Conrad
I rush out of the building and straight to my car. I was in shock because the last person I expected Mia to turn out to be was Maya. How did I not recognise those damn eyes or her smile? Why did she find the need to lie to my face when I asked? I am also a little hurt that she couldn’t be honest with me. She has known this entire time. It explains why she was weird around me. I don’t understand why she didn’t just tell me. Did she think I would reject her? Yes, she looks different from when we met, but it doesn’t matter to me. She is just as beautiful now as she was when she was all dressed up.
I don’t know what to do. How can I trust her when she lied to me? I am sure she has her reasons, but there was no need for it. I groan in frustration and punch my steering wheel. I probably shouldn’t have left like I did because she probably thinks the worst. I couldn’t find the right words. I need a couple of days to process and decide what to do.
Trust is important, so we aren’t off to the best start. I really hope I didn’t get her into a lot of trouble with Meredith because she was mad when she found out I knew it wasn’t Taylor. I warned her not to take it out on Maya or to threaten to fire her or she would have me to deal with.
I pull myself together. I should return to the office, but I am not in the mood. I will go home, and I can work from there. I am in no mood to sit in an office and deal with people. I should be relieved I have found out the truth, but I am not because I would have preferred for her to tell me.
I arrived home in no time. I pour a scotch and head to my home office. I settle down on my chair and switch my computer on. I stare at the screen and decide instead of working, I am going to do some research. I need to know more about Maya, and I can access employee records. I am not supposed to, but I can. I have no idea of her second name, but there aren’t too many people who work in Meredith’s department.
It doesn’t take long for me to find Maya. Her full name is Maya Louise Ericson. She is twenty-four years old. I read through her file, which has her phone number and address, too. There isn’t much more information on it. The basic things like education and work experience. Details for the payroll. I wasn’t sure what else I was expecting to find. I noted her number and address down before crossing out of the file. I may not use any of them, but at least they are if I need to. Though, I am sure she will think I am some crazy ass stalker if I randomly text or show up at her place.
I called the office to let my assistant know I won’t be back in, but if she needs me, just to call. I have everything I need here to work. I sigh and try to focus on my work, but my mind keeps travelling back to Maya.
I wonder if she has social media. I am curious to learn more about her life, but from what she told me at the ball, I don’t know if she has anyone in her life. She seemed lonely. I searched all social media sites, but she didn’t show up on any; she must not have any. I am surprised because I thought everyone used it these days. I wonder why she seems so private and secretive. Yes, of course, everyone deserves privacy, but it feels different with her.
I lift my cell from the table and type her number in. I glance at the screen, wondering if I should call her. After a few minutes, I hit the call button but hung up before it could even ring. I shouldn’t call her. It is a bad idea. I need a couple of days to work out what the hell I am feeling.
I swallow down my drink and pour another before finally concentrating on work.
****
The rest of my day has consisted of overthinking, writing and deleting texts to Maya and pacing my apartment. I had come to bed earlier than usual to try to stop from doing something stupid, but it didn’t seem to be working. I shouldn’t be this afraid to call or text Maya. I am a grown-ass man. What is the worst that can happen? She hangs up or doesn’t reply? I am sure she is probably thinking the worst after the way I walked away from her. I don’t want her to believe she isn’t good enough. Her confidence level is already so low rejection would make it worse, but it wasn’t rejection at all.
I take a deep breath and open another text to her. I had saved her number in my call book.
Hello.
I hit send before I could even stop myself and soon realised I hadn’t even told her who it was. I go to write another to tell her, but Maya replies before I can.
Who is this?
I can play this one of two ways. I tell her who, and she finds out it is me, or I can pretend like it is the wrong number, and she will have no idea it is me. No, I am a man, not a boy, and lying would be boyish behaviour.
It is Conrad.
I add a kiss at the end but then remove it. It comes up as read, but time passes, and Maya doesn’t reply. Great! I should have known this would have happened. I sigh and set it aside. I need to sleep because it is the only way all of this will stop.
I get comfortable, just as I do, my phone beeps. I reach for it and see she has texted back.
Conrad, I am sorry I didn’t tell you. And don’t worry, I understand why you walked away. Though, I have one question: how did you get my number?
She understands? I wonder what she means by that.
I walked away because I had to process things. Why didn’t you tell me the truth?
I ignored the question about how I got her number.
What would it have mattered if I did? I am not who you thought I was. Men like you aren’t interested in me.
Men like me. What does that mean? Do you think I would lose interest because I know the real you?
Yes. Trust me, I did the right thing, running away and not telling you who I am. It is better this way.
Maya, I am not that type of person. Who you are or what you do doesn’t matter to me. Can we please meet and talk?
I really need to see her. Talk to her about everything.
No, I am sorry, we can’t. Please just forget about me.
I groan and tug at my hair in frustration.
Please? I want to see you. We should talk xx
I wait to see what she says, but she doesn’t respond. I continued to wait for twenty minutes before giving up. I wanted to call her again, but I decided not to. Maybe if I give her some space, she will come to be. I don’t want whatever this is between us to end like this.