50. Catriona
Fifty
Catriona
My Run Forrest Run mug is the last thing to go into the box, next to the twine-knot flower Rian made me. It feels like forever ago.
“I can’t believe you’re actually leaving.”
Gemma, Mona and Trevor crowd my desk, all looking as upset as Gemma sounds.
“I know Rian can be a dick to you,” Mona chimes in. “But if he’s the reason you’re leaving, can’t we try to talk to him first or report him to HR?”
“He’s the boss’s son, so I don’t think reporting him will help,” Trevor mumbles.
I scan my desk one last time, making sure I haven’t left anything.
Then I face my colleagues – colleagues I refused to befriend for so long, and who I’ll now miss terribly.
It is Wednesday morning, only a few days since the spring barbeque and the unplanned breakfast with the Kearneys.
Arthur Kearney hasn’t wasted any time pulling strings, authorising my move to the Strategic Planning Division.
“Mr Kearney is the reason I’m leaving, but not exactly why you think,” I admit to my co-workers.
“Well?” Mona prompts when I don’t elaborate.
How this office will explode in gossip, I muse, when it becomes known that I’m dating Rian. Rumours are already rampant about why Rian left the barbeque early. None were close to the truth, and I have on several occasions had to bite back my laugh when I’ve overheard wild theories.
My heart misses a beat as I spot the man in question emerging from his office.
How we have struggled to get to where we are now.
Battling demons, expectations and misconceptions.
So many wrong turns, so many broken resolves.
Rian calls it his ping-pong intentions – one minute he was determined to drop me cold, the next he was in my pants, only to push me away again.
But somehow it’s all worked out.
Somehow, we’ve survived this hurricane of emotions.
“You all packed up, Miss Taylor?”
The hostility from my colleagues is noticeable as Rian stops at my desk.
“All done, Mr Kearney.”
“Do you need help carrying your stuff over?”
“You’re all too eager to get rid of me, Mr Kearney. I’ll be fine, thank you.” Just being close to Rian makes my cheeks warm, and I can’t control the smile on my face.
“Well, now that you don’t work for me anymore, I think I can allow you to call me by my first name,” Rian says with a pretend condescending tone, his kissable lips slightly upturned at the corners.
“Oh my, that is awfully kind of you – Rian. I believe I can extend the same courtesy, if you so wish.”
“My pleasure – Catriona.”
My soon-to-be-ex colleagues are standing there, eyes wide, watching our banter. “Tell you what, Catriona, I can do you one better. How about I take you to the Smock Alley Theatre tomorrow?”
“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow and ask sarcastically, “Have they given KSS free tickets?”
“I’ll throw in a post-show drink just to avoid you calling me cheap.” He winks.
I bite my lip. “It’s a date.”
Rian chuckles softly before showing how perfectly his suit trousers frame his backside as he retreats to his office.
“What?” I try to sound blasé, but fail, a stupid big grin spreading across my face as I take in Gemma, Mona and Trevor’s gaping mouths.
“Do you want to tell us what just happened?” Mona finally finds her voice.
“Well…” My cheeks warm. “Turns out Arthur Kearney doesn’t love the idea of his son dating a woman he has line management for, so he’s arranged for me to transfer.”
Gemma slams her hand over her mouth to quell her squeal, while Mona’s eyes are just short of popping out of her head. Trevor is in danger of a whiplash the way his head moves from me to Rian’s office and back, only to do it again.
“How the hell did…?”
“When…?”
“Jesus, this is unbelievable!”
They’re all talking at the same time. I duck my head and fold the box closed.
“I knew something was going on!” Gemma exclaims, bouncing on her toes.
“So that’s why he warned me off you!” Trevor tilts his head back, laughing.
“He did what?” I ask, but Mona grabs my arm before Trevor can reply.
“You have to tell us what the hell has happened!”
“Why don’t we go for drinks after work, and I’ll tell you all about it?” I suggest.
Well, I may not tell them all about it – I’ll leave out certain details of how we started dating…
As I carry my box through the office, I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief at how my life has changed in only a matter of weeks.
Just like Rian, I thought that my life only had one road, and I had blinkers on so as not to be distracted.
But Rian helped me remove those blinkers and a whole world of opportunities has opened up in front of me.
I don’t know if I will work for KSS for the rest of my life, but then again, maybe I will.
There will always be rumours about my career progression because of my connection with the boss, but it doesn’t bother me as much anymore.
I am hardworking and deserve any opportunity that I get.
And with no-nonsense Anika Singh as my new boss, I doubt anyone will think I’m getting any free passes.
The lift doors close on me with my box in my arms, closing on my old lonely, one-track life – ready to take me to a different level.
This is a new beginning, the beginning of living.
And the beginning of Catriona and Rian.