantic comedy unfolding on screen.

Just as she was starting to relax, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from her office.

Lylah's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with the possibility that it might be Raj trying to provoke her again.

She felt her anger simmering just below the surface, threatening to boil over.

She contemplated on either sending the caller straight to her voicemail or answering the call.

"Lylah speaking", she answered curtly.

"Miss Jeurgens, this is Kim, Mr. Prose's secretary", the lady behind the voice announced.

Lylah swallowed, waiting for the lady to continue. She had already submitted the Liason Project.

She thought together with her team, they did a great job, so why the sudden call in?

"I'm listening Kim", she breathed into the phone.

"Mr. Prose would be needing your services tomorrow morning Miss, 8am, don't be lat-

"But he gave me the day off-

"It's not my place to question the boss' orders. Mine is to deliver, please be here tomorrow and on time. Have a nice evening ", Kim interrupted.

As the beeping sound reached Lylah's ears, she scoffed in annoyance. Just when she thought she wouldn't be seeing Raj for one more day.

Escaping him was nearly impossible. Maybe this was her karma for having anything but a romantic relationship with someone at her workplace.

Why did his presence even bother her so much?

She never seemed to find an answer for it.

Lylah rose and turned off the television. She grabbed her bowl of ice cream and put it back in the fridge.

She might as well save it for later when she was in a better mood. She put out the lights in her living area and retired for bed.

Awaiting what tomorrow held.

❣️                             ❣️                         ❣️

Lylah took a deep breath and made her way to her cubicle, trying to avoid eye contact with Raj. She dropped her bag on her counter and began booting up her computer, her mind racing with thoughts of the day ahead.

Just as she was about to check her emails, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She knew without looking that it was Raj.

"Good morning, Lylah," he said, his voice low and smooth.

Lylah turned to face him, she blinked twice then focused back on her computer, still checking for her emails.

"Ssss, Lylah", he hissed.

"What!", Lylah yelled.

Her brows furrowed together as her lower lip pushed up, her irritating palpable.

She dropped into her seat as her gaze locked on Raj.

"Get to your next play thing, I don't require your attention anymore so please", She rolled her eyes.

Lylah's movement stiffened as realization dawned on her.

"Fuck", she murmured.

Raj leaned against the cubicle wall, his eyes locked on hers.

His eyes crinkled at the corners as a hint of a smile played on his lips. His gaze lingered on Lylah's face, his expression softening with amusement.

A subtle raise of his eyebrows added to the air of playful teasing, as if he was savoring a private joke.

"So you do pay attention princess", he teased.

As Raj uttered the word "Princess," Lylah felt like she had been gut-punched.

The familiar nickname, once a term of endearment, now sounds like a cruel taunt. It was like Raj had reached into her chest and squeezed her heart.

Lylah's mind reeled as memories came flooding back. Memories of laughter, tears, and whispers in the dead of night. Memories of a love that had promised forever, but had ultimately betrayed her.

She felt a lump form in her throat as she struggled to contain her emotions. Her eyes pricked with tears, but she refused to let them fall. Not in front of Raj.

Not after everything he had done.

Lylah's heart racing, she turns to face Raj, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger, hurt, and betrayal. She wants to scream at him, to ask him how he could be so cruel, so heartless.

But the words get stuck in her throat. All she could manage was a whisper.

"How dare you?" before she turns and walks away, leaving Raj standing alone, his words hanging in the air like a challenge.

As she walks, Lylah feels like she's moving through a fog, her emotions swirling around her like a vortex.

She's not sure where she's going or what she's doing, but she knows she needs to get away from Raj, away from the memories and the pain.

She finally reaches the washroom, eagerly checking to see if she's alone,  she gives in to her tears, tears that had been building up for months.

The tears flow freely now, as she mourns the loss of their relationship, the loss of trust, and the loss of herself.

She wiped her tears with a tissue, taking a look at herself in the mirror.

"God when did you become such a weakling", she yelled at the woman she saw in the mirror, pointing an accusative finger.

"You never cried, you never sulked, what would Mr Dreadssssssss say", she shook her head vigorously.

The name brought a slight smile to her lips. No one checked for her like he did, he was family.

She made a mental note to talk to him later, at least, she'd feel better.

"Wake up", she tapped gently on her cheeks.

Straightening out her dress, she regained her poise and sauntered out of the washroom.

She met Kim right at her cubicle.

"Where were you", Kim mumbled.

"I-

"Not important ", she interrupted.

"Now quickly rush in, Mr Prose is waiting for you ", Kim pushed Lylah into Mr Prose's office.

"You sent for me Mark"

Lylah gently shut the door behind and and turned to face Mark.

Her fingers run cold as she spotted the other person in the room.

"What's he doing here?"