His friends

                           

Miles' office was still locked when I got to work, which means I got to work before him. My office felt very cozy  coupled with the fact that I didn't get enough sleep last night because I was nervous about the meeting. All I did was pace around my  room all night thinking of the possible mistakes I could make in front of important people and before I could tell it was morning already. I had to rush everything (dressing up and breakfast) in order to beat the traffic and he wasn't even here yet. Maybe I could take a quick nap before Miles shows up I thought. I was about to wrap myself up like a burrito when the door to my office was opened and  Miles walked in

"Meeting's in five" He said and left.

I won't term it unfortunate but the universe is definitely against me.

I adjusted my clothe and took a quick glance at the mirror in my office before I stepped out. When I opened the door, I saw that Miles was waiting in the hallway, well that's new.

"Here is the template for the meeting" he said handing over a file then he walked off. I trailed behind him trying to keep up with his pace which made me almost trip because he walked too fast, I knew I should have worn flats instead of heels I snapped quietly at myself .

We finally we got to the board room after what seemed like forever, I took a moment outside to catch my breath from all the walking. When  I walked in, I saw that there were a lot of people and they were already seated around the U shaped table. Their focus was on me, probably because I was the last to come in and the room was extremely silent to the extent that you could here a single pin if it were to be dropped on the calacatta marble floor . I tried closing the door quietly by turning the door knob gently and as slow as possible in order to maintain the silence. After that, I looked around for the only empty seat left, seeing it was at the end  in the  same row where Miles was sitting  got me more uneasy and my breathing increased as I made my way to the only seat that was reserved for me. The room had its air conditions on so it was cool but yet I felt very hot and as i walked to the seat looking downward all I could think of was why the door had to be in front, the thought of everyone in the board room looking and waiting for me to get to my seat made matters worse . I kept cursing my heels for the echoes it made whenever it hit the tiles and I couldn't tell if it was me or the time was passing slowly because it seemed like I had been walking for ages it's supposed to take just few seconds to get to my seat . Finally I made it to my seat after a million years, and the meeting started almost immediately.

Taking down minutes was the worst job ever, the meeting was super boring and getting longer than i expected plus  it was a must to be attentive and alert in order to get every single detail .

  "With all been said I declare this meeting over" the project manager announced. The members started exchanging greetings. Miles didn't say a word to anyone including me he  stood up to leave and I followed. He was stopped halfway to the door by the project manager whom he greeted shortly, he didn't even bother with  introducing  us to each other. He just walked off and I followed as usual till we got to the front of  his office.

"Paige!" I heard someone scream my name as I was about walking into Miles' office. It was Bryan, don't do something stupid please I said to myself.

"Hey" Bryan said to Miles, waving his hand for a moment.

"The template" Miles said , then I handed it over and he walked in without replying Bryan, shutting the door on our faces. Well that was rude  I said out loud and I knew he could hear me but I didn't care because what gives? He should have replied with a smile or something.

"Hey, ... About the proposal yesterday, Lunch?".

I totally forgot I was supposed to have lunch with Bryan and his friends.

" Sure " I said.

"Great" he said then we walked to the cafeteria together, it was on the second floor so we were going down.

When we got to the elevator, it was occupied so we had to wait for whoever was in to get to their destination before using it. We got in when it got to our floor, there was no other person getting in so it was just Bryan and I.

"You seem to be getting along with your boss" he said

"Yea.. I guess so" I replied in a casual tone in order to wave off whatever he wanted to say about Miles.

"So.. Do you like the company so far?"

" Kind of, I mean it's my second day here so I'm supposed to like the company right? "

"Yeaaaa" he said stressing.

The elevator made a stop at the second floor and we got out, since I didn't know where the cafeteria was, I  followed closely behind. I really need a tour around this company, all I have done since morning is following, what if I end up in a situation where there is no one to give me directions?

"I need a tour around to get my self acquainted with the environment" I said aloud waiting for Bryan to volunteer, and that did the trick.

" I could show you around after lunch if you want?" He asked.

"After lunch, let me see if I will be free" I replied in pretence because I was totally free, I just couldn't jump up with a Yes.

"Okay" he replied.

  When we got to the cafeteria it was almost full ,they were a lot of people everywhere. The company is big, yes, but I didn't expect such number at the cafe it looked more like highschool.

We walked over to a table where two guys were already seated and the waiter came around to take our orders.

"This is is Liam and Jason" Bryan said after we were done ordering.

"Hey" Liam said waving

" Damn! when Bryan told us you were hot we thought he was just bluffing".

Jason said, then I  turned to look at Bryan and  in my mind I'm like okay what else did you say.

"Yea, because we are used to him referring to everything on skirt as hot" . Liam continued

" that's okay guys" Bryan said rubbing the back of his neck.

Not long enough the waiter brought our food and we started eating.

"Is the cafe always this full?" I asked.

" Yes we are not allowed to leave the company till work is over so this is where we hangout when we are less busy or hungry ". Liam said.

" more like highschool, I hope the food is free too" I said.

"No silly" Liam replied and chuckled.

" We should have lunch outside tomorrow, the coffee shop across the street" Bryan suggested.

"Are you trying to get us fired?" Jason asked.

"No one is getting fired not like anyone will notice us leaving, you all are just too scared". He said.

" The receptionist " I replied.

" she is always sleeping on duty, so she isn't a threat" Liam said.

" But she is" Liam said pointing at me.

"How?" I asked

"She is  Miles' secretary, she can't even breathe without him noticing " Jason said replied.

" For all I care Miles can't do nothing, his father is still in charge he will have to cry to his daddy to get us fired" Bryan said.

" And if his daddy listens to him, what next?" Liam asked.

"Forget it. Times like this I wish the A in my name would change to an O" Bryan said taking the last bite of his meal.

The waiter brought the bills later on and Bryan paid for my meal, that was nice of him. Liam and Jason left after a while because they had work to do which left Bryan and I in the cafe for long talking and I didn't even realize we had spent so much time till the cafe was almost empty.

" it's almost 3, I should get going" I said checking my phone.

" let me walk you to your car" he said.

" What car?" I asked laughing.

" oh , I could take you home then , what do you say?" He asked.

" sounds great,but first you have to show me around, did you forget you promised?" I asked knowing fully well I didn't give him a feedback on when I wanted the tour, and I'm not busy at the moment so now was a good time.

"Oh the tour, I totally forgot about that" he said .

Yea you did I said in a very low tone.

We started the tour almost immediately starting from the fifth floor, the sixth floor was off limits so it had to be the fifth first. That was were everything about the company's finances took place, after that was the fourth floor where I stayed. We continued till we got to the ground floor.

"Did you like the tour?" He asked me while I was busy admiring the furniture at the reception as we walked to the door.

"You bet... Even though the company is so big, it would be difficult to memorize everything at once but it was worth it I guess" I said in an excited tone which I tried to subdue when I felt it was getting too obvious.

"I'll always be here in case you need anything" he said.

"Thank you" I replied facing him while I backed the door as we walked outside.

"Watch out!" Bryan said gently pushing me aside and closer to him, then I turned to see Miles walking in the midst of Five men, I would have hit one of them if Bryan didn't pull me away.. That was a close one I said to myself. We walked to his car after that then we drove off, to my house.

When we got to my house, I took a moment to thank  him for the ride, when I was about stepping out, I looked up to the window of Leah's room and I noticed the curtain was parted slightly so I knew she was peeping. I shook my head in amusement then I got out from the car.

"Maybe I'll come over someday, probably on a weekend. What do you say?" Bryan asked.

Well I would love to but you see Leah is going to kill both of us! But how do I talk you this without sounding weird, I wasn't like the normal twenty two year olds you meet on a regular.

"I will be busy during the weekend, I usually help my mum out with her weekend sales" I said shooting him a fake smile.

"Maybe some other time" he said then I shut the door of the car and waved him goodbye.

I walked in waiting for what Leah would say.

"I'm home!" I announced when I got in. Well that was a tradition, you had to indicate when you get back so whoever is around would be aware. I Still don't know why we are doing this but she makes the rules and I follow.

"Who was that?" Leah asked coming down the stair.

"A friend from work, he gave me a personal tour round the company today, treated me to  meal and was kind enough to take me home" I said in an excited tone but Leah didn't seem excited at all.

" Dinner is ready" she said pointing at the dishes on the dinning table then she walked upstairs. I walked to the dinning to have dinner, I think what I just said got her upset, I don't know why but I was too tired to ask, so I just sat down there and had my meal then I went to bed after that.