6.Him

            Ayla is already late when she entered the lobby. Her parka jacket and her hair are slightly touched by rain. With a bag and car keys in her hand, she rushed to the elevator which she found occupied. She moved to drive another one. But when she saw the person inside the elevator, her legs paralyzed. Ayla stared at the tall man in the black suit. He was keeping his middle button of his suit. He looked simple, sophisticated and subtle. He would have already recognized her. A wave of embarrassment hit her when she remembered what she did yesterday. He neither said anything nor his face showed anything.  He looked at her as if she is nothing and pressed a button. The doors of elevator are closed on her face.

       "I'm dating an artist. He is cute." If it isn't for this message, Ayla could've met Jayden formally. She could've said 'good evening' and he could've wished her as well or smiled. What a coincidence! Vanessa has a date and Ayla stayed late. Quinn is dating and she spilled coffee on her boss's shirt. She tried not to get him into her head again. But what happened in the lobby decided otherwise.

       ‘Isn't he generous enough to share a ride with me?’ she thought. ‘What the hell. Why would he do that?’  He is her boss. But it's not his private elevator. It's for the staff. "Argh!!"

     "Thanks for filling me yesterday." Vanessa hugged her from behind. "The date went well." She chirped." Thank you so much."    

Even though she felt like saying,'Yeah. That's the worst decision I've ever made. Thanks to your stupid date', Ayla managed to say, "No problem. You are always welcome."

       While Vanessa was explaining about her date, her face glowed with much radiance than usual, a light redness swept across her cheeks, her eyes shined with delight. 

       With her thoughts wandering over what's going to happen, Ayla cannot concentrate on any other things. Chill Ayla, it's just a coffee, of course, a hot coffee on your boss's expensive shirt. Like Einstein said, one hour in the work felt like one day. When she can't stomach it anymore, she beckoned Vanessa to come closer. She moved her chair out of her cubicle and drew closer to Ayla’s.   

       "Um.. I watched a drama yesterday and it left me hanging onto the cliff. You know, I'm kinda curious. The girl is an employee at the guy's empire. They never met each other before. But unexpectedly, she ran into him and spilled coffee, a very hot coffee on his shirt. He didn't say a word and left. What do you think will happen to her?"     

        For a second Vanessa whirled her few strands of her curly hair around the pencil in her hand and the next second, her eyes popped out before she raised from her chair, " Ayla, You spilled coffee on Mr.Knight!" It's a question and exclamation at the same time which was loud enough to caught the attention of all the other team members in their room.

       Why the hell did she forget that Vanessa is smart and she has a high pitched voice? Ayla quickly pulled her grabbing her hand and made her sit. They lowered their bodies so that the other people won't notice their "little chat.”

       Before she could give her friend a proper explanation, a pair of stilleto black heals stood before them. Both of their eyes moved from her to five inches heels to her creamy long legs to her mini Black skirt and to grey blouse. And her face, wow! A nude lipstick on her round lips, bright almond eyes and forehead covered with front bangs, silky brown hair tied in a perfect ponytail only made her look ravishing. She is a sight for sour eyes. They both stared at her in awe just like all other members in the room.

       She looked at Ayla and smiled," Miss.Sargin, Mr.Knight has summoned you."     

       The next question came from Vanessa," Are you sure you spilled coffee but not acid. Why is he calling you?"      

        Ayla’s heart has already dropped down to her stomach. Fidgeting with her fingers, she followed whoever came to take her. She tried to make some conversation with this woman to get some information. "Um.. you could have just sent a word."     

       "No. I had a work there and picked you on my way back." The rest of the ride is silent. As they entered into the lobby, only the colors of grey and white, simple yet modernized crystal furniture and no people greeted her. This entire floor has only two large enclosed rooms and a small cabin which had the words "Stephanie Joseph" engraved on its glass door. Ayla felt that this floor is a reflection of Mr.Knight, simple, cool, rich and elusive.

       They stopped at a door. The woman extended her palm towards the door showing that this is her destination. She nodded and opened it slightly.      

        A fleeting glance at his entire office showed her a large bay containing many books, records, magazines and much more swept across one side of the room. The books are the only colors there, everything is white and grey along with the large sofa placed near that "mini library", his glass table, the apple laptop, the ceiling and the floor. Through the glass wall that stood as a partition between the room and balcony, one can see the sky and the city. It is such a beautiful view.    

        Jayden is busy in whatever he is reading. She would rather say scrutinizing. His chiseled face is bent slightly to a side. His left hand tugged at his tie loosening it. He placed the hand on the table, his finger curled towards the palm a little. His eyes are deep, he has absolutely no visible upper eyelid exposure that merely made him more attractive. And she felt that those ocean blue pupils hold more than anything he could show to the world.

        They say something. She always feels that. A few strands of brown hair fell on his face when he bent forward to grab a pen. His eyes never left the file, but his hand took the exact pen he needed from the stand which also contained many pencils and markers. ‘This man will never fail to amaze me.’ Ayla told herself.  He sucked his lips in moistening them a little before signing that paper.

         She can easily say it because he drew his pen to the end of the paper and being the CEO , he wouldn't have any other use with a pen.   

        Ayla found herself trembling when she made a knock on the door. He lifted his eyes to look at her without raising his head. She is so sure that someday, those eyes will be her death. They lingered on her for at least five seconds and in those few seconds, he studied her well. Too well, that he could easily measure the length of her hair, size of her blouse button and even the brand of her watch. He doesn't just see, he observes, he reads and she is definitely an open book for him.

      She suddenly felt naked and vulnerable before him. It is a waste to even mask her tension. He knew and he will know and she came to know that just with his wandering gaze. He pointed his pen towards the chair before him.     

      She took a step forward when someone opened the other door and walked past her. All she could see is a back of woman who wore a white mini dress which appeared as gaudy with a very expensive leather bag.

      "Surprise." She said extending her hands a little on either ways.  But Jayden is not even a kilometer close to surprise.    

        "At least act as if you are surprised." She said walking straightly to his table on her cut out heels. Ayla looked at herself in a fit trouser and a sky blue colored blouse. For the first time in the year, she stepped in this floor and for the first time in the year, she felt like she doesn't belong in this office. Flashes of a vague memory just like this, a feeling just like this appeared at a glimpse which lasted for an eternity second. This is something she felt before but she couldn't figure out when and where.   

         All her thoughts were interrupted when Mr. Knight spoke, "I expected you here. But not in this hour." He voice was deep, strong and controlled.     

         She stood there looking at both of them. She doesn't even know whether to stay or leave. Jayden looked at her and said," I'll see you again Miss.Sargin. " He pronounced it so clearly and correctly.     

         Ayla nodded saying yes in a tremulous voice. She quickly turned around and about to pull the door to get out of this intimidating environment, she heard the woman say, "Wait."

        She doesn't know whom she is referring to. Her hand stopped in the midway. She didn't turn. She waited to make sure that she referred to her.     

        "Let her go." Came at once the sharp voice of Jayden, and Ayla didn't wait for another second. She ran to the elevator and then to the terrace. It is drizzling a little. She didn't care. She stood in the middle and gasped as she let the breath that she held till now out. Her face and hair now has the touch of water drops. If she stayed there for another minute, she will be wet completely.