Chapter 19: CHAPTER NINETEEN- ANNUAL TRIP.

~MIRA’S POV~

I couldn’t stop blushing. I really didn’t know what had come over me last night. That reply was unlike me.

I stopped in front of the wardrobe, my eyes roamed my clothes in search of the perfect outfits. It was that time of the year again for the company’s annual trip. I hadn’t expected it to happen this year due to the change in CEOs but I received a broadcast email this morning. Everyone was expected to be at the office with their luggage by 9 am. No lateness.

Grey didn’t mention it. I didn’t know if he would come and I didn’t want to ask him. My fingers brushed a black gown, I hadn’t worn it in years.

It was the definition of sexy, hugging my body in all the right places. I pulled it off the hanger, on an afterthought, snatching my favourite pair of Victoria secret lingerie. If anything would happen between Grey and I,I had to be prepared.

Minutes later, I was rushing out of the house. I met my co-workers at the parking lot. There was a bus ready to take us.

Laura engulfed me in a hug, Aurora said something she couldn’t remember.

“Do you think he’s coming?” Aurora asked us.

Aurora was spotting a new hairstyle and even a new handbag. The eye makeup she used made her eyes look bigger and her brown eyes clearer. Her clothes were more fitted. I moved closer to Laura. An email had gone round last week warning everyone to desist from trying to seduce the boss because he was married. The HR didn’t use those exact words but the point was to stay away from the boss. But it hadn’t stopped them from talking about my husband.

“Who?” Laura asked.

Aurora made a low sound. “The boss, who else?”

A whistle blew, cutting short our conversation. We filed into the bus in no particular order and I picked a seat by the window. The seats were in pairs and I hoped Laura would take the empty seat instead of Aurora. Her head raised when Michela sat beside me, he threw his arm over my seat and I froze. He was going to! He just got employed not too long ago His action shouldn't have meant anything but I was a married woman now.

For the first few minutes into the trip, I didn’t say a word to him. But my resistance melted away with his jokes. Hours later, when we got off the bus, I was still laughing at something he said. He helped me with my bags and we filed to the reception to claim their rooms.The journey had taken longer than I expected, all I needed was a bath and soft bed to nap. My smile disappeared as soon as we entered inside. Bethel was at the counter, her fingers drumming into the wooden surface like she was waiting for someone. I had a feeling the woman had been waiting on me.

Bethel was alone. We shared a brief look and the lady excused Mercy out of the group that entered the hotel together. They spoke in hushed tones for a moment and their gazes strayed to me a few times.

Each time made me more nervous than before and I chewed the inside of my lips. I was overthinking this.

Everyone picked a roommate. Two people in one room. All the times we had been here, Laura was my roommate and I expected that to be the case today.

Laura had the same idea, she dangled a set of keys in front of my face. “Guess who your roommate is?”

Bethel interrupted my reply, she stood between us. “Leila, you are staying with me this time.”

“What… What about me?” Laura femanded.

If she knew Bethel was Grey’s assistant, she might have lowered her voice. I tried to warn her friend with my eyes but Laura wasn’t having it. She dragged me away from Bethel.

“Sorry, you’re not taking Leila from me.”

“You can have the room to yourself, Miss Laura,” Bethel said in a voice that was too calm. Calm and dangerous.

It reminded me of Grey. Laura dropped my hand like a hot sauce.

“Do you have a problem with staying alone?”

“No.”

“Then, it’s settled.”

Bethel placed a hand on my shoulder, called one of the hotel attendants to carry my bag.

When we were out of earshot, she murmured, “How do you deal with that everyday?”

She was talking about Laura and I caught on quickly. Laura was sometimes dramatic but overall, she was cool.

“Laura isn’t so bad.”

Bethel grunted in response and I shrugged it off. I understood Laura’s character very well.

We continued in silence until we reached a door and Bethel asked the attendant to drop the bags. I smiled when Bethel gave him a generous tip. She believed the world would be much better if everyone or a larger population was kind.

“He’s a good guy,” Bethel whispered. It was so unexpected I was convinced she wasn’t speaking to me.

Bethel smiled when I looked on in confusion. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

She left me standing in front of the door.

For a second, I had contemplated running back to the group but I knew that could get me in trouble. I pushed the door open and my steps faltered as I took in the whole room.

The room was huge. Bigger than the room I would have had to share with Laura. It wasn’t just a room. It was a suite. There were chairs lined in a semicircle. A television attached to the wall and a green bean bag with a black remote on it.

There was another door to my left. I believed it would be our bedroom. Bethel did not discuss our sleeping arrangements but I wouldn’t mind sharing a bed with her. The balcony overlooked half the city and I smiled at the thought of spending most of my evening there.

I walked further in and dropped my bag on the couch. There was a jacket draped over the coffee table at the centre of the mini parlour. It looked like Grey’s. The thought made me pause. No, I couldn’t stay here with him.

On cue, the door to the balcony opened. Grey walked into the room. He was frowning. We had not seen each other in about two weeks, the least he could do was welcome me with a smile or something. His countenance made me wary, I stood as I kept my hands hiding behind my back. A foot pushed forward as Grey stopped a few metres away from me.

“Mira.”

His voice captivated me all over again.

“Grey.”The distance between us grew smaller, I thought he would kiss me when he curled his fingers under my jaw so I was staring into his beautiful eyes. The idea didn’t repulse me, in fact, I looked forward to kissing him properly.

“How was your trip?” I asked. My voice was scratchy so I cleared my throat. Grey made no move to answer, I filled the silence with random questions.

“Did you do anything fun? Maybe make any new friends?”

His blank stare made me feel stupid but I didn’t want to give up on him pretty easily.

“It’s good to see you.”

My skin burned with embarrassment when he said nothing. I guessed we were back to zero point. Take one step forward, take ten steps backward. If that was what he wanted, fine, I could do that too.

There was no point talking to him about our current arrangement. Grey already proved he didn’t care for others opinion. I moved to the couch to pick my bag but he stopped me. I glared at his hand on the handle of the box. What exactly did this man want from her?

“Who was that guy?”