Chapter Five

I am going to cry. My eyes are welling up with tears, and if I blink, just once- they are going to fall.

This is too much eventfullness for one night.

I want to call my therapist so bad, but Sunday's her only day off in the week and I can't be that selfish as to disrupt it.

There is still a long line at The Basements entrance.

When I had come out at first; walking as if the devil himself was trailing me, the people in line had looked at me like I was running mad.

ironic how it seems that everyone wants to get in, but I desperately want out.

"Finally we found you." It's Nadia and Tk.

She wraps her arm around me. "Hey, that was... Intense."

I drag my hand through my locs when she let's go. They're both giving me very sympathetic looks.

"Its like he would've ripped that guys head off." Tk Comments.

I can't help the sigh that escapes me. "I feel like this is all my fault."

Tk looks appalled. "Girl it was not your fault, that waiter knew better than to be out of line like that. In front of his boss even. If he gets his ass fired it's on him."

Easy for Tk to say, he and his sister are from a very stable middle class home, neither of them have had the struggle of loosing a job and not being able to make ends meet.

"Maybe I should go back in, ya know and try to reason with him?"

Nadias eyes focuse on a point above and behind me. "Ah... I don't think you need to go back."

"Yasmine." It's Aaron, his hands are tucked into the pocket of his jeans and he's got a sheepish expression on his face. "Could you guys excuse us, please."

Tk is about ready to bounce, but Nadia squeezes my hands feebly, in my ear she whispers: "Text me if you need anything."

"I'm sorry."

His apology takes me aback, I was so not expecting that he would be remorseful.

"I shouldn't have exploded like that, yes the waiter did break atleast three company laws by that stunt he pulled. But he is relatively new here, it should be expected that he slipped up, and that was just a front to cover the actual reason why he pissed me off."

I swallow, seeing something in his eyes that I am not too sure of. "And what was the real reason you were mad."

"You." it's a simple word, but it holds too much meaning.

"Me..."

"Yes you, I saw him talking to you, saw you smile at him- and I just fucking lost it."

No way this is happening. Somebody pinch me.

Better still slap me, anything. I need to wake up, cause there is no way he's telling me what I think he's telling me. "Why though?"

"Because i was fucking jealous. The second he asked you for your number I wanted to shove that pen deep down his throat."

Damn.

"I don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything, not yet atleast. I get that this is probably too fast a pace for you. I'm tryna be rational here so I don't scare you... But God I want you."

I could see it now, what Nadia had been trying to point out to me in the restroom, desire. He wanted me.

But how?

"But Imani?"

He laughs, a nervous laugh. "Yeah, I didn't intend for her to get all touchy- feely with me. When I went into the lounge and you weren't there I figured I'd try to get some info about you from her, Since you two are friends."

"Yeah we're not friends, at all."

"I kinda figured that out, I've been doing this whole thing wrong, from the cottage, to now." He inhaled and exhaled rather loudly. "Let me make it up you, let's scratch this whole thing. Forget everything that happened. Let me start by dropping you off."

"There's no need for that, I'm staying at chelsea inn I could just get an uber there."

"I would feel like a complete asshole if I don't atleast get you to your hotel safe, please let me."

"On the condition that you forgive Micheal."

He raises his brows. "Who?"

"Our waiter."

He considers my bargain "Deal. But if he messes up again I can't guarantee you anything."

Good enough for me.

He owns the type of car I'd imagined he would drive.

Sleek, masculine, dark, expensive and extremely sexy.

its one of those foreign sports cars, with a name I am sure I will bite my tongue trying to pronounce, so low to the ground I am surprised how he manages to fit in so perfectly.

Of course Aaron Ashgroove would have a car in New York city.

I'm relatively quiet during the ride, still reeling cause I still can't believe or fully comprehend what he said to me outside the club.

He glances at me a couple of times, but doesn't say anything.

When we get to my hotel I turn to him. "Thanks for the ride."

I make a move to open the door, like I know how to.

But Aaron is already on it, he very gracefully gets out from his side of the door.

"Here." He holds out his hand when he comes around, gratefully I take it.

"So I guess this is goodnight-" I start to say, but I'm caught of, when he hands his keys to the velet.

"Allow me to walk you in." He entwins his fingers with mine and guides me through the revolving doors.

In the lobby, just like the club, people stare.

Mostly women, but men look too. Aaron doesn't even batt an eye to the attention he's ganering.

"If i asked you a question, would you answer?"

I shrug, as long as it's not about my personal life.

"How long have you been working with ITENS?"

Okay so not the question i had been expecting.

"Since, college. And how do you know the name of my management company?"

"Aurora," He replies. "Who introduced you to the company?"

"Aurora."

I watch him from the corner of my eye, his mouth presses into a thin line at my responds.

"How's the experience been so far?"

"Pleasant, why are you asking me questions about this?"

He lips quirk. "Humour me, I'm trying to distract myself from enquiring on the very intimate questions that I really want to know."

Well since he put it like that. "it's been nice all these years, although I do feel like at times management can be quite lazy."

"How so?"

"A couple of content creators and myself were suppose to go on this vacation, it was on a houseboat. We'd been told about it months prior- you know everyone was excited- then just a week before it was going to happen, the trip got cancelled." Even speaking about it now is getting me irked. "Management told us that the company leasing the boat suddenly didn't wanna give it out anymore. But the truth, which I would find out months later, was actually that who ever was in charge of signing the documents for the boat forgot to do so; hence why we couldn't get it on time."

He looks a little solemn. "You must have been so dissapointionted."

"Not really, it was just a one week vacation. And honestly I know I do a lot of hard work, but my line of work isn't the most hectic, I can always afford to not take some time off. It's not gonna kill me."

And this is the truth, while being a YouTuber is my full time job, and I am very passionate about it, it can never be compared to a nine-to-five.

My experience of working as a waitress, making less than minimal wage, has thought me to never take for granted the privileges the job I do offers.

When we get very close to the elevator, I redraw my hand from his.

We stop walking, he inches closer to me.

Crowding my personal space.

I swallow. "Goodnight Aaron, I appreciate everything you did today."

"Again, it was my pleasure." Aaron says.

I nod my head, walking into the lift just as an elderly couple step out.

I expect him to turn around and walk away, but he doesn't. "Will I see you again."

I hope not. I want this all to just be an innocent run-in, I don't need a man like Aaron in my life.

He's the kind of of guy that probably breaks heart without even meaning to.

I honestly don't think I can survive having my heart shattered again. I've barely recovered from the last time someone toyed with my emotions.

And I happen to like my heart intact, thank you very much.

"I don't think so."

He quirk his brow, seeming skeptical. "I happen to be of the understanding that we will. Till we meet again Yasmine."

*   *   *

The next day at work I'm surprised with a bouquet of flowers, courtesy of Libby and Hannah.

Hannah goes on to embrace me so tight, I have trouble breathing.

"Oh my gawd chica, we are sooo proud of you!" Hannah says, finally letting me out for air.

Libby nods in agreement. "Yeah, you totally slayed. you are literally the envy of every influencer in this building."

The three of us are making our way to the top floor of the building, where the conference with the newest president is taking place.

Apparently he insisted on addressing all workers of the company, something the last CEO hadn't ever done.

"After the meeting we should totally head someone for lunch- my treat." Hanna suggests.

Libby s respond is a long graon. "Y'all are gonna have to put a raincheck on lunch, I have to be home early so I can let some installers in."

"Just have Devon do it." I say.

Libby shakes her head. "I would have, but Devons outta town."

Hannah rolls her eyes. "Again?."

"Yeah, his grandma's been real sick lately. He's been traveling a lot to take care of her."

"Its okay Libby," I start. "Just know that when we do go out to celebrate, bills on you."

"Deal."

In the conference room I get a ton of hugs, and congratulations. From colleagues, and even some directors on the board.

More flowers and well wishes come my way, and honestly all of this attention is making me flush.

Libby, Hannah and I find vacant chairs very close to some of our favorite colleagues.

Dalton and Danny, A podcast duo. Melany, who is an up and coming gaming twitch streamer.

"New York looks good on you." Melany compliments. "Your hair is so cute, plus I saw the pictures you posted on I*******m, I'm jealous of you. I would give anything to get an invite to the asement."

In typical over dramatic Melany fashion, she fans a hand around her face and pretends to faint.

We all laugh at her antics.

"But seriously, what was it like?"  Dalton asks

Everyone within earshot peers at me inquisitively. Even Libby and Hannah, all I have told them so far has just been bits and pieces. For some reason I don't really want them to know the entire scoop.

I shrug. "Fun."

Melany prompts."Bet they were a shit ton of celebs there right?."

"Yeah a lot actually."

"Like who?"

Fortunately before I can respond to Melanys question, a man who I've never seen before adresses each of us, with the aid of a small mic.

"Good morning everyone, please allow me to apologize on the impromptu nature of today's meeting. As most of us are aware a shift of power recently took place and it was very necessary that we all gathered as soon as possible." He swallowed, then continued. "Please let's welcome our new president Aaron Ashgroove."

Everyone stands And claps, even Libby and Hannah who are giving me very pointed looks.

I don't stand.

I honestly don't think I can. I just sit down for a little longer refusing to believe my ears heard correctly.

That there's no way in hell this shit is happening. but it is.

It's Aaron alright, looking impossibly more delicious in a three piece gray colored suit, a shade that closely resembles his eyes.