Chapter 16 Working Together
Maddie's POV
I kept on burying myself in work after I had left Mariko's office yesterday. I didn't bother to look down the hallway every time and no matter how I felt, I just made it clear that I wasn't ready to date anyone. I could see the way that he looked at me and it made me feel afraid because I try so much to bury the past. But it would take so much from me to let that go. Mariko cares a lot about everyone and I like that about him, but I also don't want pity.
I was happy to meet his daughter, she is the cutest and I just wanted to hug her. I don't want kids, but I wouldn't mind looking after her any chance that I get. I remember that Lana had mentioned opening a daycare centre on the lower floor for the employees' kids. I think that it would be a nice idea.
I spent the entire evening studying again. I only had one small meal for the entire day yesterday. Now I am back at work and getting the last work done before Lana actually shows up. I must admit that I am not feeling one hundred percent today. I am exhausted and I can feel that everything is taking its toll on me. My mother didn't bother to get back to me, so why should I care about that? On a different note, I hope that she is okay.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I stared at a document that needed signatures by Lana, but I didn't want to wait. I spotted Mariko earlier when he walked down the hallway, this time without Bella, so I'm assuming he didn't bring her to work today. I took the documents, and I stood up, smoothing down my gray pencil skirt, my three-quartered sleeve blouse tucked inside of my pencil skirt. I added stockings because it was chilly outside and my famous black heels, which I love. My hair was half up and half down today. My black button-down jersey was draped over the back of my chair.
I took in a deep breath as I left my comfortable working space and walked down the hallway as my heart began to beat fast in my chest because I would be seeing him. No matter what I try to do, my feelings will always be more than my mind and the hurt that comes with my past.
As I stood in the doorway of his office, Mariko was standing in the front of his desk, hunching over it as he went through some documents of his own. I took in his appearance and he was wearing a dark gray suit and we basically almost matched the colors. I knocked lightly on the glass door and he turned around to look at me.
Standing up straight, he said, "Maddie, come inside. What can I help you with?" he asked with a smile.
I walked further inside of his office, coming to a stop in front of him. "I need these documents to be signed, please."
"Sure," he said, and he took it from me. I noticed that his bandage was removed. He hunched over his desk as he took a pen and signed the documents.
"Is your hand all better?" I asked.
"Um, it is. It wasn't a bad injury," he was done signing and he stood up straight, turning around to face me again. He handed the documents over to me with a smile. His eyes burned into me with that golden glow.
"I'm glad that it is better, thank you," I said as I took the documents from him. As I turned around to walk away, I stopped immediately, my hand automatically going to my head as I saw spots in my vision, my head spinning and it was as if something wanted to drag me down.
"Maddie, are you okay?" Mariko's voice was at a far distance and blackness consumed me for a second. "Maddie?" I blinked my eyes, trying to get my bearings. Mariko was holding me as I stood, finding my balance. "You passed out for a second," he said as he moved his hands to my upper arms, making sure that I was okay. He was studying my face. "Did you eat anything?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No, I was very busy and with my studies too," I said weakly.
"Let me get you to sit down," he took my hand in his and he led me around his desk. "Take a seat," I took a seat on his leather chair as he let go of my hand. "I will get you something to eat and I want you to work in my office today. I want to keep an eye on you," he said. I licked my lips at the thought of that, but I still felt weak and then I just nodded in approval. "I will be right back and I will get some of your work for you,"
"I have a stack of work that needs to get done. You will see it piled up," I replied.
"Got it," he said as he studied my face one last time as concern etched on his face and then he left the office. I let out a weak sigh as I now have to work in his office. Perhaps it is the start to something more...or not.
Mariko's POV
My heart nearly leaped out of my chest as Maddie passed out for a second. Instinctively, I caught her before she fell to the floor. I continued to hold her as she gained consciousness again. I must admit that I am not impressed that she hasn't been eating and taking all of that work upon herself. Maddie needs more help and even if I'm the one to set my own work aside to help her, then I will do that just to make it easier on her. I will have a word with Lana about this too.
As I allowed Maddie to sit in my chair, I went to the cafeteria to get Maddie a sandwich and then I went to her desk to get the pile on her desk and it was a huge pile. I am angry with Lana for doing this to her, she needs help and not work herself to the bone. I carried all of that to my office. I forgot to get her some coffee, but I needed to make sure that she got her sandwich before heading back to the cafeteria. I noticed the documents that she had me signed were on the floor, and when I stopped in front of my desk, she was leaning towards the desk, her head resting in both of her hands.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
She snapped her head up as she looked at me. She seemed exhausted. I placed the pile of work on my desk and her sandwich in front of her. "Yes, I'm just tired," she replied. How had I not seen this? She was studying after work too. "Thank you for the sandwich," she said as I crouched down and picked up the documents from the floor.
"Anything to see you better," I replied as I stood up straight. I looked at her as she now unwrapped her sandwich. "I will get you coffee," I stated, and then I left my office in a hurry so that I could be back, not leaving her by herself in case she passed out again.
Once I got back to my office, Maddie was still eating. I placed the polystyrene cup on the desk. " Are you okay?" I asked her again and she looked up at me as she chewed.
"Yes, I am. Thank you for feeding me...I mean, getting me the sandwich and coffee," she said as redness filled her cheeks. I smirked.
"I would do anything for you and to make sure that you work comfortably." I replied as I took a chair and I walked around my desk, placing it next to her. "I hope you don't mind that I sit next to you. I will be helping you with your work and before you say anything, I want to help," I looked at her as her eyes widened.
"Okay," was all that she said. So I sat down beside her and I started to work on the documents and she finished her sandwich.
"How are your studies?" I asked as I stopped what I was doing so that I could look her again. I wanted her so badly.
"It was okay, I spent most of the evening in my books and it is exhausting with the work load that I have that keeps on piling up," she sighed.
"How about I help you whenever it piles up and I would suggest that you take tomorrow off." I said and she looked at me.
"I would appreciate the help but Sternpoint is not paying me for someone else to help. So I can do that on my own, I can manage," she tried to argue with me, but I won't have any of that.
"I insist. Even though you get a salary to do what you are doing, you are working yourself to the bone and you have studies of your own, so I will help you whether or not you like it, starting from today."
"I appreciate the help," she smiled.
"Bella really likes you, she wants you to be her new mommy," I smirked.
Maddie chuckled, "Oh really? I doubt that I would be a perfect mom, not that it would happen," she replied. But then she held my gaze.
Mine got serious, "You are amazing with her and if she likes you, then that means that you did something right. Not even her own mother cares about her. I just hope one day that your kids will love you just as much as Bella likes you..." our eye contact locked and it was this magnetic pull and I found myself moving close to her, her lips parted, I was dying on the inside to get a taste of her lips, to get a taste of her. My erection strained against my pants and I would do anything to have her on my desk. But somehow, something always held me back.
Every inch of my being craves her on a daily basis, but I know that she is fighting me to get closer to her. "Mariko, I need you to take a look at this," I quickly leaned back, clearing my throat as Miranda stopped in front of my desk as she was busy going over some documents in her hand until she looked up at us, "Oh, I didn't know that Maddie was working in here," Miranda was confused, looking between the two of us.
"She needs help as she doesn't feel very well. I offered to help get her through the piles of work that Lana always leaves for her to do," I replied with annoyance.
"I wish that I could help too, but I have my hands full," she said.
"We can manage," I replied, "So what do you need help with?" I asked her.
I was disappointed that Miranda came into my office at the time that I wanted to kiss Maddie. But perhaps it was not the right time. But when will the right time be? My daughter likes her and I like her. I see her as the perfect fit for my little family that I would like to have. But maybe, I should just give her some time, and if she is still not interested, then I guess I can move on from her. I can focus on my daughter and hope that Amber will not become crazy because I want Bella to still be able to see her mom. I am not a cruel man to keep them from seeing each other, but I want my daughter to also have happiness and a good childhood. I can worry last about my own happiness.