Irsha! How can I forget her? My heart pinched a bit thinking about her.  Although the corner of my heart knew that I shouldn’t feel that way, I was helpless with this bewildered emotion.

With every step I took that lead inside the company, I was more and more anxious. I tried to control my eyes that peeked at every souls present there, my walk, that became more and more clumsy and my hands that were already stiff.

“Hello Mr. Skyler! Good Morning!” were the only words that echoed in the hall. I stooped and dropped my gaze onto the floor as all the employees came forward to greet us.

“Morning!” he replied and I, trying to avoid eye contact, only gave back a smile.

“Are you shy?” He whispered.

I nodded left and right.

I was startled when he pulled me near him and held my hand. Within no time our hands were locked. Oo Hell!! He never fails to flabbergast me.

“Hello! Good morning!” A sweet voice echoed from behind. We turned and it was Irsha.

“Hello!” He smiled from ear to ear. Never have I ever seen him smile this wholesomely. Anyway I had no reason to envy.

“Hello Ares! Good to see you.”, Irsha spoke in a cheerful tone.

“Hi !"

“Would you mind if I take Mr. Skyler for a moment?” She asked me??? Why??

I smiled awkwardly.

“Mr. Skyler! The lists of today’s meetings are ready.”

“Irsha! Keep the files ready on my table. I’ll just give him a five minutes tour of the office.”

“Mr. Skyler! I’m afraid you won’t have enough time for that. The clients of JeoNi Project are expecting you in your office.”

“Ok! You start the presentation meanwhile I’ll complete my business.”

“Sorry Mr. Skyler! They are waiting since last 30 minutes. You need to attend them right now.”

“Irsha!” Eric spoke caressing her head, “Prepare the reports along with the contract. And make sure our lawyer go through the contract. I’ll be back soon. Ok?”

“Yes Mr. Skyler! I’ve already asked Mr. Noah to see the contract. I’ll wait for you in the meeting room.”

Does she always act this way? Is she really so into him?

I rolled my eyes while brushing those disturbing thoughts away. Meanwhile Eric gazed at her leaving away gracefully.

The murmurs and whispers in the hall suddenly increased. I felt uneasy in that situation. I started to feel awful and down without any reason.

“Love! Shall we go?”

I plainly nodded.

He held my hand and led the way. Precisely after some minutes, he took me to the cafeteria.

“This will be the last room. It’s the cafeteria. Have something to kill the time. The meeting shall get over within an hour.”

I nodded. And I gazed at his broad back while he left the room. Silence filled inside the room at once. I looked all over. The food was simple and the decor plain. I made a coffee for myself and took it to a table.

 To cut out my boredom, I called Mom.

“Hey Mom!

“Ares dear! How are you? I hope Skyler is nice to you.”

“I’m fine mom. Have you taken your meds?”

“Yes! I have. Did you eat something?”

“Yes! Eris took me to a restaurant this morning. Now I’m in the company.”

“Oh! Very Good! Is he with you? Pass the phone to him.”

“No he isn’t! He went to the meeting few minutes ago.”

“Ok! Tell him to call me when he is free.”

“What are you going to tell him?”

“Nothing much. Just this and that.”

“What this and this?”

“I’ll ask him to tolerate your edgy behaviour. I’ll also thank him for taking away my stubborn and annoying boy.”

“Mom! Don’t please don’t do anything stupid. I’m already embarrassed enough.”

“Why? Did something bad happen last night? Ares! I’ve told you not to be unreasonable and uncooperative. Tell me what did you do now?”

“Mom! Its tiresome. I’ll let you know when I go there. Bye Mom.”

“Bye Ares!”

Next I called Dean.

“Hey Dean! Where are you?”

“Ares! I’m in the office right now. Why did you cut the call in the morning?”

“Because you were talking rubbish infront  of him.”

“Oh! He heard everything?”

“May be! He was there when you called.”

“So?”

“So what?”

“Tell me about last night.”

“Stop it. I’m in his office now.”

“Wowee- Is he with you?”

“No! He’s in a meeting.”

“GEE- So you can tell me.”

“Nothing much! There were balloons and rose petals decorated in the rooms. He also bought a cake.”

“Woo- woo- then what happened?

“He and I freshened up and slept.”

“Slept? Like together?”

“The room has two beds.” I rolled my eyes.

“Oh! So that’s the reason why you were frustrated this morning?”

“Shut up Dean!”

“Are you sure you didn’t turn up at any moment?”

“Huh! As if ! Its not like his body, having those perfectly curved abs, would turn me on?”

“So you have already checked him?”

“ Dean! He’s not that impressive or breathtaking at all.”

“But it surely made your heart squeeze. Right?”

“Shut up Dean! Nothing could stir my heart so easily.”

“Let’s go.” Someone whispered onto my right ear.

I turned and saw Eric’s face a few millimeters away. Unknowingly, my eyes went down to his fluffy lips. I gulped as I remembered last night’s incident. I blinked my eyes to close the flashback instantly.

‘Ares? Ares dear?? Tell me more about last night. I know it’s more than what you said to me. Is he already in love with you?’

Eric and my eyes locked.

‘Ares? Are you listening? Ohh! Are you craving for his curved out abs again?’

I cut the call in disbelief. Not again!! I hope he didn’t hear that.

“Who are you talking to?” Eric asked.

“Dean” I hesitated.

He nodded his head and gave a smirk. I seriously hope he didn’t hear that.

“Will you meet dad before leaving?”

“I...I...” If I had an option, I would never choose to meet his father.

“If you don’t want now, we can meet him another day.”

Ohh Thank God! But won’t it be rude??

“It’s fine. I will....”

“Mr. Skyler! Can you check this out?” Irsha came in and handed him some papers.

“I’ll do it here.” And he sat down to read it.

I slided slowly away from them and went near the food section of the cafeteria. I randomly took a muffin from the stack and munched hard while my eyes were fixed on them.

Irsha entangled her twisted hair while sitting next to him while his eyes were buried onto the pages. What an irritating view!

I turned the other side and got busy scrolling my phone. My eyes were stuck on the phone screen while my thoughts made its way to them. This was really annoying for me. I sighed in disbelief.

“So you like strawberry muffin?” It was him. For a fraction of second I was confused if it was actually him or my delusion.

I nodded and tuned my face away not to show him my flushed face.

I looked back at him and found him glaring at the crumbs of muffin stuck onto my fingers.

“I like everything made of strawberries. Do you want some?” I asked randomly.

“No! Mr. Skyler is not very fond of strawberries.” Irsha spoke from behind and spontaneously I rolled my eyes in dispirit. Can’t he even speak for himself now?

"Want coffee?" I asked again.

"No! Mr. Skyler usualy don't have coffee during his office time."
I sighed in disbelief.

“Fine!” I took another muffin from the stack and munched.

“Ares! Eat slowly...”

“Mr. Skyler! The next meeting will be started soon. We have to proceed now.” Irsha spoke in between.

“You can go. I’ll just finish this and leave.” I spoke without looking at him.

“Irsha! You can go now. I’ll see you in the meeting room after I leave him till the exit door.”
 
Irsha left the room. I finished eating and again went to the stack of snacks. I carefully observed every food there and took out a blueberry muffin.

"Take it." I handed him the muffin.

"Thanks but I....."

I went again to the stack and bought a few more blueberry muffins.

"Here! Have it." I handed him the muffins.

“What are you doing?” His hands were full.

“Have it. You may like it.” I rolled my eyes.

“No, I don’t like this." He was puzzled.

“But I thought you’d like it since you like everything that I don’t.”

I could see a frowning face in front of me now. My inside felt some sort of contentment. I glared at his cute little eyebrows that converged on his temple.

“I see Mr. Ares.” He gave back a smirk.