7. HER BESIDE ME

STANLEY’S POV

Even though I and Petals had our story, I didn’t just hire her because I felt bad for her or wanted to bully her. I have been following all her steps up for years and knew almost everything about her even though she was not aware of all that.

I saw all her articles online, watched her news and saw everything she was doing so I knew she was talented no doubt and wanted to bring her on board. Immediately I heard that she was fired from her former job through a friend, I made a move to recruit her and planned it well. 

On getting to the hotel that very night of the reunion, I was tired as hell but I jumped at the opportunity that she was present after receiving a tip from one of the people present at the reunion.

“I will be attending the reunion downstairs, prepare my clothes and everything I would need to look good. I also want to get my hair done so send someone over” I instructed and in minutes, I was dressed up for the party.

Thankfully, my plan worked out and she accepted the proposal even though I was not sure why she did because I knew Petals to be so stiff when it comes to making decisions especially how our relationship was not a friendly one. Once she makes up her mind, nothing would ever change it, she stands by her words.

It broke my heart to give her such a tough time in the first few days she resumed but I had to do that so she could prove her competence. I know there are gossips around that she bought her way in and I didn’t want to give a room for the gossip to grow beyond control. Her skills also needed refining so I made sure to push her past the limit which she succeeded in doing faster than I had expected.

“Are you not going to the gym today? The sun is way up in the sky” I heard the voice call out to me and opened my eyes to see my annoying secretary pulling the curtains apart.

The warm rays of sunlight poured right into my bed and that almost blinded me. I snuggled into the blanket to take cover from the sudden sun that looked like it would burn into my skin.

“Are you planning to look for another job? Because I might send you off soon” I threatened, finally stretching out of bed but he only scoffed

“You have been saying that for years and you never get it done” he remarked and that sent me speechless. His confidence was alarming.

“I guess I have been too lenient with you these days. I should really get your replacement, Ben” I threatened the more but with his expression, it was glaring that he was not moved a bit.

He only pointed to the left side of the bed after my words, “Those are your gym clothes, I will be waiting for you in the car” he informed me and left.

With my mouth hanging at his behavior, I watched him leave through the door before I could find my voice.

“Is he so arrogant because he’s good at his job? He has this weird confidence that I won’t fire him anytime soon” I muttered to myself before dragging my feet to the bathroom.

I work out at the gym down the street every Saturday because the instructor is my friend and he’s also a professional trainer. He only takes on exclusive trainings and clients so he was always had to book a session with.

He was talking to someone at the far corner of the gym when I entered and I decided to say hello. As I was walking towards him, I tried getting who it could be until my phone rang with Ben calling me.

“Your mother just arrived at the house and wants to see you” he informed me and my eyes rolled on their own immediately

“Tell her I am out for a session” I slammed him

“She said she will wait till you are back so don’t keep her waiting for too long” he responded and before I could say what was on my mind, he disconnected the call.

“That little..” I almost cursed but Ray greeted me with a broad smile

“Hey Stanley, how have you been?”

“I came here last week, why are you acting as if it’s been a month” I countered but he only patted my shoulder

“A week is also a long time, I want to see your face every day” he stated with a wink and Stanley rushed his hands through his body with a shudder

“I never knew that line could be so gross” Stanley spat out and they both laughed before heading to exercise.

*****

Ray wondered where Petals was hiding after running away when she saw Stanley. He scanned everywhere for her but she was not in sight so he gave up and concluded that she might have left the gym.

On getting to his office’s closet to change his clothes, he was shocked by her presence in the small locker. He wanted to scream at first due to surprise but the way she was snoring away made him calm down.

“Such a cutie” he remarked with a smile and slowly reached for her.

“How can she sleep so well in such a cramped place?” he murmured to himself as he carried her to the couch where he laid her down and covered her with a blanket then proceeded to change out of his clothes in the small inner room in his office.

 Upon coming out of the room and adjusting his clothes, something flew across his face suddenly but his reflex was good enough to dodge it. He looked up to see her chest heaving as she grabbed another coffee cup, ready to throw.

“Who are you? What did you do to me?” she questioned, taking the defense position.

He wanted to take offense at her words at first but he just smiled when he realized that the change in spot unexpectedly must have caused it.

“Ah, you slept off in my closet so I brought you here to have a good sleep since that place is too tiny” he explained, pointing to the closet behind him and her hand slowly went down in defeat

The memories of her panicking and hiding into the place she saw just because she thought Stanley was coming with Ray towards the place flooded her brain once again and she realized that she was the one at fault.

“I am sorry, I just got defensive over nothing” she muttered, scratching her head in embarrassment

Ray only chuckled for a bit “Don’t worry, I understand” he assured her to calm her down and she couldn’t have asked for more at that moment.

He brought her a cold bottle of water and they both settled down on the pouch to continue the registration talk they were having earlier.

“Did that person leave already?” she suddenly blurt out and he wondered who exactly

“I mean that rich brat that came around” she explained further and he got a hint of who she meant

“He left already but do you know him?”

“of course I know him! He’s my boss at work and I want to curse him out so bad. The amount of frustration he gave me in the fast few days is so crazy that I can’t resist myself from cursing him out” she explained without holding back, anger taking the best part of her.

He smiled subtly at her rants and watched her go at it without holding back, waited patiently for her to be done and it was then she realized that she had actually said so many bad words.

“Oh! I am sorry, I shouldn’t have unleashed my anger that way in front of you. Don’t mind me and just forget about that” she remarked, tucking her hair behind her ears

“You don’t need to apologize, it’s okay. Do you want me to curse him out with you?” he proposed and she was taken aback.

“You don’t even know him” she mumbled

“I don’t have to know him before I know the stress you are passing through because of him. Since your health is now in my care, I will offer to be your cursing mate” he explained

“Cursing mate? That sounds nice” she muttered, a smile appearing on her face

“Since it’s late, will you be starting your classes next week?” he asked and I nodded

“See you then. I have to go now” he said and they both went out of the door

He was trying to attend to her earlier just because his employee was not around and not planning to take her lessons but seeing how she had issues with Stanley, he was curious about what their relationship could be for him to be frustrating her that way so he offered to be her personal trainer.

“This will be interesting” he said to himself with a smile.