Chapter 6 Moves
Maddie POV
I decided to go to work today because I didn't want to be at home, all by myself and I have to admit that I liked to be in Mariko's company. Part of me was still hopeful about him and then part of me was constantly reminding me about my past. I cannot make a move on someone either that might just not want me...f^ck Maddie, just focus on yourself instead of a rich man that will just use you. I have to listen to my gut feelings, but I'm being pulled in two different directions.
As I walked to my desk in my black, three-quartered sleeve blouse that was tucked into my black pencil skirt. I decided to wear red heels to break the black color. My hair was loose and I held my handbag in one hand and a file in the other. I was supposed to complete some work last night for the CEO, Lana, who I'm an assistant to. The plans had changed drastically since the club, but now I was going to have to work non stop today to get things done.
I got to my desk and placed the file on top of it, I took my phone out of my bag and placed my bag in the drawer. Things were convenient since there was a cafeteria on this floor to get some coffee, there was also a private kitchen next door to it in case no one wanted to be in the cafeteria.
My head was partially throbbing but thank goodness those painkillers helped a bit. As I powered up my computer and went through my things, I looked up and saw Lana enter her office. She was a beautiful woman. Sometimes, I just sit here and admire her for the person that she is and, hopefully, one day, I can be that far in life too with my hard work. I stood up from my chair and I walked towards the bathroom.
The ladies' and men's bathrooms are next to each other. I was bracing myself to see Mariko down the hallway but I didn't see him, to my disappointment, my heart was fluttering with a bit of excitement which overtakes my reason for staying away from men like him. Is it me just letting my guard down? Does he have this effect on me? None of the other rich men had this effect on me besides Mariko Donovan, the director of Sternpoint. With a sigh, my heart raced as a man in his perfect suit exited the men's bathroom and I looked up into his face, my breath hitching. The universe spoke again...Mariko.
He held my gaze and I tried to move past him but he went in the same direction as me and then, I tried to move to the other side but he also moved in that direction which was blocking me from entering the ladies' bathroom. "Sorry," I said nervously, as I lowered my gaze to his royal blue tie.
I froze when I felt his hands on both of my upper arms. My shoulders tense with his touch. I slowly looked up but my eyes found his lips and they were parted. I tore my eyes away as I looked into his eyes. They were already on me and he smirked. "I will go this way," he said softly. "I like your shoes," He continued to smirk and then he removed his hands from me and walked past me.
I was still standing, frozen in one spot. I swallowed and licked my lips, snapping myself out of the moment that had just happened, and then I entered the bathroom.
After the bathroom, I got back to my desk and I continued to bury myself in my work. Sometimes I feel as if my work cannot get less because there is always more that gets piled up on my desk. I do understand that Lana has issues in her personal life and I am here to do most of the work for her. She also puts too much on herself, but the more I do that for her, the more work I have besides my studies. I do need this job, my apartment rent needs to be paid, my mother lives with me, but she is currently in New York. I want my own space sooner or later, so I am working hard to meet my goals.
My phone rang and I looked at the screen. I took the phone and I answered, "Mom, how are things?" I asked.
"It is rather draining over here, I managed to see him," she said.
"You mean my father?" I asked.
"Yes, he spoke to me and he is coping in prison. I will do everything that I can to get him out of there. I want you to meet him. I haven't told him as yet about you but he needs to know that he has a daughter," she sighed.
"I want to get to know him too. Please, mom, do not keep me away from him like you have. I want to have a relationship with him. I am not sure what he did that got him into prison, but I am willing to have a relationship with him, if that is what it takes. He missed out years of my life. So please make this right, mom. You were the one that didn't want him to know about me, so please do this for me too," I begged.
"I will, I have to go. I don't want to keep you out of work. I love you," she said and she hung up before I could say anything more.
I let out a huge sigh as I looked at my phone. My dad was a Moses and I can't help but think if he was related to Lana's husband, Arden, and his sister, Miranda. I looked into Lana's office, she was on a phone call, sitting at her desk. I always asked myself this question if the Moses were all related to my dad.
I snapped out of my thoughts and that is when Mariko appeared with a polystyrene cup in his hand. He stood in front of my desk. "I thought that you would need some coffee with all this work," he smiled, and he placed the coffee gently in front of me. I looked at the cup, his hands were on the top of my desk and I looked up, he was hunched over, so close to me as he watched me intently.
"Thank you for the coffee," I managed to say, but I needed to say something. It was like he had something over me to get me to be in this trance whenever he was close. I felt hot because of his proximity.
"It's my pleasure," he said slowly, his eyes moved to my parted lips and he licked his. "Um..." he looked at my cleavage for a split second before looking up at me again, but in thought. He wasn't actually looking at your cleavage because he was in thought, Maddie. "I wanted to know if you are still willing to attend the exhibition with me tomorrow," he said.
"Yes, I would like to," I responded softly.
"Great." the corners of his lips curled up into a satisfied grin. "It starts at 8PM and we can go together. You don't need to change your clothes, just dress the way that you come to work," he said. Was he checking out my attire for that split second that I thought was my cleavage?
"Yes, I would like that...I mean, of course." I felt the heat creep up into my cheeks.
"I look forward to it," his smile widened as he stood up straight.
"Mariko, thank goodness you are here, I need some assistance," Miranda had an iPad in her hand that she was scrolling through as Mariko walked towards her until they both disappeared from my section where my desk was situated. He didn't look back at me. Why did I feel so disappointed with that?
I let out a breath. I have to make sure that I look perfect tomorrow and I should make room for disappointment, because now he has me under his spell, but maybe it was only me. Do I guard my heart? Or should I take that leap of faith if he does feel the way I am suspicious about?