Chapter 56 CHAPTER 56
ALINA’S POV
It wouldn’t be strange if this issue with the suppliers had something to do with Roman, would it? A means to take a jab at me…I mean it fit the scale. Annoying, intrusive, annoying again, and very much under the list of things he could actually do given his recent displays with me.
But it was kind of a stretch, wasn’t it?
Roman using his business to have a go at some consultant? Me?
Naaaa.
I wasn’t that important.
Anyways the weekend came quick. Quicker than most, and with it was gone my peace of mind. Only dread and more dread filled my mind as the day counted to the weekend. The weekend for the trip.
“Miss, I’m sorry but you can’t be cleared for a passport. You’re still flaged-
“Of course, of course.” I quickly cut the lady off, “I understand. Thank you.” that ended the call. I set the phone down too, fast like it burned my flesh. Agitation and uneasiness written all over me, dread literally eating up my bones by the second.
That was my last attempt.
My last attempt at possibly saving my ass from this impending doom called embarrassment in form of flying out of the country for work. Flying out of the country for work, could you believe I couldn’t do something as simple as that?
How wrecked could one’s life be??
Worse with him.
Out of all people, him. I had to travel out with him, he’d find out all about it. All about the mess that was my life. Just when I thought the man had seen me embarrassed enough and in my worst states.
I had to be taking the award on best-worst presented ex-girlfriend in the entire history of relationships.
“11;37,” I checked the time again. Checked my wristwatch. Biting my lip in the process. “The time’s 11;37 am. Meaning a couple of minutes before 12pm.”
The time we would be leaving.
The flight was scheduled at noon. Today. But as of right now, a couple of hours before right now, I’d been in my office at Oxygen. Panicking. Practicing how I was to mention I had ‘passport issues’ and therefore could not go see the suppliers. That I wouldn’t travel at all.
Only he would. Or at least someone else. With him.
You would think that was an easy task; just saying I couldn’t travel. Informing him all these while, days before this very day we were to leave.
But it wasn’t.
It really wasn’t, it would open up a can of worms I was not ready, willing and most definitely do not want to talk about with him. Hence, an excuse.
A good enough excuse, which I was already working on. Had been working on. All week.
“Just calm down, Alina” I said to myself, “Breathe. Just breathe. This isn’t a big deal at all. Everything will be fine, you’ll see.”
You just say ‘I have a last minute family emergency.’ that was a good line. A good excuse, the perfect one. It was logical, sensible, and totally not questionable to some extent.
“It’s good. It’s all good.” I assured myself, kicking off every doubts. Pulling myself together, my body con black dress sticking to my body, hair pinned up to a professional bun, heels and bag to match. I was good. I looked good. Good and ready to just do it and get it over with.
“You can do it, Alina. You can totally pull off-
“Excuse me Miss?” a knock came on my door then. Cutting me off, a face appearing through the glass. Familiar face. The security he normally used for errands.
“Time to go, Miss. The boss is outside.”
Outside.
Meaning he was already downstairs at the car. Not at his office. It really was time to go, it wasn’t how I planned it. I should’ve met him at his office before anything.
“Miss?” the security called again, following my silence. I cleared my throat then, taking a breath.
“I err…okay. Okay.”
I moved to face my desk to retrieve my phone and stuff, but right then I felt him get into my office too. Heading for me, then past me. My desk.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I quickly asked, watching as he paused. After searching around my desk and office though. “What are you-
“Luggage,” he simply stated, “I need to help with your luggage.”
Oh.
That.
“Well…that won’t be necessary.” I said, reducing my guard. “I just have these. Nothing else.”
I picked up my laptop and bag then. Silent understanding registering on his features. And although he seemed to have slight reservations with the way his eyebrow raised, he didn’t voice them.
Good.
I was tensed about what I was about to do, didn’t need anyone asking me silly questions.
“Let’s go.” we left right then. I let him lead me out. Take me to HIM waiting downstairs, outside. The moment we approached the car from a distance, I readied myself. Took the required boost of deep breaths, and when we reached, I got into action immediately.
“Ma’am.” Jordan greeted as I reached, opening the door of the car but I stopped him. Getting into cation almost instantly.
“Oh no, don’t bother please.” I cried out carefully, rushing to stop the opening. My eyes panicked. “No need to let me in…there’s been a problem.”
“Problem?” the voice came from the inside. Inside the car. Him most definitely. “What sort of problem?”
“Well I…,” I bent low a bit, findig his eyes. Fidgeting with my laptop and bag intentionally. Bouncing on my feet a little too for more effect. The perfect panicked mode.
No one could do it better.
“It’s a personal problem, sir. I’m sorry.”
And he noticed it.
“What problem?” I didn’t see his face. Just heard his voice. Felt his eyes on my feet too. The bouncing. Good.
“What’s going on with you, Alina?” the question came easily, my name flowing instead of the title ‘consultant’.
“I have a little problem, sir. It’s urgent.”
“You mean more urgent than the issue you started with the suppliers? More urgent than right now?”
Started? I didn’t start anyth-
Concentrate Alina! Concentrate here.
“I have a family emergency, sir!” I quickly blurted, direct. Out in the open.“It’s…something came up. Just now. A few moments ago. A family issue that’s really, really urgent. I’m needed back home sir, I need to go over to them, to go make sure everything’s alright. I can’t come today. I know we made all the arrangements but…I can’t leave… I really have to go, sir. I have to go, I’m sorry.”
There.
Simple.
Dramatic.
Panicked.
No stress at all.
Any logical normal human being would buy that and buy it cleanly too. Nice going, Alina.
But a few moments passed, “Sir?” I called, not hearing anything from him. “Sir can I go now? I’d really love to-
“Err Jordan?” his voice suddenly came through. Cutting me off. Calm. Smooth. Too smooth. “Jo, how much did you say you’ll owe me if this happens? How much?”
Huh?
“Boss,” Jordan cleared his throat beside me. Expression stern, but breaking for a moment as he uttered the words. Seemingly almost painfully as he did. “5 thousand.”
“What?”
“I owe you 5 thousand, boss. 5 thousand in cash once we land.”
“Good! Very good.” Crackles came from inside the car. Heavily amused and pleased with himself. Whereas I…I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on. “Well that’s all. Let’s go Jo.”
Jordan moved instantly, gesturing me to the car. To get in.
“Wh-w-why?” I blinked repeatedly at him. Looking from both him to the car, then the person inside whom I still couldn’t see since he wouldn’t make the effort. “Sir said I can go. I can go…home. Go home. Home.”
I moved away from him. Away from the car. Straightening out myself, bag on my shoulder and everything.
“This is goodbye, sir. Thank you again. Safe trip!”
I turned around immediately, ready to bolt. But just then,
“And where do you think you’re going?” his voice came, amused. Authoritative. “Where exactly are you going, ALina?”
“Err…home?” I turned back slowly, skeptical. Considering if I should just run off right now cause I wasn’t exactly getting a good feeling right now. “I told you I have a family emergency, and you’ve allowed me to-
“I didn’t allow anything.” he cut me off, chuckling kind of too. “Wait a minute,”
Movements filled the air, the car door still open. Then next moment, green pair of eyes stuck out. A partial view of his face coming on, just enough for me to see that it was him. See his amusement. His games. His taunts.
“You really think you will pull that off and it’ll work? That you’ll do this…and I’ll buy it. Really?” his eyebrows wrinkled. But not from anger. From mockery instead. Cheap mockery. I could already hear his laughs even if he didn’t exactly let them sound out aloud.
My cover’s been blown.
Excuse, useless.
“Get your ass in here, Alina. Right now. We’re leaving.” he recoiled back into the car. Back to his seat. My eyes moving from the car to Jordan already staring at me. And not in a friendly way. Quite frankly, this Jordan man was kind of scary to look at.
“What are you waiting for, Consultant? We don’t have all day, and Jordan’s already lost 5 thousand betting you won’t pull this stunt. You’ve already failed him, don’t embarrass him further.”
Okay hold on.
“What do you mean he lost 5 thousand?” I asked, looking at the car now.
“Exactly what it means. He lost the bet . I won. Let’s go.”
What?
Tha-that’s what that was about? Owing and all-
He made a bet over me?? Using me, using I would do this, how???
More than that what did it mean for me right here and right now?
“Let’s go on, Ma’am.” Jordan stepped forward, to me. “It’s already time for your flight.”
Flight?? What flight? I wasn’t going anywhere, I wasn’t -
“No wait.” I pushed back, evading him. “Wait, no flight. No flight. I have a family emergency, I have-”
“Come tell me all about it in here.” his voice taunted. No face. “Jo!”
“I apologize, Ma’am.” Jordan grabbed me by the arm then, pulled me straight to the door with literally no effort despite my desire to struggle. Making me get in, shutting the door behind and then going over to the drivers side himself.
“Wait!” I banged the door, trying to get out. Panicked. “You don’t understand, I can’t travel. I really can’t.”
But he didn’t pay me any mind. Neither did the bastard beside me.
“Oh my God,” I began muttering as the car moved. Taking me away. Taking me to airport. My doom. “Oh God.”
I could only wither on the polished leather seats. Feeling sick all over, my stomach turning.
They were going to find out. They were going to know, he was going to know!
Oh no…
Earth take me already, will you? Take me before this man finds out about the disgusting state of my life.
“Nice going, Consultant… you can have all the space you want.” his voice came to my ears. Taunting. Not even sparing me a glance as I literally sat holding my stomach in slight pain. Bent sideways kind of. Rather he adjusted. Giving me more room.
Bastard.
Totally unbothered he looked. Totally unbothered he was. His eyes fixed on a shiny white tablet, clicking away at stuff, legs crossed cleanly, burgundy pants spotless, shoes shiny, hair sleeked back, black dress shirt open. Unbuttoned as usual.
And I only few words;
Good to see you too, bastard.
Good to see you.