Yesterday I slept late in the night, somehow I couldn't stop thinking about all that had transpired in the conference room when Nicholas arrived. I didn't understand his constant stares, I felt like he had something to tell me or he just needed his umbrella back.
Anyways, today I would return his thing to him. He would probably be happy to have it back...it was an expensive umbrella, a Maglia Francesco cherry wood umbrella.
When my mom first saw the Umbrella, I had to lie to her that it wasn't the original one because she couldn't believe Victoria could afford or own such an expensive brolly.
I had told her it was Victoria's because I couldn't bring myself to lie to her that it was given to me by a stranger. And not just any stranger, A MAN. She would tell me to return it to the person or get rid of it.
After preparing for work today, I drove off as fast as I could. I didn't go early today, hence I met our floor almost filled. Lena, though, wasn't around and it didn't seem she came already, or had she gone to see the CEO first?
Well, she might probably be in the CEO's office...who knows? Nevertheless, I wouldn't be keeping the umbrella with lest people start asking unnecessary questions.
I dropped my bag on my desk and left with the umbrella to the last floor, or rather the top floor.
Nicholas made mention of starting work today but in case I didn't see him in his office, I would have the umbrella kept for him by his secretary. That would be far better than keeping it with me, what if someone stole it from me?
Fast-forward to arriving at his floor, I greeted his secretary. "Morning, Jennifer" I uttered.
"Morning! How may I help you, Stella?" she asked.
"I would like to see the new CEO" I responded.
"You mean Sir Nicholas Brian?" she wrinkled a brow.
"Yes, him! Is he around?" I asked.
"Sure he is!" she nodded her head. "But," she continued. "he's busy right now...you should come back later"
"Busy? Well, I just want to hand him this" I showed her the umbrella.
"Wow? Where did you get that?" She asked.
"You don't need to know" I winked at her.
"Oh, great!" she shrugged. " it's over, I will deliver it to him"
"No! I mean, I would like to do that myself. Can I just see him briefly, please?" I said wearing a pathetic face.
"Well, let me see what I can do" She pressed one of the buttons of the intercom onto her desk and spoke to him. "Sir," she said and paused, "someone wants to see you...briefly" she apprised him, "okay... alright, sir" she released the button and looked up to me. "He says I should let you in"
"Thank you so much, Jennifer!" I said joyfully with a smile that can't be quenched by a dictator.
"You are welcome!" she said.
Thus, I headed over to Nicholas's door and huffed. Somehow, I found myself debating whether to walk in or just head back.
"Is everything okay?" Jennifer asked, pulling me out of my trance.
"Oh, yes, sure!" I nodded my head positively at her.
I didn't wait for her to say another word, I thrutched the knob of the door and gently pulled the door in. Suddenly, my heart began beating fast...against its ribcage.
I stepped into the office and gently shut the door behind me. Then I glanced towards the CEO's desk and found Nicholas and... Lena? Well, both staring at me! They were surprised to see me just like I was also surprised to see Lena.
"What? What the hell are you doing here, Stella?" Lena stood from the swivel chair she sat in, now glaring at me. The swivel chairs in the office were two, both facing Nicholas's desk, and were designated for visitors. "You should leave please," Lena continued, "we are busy!"
I couldn't say anything to her because I was kind of confused or something. Nicholas, however, kept staring at me...as always, in the suit. I would love to see him in something other than a suit someday, I smirked to myself.
"Let her stay" I heard him chime calmly as Lena walked over to me to probably – I didn't know – push me away. Or maybe to drag me out. Like seriously? She was a joke!
"Huh?" she turned over to him.
"Yeah, let her stay" he reiterated.
"Okay, alright" she shrugged and walked back to his desk. Before she could sit down, he cleared his throat and told her to excuse us.
"Give us some space," he said to her.
"Space?" she puzzled.
"Yes, I will call you when we are done," he said with no iota of joke in his face.
"Okay then" she muttered, took her bag, and left. She didn't even spare me a glance when she walked past me, could she be pained by his action?
"So, the name is Stella right?" Nicholas said pulling me back to reality.
"Yeah" I managed to utter with my head down, I didn't just know why whenever I looked at him I would quickly turn my face away. Somehow I felt like I was shy or perhaps scared.
"Nice name!" he said. "Call me Nicholas," he continued, "or just...Nichol"
"Okay sir" I nodded in acknowledgment.
"So," he heaved a sigh, "to what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked.
"I came to return this to you," I said walking over to his desk with the umbrella.
"That thing? Like seriously?" he scoffed. "I never asked you to return it to me, did I?"
"No...but I think it will be better if I do, you know?" I said dropping the umbrella on his desk.
"Okay, I get it" he beamed at me. "Mind sitting down? I would like us to talk please"
"About?" I muttered.
"A lot of things," he said.
"Okay but Lena is waiting, I don't want her to..." I said as he cut in.
"That's not a problem, she can wait!" he said emphasizing his last word. "By the way," he continued, "it wasn't as if we were having a reasonable conversation"
"Ohh!" I wrinkled my brows in bewilderment.
"Yes!" he gestured for me to sit in one of the swivel chairs facing him, "Have a seat please," he said.
- End of Chapter -
