9. Tristan
NINE
TRISTAN
My fingers lingered on top of my screen. I couldn’t decide if it was better to text her and check if she was all right or go on with my day without getting involved.
Like every other sane person in the building, when the clock hit twelve p.m., I got up from my seat, eager to get a much-needed coffee and something to eat. By mistake, my eyes wandered all the way to the office next to mine and I noticed Sara was gone, while Haelyn Ross still had her nose deep into her laptop.
Some of my employees brought food from home if they had a busy day, but I spent enough time watching her in the hallway to realize she wasn’t about to take anything out of her bag.
I thought about knocking and informing her that taking a break was mandatory, but I quickly changed my mind and called the elevator instead. It wasn’t my responsibility to ensure my employees were eating accordingly. Doing that meant watching over thousands of people and having it as my full-time job.
The bells of the small coffee shop rang over the chatter, putting my thoughts on pause. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Maybe it was the sound of her heels that gave her identity away. Or maybe the routine.
“Mr. Graves? I didn’t know you like to drink coffee here.” Sara’s voice reached my ears before she invited herself to my table and took a seat.
Yet she’s here every single day without fail.
Before hiring her, there was a rumor going around that I was sleeping with my assistants and even if I didn’t deny or confirm it, I couldn’t stop it from reaching Sara’s ears. She thought she was subtle about trying her luck to get into my bed, but that was only because I didn’t offer her much attention.
I didn’t see anything in her besides an employee, so her advances simply brushed past me.
Maybe if she saw that I was occupied, she would leave me alone.
With that thought in mind, I gave her a barely noticeable tip of my chin and I opened the chat with Haelyn on the Unlock app.
Me
How’s your first day going?
“Mind if I join you?” Sara asked.
Without moving my eyes from my screen, I answered. “You already have.”
Haelyn Ross
so far so good *celebrating emoji*
everyone is out now, so I can work some more and prove that I’m competent and determined to get this job
how’s your day going? *smile emoji*
Me
Better now that I’m talking to you.
My nose scrunched. So cheesy, yet I knew it was going to do the job.
Me
Did you not take a break all day?
Haelyn Ross
no, I’m on a roll *thunder emoji*
Me
So I take it you like it there. That’s good, I’m happy for you.
Do you have another break in case you get hungry later?
Even though I knew the work schedule, Chad didn’t so I had to make sure I played my cards right.
“What do you think about my new colleague?” Sara began to chit-chat and her words passed right by my ear.
The coffee maker was on my left side and it covered any other noise, but I didn’t mind since it gave me an excuse to ignore Sara without being a dick.
I brought the brown cup to my lips and took a sip before focusing back on Haelyn.
Haelyn Ross
nope, I don’t think so.
Me
Then why not eat something? You have a full day ahead to work. You might not feel hungry now, but when you will, you won’t have the chance to eat.
Haelyn Ross
yeah.. I guess you’re right??
A small smile formed on my lips and Sara took it as a reply to her question. “So you like her. I assumed you would since she has the looks and to be honest, she’s a quick learner as well. Give her those two weeks and she might replace me easily.” She spoke louder this time, making sure I heard her before ending the sentence with a forced laugh.
I lifted my eyes to her. “Who?” Behind her, people were waiting in line for their orders.
Sara looked from side to side, a blush creeping on her cheeks. “Haelyn? Your new employee?”
Ah.
I opened my mouth to ask what was about her since it was the first interesting subject Sara had ever brought into a conversation when my phone pinged with another message.
Haelyn Ross
but I also really REALLY want this job. Or a better way to say it, I NEED it.
Me
And why would you think not taking the break you deserve will stop you from getting the job?
Go eat, Haelyn.
Haelyn Ross
ok
right
you have a point
I’ll grab a McCrispy chicken sandwich *sandwich emoji*
you’re awfully sweet for someone who just gave me an orgasm last night *laughing emoji*
thank you, Chad
The message stole a smirk from me. It didn’t take a genius to know that food and orgasms were the way to a woman’s heart.
What didn’t sit right with me was her calling me by a name that wasn’t mine.
But I was the one to blame for that.
My teeth clenched when I locked my phone and got up to my feet. I threw a quick glance at my watch. I still had twenty minutes left until I had to go back.
Sara’s big eyes stared at me, waiting for any word to pass my mouth.
“Don’t be late,” was all I said before I buttoned my coat and walked out of the coffee shop.
I had to find another place to drink my coffee.
Dry leaves swirled in the wind and the cold air slapped across my face with each step I took toward the company building.
The weather left clues that fall was about to come to an end and while winter brought me more profit because people loved to spend money from the comfort of their houses, it was also my least favorite season.
It wasn’t until my dad passed away that I realized Christmas wouldn’t be the same without him and since this was going to be the first holiday with his absence, I wasn’t looking forward to it.
Sure, I was going to spend more time with my family, but I could barely take the emptiness of his seat at the table in New York and talk about the holiday without his laugh.
Somehow, I got on the other side of the street, staring at the big yellow and red sign of McDonald’s. I didn’t even know why I was here—I never ate fast food—except that Haelyn’s message was too suggestive about where she was headed.
Without really thinking my decision through, I walked in and was immediately sucked in by the mass of people waiting in line. Since I was already inside and it was too late to turn back, I planted my feet at the end of one of the lines, not really knowing what to order.
Another coffee maybe?
“Thank you,” I heard a voice and watched how Haelyn walked away from the ordering desk with an enormous plate for the single sandwich she got.
When she started walking toward my direction, I kept my eyes ahead, acting like I didn’t notice her.
I was so stupid for doing this. What if she figures it all out?
Fuck, this woman is turning me into a stalker.
“Mr. Graves?” she greeted me, stopping inches from my body.
I threw an uninterested gaze her way, even though my stupid heart thumped in my chest and my eyes barely controlled themselves from roaming all over her body.
She touched a curl in her hair, smiling at me. “If you want, we can share a table since it’s pretty crowded here,” Haelyn offered, but I shook my head.
“I’m not staying,” I said, moving my gaze away as I took a step forward to catch the line.
“Oh,” I heard her puff. She almost sounded relieved and I almost, almost changed my mind just to spite her. “I’ll go eat so I won’t be late.”
Haelyn made herself unseen and once I got my coffee, I walked outside and watched her through the window.I sighed, touching my temples. Now I was the definition of a stalker.
No. I wasn’t stalking her. I simply enjoyed my coffee while throwing an eye inside from time to time.
It didn’t mean anything.
I was just a curious person.
With each bite she took, her throat blocked, and her hand lifted to cover her mouth. After every single one, she did the same, looking as if she was about to throw up at any given second.
If she didn’t like the food, then why did she come here?
After the first two sips of my coffee, I threw it in the trash, the taste of it leaving a sour flavor on my tongue. But I kept my eyes on Haelyn, who left more than half of her sandwich uneaten before she threw it away.