Annoying

“Sarah and she's waiting.”

Alicia made to stand but was held down by Michael.

“Don't you like me?”Michael asked leaning forward.

Alicia pushed his hands off and motioned towards the exit, she left his hands hanging.

Michael paced round his office, adjusting his blue suit.

“What is wrong with me?”He yelled, hitting his table with his clenched fist.

Alicia rushed out, panting with her face bent to the ground. Zoey walked up to her and held her up.

“I guess, you're just coming out of Michael's office.”Zoey smirked.

Alicia raised a brow and made to leave. Zoey dragged her back, maintaining same spot.

“I don't want to see you around Michael, go sit your ass down.”She leaned forward before striding out.

Alicia held herself up and headed towards the restaurant.

Sarah was seated already, waiting on her arrival, she turned when she saw her and heaved a relieve sign.

“You came up late.”She frowned.

“Yes, I'm sorry I kept you waiting and I'm so exhausted right now.”Alicia answered expressing tiredness.

“Waiter!”Sarah yelled.

A waiter ran out to pick their orders and served them accordingly.

Alicia got home tired, she rang the door bell and Felicia rushed to welcome her. She led her to her room and sat her down on a crotch.

“How was work today?”Felicia asked.

“So strenuous, the CEO wasn't considerate at all.”

“You have to rest, Alicia. Go have a bath.”She said, dropping a towel on the bed.

Alicia took the towel and headed straight to the bathroom. She flung the door open and went in, leaving it unlocked.

She took almost an hour showering, she never bathed that long. Her long hectic day soon became a memory, the cold water had its way to her heart. She flung her long black hair open, exposing it more to the water streaming down in form of a shower.

She started humming a popular hymn “Showers of blessing,”she was carried away and didn't know when Felicia walked in.

“Alicia!”She yelled.

Alicia turned, bouncing back to reality, she drew the towel quickly, covering herself.

“Why didn't you shut the door?”She asked firmly.

“I forgot to.”Alicia said stepping out.

“Come to the dinning, food has been served.”Felicia said and walked away. Alicia stood transfixed as though not knowing what to do.

She quickly wore her night gown and brushed her hair. She viewed herself one last time at the big wooden framed mirror in her room, she smirked and went to the dinning.

Things got better for Alicia at work, she was regarded as the efficient one, Sarah always stood out for her, especially when Zoey comes around.

Sarah always warned Alicia to keep Zoey at arms length, she was a typical example of a trouble shooter and Alicia didn't care much about it, her work was her second priority after God.

Alicia would leave as early as possible just to meet up, she got used to it, it continued and was nick named Ms Punctual, though she didn't like the way it sounded each time they called her that. She only wished, Michael could call her that, maybe she would feel the serenity she felt when he first called her "Licia."

Alicia felt uneasy when she got to work, she started pacing round her office until someone knocked at the door. She ushered the visitor in, while sitting on her big office chair.

“You must be, Alicia.” Xavier, Michael's friend guessed.

“Yes, I am. Do you want to meet with the CEO?”

“Of course!”He said nodding.

“Come with me.”Alicia said motioning towards the door. She held the door out for him, he stood outside while she led the way.

She was wearing a black gown with a blue jacket, which fitted her body exposing her curves. Xavier kept staring at her till she got to Michael's office. He adverted his gaze when she stared back.

“Please, stand outside while I go inform him.”She pleaded.

“What's your name, sire?”

“I'm Xavier.”

She nodded and went in.

“Sire! Someone by the name, Xavier is here to see you.”

“Are you alright? Can't you see I'm busy!” He yelled startling her.

“But..”She stuttered.

“One more word from you and you'll get what you deserve!”He yelled.

Xavier got hold of the door handle and walked in.

“You shouldn't yell at her, Michael!”He said with a smirk and motioned towards him, he embraced him tightly as though they were two lost friends.

Alicia stood watching them with her hands akimbo.

Michael smiled, exposing his diastema.

This was Alicia's first time seeing him smile, rumors had it that, he never smiled to anyone and here he was. She smiled, because his' was contagious, she wondered the number of persons his smile could infect.

She left the two friends in their reunion and closed the door behind her.

“How have you been?”Michael asked leaning forward.

“Fine. Life hasn't been easy.”Xavier stated.

“What are you doing now?”Michael asked leafing through a volume.

“Nothing much! Nothing worth. Michael you have to help me, I have business ideas but I don't have the money to implement them.”He said.

“What if I employ you here?”

“I would have loved that, but, that isn't what I'm after right now.”Xavier stated leaning forward with both hands on the table.

Michael agreed to lend him some money for his business, he goes on thanking him.

He sits up, bringing up another issue to deliberate on. Michael closes the book in front of him, to pay keen attention since he sounded urgent.

“Who was that girl you were yelling at?”Xavier asked rubbing his two palms together.

“That was my personal assistant, Alicia. Is everything okay?”

“Yes! I think I like her.”He teased.

Michael raised a brow and hissed.

“What?” Xavier asked.

“Stay clear from her, else you'll regret it!”

Xavier smiled, he knew Michael was in love again but afraid to admit it. He nodded, he held the door out and left.

He met Alicia at the door, she was holding files to submit at Michael's office.

“Uhm, Alicia.”Xavier called. Alicia turned back leaning on the wall.

“I'm sorry for what happened today.”

“It wasn't your fault, thank you.”She said letting out a smile.

He demanded for her phone contact of which she gave to him, Michael was eaves dropping and picked a few details. She knocked and he opened it immediately.

She dropped the files on the table and made to leave.

“I don't want to see you close to Xavier! He's my friend and I know him better.” Michael said with a grim while Alicia nodded.

Michael stood up and walked up to her, she shifted backwards till her back touched the wall. He held out his two hands and placed them on the wall as though pinning her.

He lowered his head, Alicia closed her eyes, he held out a finger and crossed Alicia's lips with it. He bent further till Alicia could feel his breathe, her heart flung to her mouth and her heart impulse increased.

He was torturing her intentionally, he went back to his seat without uttering a word. Alicia opened her eyes embarrassed, Michael smirked and turned to his laptop.

She stood transfixed, she felt the earth could open and swallow her. She felt her knees tremble and Michael was just sitting without uttering a word.

She clinched her fist and gritted her teeth, but still felt helpless. She strode out of his offices, rushing as though someone was after her.

Tears dripped down her cheeks, she wiped them off with her face towel.

When she got to her office, she jammed the door loudly behind her, she flung some books off the table and rested her head on the table.

Sarah who saw her countenance arrived soon after she got there, she knocked but got no response.

“Why can't everyone just leave me alone.”She murmured.

Sarah had her way in, a grasp escaped her lips when she saw how messy Alicia's office was, she stood for some time before picking them up.

“Alicia! What's the matter with you? Why's your office this messy?”She asked looking around with a frown.

“I'm okay! I just want to be alone.”She stated still facing down.

“You silly girl, talk to me, I know you ain't alright.”

Alicia heaved, took her face towel and wiped the tears off her face.

“Does this have to do with Michael?”She asked.

“He's just disgusting, I hate him now.”She cried.

Sarah flung her hands round her, patting her gently till she was calm.

Alicia got home late, Felicia was dead worried about her, after trying to reach her but, all proved abortive.

She held her close to herself, examining her, to know if something horrible happened.

“I'm alright.”Alicia said but Felicia didn't want listen to her. Alicia knew how stubborn she was when it comes to things like that.

Alicia sat at the dinning gulping her meal down as though she haven't eaten for days. Felicia kept staring at her.

“How was work today?”

“Fine. At least I won't get to see Michael's disgusting face tomorrow!”Alicia answered.