Chapter 14 #2
Certainly not in her personal life.
She failed to truly acknowledge her deepest fear; instead, she pretended to those close to her that she was happy, that her life was finally starting to make sense.
She had purpose.
She had career goals—sort of.
She was living in a city she’d always dreamed of—albeit alone. And the numerous failed attempts at relationships after Ariana didn’t yield much of her energy, because deep down she was content being alone—or at least she convinced herself she was.
Her deepest fear—
What if she never got over Ariana?
Leah left the meeting room after a quick-fire gathering with the marketing team.
She called on their services for a number of company awards she wished to present at the Christmas party.
Their whole job was to essentially create content and make things look appealing; they obliged once Leah informed them of the company bonus awarded to each winner and the specific marketing award for best creative content.
There were only four people in the team, so the odds worked in their favour.
The floor’s new coffee machine roared to life as the majority of people went for their midday refuel. Layla in accounts handed a folder to Leah as she passed by, like she was being served.
“Last month’s numbers don’t look good. We need to review some of the controllable costs,” she advised in the monotone voice she was known for.
“Okay, I’ll take a look.”
She barely made it past the next row of desks when Stacey spun around in her chair.
“Leah, personalised consultations for Life Insurance are through the roof. Word of our free initial appointment has spread like wildfire. Should we revoke it until we catch up? My diary is full until the middle of January.”
“Yeah, mine too!” Colin called out.
“Let me speak with Mr Green. I will email you a solution by the end of the day.”
They turned back to their desks, unsatisfied by her response, but it wasn’t her decision to make.
Carl from the business insurance team appeared from nowhere. His stature was short and wide, the grey beard could do with a trim, and the Christmas tie he’d worn every day for the past week had a brown coffee stain on the snowman’s bum—which oddly didn’t concern him.
“We’ve got a business insurance claim of severe importance, Leah.
I could do with fifteen minutes of Mr Green’s time, as soon as possible.
I did try and schedule some time on Monday, but I’ve had no response.
We did a very specific tailored insurance solution for this client, and now it’s going to bite us in the ass. ”
“Do you think there’s foul play?” Leah asked.
“I would bet a month’s wage on it.”
“Shit! Okay, I can probably squeeze you into his schedule this afternoon. Leave it with me.”
Leah rushed the remainder of the floor until she reached the conference room at the far end. She needed time to prepare, regroup, and assess with no distractions. She needed an unoccupied room with nothing but the sound of the newly purchased air purifier.
She changed the sign on the outside to occupied and slid inside. The sound of the door clicking into the frame was a welcome one. A sigh of relief escaped her lips. Finally, all she needed was an hour—was that too much to ask?
One hour—
“We really should stop meeting like this.”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Leah turned to find a smirking Ariana flanked by a man and a woman who looked to be from the same company—the lanyards around their necks indicated so.
“Erm, hi,” Leah stuttered. “I didn’t realise this room was occupied. I apologise.”
“It isn’t anymore. We were just finishing up,” the man to Ariana’s left said, gathering his belongings from the table.
“We will get out of your hair, Miss Green,” the lady smiled.
“Can I talk to you for a minute, please?” Leah glared at Ariana. She nodded, allowing her colleagues to leave.
“Are you doing this on purpose?”
“I had no idea you would be here.”
“You had no idea I would be at my place of work at 1 p.m. on a Wednesday?” She rolled her eyes.
“Nope. You could’ve been on dinner.”
“Please, Ari, you and I both know the chances of me taking a dinner hour in the lead-up to Christmas is slim.”
People assume if you work in a corporate job at Christmas time it’s easy.
Offices are full of overpaid workers drinking poor coffee and counting down the hours until they clock off for the holidays—but the Douglas Green Advisory Group didn’t stop.
December was the month of planning and preparation for what would be a jam-packed January.
“Well, you should really talk to your boss about that, because I think it’s unacceptable. Or better yet, come and work for a different company—we not only get a dinner hour, but it’s paid for,” Ariana grinned.
“You think you’re funny, don’t you? I’m drowning today, and the last thing I need is your sarcasm.” Leah dropped her bag on the table and began to remove her belongings.
“What are you doing here? I didn’t see your name on the meeting schedule for today.”
“Your dad offered our company the use of your facilities whilst our building is being renovated. They tore down the meeting rooms yesterday. The new owners are going for a more open-plan concept. I can’t say I like it, but one of them was clearly inspired by whatever leadership conference they went on. ”
“He didn’t tell me that.”
“He is friends with my boss; they vacation at the same spot. I think it was just an unexpected friendly offer. It’s only for a week or so.”
“Huh, okay.”
She reached for the remote and turned the TV to her favourite YouTube jazz music. She adjusted the blinds for privacy from the bustling office, but views of the city provided her favourite workspace.
“Why didn’t you tell me? It would’ve been nice to get a heads up.”
“I figured you might avoid the office, and then we wouldn’t have bumped into each other.”
“So, this was planned?”
“Not so much planned, but I was hopeful of an impromptu encounter.”
“Why?”
Ariana stood nearby, watching her intently. “Why did I want to see you?”
“Yes.”
“You left in a hurry the other week; I haven’t heard from you since. I tried calling, but you ignored my call. I guess I want to understand why.”
“It doesn’t concern you, Ariana. We spent a week in the same space; now we move on, right? You don’t need to try and turn whatever this is into some complicated friendship where we meet for coffee once a year to keep up appearances.”
“I wasn’t—”
Ariana took a step closer.
Leah refused to look up. She arranged her pens beside her laptop once, and then again, until they lined up with perfect accuracy.
“I’m really busy, Ari. Could we do this another time?”
Ariana sighed, but she didn’t leave. She just leaned against the oblong 12-person table like she belonged there.
“Just . . .look at me.” She sighed.
Leah hesitated. Ariana scooted a few inches closer. She was within arm’s reach of a now seated Leah.
“Please.”
Leah slowly lifted her gaze.
“What do you want from me?” Leah whispered.
“I want us to be okay,” Ariana responded softly.
“We’re fine.”
“Are we? Because it doesn’t feel fine to me.”
Leah straightened up; she could feel her body going into defence mode. “If we just keep things cordial, we won’t have to deal with . . .whatever this is.”
“Are you saying we can’t be friends?” Ariana asked.
Leah avoided Ariana’s gaze again, fidgeting with the edge of her notebook.
“I’m scared, okay?” Leah admitted. She instantly regretted saying the words.
“What are you scared of?” Ariana probed gently.
“I’m scared of what happens if we talk about . . .us.”
Ariana toyed with the button on her blazer.
Every bone in Leah’s body yearned for Ariana, and that was the problem.
Sitting in such close proximity was painful.
Seeing Ariana in a beautifully fitted power suit that only enhanced every part of her body was painful.
She watched her lips open, intently focused on her tongue as she licked her lips—the saliva causing her lips to glisten—and Leah was almost speechless.
Would the effect Ariana had over her ever diminish?
“Tell me what you’re thinking . . .please,” Ariana said.
And so she did.
“I’m scared of the feelings I still have for you.
Because I do, and pretending I don’t is exhausting.
I’m scared that if I tell you I still love you, it’s going to ruin everything I’ve tried so hard to forget, and I’m scared you’ll run out of this office because you couldn’t possibly still feel the same. ”
Ariana’s eyes widened.
The tension thickened.
The declaration was monumental.
Leah didn’t move. The sound of the soft jazz music seemed to increase in volume.
Her heart refused to find a normal rhythm. Her stomach felt like it was being rocked from side to side, causing her body to shake.
She was terrified of Ariana’s response.