I do not know what I did to offend him. For peace sake, I do not even attempt to ask him. Meanwhile Katharine is following him round like a little puppy dog. She said she cannot get over his looks and she would like to go out sometime with him. I feel that would not be such a good idea given his nature. He never says or does anything; he is always on his phone, talking to some client that he cannot get enough. Although it is hard with him, I do feel safe around him. I have a sense of ease that I only ever have in his presence. I do not know what it is, but something about him just screams out safety. It is almost as if he is my own personal bodyguard, and he certainly has the physique for the job. Today he has me going to some meeting with him. So thinking that it might take a while, I pack my iPod and a magazine. He usually is here by now and he says that his meeting is at one. I go out to hallway, to check if he is anywhere in sight. I see him and he is leaning against the lockers talking to Katharine. He has a sneaky smirk on his face and Katharine is smiling from ear to ear. Not wanting to seem like a buzz kill, I walk over slowly and say to Michael.
“Don’t you have a meeting today?” He looks over at me, quickly straightening his face.
“Yes Alanna, I was just about to come get you.” He says in a harsh tone.
“May I remind you that Wall Street is at least a thirty minute cab ride away and its now 12.45.”
“They will have to wait then.”
I shake my head and walk back to my room. I close the door and put my head in my hands, what is his problem? I do not know why I am even wondering that, because I know what the answer is. He does not like me; he does not want to be here, he does not think that I am worth protecting.
“Alanna,” I hear as the door bursts open, I turn around and I see Michael standing in the doorway glaring at me. “Why did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Come over and cause a scene like that,”
“Cause a scene, what scene did I cause?”
“That whole thing about me being late,”
“You are late; I just thought maybe you lost track of time, so I came out to find you.”
“And this has nothing to do with the fact that I was standing there talking to Katharine?”
“No, not at all,”
“I think its best you know, that I like her and I will be asking her out.”
“Okay that’s fine with me.” He pauses as he begins to talk, “I didn’t think you would approve of that?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because of the way I have treated you.”
“Michael I know this is hard on you, you’re far away from home, you don’t like me, and being around me here probably feels like the last thing you want to be doing.”
“I do like you, what I don’t like is this situation with Adrian.”
“What do mean by that?”
“I feel like you would be better off without him in your life.”
“What?”
“The way you are in danger all the time, is not good for any relationship and especially not one with Adrian.”
“What does that mean? Why are you talking about him like this?”
“I am not slating him in any way; I just want you to make the right choice.”
“What choice?”
“There will be a time when you find out about Adrian and, when you do, please make the right choice.”
“He has told me about his mother Alice,”
“When, what did he tell you?”
“A few days ago, he told me how she drank a lot and beat him.”
“Alanna, that’s not even a shadow of what happened.”
“So are you saying that he is lying?”
“No he’s not lying, it’s just that’s not the full story.”
“Then what is?”
“Adrian has made it clear that he doesn’t want you to know, why do keep pushing this.”
“Because don’t you think that I deserve to know?”
“Yes Alanna you do, but it’s not my secret to tell. I don’t wish to discuss this with you further, please don’t ask me about this anymore.”
“Fine I won’t”.
There is absolute silence during the cab ride to Michaels meeting. When we arrive at the shiny dark grey building, I feel as if I have been here before. Even though I am sure, I have not. We walk in the front door and there is a tall skinny dark haired man waiting by the front desk.
“Good day Mr Jenkins, we have been waiting.” The man says.
He quickly escorts us along the massive white hall way and into the elevator. “That’s a pretty girl you have with you today, are you his girlfriend Miss?” I look over to the man, wondering why he would think I am with Michael.