Five

ZORA'S POV

My body worked automatically, propelling me to my feet. I must have looked stupid to him as I gawked, hardly believing the evidence of my eyes. It annoyed me to see that Elliot seemed completely unaffected. 

He walked casually, his hands in his trouser pockets, like he owned the place. He came to a stop in front of my desk. There was a half smile on his face as eyes began to roam over me appreciatively. I felt myself flushing, in anger or embarrassment at his scrutiny, I couldn't tell which. 

The telltale blush I felt sure was creeping up my cheeks prompted me to say waspishly, "What the hell are you doing in my office, Elliot?"

He swept his hand through his carefully gelled back hair- a gesture which I was achingly familiar with- and shrugged. 

"Well, I am here for a meeting with Zora Walter. But I am guessing you already knew that. Didn't you?"

It was then the dime fully dropped. I could not believe that my deal with Sleek and Chic was going to have to fall through considering the fact that Elliot was the CEO. 

It was doubly annoying also that Signature Cosmetics had also terminated my contract with them. I would not be surprised if the man sitting in front of me had something to do with it. It was like he was on a mission to ruin my life. 

After staring at me for some moments, he asked, "Are you going to stand there staring at me all day? Since you are Zora, why don't we conduct business properly?" he suggested. 

Through gritted teeth, I retorted, "What business are you talking about? Forget it. I am not going to model for your brand anymore. So, turn around and use the door."

"Aren't  you even going to offer your client a seat?" He slowly shook his head. "You know, in some circles, it is considered rude to keep a visitor, talk less of a client, standing. However, seeing it's you, I will not take offense."

He unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat gracefully on the seat opposite mine, crossing one long leg over the other. He gestured to my chair.

"Why don't you sit down too? Let's talk. So, tell me. How have you been all this while? We lost touch and I am curious to know what has been going on with you."

The nerve of the man! I was so furious that my hands which tightly gripped my desk were trembling slightly. 

"I think you may have gone slightly deaf. I repeat, leave my office now or I will be forced to call security to have you thrown out."

I took a deep breath to steady my quavering voice. Elliot gave no sign that he had heard my threat. Those eyes of his were watching me intently. With his head cocked to one side and a finger placed on his chin in a meditative attitude, he seemed to be thinking of something. 

"Wow, Zora. I must say that you have changed a lot since the last time I saw you. It's not a bad change, no. It's a really good and surprising one. You have become much more beautiful." He laughed lightly. "And to think at one time, I thought that you couldn't possibly be more pretty."

I stiffened at his words. He was beginning to unsettle me with his references to the past. Without taking my eyes off him, I reached for the phone and hit the speed dial. Cheryl's number was the first on the list. 

When she picked up, I snapped, "I want to be alone in my office but the man you brought in here has refused to leave. Get the security in here to throw him out." I heard Cheryl's gasp of surprise. "Now!" I added before she could start asking questions. I hung up. 

Languidly, he got up. "Oh well," he said carelessly. "I suppose we will see some other time then."

"Don't count on it," I returned irritably, staring daggers at him. 

Elliot smiled lopsidedly as though assured of his earlier statement. He sauntered to the door. When he got to it, with his hand on the doorknob, he turned back one last time. 

"Oh, I noticed that you still use the same perfume. It's really nice." 

With that parting shot, he left. I sat heavily on my chair. Cheryl knocked briefly and came in soon after. 

"What is wrong, Ms. Zora?" she asked in some confusion. 

I seemed to hear her voice from far away. I concentrated on making myself calm down. It took me some minutes to do so. 

Damn, Elliot for giving me such a nasty shock! As if it wasn't enough to know that he was the owner of the company I was to work with, he had told me that he still remembered the perfume I used after all these years. 

He had known fully well that would trigger a lot of memories best forgotten. Elliot was obviously still the same egoistic jerk I had known years ago. He had been perfectly at ease and spoken as though there was no issue between us. 

I shook my head after a while. Perhaps my reasoning was not right after all. I was probably the only one who thought we had unresolved issues. Elliot had gotten married and had clearly moved on. I was the one who held on to a tiny part of him- two tiny parts actually- Finn and Freya. 

"Are you okay?" Cheryl asked as she came forward to peer at me. 

I looked up and nodded curtly. 

"Listen to me, Cheryl, and do as I say. I want you to cancel whatever deal we were going to have with Sleek and Chic. I am not going to model for them anymore."

"But- but, Ms Zora-"

A glare from me shut her up. She nodded. "As you wish. I will er- I will go and tell the director about the er- change of plans."

She was obviously not pleased with being the one to divulge the information to him. The director would likely flip his lid. But that was their own affair. My fingers drummed on the desk rapidly. 

I picked up objects and put them back almost immediately. My eyes lit on my phone. I picked it up and dialed the number of the person whose voice was guaranteed to calm me down. 

"Hi, sweetheart," came Derek's voice over the phone. 

I relaxed instantly, feeling a smile curve my lips. 

"Hi, Derek." 

"I was about to call you when I finished with work. Damn woman! Hearing your voice just made me realize how much I miss you. All I want right now is to hold you in my arms. Are you sure that I won't catch the next flight to New York just so I can see you?"

I giggled. "Don't be silly, babe. I miss you too. We will see each other soon enough."

"You might just see me on your doorstep this evening," he said and chuckled. "How is Freya?"

"She is okay. The doctor said I should bring her in for another check-up in a few days. He told me not to worry too much."

"Sage advice. Don't worry, Zora. Everything will be fine. I want to talk to the kids though."

"I am at work and they are at school. It's their first day of school in this city. I'll call you when I get home so that you can talk to them."

Derek and I talked some more. He told me about everything he had been doing in the last few days. 

Finally, almost regretfully, we hung up. I felt much better after my conversation with him. I was able to work after that. When I got home, I was immediately besieged by the twins who were eager to tell me how their day at school went. The nanny could barely keep them off me. 

I begged for some time, went in, showered, and changed. Then we sat together in the living room as they plied me with details. When they were done and I had assured them that I was pleased, they resumed playing around the house. 

I put a call across to Katherine who I had not spoken to in a while. 

"Hi, Kathy," I said when she picked up. "How is my favorite person doing?"

"I should be asking you that, love. How are you guys settling in?"

I placed my feet on the center table and leaned back on the sofa. 

"To tell you the truth- it's hasn't been ea-" I stopped talking as I felt a tug at my sleeve. 

"Aunt Kathy?" Freya mouthed when she saw she had gotten my attention. Sne pointed to the phone. I nodded.

"Hello? Hello? Zora, are you still there?" Katherine asked. 

"Yes, I am. Freya was asking me something." 

 Freya turned to her brother who was beside her. 

"Aunt Katherine is on the phone," she said in a loud whisper. 

"I want to talk to her, mummy," Finn demanded. 

"Me too," Freya said. 

Katherine was chuckling. "Put them on the phone, Zora. They won't let you rest until you do."

With a shrug and a smile, I handed the phone over as both of them reached for it at the same time. They sat side by side and kept the phone pressed to their ears with their heads close together. 

I watched them talk and laugh with Katherine. Though I had tried my best to stop it, thoughts of Elliot were still at the back of my mind. They threatened to overwhelm me when I was finally alone.