Meeting Mr. Mogul(71)

I waited for William to seat back on his chair, before starting a  conversation. But, before I could voice out a word, he beat me to it.

"So, you're heading back south?" he asked lightly as he studied me.

"Ah, yes. Maybe …  That might be the plan," I replied vaguely, keeping my voice from quivering.

"Do you hate me so much that you have to move far away just so I can't  get to you?" he asked almost in pain, but he kept himself nonchalant.

"I think I've said this to you once. I don't hate you, William. But, it  doesn't mean I'll tolerate seeing you almost every day," I replied  sternly, taking a sharp intake of breath.

"So, you'll be moving back home?" he asked again after a short pause.

"Maybe …  I don't know … " I mumbled in reply. I don't know how long I'm  going to last lying to him. But, I'm not going to tell him the truth. I  already made my decision.

"So, is this goodbye?" he asked, more to himself rather than to me.

"I think so," I give him a stiff nod of reply and look away from him. I  don't want him to read anything on my face that would give me away.

"Can I at least help you out with moving back?" he offered with a serious tone, making me look back at him.

"Oh! No! We're fine. Terry is helping us," I abruptly replied, a little scared that he would know something was up.

"Are you sure?" he asked again for confirmation.

"Yes," I nodded quickly and stood up from my chair. "I think I should  head back now. I still have to pack up," I added as I slowly made my way  out of his office.

William quickly stood up at my retreat, eying me almost longingly. "I'll see you out," he offered.   





 

I allowed him to walk beside me out of his office towards the elevator. I  felt a shiver run down my spine as we entered lift. There weren't many  good memories with us alone in this lift. And most of them involved on a  lot of physical actions.

When the elevator door closed, I didn't expect him to be direct. But, I  think he'd been holding back for a while now, and both of us aren't in  the mood on talking.

With quick hands, William wrapped one arms around my waist and the other  at the back of my neck, tugging my hair so that I would look up towards  him. He didn't need to do much since I was already looking up at him in  surprise. He didn't waste time and leaned down, placing those luscious  lips on mine.

I couldn't help my moan at the contact. It's been days since he last  kissed me. But, that kiss wasn't as passionate as this one. The kiss was  different. It made me feel how much he really wanted me.

I was dazed a second after he ended it when the elevator door opened. I  didn't know how to react or respond. Then, my consciousness came back  when he softly caressed my cheeks with the hand he placed on the back of  my neck.

"I'm not giving up yet. I'll come for you," he whispered sternly to me,  his deep blue eyes liquefying the emotions swirling around us.

Without words, I gave him a small nod of reply. This is bad. I know that  look. He is not going to leave me. Even if I'm going to be on the other  side of the world, this man has the power to look for me. And he will.  No matter what the circumstances awaits him.

"William … " I started softly, my resolve quivered by his words. " … Goodbye." I whispered, my stubbornness got the better of me.

I didn't wait for his reply, knowing that this is never a goodbye  between us. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here in this city. But  I'm not going to give in to him. I knew how this would work, and I  didn't want a recap my last relationship. We were too different. Though  in truth, I wanted the assurance of his words. I don't want him to throw  me away. I hope he wouldn't forget. I hope he will come and find me.





Forty-Five





I felt another sense of déjà vu as I entered the building for my first  day of work. I couldn't hide my delight when I announced to my father  that we don't have to move back since I had a job. Though I already know  that I have it before he was released, I kept quiet for a few days.  After that short event with him knowing that I quit my previous job, his  belief in me slightly went down. But now that I'm on my feet again, I  think he had forgotten that already. It's what I hoped for.

"Are you excited to go to your new job today?" my father asked after eating his breakfast.

"Yes. I'm pretty excited," I replied with a beaming smile before taking one last sip on my juice.

I jumped down on the stool in the island counter. After quitting my  previous job, I moved out of my classy apartment. I left a note to  Alexandra since I didn't want to have another discussion about keeping  that place. It was too grand for me anyway.

So with Terry's help, I was able to find a new place a few days after I  moved out. We had to crash at Terry's for a day or two before the place  had to be cleared out and finalized the paper. My new apartment is a two  bedrooms and one bathroom unit. It was perfect and had a homey feel of  our old place. The apartment was located a few blocks from Terry's  place, which didn't take long for me to find it.

As I entered the building of my new job, I felt a little out of place. I  studied each person that walked pass me. No girl or boy here was  wearing anything less than a polo shirt, which looked like it has a  high-class fabric. I quickly made my way to elevator and pressed the  close button after pressing my floor number. I let out a sigh of relief  that I was the only person inside the lift.

I looked at my reflection on the elevator door and felt a little  disappointed. Working for a high-end company, my fashion sense hasn't  change at all. I was still wearing my jeans and shirt but at least I  wasn't wearing any sneakers today. I took liberty on buying something  new on my last paycheck.

When I reach my designated floor, I felt shy as I walked in. A few  people stared at me as I walked towards my new boss's office. But I  didn't let it get to me. I was going to work here so might as well get  used to it.   





 

As I reach the door of the department head, I looked at the name outside  in shock. My eyebrow scrunched together in confusion. I knocked on the  door twice, which the person on the other side directly answered. I  entered with a calm façade and expected what came next.

"Andy! Good morning!" Ally greeted as she glanced up from her computer screen.

I gave her a small smile. "Ally. Hey! I didn't know you work here."

"I did tell you that I work at a magazine company," she replied shyly.

"Can I except that the reason why I got hired because you knew me?"

"Well, I was the one who reviewed the applicants for the last interview  and I saw your name. I didn't know you applied here. You could have told  me, or something. But aren't you working at Maxwell Enterprises?"

"Ah, about that …  Well, it wasn't really for me …  So, here I am," I  replied hesitantly. I didn't want to discuss about William for now.

"Oh, okay …  I'm glad that you're here now. And welcome to the art  department. Do you want me to show you around?" she asked and stood up  from her desk.

"Well …  thank you. But, you looked busy here … " I stated and trailed off as I looked her messy desk and computer.

"This will only take a while, and I need a short break anyway. I've been  here since five this morning," she replied, showing her exhaustion as  she hunched her shoulder.

I chuckled at her actions and opened the door for her. "Well, lead the way."

The tour on the art department floor was short. But I can't say that the  floor was small either. The whole floor was able to accommodate a few  studios, a huge boardroom, a break room, and at least twenty cubicles  for the employee. I didn't know you need this much manpower for just one  department.

When the tour ended, Ally ushered me to my new desk, which had a stellar  view of the buildings surrounding us. I made a quick scan on the  neighboring cubicle, studying the faces on the people that I would be  working starting today, and then I looked at my desk. It was a fine  cubicle with a high-end computer and a landline phone placed beside it.  The computer was almost identical to Ally's on her office.

"This is where you'll be working," Ally announced, gesturing at my desk.

"Wow," I said at the top of my mind.

"If you need anything, you can press number four on the telephone and it  would connect to my phone office," she explained as I slowly caressed  my new leather chair before seating down.

"Do you have any more questions?" Ally asked, reeling me back to reality  when my mind wandered off when I turned on the computer.

"Oh, no. I'm going to manage."

"Good. Well then, you're first assignment would be on the file folder  placed on the desktop on your computer. After that, your work will be  sent to you via email, and some would be handed to you by Kate, my  secretary," she instructed.

I gave her a stiff nod in reply taken aback by her tone. Since she was  my boss now, she had the right to sound authoritative. But her façade  didn't last long as she gave me a warm smile and she headed back to her  office.