We need to talk.

I was still staring at that message. The same message that I received when I was in the car, with Trevor. The same message that I lied about and said it was from Liv. The same message that Ashton had sent me an hour and a half ago.

I was in my apartment now. Alone. Because, I could not face Trevor after lying to his face again. So, I made up an excuse about my periods and that I wanted to stay alone. Ofcourse, being the perfect boyfriend that he was, he just wanted me to be happy and comfortable.

I was such a bitch!

How could I lie again and again to his face?

I was alone in the apartment, and the silence around me was eating at me. My thoughts were getting louder. It was difficult to escape it.

On one hand, I wanted to call Ashton right now and ask him what it is that he wanted to talk about.

On the other hand, I just wanted to ignore that message because I did not want to face him after what he confessed to me last week. It was another thing that I had hid from Trevor.

The guilt was just piling up.

Lying in my bed, lost in all these thoughts, somehow sleep found me. It was a dreamless sleep.

--------------------------

Next day, I was sitting in my office, engrossed in our bi-annually cash flow when my phone chimed with an incoming call. My hand that was twirling the pen stilled. I dreaded seeing whose name flashed on the screen.

Dropping the pen on the desk, I took a deep breath and picked up my phone. It was Liv. Releasing a sigh, I answered the call.

''Hey Mia. I hope I didn't disturb you.''

''Hey. No not at all. Was just going over some files.''

''That's  great. I just wanted to ask if we can meet up over lunch today.''

''Ummm. Yeah, sure. We can meet up. What's up? Is everything fine?''

''Everything's fine, worrywart. Just wanted to have lunch with you. It feels like I haven't seen you since I got engaged.''

''That's not true. We had dinner together on Thursday.''

''I mean just you and me. And I also wanted to tell you something.''

''Okay. There's a really good Vegan restaurant a couple blocks away from my office. We can have lunch there.''

''Perfect. Send me the address. I'll see you there.''

''See ya.''

Atleast I could breathe better now that it wasn't Ashton. But I knew, at some point I will have to speak to him. But it didn't have to be now. I quickly texted Liv the address and went back to my work.

A couple of hours later, me and Liv were sat in a restaurant. I was trying and failing to enjoy the best coconut rice bowl I've ever had. All because I had just finished telling her all about what happened last week, at Ashton's place.

''Are you kidding me? That cannot be true. How could a father want his own son dead. That is just a load of bullshit.'' Liv was trying to whisper shout, and failing miserably at it.

''It's not, apparently. It's a long story and not mine to tell actually. But he was not blood-related to his father. That, and the fact that his mother hid it from his father for so long, made him hate Ashton so much that he took such a step.''

''So, what are you gonna do? Now, that Ashton has confessed everything to you. Do you still hate him for all those years ago?'' She stabbed a piece of tofu with her fork, eyes trained on me.

''I don't know. I have no idea. I mean, I know he just wanted me out of the line of fire, but he could have handled things better. He could have told me, we could have figured something out together.''

''What did Trevor say about all this? How did he take it?''

There. That was the question I was dreading.

''Well, he doesn't have much to say, since I haven't told him anything about it,'' I cringed.

Liv's fork clattered against the bowl.

''You didn't tell him? Any of it? Does he even know that you went over to his house to meet him?''

I cringed again. My already present guilt was increasing manifold with her every question.

''Please, can't we not talk about it? I'm still in the process of figuring out how to break this news to him. I just need some time. I'm gonna come clean to him.''

''Okay. Do it at your pace. Just know one thing, he really loves you. Don't do anything that could eventually hurt you or him.''

''Thanks for understanding. And not judging me.''

''Friends don't judge each other,'' she squeezed my hand from across the table.

''Anyway, enough about me. What is it that you wanted to tell me?'' I asked her, picking up my fork back.

''Yeah. About that. Just promise me you won't freak out.''

''Are you pregnant?'' I almost squealed.

''Nooo! What is it with you and pregnancy?''

''Okay, tell me. What is it?''

''I'm moving in with Alex.''

The fork in my hand stopped midair, before I dropped it back into my bowl. Liv's eyes were gauging my reaction. My face broke into a huge grin.

''Oh my god! That's great. I'm so happy for you.'' I clasped both of her hands across the table and squeezed them.

''You are happy?'' She seemed confused whether she should smile or frown.

''Well, yes ofcourse I'm happy. Why wouldn't I be? You are my friend. Whatever brings you joy, makes me happy too.''

''Oh Mia. I know how much you hate to live alone.''

''But that doesn't give me the right to keep you bound to me. You are engaged to the man you love and are finally moving in with him. I'm glad that you both are happy. Actually, you know what, the moving in together usually comes before engagement.''

''The order doesn't matter. I'm so happy. He makes me so happy.''

Oh, I loved my best friend so much. I was sad that she was moving out, but I know how much happiness being with Alex brings her. And I just want her to be happy.

Now, I just needed to have the talk with Alex.

--------------------------

It was 5:30 and office hours were almost over. Many employees had already left the building. I wanted to talk to Trevor after returning from lunch, but he was not in his office.

I was just shutting down my computer, when a knock sounded on the door, followed by Trevor poking his head in.

''Can I come in?''

''Well ofcourse you can,'' I answered with a smile.

He closed the door behind him and walked towards my desk. Instead of taking a seat, he rounded the table and pulled me up from my chair, and straight into his arms. My hands went around his neck and his went to my lower back.

''What are you doing?'' I asked, as he started peppering small kisses on my jaw.

''Kissing my lovely girlfriend.''

And then he kissed me. Slow and long, taking his time to relish in the feel of my lips. Sucking my lower lip into his mouth, he moved one of his hands lower to cup my ass and squeezed it.

His kisses made me lose all my rational thoughts, they were so intoxicating. I moved my hand up to run my fingers through his hair. They were so soft, like fine silk. We stood there devouring each other.

Suddenly his hands moved south, tracing the back of my thigh and he hitched my left leg up, hooking it around his waist. He picked me up and sat me on my desk. Hooking both of my legs around his waist, it aligned our lower halves perfectly. I could feel his hard on.

''You need to stop before you take me right here, on my work desk.''

Pulling away from his kiss was not easy.

''What is the problem? Haven't we already done that before. And as far as I can remember, you rather enjoyed it,'' I could feel him smile against my throat.

''That desk was in your home office, not my office in our workplace where anyone could enter at any moment. Have some control, babe.'' I said, pressing a quick kiss to his lips.

''Ugghhhhh...'' He groaned. ''I hate that you are right.''

Pressing another quick kiss on my lips, he helped me get down from my desk ,and straightened my dress that had rode up my thigh.

''How about we go home, and continue what we left incomplete here?'' I pressed a kiss to his throat.

''I want to, Baby. So badly. But I can't today.''

That made me pull back and look at him.

''Why?''

''Because an associate of ours is in town for a couple of days, and dad has arranged dinner and drinks today with him. I'm obliged to go.''

''Hmmm. Okay. But know that you'll be missing out on the actual fun.''

''Don't I know,'' he said, kissing my mouth.

''Will you be home later?'' I pulled away, getting down from my desk.

''I don't think I'll be able to make it. It might get late and I don't want you to stay up waiting for me.''

''Okay. I'll miss you.''

''And I will miss you. Just get a good night's rest. You haven't been sleeping all that well lately.''

''I will.''

He engulfed me in a hug and tucked my head under his chin. Placing a kiss on top of my head, he let me go and left the office.

Sighing, I finally shut down my computer and placing my Ipad in my purse, I grabbed my car keys and left the office too.

----------------------

I just finished my dinner of vodka rigatoni, and was placing my plate and other utensils in the dishwasher when my phone chimed from the kitchen island. I quickly finished setting up the dishwasher, and grabbed my phone but it had already disconnected.

As soon as I unlocked the screen, the person whom I was trying to avoid speaking, his name popped up.

Ashton

Just as I was thinking about not calling him back, my phone chimed again. He was calling me.

Again.

I thought about ignoring the call, but this was just straight up childish. The last conversation that we had was messy, but as grown-ups, we needed to sort through it and not avoid each other.

Releasing a sigh, I picked up his call.

''Hello.''

''Hey. It's me. Ashton.''

''Yeah. I know that. I have your number saved.''

''Well, I didn't think you would be having my number.''

''I do have your number.''

''That's good to hear.''

I had no idea where this conversation was going. Sighing, I just decided to ask him.

''So, why did you call me?''

''Yeah. About that. We need to talk.''

''Talk about what?''

''About the question that I asked you.''

''Ashton, that was all in the past. I don't wanna rehash that conversation again. I still haven't wrapped my head around everything that you dumped on me last week. I need to-''

''Woah. Hey, hey. I'm going to stop you right there. I think you are misunderstanding me. That conversation was not what I was talking about. I'm asking you about the answer regarding to my offer. About the CFO position.''

''Oh. Uhmm. Yeah. About that. Sorry. I think I did misunderstand. This is embarrassing.''

I could feel my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. This was going to be so awkward. There was a pause on his side.

''No, that's fine. So, have you thought about it?''

''Actually, no. I haven't. It was a busy month.''

''Oh yes. With your new boyfriend. I understand. How about you give me an answer by tomorrow. I'm running a bit short on time.''

Now, that was rude. But, I decided to be the bigger person and let it go.

''Yeah. I was busy with my boyfriend. But you don't need to worry. You'll have my answer by tomorrow.''

''Perfect. Will talk to you tomorrow. Have a good night.''

''You too.''

This was the single most infuriating person that I've ever met. How I put up with him for so long in the high school, I have no idea.

But, I did.

Because he was my best friend. And I loved him.

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