Chapter 31: All Good Things Must Come to an End

The elevator ride up with Chris was painfully quiet. Of course, he would be distant with me as we rode to this meeting. He was fine twenty-four hours ago, but maybe it was all a facade to remove the suspicion of what was about to happen to me.

Wishing he would say something, I took a peek to see if opening my mouth would be wise. But fear took over when I found him glaring at his phone. Talking to him was out of the question, and I was sure that he didn't care to acknowledge me until he had to. He was about to lay me off with the boss, and looking me in the face would probably be too awkward.

That's assuming that he respects me... of course he does. Right?

The reflective doors parted, and I questioned everything as I shadowed Chris down the hall of the thirty-third floor. My thoughts were shredding me into pieces. This had been him all day, and I didn't like quiet, brooding Chris. Seconds later, one person that didn't want to talk to me knocked on the door of the other who also felt distance from me was the best too.

On any other occasion, I would have cared what I looked like, but with no-makeup and heavy bags, I appeared as accurate as I felt– drained. There was no sleep to be had when my failure of a career path ran parallel with losing Ezra.

From the slender window, the person I couldn't stop thinking about lifted his attention from the papers on his desk. He only used a few seconds of his time to signal to Chris that we enter before returning to his business.

Not knowing what Ezra was thinking made me feel even more ill on top of an empty stomach. Seeing him revert to the permissive man, I met at the beginning, was almost tragic.

This is what I do. I make everyone find a way to give up on me.

"Ada, you can take a seat," Chris murmured, as he pointed to the chair I was very familiar with.

I swallowed hard, hoping that I wouldn't suddenly vomit. Chris towering beside me was confirming all of my fears as he looked into the face of our boss who did not look pleased.

Ezra.

Chris took a deep breath and forced it out before he lowered his scrutiny on me. My head turned away from Ezra before my eyes did. I was worn out, but dammit I had to accept whatever was about to happen to me like a grown woman.

"Ada," Chris began. "Mr. Leoné wanted to have a meeting with us to discuss your position here at the company."

My lips curled in, and my nostrils flared to the escalating emotional sickness.

My manager took a deep breath before he finished, "Unfortunately, your position is no longer needed here."

Chris's hard stare could have convinced me that he was of Gorgon descent since his words riddled me into stone.

"Oh my God," I whispered, devastated that the little glimmer of hope I had hung onto was snatched by reality.

Chris's eyes shifted uncomfortably to Ezra, who weaved his fingers over his desk. I could see his tongue playing inside of his cheek as the strained air took over.

This is it. This is seriously it.

"So... we would like to offer you a full-time position at Leoné Investments," Chris quietly announced through the silence.

My head sunk, before I grunted, "Huh?"

Chris's bright smile had surfaced before my eyes, and for the first time I didn't reciprocate the delight. It was clear that I hadn't quite comprehended what he said, so this time he asked if I would like to accept the position at Leoné Investments.

I turned to Ezra. His eyes were still distant and on his hands or the top of his desk. Either way, they weren't on me.

His disengagement confused me, which forced me to ask, "You're playing a trick on me right now, right?"

"Not at all," Chris laughed.

I was shaking. My ears couldn't have been right, and Ezra's face was the confirmation to my disbelief. My mouth was open, but no words were coming forth. I had no idea what to think with the contrasting men in the same room.

"Chris, if you wouldn't mind letting me have a moment with Ms. Young," Ezra lowly interrupted.

'Ms. Young'. Say my name...

"Sure thing," my manager said with cheer, still misunderstanding my shock for what it really was.

The click of the closing door echoed into the quiet room, and I turned my attention to the man that still refused to look me in the eye.

"Is this a joke?" I sighed with dejection.

In a moment of vulnerability, Ezra's attention was finally mine. His eyes swiftly surveyed my face, when he shook his head in answer. It was then that I couldn't hold it back anymore. I covered my mouth with both hands, and Ezra was promptly halfway around his desk.

He knelt in front of me and held onto the sides of my arms. "Ada, what's the matter?"

My heavy breathing was honest to how hard it was for me to breathe the words into my hands, "I thought you didn't ever want to see me again."

"Why would you think that?" he asked wielding green eyes full of fright.

Pulling my hands from my mouth I didn't hesitate to answer, "The way you left? Yesterday's text?"

My lungs were were begging for more air. It hurt to think about Ezra tossing me to the side, but admitting it in front of him felt like another level of pain. He pulled me up with him and gently shook me once by the arms.

"Ada..." His brows were together, and he peered at me unsmiling eyes, though his next words were soft. "... I'm sorry."

I caught some air and begged to know, "Why did you leave like that?"

"I was angry," he confessed, his attention fallen.

"At me," I muttered.

Green was mine again when he corrected, "No. I was... am angry with myself. I still am."

"What? Why?"

Exasperation was on his face and in his thoughts."The look on your face when we were together... and then him. I should have asked you about your past."

"I didn't know how to tell you. I thought I could get by without saying anything," I confessed with shame.

Ezra peered into my eyes again and huffed, "I thought I was hurting you, Ada."

I shook my head to let him know that what he thought wasn't true. He wasn't hurting me the way he thought at all.

I hit the ground a long time ago.

Looking over his face, I took in the concern and frustration he emitted. Ezra was truly upset at the ideas of what he could only assume happened between Andre and me. It wasn't as bad as I was sure he was guessing, but from knowing enough about Ezra, it was no surprise that he was so disconcerted by it.

As my mind lingered over what might be in Ezra's head, the silence between us bred opportunity. He took advantage of it, and I closed my eyes, as tips of his fingers feathered over my cheeks.

The unwavering silence was undone when he whispered, "Will you stay with me? Here?"

My attention was all over him, when he went on, "You're more than a valuable asset."

God, these eyes are setting me on fire.

Unable to speak, I nodded. But that wasn't enough for him, and his voice was sweeter. "Tell me you want to stay."

I was transfixed. The kiss to my temple gave me an instant high, when I professed, "I want to stay with you, Ezra."

His delicate touch slid down my arms, to take my hands in his. There was no hesitation to return the subtle grip before I lifted our union in question. His clasp was tight to mine until I began to loosen my grip. Yet, I never lost my hold on him. Ezra's hands were trembling in mine, and I returned my focus on his face.

A flush of color dressed his nose and cheeks so much that he was tempted to look away, but my hand gently returned his line of sight back to me. I had to let him know that kisses of reassurance could come from me too, and I pulled his hands close to my breast when I chose to send him my message.

Kissing Ezra had the after effects of a thrill no matter how chaste it was. It didn't make sense how breathless it left me every time. I had to wrap my arms around his neck and steal another one, and I was even more charmed when I felt his touch smoothing around my waist again. If only he knew how much I had been thinking about what could have happened between us on Monday. I wanted to try again, and it didn't matter when. I pulled our lips apart and turned my drunken gaze to his desk.

Right there will do. On top of all of the papers.

Ezra hadn't opened his eyes, and I studied his soft lips when he proposed, "May I take you out this Friday?"

A smile blossomed on my face just in time for him to see. My nod was shy, and I enjoyed the fluttering in my stomach this time around. The sensation intensified when the ends of Ezra's lips finally curved up.

*

The elevator parted to the thirty-first floor, and I was still reeling from the excitement of the paperwork in my hands. However, I wasn't the only one filled with delight. Before I could even make it to my cube, Renee's head popped out from Chris's office. In her bright green dress, she loudly scurried to her desk before running back in front of me.

"Is that a damn kazoo?" I giggled in shock.

With pride, she pranced and marched around me in her heels, blaring a celebratory melody with the buzzing of the plastic instrument.

"Congrats!" Chris cheered over the one-woman band.

My smile was enormous. "Thank you. Though... I should be real mad at you."

Chris immediately hid his expression knowing exactly what I was picking at. With all of that acting as the deliverer of bad news, I should have gotten him back by pinching his cheek or something. But I could barely pick on innocent Chris, not when I was on cloud nine in two big places in my life. I would have never guessed that the Wednesday of doom was going to end in overwhelming joy... nor in the not-so-melodious waftings of a kazoo.

"Why is she this way?" I laughed to Chris as Renee continued her celebratory rounds.

Chris's blank eyes had shifted away, as one hand slowed descended into his pocket.

Lord, he's got one too.

Well, there was no denying it. I struck on my serious face and entered into the impromptu dance party of three grown ass people .

*

My personal party continued into my apartment as I danced around the space with a pack of Hot Cheetos. Cinna Buns was either trying to stop me from moving so much or play with my feet, but she was indirectly a part of my full-time-job-shuffle.

The conversation with my mother was beyond pleasant. I ended up crying for a second time listening to her confess to how happy she was that I was spirited again. Before she we ended the call she gave a brief prayer, and for the first time I didn't let it drown out into the back of my mind.

"Jesus is giving me more monies to buy more of you!" I peeped, while admiring the snack I hadn't had in ages.

But my solo twerk was interrupted by a knock at the door. Quickly, I scrambled to the kitchen to drop off the bag and lick my fingers before viciously washing my hands. Happy for my choice in wearing dark sweats, I wiped my hands on my ass one last time before working the new deadlock.

Ezra saw only one of my eye's before I tried to yank the door open without removing the top latch.

"Oops," I whispered, before properly unlocking the door.

He was smiling, and so was I.

"How do you like the new lock?" he asked.

"Tis good. Thank you..." I faded with a suspicious grin at the hand behind his back.

If my brows rose any higher they could have looked like carets, but they immediately fell when he announced, "I have an appointment in thirty minutes, so unfortunately I can't stay for much longer."

My pout was inevitable. "Oh."

"But before I departed for it, I wanted to see you," he grinned.

Mmm, that smile.

Ezra took a step forward and leaned down to give me a kiss. Of course, I didn't waste any time accepting his gift, but I did pull my head at the sound of loud ruffling.

Opening my eyes, I looked in between us and there was a six-stem bouquet of orange roses.

I was deeply shocked, "Ezra, wha–"

He cut me off with another peck on the lips, before whispering, "Congratulations, Ada."

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A/N: 

I don't normally leave many author's notes anymore; however, I figured I might this time around because I've clearly broken the 32-chapters-per-book rule I instilled last year. If you think I don't have this book planned out, please don't worry because I do.

Since the very first draft of this book in February, I always knew that Ada and Ezra were going to be characters that I would spend a lot of time with. When I planned to write Clear with more than 30 chapters, I did it with the intention of uploading much more frequently which would in turn force me to create more raw, impromptu chapters while I explored with their characters and dynamic. Haha, almost how I treated my very first Wattpad upload but with more couth. 

I will also say that I am sorry if I seem so repetitive in my 'thank you' messages, but I don't ever want to forget how to show gratitude to the amazing people on this site. Trust me when I say I read the comments. Not only are you all very perceptive, but also you're funny as hell. I promise, all of your comments, votes, library adds, and (of course) reads really do brighten my days. I've been on this site for five years now, and this last year and a half has been the most enjoyable since I joined. Do do understand that the audience on Wattpad today has greatly expanded and evolved, and I am incredibly grateful to have found such a brilliant lot of readers. Of course we have to write for ourselves, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I write to entertain you all just as much as I do for myself.

Thank you for coming this far along with me on another story. I can't believe how well this book is doing, and it's all thanks to each and every one of you that choose to spend your time reading it. Time is mad valuable to me, so it really warms my heart to see that there are people who actually think this book is good enough to spend their time on. Love you <3 <3 <3

P.S.

"Friday, Friday. Gettin' down on Friday..." ;)

Love,

Mayen