Two

Audrey

I push my chair back and stand on my feet as I set my eyes on the woman from this morning. I feel my heart skip a beat as our eyes meet. Our eyes' movement synchronizes, slowly moving down and taking in each other's appearance.

She's wearing a green body-con gown that wraps around her tiny waist like a glove as she stands–I think- 5'8 tall-. She's holding a small red bag with her coat hanging on her arm. She oozes this kind of confidence that one can only imagine. And she has barely said a word.

I can't help but wonder how I look in her eyes. I mean, I am nothing special. I stand 5'3 wearing the ugliest pantsuit–thank God the desk covers most of it-, and a white silk shirt tucked in. My curly hair is a mixture of brown and gold and I bet I look like I just got out of a jungle and the freckles scattered on my face sure don't help.

In a seesaw movement, our eyes lock again.

She must be a model for one of our brands' campaigns. She must have lost her way.

"Uh, hey-" I manage to say, but I get interrupted by Joey from HR.

The short bald man walks in and gestures to the door at the right where Mr. Briggs' office is located. "Here's your office," He then turns to me, "And this is your assistant, Audrey."

I am not fired.

Wait, she's the new Chief Operating Officer and my boss?

With a spark of interest in her eyes, "Audrey," She repeats. My name said in her mellifluous voice, sending a shiver through my entire body. Her sound lingers, in the air, in my ears, and in my body.

"She is-"

She cuts him off. "Thank you very much..." She pauses, trying to recall his name.

"Joey,"

"Joey," she smiles, "Tell Mr. Bailey, I will be in his office shortly."

He nods, "Okay, I will."

She takes a step to the side, giving him space to leave. The room falls silent as the door closes.

Shit! I am her new assistant and she saw me having a mental breakdown in the dirty streets of New York. She probably thinks I am clumsy and getting coffee is my primary job.

I am screwed.

"I swear I am not crazy. I just had a rough morning. I assure you it's not going to be a constant. I do not go around crying over spilled coffee. And speaking about coffee, I am not clumsy and..." I ramble.

She takes several steps forward. With a mischievous smile playing on her lips, "I am Scarlett." She says.

~~~

I fucking hate this city. I hate the subway and I hate my life. Tripp and I moved from LA to New York almost three years ago and I feel more lost than I was in LA. While we were in LA, we slept in Jason's–Tim's brother- garage for a year and a half while Tripp tried to get his musical career started.

I worked in a cute little bookstore under the nicest boss, Mr. Whitely. He always urged me to write. But I never seemed to be able to. I was around so many words on a daily but I never got to put any down. But it felt safe and although the money wasn't much, it's what got us started in New York.

The decision to move to New York was abrupt. Tripp had come home drunk that night, gloomy and frustrated. "Things aren't working for me here." He said to me with his head down in defeat. I knelt down and held his head up, looked him in the eyes, and whispered to him, "Then let's go where it will work."

The next morning, we packed our things and thanked Jason for his unbelievable kindness. But I never got to say goodbye to Mr. Whitely. I hate myself for that. We were back on the road again for two whole days. This time, I didn't feel as excited. I guess Tripp's excitement was enough for both of us.

"If you want to be a true musician, the best place to be is New York." Tripp once said, so we found ourselves in New York.

"Hey, Audrey," our plumber's daughter greets as she walks past me along with her group of friends.

"Hey," I reply softly. I am standing in front of the 5 story building of our crappy rented apartment, mentally preparing myself for the number of stairs I will have to climb.

I sigh as adjusted my bag on my shoulders, while holding a bag of fruits. I walk in through the entrance and I am greeted by the noisy faulty light bulb–like those in horror movies- which has been faulty since we moved in.

After one step, in a blur, I am already on the third floor. I stop at the start of the stair when I set my eyes on little Maddie sitting at the top writing in her book.

"Hey Maddie," I smile. I can hear faint voices coming from her apartment. Her parents are having a fight again.

I hate them.

"Audrey," she looks up from her book with the brightest smile on her face.

"What are you doing there?" I ask, looking into her book.

"My assignments," she replies, tucking her blonde hair behind her ears with her little fingers.

"Why don't you come upstairs and we can complete your assignments together?" I urge.

Maddie's face falls as she frowns. It squeezes my heart.

"Why, what's wrong?" I ask.

"Mum said not to go up to your place anymore. She will get mad."

Fucking hate that woman.

I breathe out in anger, but I maintain a smile on my face. "Have you eaten?"

She shakes her head. "Mum is going to cook soon."

I take out an apple from the paper bag. "Take, before your mum cooks." I hand it to her.

"Thank you." She smiles.

~~~

I open the door to our apartment, and I am welcomed by darkness. I groan in frustration, already guessing what has happened. Still, I blindly locate the switch. I flick it down and up twice, even though it's not working.

"Hey, you are back." Tripp comes out of the bedroom, flashing the flashlight in my eyes.

I lean back a little, closing my eyes to protect them from the light. He refocuses the light elsewhere.

"Yeah, did you forget to pay our electricity bill?" I ask, trying to contain my annoyance.

"Yeah, kind of," Tripp replies with an apologetic smile playing on his lips.

I used to find that smile cute. Heck, I even fell for that smile, but recently, I am angered by it.

I walk to the kitchen to drop the fruit bag, and he follows behind me.

Once I dropped it, I turn to him. "Kind of? Did you not get your paycheck today? You said you were getting it today."

"Relax, I will do it first thing tomorrow," Tripp assures me, ignoring my question.

"There are things in the freezer that could go bad," I complain.

Sometimes I feel like I don't complain enough or I complain too much.

"You have nothing to worry about." He says. "Come here, babe." He commands, with a boyish grin playing on his lips.

I roll my eyes but still drop my bag and walk up to him as he commands. I stop right in front of him, biting down my lips as I look up at him.

Our height difference is one thing I like about us. He's 6'2 and I love that I have to stretch a little to kiss him.

He drags me closer, putting his arms around me. "Go freshen up. I'll handle dinner tonight." He says in that gravely calm voice, making me forget why I was outraged.

I put my arms over his shoulders, stretching myself up so our lips meet. Simple, passionate, and short, I stop to stare into his eyes for a while- trying to remind myself why all this is worth it- before I let go.

"Take," He hands me the flashlight.                          

"What are you going to use?" I ask, taking it.

"There's another one around here." He says, putting a quick peck on my forehead.

~~~

I walk out bedroom in my pajama shorts and large shirt to a room lighted up with candles, blankets, and throw pillows on the ground with a box of pizza in the middle. Then there's Tripp, bare-chested, showing off his chiseled abs. He looks so sexy in the candlelight. Messy blonde hair, lazy green eyes, angler cheekbones, and chiseled jawline and the way he looks in that loose grey sweatpants.

Early in our relationship, I wondered what someone as attractive as he is, was doing with me. I still have that fleeting thought, but when he looks at me like he is now -- like I am his everything-, it all goes away.

"Trying to seduce me, Mr. Baxter?" I tease, walking up to him.

He flexes his muscles, which makes me chuckle. "Is it working?" He asks, stretching his hand forth.

"Yeah," I take his hand.

He guides me to the ground, where I sit in front of him. He drags me close to hug me from behind. I smile, taking in his scent.

He smells like home. He is my home.

"How was your day?" I ask, resting on his chest.

"Better now." He whispers in my ear, fanning my earlobe.

I bite down on my lips as a curling sensation hit my lower stomach.

"Yours?"

My thoughts go to Scarlett in her tiny green gown. "Jody got engaged," I say instead. I shift my head a little to get a view of his face, to see his reaction. "They are getting married this winter."

"Jody? Is she the one with the annoying laugh?"

I nod.

"Poor guy," Tripp jokes.

I don't know what I was expecting him to say, but I can't help but feel disappointed. I snake my way out of his arms to sit on my own. I open the box of pizza and take a slice.

Taking a bite, "Mr. Briggs got fired, now I have a new boss." I talk as I chew.

"Wow, Mr. Briggs was nice, right?."

I shrug, "He was okay but my new boss, she's unbelievable." I fawn. In a much lower tone, "I hope she likes me, though."

"Anyone will be stupid not to like you."