I somehow called the night and tried hard to sleep, after completing the work Derek and Cristina gave me this morning and after taping my window tight and double locking my door. Tomorrow was going to be a big day as I had to make sure of so many things before going to the party.

Thankfully, this morning happened just with alarm clock buzzing beside me earlobe. I woke up frustratingly and shut it off when my mind immediately reminded me of works I had to be done with before Derek knocks the door with all tuxedos and flower bouquets. I jumped off the bed and went for a long clean up shower which has been delayed since like a month. I had to  wax my body down, wash my frizzy hair and definitely apply conditioner this time.

An hour of shower exhausted me as I was hungry too. I came back with towel wrapped around and went to make a good healthy breakfast for the two of us. It was noon already, I had to still do alot of things, so I hurriedly finished my bowl of cereal and wore a nice clean looking maternity dungaree jeans which I bought last month only and loved it. It was very comfortable as well as it covered half of my bump. I paired it with a white shirt inside and my usual sport shoes. I took a purse, got all my money and took the papers I did last night and closed my door shuts and walked downstairs.
Mrs.Webber wasn't bothered with my outgoing as I didn't see her around, seemed like she was in her room.

My office's in Times Square which  is a 20 minute ride of subway from Brooklyn but I have had to walk alot till the subway station which I managed to do as I kept pushing myself with motivating quotes. Being pregnant has it's perks too, good people, mostly give you space and way to go forward before them. I took the advantages and finally caught my train.

Finally after this whole struggle I was panting heavily right outside my office entrance. I stopped there to take some air and normalise myself before entering. I was standing there holding my chest a little when I saw Mike and Cristina coming towards me...or the entrance. I immediately got alert as they will find me, which Cristina did. She looked surprisingly at me and moved forward meanwhile I found Mike looking absurdly at Cristina and looking here and there, perhaps he couldn't see me. Well.

"Iris...whatcha doin here..." She beamed at me holding my shoulders while Mike followed her calling her names.

"Mike is all ignoring me huh..." I said hinting her to tell Mark about me so that he could think and then see me. I was petrified inside but from my face, you could find a cunning bitch. 

"Heh seems like that...Hey Mike..come on done with ya ignoring....come meet Iris"  she said turning over and calling him to us. I looked down and scratched my brows hoping he would see me now that she mentioned me.

"Iris?....woah( he got scared suddenly looking at me) Iris...where did you come from... suddenly?" As expected. I nervously chuckled in order to just make his question a stupid mockery, Cristina thankfully joined me believing the same. My whole job was to fool around now.

"How'ya doin babe?" Cristina asked me looking down at my bump and then back at me. I interpreted her wrong sometimes, she wasn't that bad after all.

"Just came to give these back...can't just let you guys come all the way down to my apartment everyday right" I said looking at her and trying my best that she would like me genuinely now.

"Oh come....on. Come inside have a drink, ya must have been exhausted" she said while pulling my elbow towards the entrance. I yayed internally.

Entering inside was a big step as no one I saw looked at me and beamed to say hello or something, which actually means they simply didn't see me. I was disappointed but told myself that greed leads to disaster. I looked towards Derek's cabin, he was engrossed in his computer, I was hoping he would look up out of his window and see me but he kept working. Cristina suddenly pulled me to her desk but I stumbled from the edge of the table because of the sudden pull, a low squeak came out of my mouth and Cristina suddenly turned to me and stopped pulling me.

"I'm sorry...I didn't..."

"Oh no it's fine...I'm good.." I said holding my knees and rubbing it slightly.

"Iris" I jumped when I heard my name called from my behind by the man I was dreaming of lately. I turned limping a little to him and mouthed a hie.

"What...what happened to you" he suddenly freaked out and held my knee. I swear it wasn't wobbling untill he touched. I immediately took his hand and said "Der...Mr....Mr.woods it's fine..I'm good it's a little bumping..that's all" he looked up at me first and then behind me where all the other colleagues of mine were looking absurdly at us.

I turned to them and waved a low hie.
"Hie Iris...when did you come..how come I didn't see you" said one of them, cruel of me I don't even remember their names.

"You were...engrossed in work...anyways I just came" I said nervously. Finally, finally almost everybody in this floor was now able to see me. My motive was half done. Now I just had to tell them that I was going to meet them in party as well but before announcing that here in the hall I had to make sure who were coming and who weren't.

I turned to Derek who was still behind me with his crooked brows, he broods like Lucifer, they all pretend to be brooding arrogant bitches while they are soft humble boys.

"Um Mr.Woods the work is done..." I said forwarding the paper I was holding.

"Oh...you did it finally...great job," he said taking the paper from my hand without looking at my face and now he started checking out the work...still not looking at my face. I had to take his attention.

"Mr.Woods I...I need to talk to you for a minute please.." I said biting my inner lips hoping he wouldn't think absurd of me. He immediately looked at me and I saw a wave of care rushing in his eyes. He looked at me keenly for a few seconds and then nodded positively and turned to his cabin which meant I had to follow him. Oooh his ass thou! Cute!

I sat in front of him trying to tear my nail from my index as anxiety was eating me inside. He clasped his hands together and looked at me.

"I was....I was wondering who else are coming in the par...party you invi...ordered me to come" still trying to tear the damn nail away and biting my whole inner cheek now.

"Of course all of us, our team. It's a get together so that I could know my colleagues more better. And what do mean by ordered...I invited you not ordered you...you can say no if you don't want...." Argh this man, I cut him through..

"I want to...Mr.Woods. I definitely want to come but just for the record, it wasn't an invitation. Invitation requires words like Will you or Please or I'll be waiting...( I said finally but looked at him who was staring me down with his serious gaze) or...or yours was fine sir...my bad. " I said immediately and got up from the chair to leave. I sure as hell took him light and granted. He was just pitying me only. I shouldn't have done that.

I turned to leave when his call ceased me out of blue. I didn't turn, as he spoke
"Iris Stevens...I would like to INVITE you in the small get together I have organised at my place. Would you like to come join me, PLEASEEEEE"
I was dead meat by then. Couldnt even turn to face him. Always judged people wrong.

"Go I'll come pick you at 8. I hate late people." And I ran outside. I wasn't out of my shock when it hit me that I still had to do what I came to do here.
I knowingly walked to Cristina and said in a pretentious loud voice "ohkay cristiee...see you in Mr.Woods party tonight." And she gaped at me and then nodded. I turned to my other colleagues and waved them again.
"See you all...b'bie.." they looked awkwardly at me and then waved me back. I somehow managed not to puke over this bubbly chirpy social party animal Iris.

Now, moving to the second important thing I had to do today I started walking on the Broadway lane only to enter the Express Mall, my all time favourite, for stealing a good dress as of course, there was no other way.

8'o clock evening!

It was exact time when I heard the knocking on the main door downstairs and panicked at such a level where I could increase my blood pressure high and seize anytime soon. I wasn't ready at all, I came home back very late as it took me hours to find the perfect dress with perfect loneliness to steal. After coming home I was so tired that I slept for two hours and woke up 40minutes ago only. I hurriedly showered again with all the lavender and peppermint bodywash and conditioner and right now I was drying my hair still in towel. Derek would hate me I knew that now. I heard Mrs.Webber open the door and few seconds later, his footsteps approaching me. I panicly threw the hair dryer behind me, looking down at my thighs, which landed somewhere, I'm sure broke too.

"That's how you welcome your escorts?" I looked up at the mirror and found him standing behind me.
Like they say, he literally took me breathe away. First his outstanding looks and then my outstanding lethargy. We had an eye contact on the mirror where he was staring my towel wrapped back and hair and matching my eyes on the mirror while holding the dryer in his hands I was so hoping to not be broken. After a minute, he forwarded towards me which broke my trance and I jumped up and turned to him.

"Mr.woods...i know you probably really reallly hate me by now. Iris Stevens such a loser can't even get ready on time although she has nothing to do at home still kept sleeping all this time. I know I'm sorry seriously sorry. You just just go enjoy your party I'm sorry .." he held my shoulders and that's when I breathed.

"Calm down you stupid elephant." Yes, my eyes were exactly like yours, wide open with mouth. He called me elephant!

"Now go...get ready I'm waiting here." He said and smiled a little. I wasn't able to change my moods so frequently because a) I was panicking for being late, b) he called me elephant, c) he said he will wait and above all d) he was all calm and smiling while I was freaking fried wrapped potato.

"Iris....half an hour only and then I'm leaving. You wanna waste your time staring me with open mouth?" My mouth was open? I didn't knew, I anyways shut them up and turned towards my lavatory to change now. It was a freak show going in my apartment now with me being the lead cartoon making fool of herself every chance she gets. Stupid Iris! Stupid sleepy open mouth starer Iris!

Don't know what he did in my room while I was changing into this beautiful brand new black off shoulder dress which was ending right above my knees, it was so comfortable and sexy at the same time as it was falling loosely after the elastic belt beneath my tits, hiding my bump 95%. I planned to go with fancy hairstyle and nails but now that I had only half an hour, I just gathered them along and parted them in a side partition. The sober look was not so bad though. I applied a little Kohl up and down my eyes as the Kohl highlights my blue eyes which I loved the most and ended my make up with a nude lipstick and canvas sneakers of course. Can't take heels and it's risks with the baby.

I walked out of my lavatory nervously tucking my hair behind which were adamant in irritating  me by falling on my face after I shampooed. Derek was doing something with my bed, looking closely I realised he was making my bed. I rushed to him.

"Derek...( I called he looked at me Immediately) I mean..Mr.Woods.... what are you doing...leave it be. Please..I know I'm dirty and it's not even an apartment but a CRAPartment but you don't have to do that... reallly" I was embarrassed but also I was nervous as he was staring me badly. Or dirtily. Or am I hallucinating again.

I looked up at him and his eyes was un-budged, I looked  down and tucked my hair behind, then I felt very typical girl of myself. I tried hard not to blush if I didn't want to embarrass myself anymore but this guy...I swear he was staring me hard-on.

"Ummm....Mr.Woods..?" I said biting my lips a little. He astonished and looked here and there. Woah! He was in a trance looking at me? I'm that beautiful huh!

"Sorry....hhh sorry...let's...let's go..." He said picking up his keys from the table and turning towards the door. I suppressed my chuckled and yayed inside. Good day going...!

He opened the door, I was following him silently also with a distance, he stopped suddenly holding the door and turned to me again surprising me.

"Uh Iris...(I looked at him and replied "yeah?") You are beautiful" and I melted like wax while he was still and firm like the flame.

"I'll hunt you and your boyfriend down.....you will die...just like me..."
My every single bone shuddered and clamped inside the moment I heard the ugly coughed voice of the open skulled guy behind us. Sweats formed on my forehead and eyes wide awake. Derek was shocked too and looked behind me to the window.

"Who was that?" He said while moving further towards the window.

*****************************

Will Derek know about the open skulled guy? Or Iris will be able to hide again?

Don't forget to vote every chapter people. It the little star button you have to tug for every chapter.

Take care
Signing off
Shruti!