"What you mind if one of my friend joined us?" she asked almost sheepishly.
"It's just that I haven't seen them in so long and I promised I would soon so I just thought why not now?" she further explains.
I nod my head in agreement.
"The more the merrier right?" I say with a light smile on my lips.
She squeals and talks into the phone as she tells the person my address before she hangs up.
"We're gonna have so much fun" she says overly excited.
"I'm glad you were enjoying yourself with me so much" I say teasingly, fighting back a smile. a
"It'd be rude not to share our joy with others" __ she says back matching my tone.
Twenty minutes later and the bell rings. I rush quickly towards the door, grabbing the change on the way.
I had ordered Chinese food and since I hadn't had lunch at work, I was absolutely famished.
Thrusting the door open, I push my money filled palm outwards not even bothering to look at who it is.
Quickly regretting it as a throat being cleared is heard throughout the room.
Looking up I blush immediately as a guy I've never seen before stands at my door step.
Trying not to be too obvious of my assessment of him I quickly smile up into his forest green eyes with specks of golden.
He smiles down at me before he shoves a plastic bag full of food into my hand.
"Hello beautiful. I'm assuming the Chinese takeout is what you were waiting for. I paid for it, you're welcome by the way" with that he walks into my apartment, going over to hug Candice.
"I think I'm in love" I whisper as I look at the take away filled bag in my hand and then to the guy whom I'm assuming is Candice''s friend.
*******
Tears spill out of my eyes and I gasp for breath as my stomach starts to hurt due to so much laughter.
Caleb was telling us another one of his many stories which had reduced all three of us to puddles of laughter.
Ever since Caleb had stepped foot into my apartment not one moment had slipped by where we weren't enjoying ourselves.
"You should've seen his face" continues Caleb laughing.
"He seriously thought I was going to kiss him. He so wasn't my type".
Bursting into laughter once again, it takes a while for us to all calm down.
Caleb grabs my wine glass and starts to pour more wine but I shake my head, refusing.
I definitely didn't want to head into work with a hangover.
I could just imagine the taunting I would get from Alexander tomorrow.
"Oh cmon Nora, liven up a little" Caleb says nudging me.
Shaking my head I look up at him "you don't have to go to work tomorrow like some people".
"True" says Caleb as he had taken some time off of work.
Caleb was working at some place I had never heard of as a sales manager.
Caleb grabs the wine bottle and starts chugging out of it.
Glancing at him in amusement I look over at Candice to see she is just about to fall asleep on the sofa.
Nudging her slightly, she gets startled and then relaxes when she notices its me.
Candice stands up as does Caleb and they both hug me one by one.
Caleb and I had become great friends in the short span of time and he was just such an amazing person.
As they went out the door Caleb hugs me once again before he whispers into my ear "if you don't tap that hot boss of yours I'll gladly do it for you".
Both Candice and I burst out into giggles as I shove him out the door after one more goodbye.
Going straight to my room to change into my pyjamas I hop into bed and groan, knowing I have to get up bright and early tomorrow.
*****
The ringing of a phone blaring through the room wakes me up from my slumber.
Groaning I peek one eye open, glancing at my phone screen.
Who the hell is calling me at five in the morning?
"Hello" I croak into the phone, weary of the unknown number.
"Nora I need you to come as quickly as you can" says a voice tiredly from the other end of the line.
"Alexander?" I question, still not fully alert from my sleep.
"Yes Nora, who else will be calling you at five in the morning? Just hurry up and get here".
With that he hangs up on me, the dial tone blearing from the other end of the line as I just stare at my phone in confusion before groaning and burying my face into my pillow from frustration.
~~~~
Hailing a taxi at five in the morning wasn't an easy task.
Not because of the lack of taxi's which was a very rare site in the city of New York but mostly because I can't seem to function whenever the sun is barely peeking over the horizon.
I had to rush to get dressed, taking a five
minute shower then throwing my clothes on in a hurry and doing my makeup in a haphazard manner. To say I looked decent was a long shot.
I had never been to Alexander's house so I was quite nervous.
Why? I didn't even know the answer to that myself.
The scenery was gradually changing from the over crowded and packed streets with huge buildings to a more calmer area where instead of looming apartment buildings there were spacious houses surrounded by green lush gardens.
The further we went into the rich looking neighbourhood the bigger the houses got, now they were more like mansions.
The mansions all looked grand and regal with their separate gates and long driveways.
I even spotted a few with beautiful fountains flowing with water in the front part of the houses.
My eyes widen in astonishment as the car turns into one of the long driveways.
As we pass through the huge, stern black painted gate I can see that Alexander is among one of the few whom has a fountain in his front garden.
It was made out of pure white marble and glistened in the early morning light as the water flowed from one of the many tiers it had down to the ones below in a never ending cycle.
The driver looks back at me and announces that we're here.
I pay him and then get out of the taxi, now gazing up at the mansion before me which was in a clearer view.
Walking over to the door, my palms start to get sweaty as I watch the taxi drive back down the driveway.
Turning back to face the door, I raise my hand and knock onto the wooden door.
Looking at the ornate engravings on the dark brown wooden door, I admire it as I wait.
Sighing out loud I knock on the door, louder this time.
Hearing the sounds of footsteps I straighten myself up, gathering my nerves.
The door opens and I wait for Alexander to announce for me to come in.
Instead the door opens a bit wider and the model like woman I had seen him with last week at his office clinging onto his arm stands at the door in only his shirt, with a few , buttons undone showing part of her chest.
For some reason as I looked at her I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
I inwardly cringed. Maybe I had indigestion? |
"Who the hell are you?" she snaps at me not even bothering to cover up.
And here I was trying to be nice.
The door opens wider as a tired looking Alexander appears at the doorway.
"Oh Nora you're here" he says surprised.No shit I snap back in my head.
This is why I don't wake up so early. I get unjustly cranky.
I just stand there looking up at him not bothering to say anything.
"Sierra you can leave now" he says without looking at her.
Sierra's face scrunches up in annoyance as she , answers back "it's Sarah".
Stifling a giggle I can't help but let a smile tug at my lips as Alexander gives her an indifferent look telling her to leave.
She huffs and goes past Alexander somewhere inside the house.
Almost as if realising I was standing outside this whole time, Alexander quickly ushers me inside.
My mouth drops open in amazement at the large hall, all pristinely white with a beautiful chandelier hanging from the middle of the room.
The lights glistened like diamonds and I wouldn't be surprised if they actually were.
The hall split off into different rooms such as the living room while a set of spiral stairs was situated in the corner of the hall leading upstairs.
Alexander motions for me to follow him up the stairs and I do so wondering where we could be going.
His office most probably.
Even at this time of day Alexander wore a suit and looked like the epitome of perfection.
I discovered I was right as he lead me down one of the many halls and over to a door which opened to reveal his office.
It was nearly all wooden with dark wooden flooring and desk. One side of the wall was painted a brown almost reddish colour while the others were a off white.
A leather recliner lay in one side of the room with a leather foot stool directly adjacent to it.
The one window filtered in enough sunlight to let good lighting in the room and all in all it looked very professional yet homey.
Entering into his office I stand to the side as he goes over to his desk and grabs a few files.
Going over to help him out I don't see the slightly up turned rug and trip over it.
My arms splay out above me and I cringe as I know I'm going to hit the floor face first.
Apparently luck hates me and is most definitely not by side because as I fall my hand misses the desk by inches and somehow my face hits the corner of the desk, right above my eyebrow.
Pain shoots through my eye and forehead as I lie there groaning.
I was too stunned to be embarrassed.
I was just waiting for Alexander to burst into laughter but his reaction catches me off guard.
He quickly drops the files and papers he was holding and rushes over to me, pulling me up.
"Holy shit Nora are you okay?" He questions with anxiety ringing through his voice.
I manage to nod as the pain slowly starts to recede.
I try to stand up but I'm stopped by an overly worried Alexander who doesn't let me move.
He bends down onto his knees as he grabs my chin into his warm large hands.
He tilts my chin up as he assesses my face.
Scrambling up, he goes through his pocket before going over to the desk flipping things around as I just stare at him in confusion. | "What are you doing" I ask him as I stand up. "Sit back down you could've hit your head too
hard and got a concussion. Fuck where's my phone I need to call the ambulance" he says exasperated. Is this guy for real?
"Alexander calm down. I just hit my head lightly it's not a big deal. See I'm not even bleeding". Alexander looks at me and motions toward my head as he grabs a tissue from somewhere.
Coming over to me once more he grabs my face lightly. Apparently I was bleeding and hadn't even noticed. "You could've gotten seriously hurt and I need to make sure you're absolutely fine".
Something about the way he says that makes me feel all warm and tingly inside which eventually makes me agree to go to the hospital in case I need stitches.