I bury my face in my hands.
"I thought you two were good friends," says CJ.
"We are... I just don't want her to see me."
He's startled. "Why?"
"Personal reasons."
CJ chuckles. "Well, today is not your lucky day..."
I hear footsteps approaching and right then, I know that it's her. She loves making her footsteps louder to capture attention.
"Hey!" Zara blurts.
I look up to see her standing beside me with a wide grin that stretches from molar to molar and is probably the fakest thing I have seen my entire life.
"Heeeeeey!"
And there I go faking excitement.
Zara whistles. "TRAY!!!"
She probably catches the whole restaurant's attention but everybody seems to be in their business.
"Come over! Let's sit at this table!" she shouts.
I pray Tray declines but no! He willingly accepts and brings over hi
"He's dead, Amira."She looks up at me, her face completely blank of any emotion then she laughs.A short brief bitter laughter."Yea, dead to all of you," she says bitterly."But still alive in my head and in my thoughts... I still see him, Terra. I see him running his pathetic fingers allover my body. I see him take off his belt and part my legs, his eyes dark with desire. I see him take off his... His thing and insert it painfully inside me. And like a sad sad rhythm, I hear it repeat in my ears over and over again as he strokes and strokes and strokes... "Tears well up in her eyes.Thinking she will break down, she swallows and wipes the tears swiftly.Amira continues. "All these years and still that sick bastard is still fucking me up!" she snickers. "You know it was better when he used to fuck me at fourteen because I could just cry myself to sleep and wait for the repeat. But now... I'm a grown woman with a fucking h
"Lorenzo smashed my phone to pieces!"The minute I say that, his two colleagues crack up in laughter."Could you two gentlemen please excuse us?" CJ asks calmly staring at me straight in the eye.As the two men leave, he grits his teeth and demands,"Close that door!"The minute I close it, he flies from his chair and pins me to the door. He's hurting my arm and I wince in pain."What kind of nonsense is this!" he hisses.I try to fight off him but he's too strong for me. His whole body blocking me."What nonsense CJ? Enzo smashed my phone!" I snap.He scowls at me. "And I'm your papa when the bad boys pick at you, right?" he lets go of me and clicks. "Grow up, Terra! You're acting like a stupid child."That hurts coming from him.I thought he would confront him.CJ continues grumbling. "You just storm into my office like you are the fucking boss! Who the fuck do you think you are? Huh!"
"Just friends!"Zara shrieks over lunch.I shrug. "Yea.""After that hot kiss?"I giggle. "I didn't say it was hot.""Your face was burning when you told me about it. You don't have to tell me how hot it was, Terra!"I roll my eyes. "I shouldn't have told you...""What you shouldn't have done, honey, is FRIENDZONE him. CJ wants you, Terra. And I'm sure he doesn't want to be friends only. He wants more...""Well, i can't give him more," I sigh. "I've never been in a relationship before. And he's not going to be the first."Zara stops devouring the tantalizing steak and stares at me silently."Why are you so scared of relationships?"I laugh it off. "No I'm not.""Yes, you are. Fear is holding you back."I shrug. "Relationships are just not my thing, Zara.""There must be a reason why..."I huff. "I don't know... Maybe it's because I have seen to
Chase is plopped up on my lap as I rake my fingers in his black fur. He's almost sleeping."I still can't believe you took a private jet here!"CJ chuckles. "Rich man problems.""Come on... You could have drove here. It's just two hours."CJ sighs. "When it's just minutes with a jet... Plus, I was debating if I should or shouldn't come, you know. I was afraid of how you'd react... Then I finally made a decision after two whole hours and I decided to use a jet."CJ stares at me weirdly."Oh God! Your face is turning red. Are you blushing? You're blushing!"I slap him lightly on the cheek. "Shut up! I'm not blushing."But I know I am. Because I'm really finding it difficult gazing directly at his eyes.Amira steps out of her room dressed in a pink silky night gown.She gasps on seeing CJ and sneaks into her room again and comes back in a white robe. Her face is flushed with embarrassment."Sorry for that..."
Hours Earlier,Amira looks at me with alarm, fear clear in her green eyes."What's wrong, Terra?"I drop the phone, I'm shook.I can't talk. I can't move. My feet are glued to the ground and the only movement in my body is the fidgeting of my hands.I gather up the strength to utter the words,"It's mom!"The fear in her eyes fades and she rolls her eyes as if it's nothing. "Lonah?""Amira, mom has been admitted to hospital and she's in a critical condition. That's not a laughing matter."Amira snickers. "Who's laughing?"I glare at her and I'm about to bellow and throw cuss words at her but CJ stops me."Instead of arguing, we should rush to hospital! She needs you two right now," CJ advices.Amira shakes her head. "I'm afraid I'm not comin
"Yes please."CJ is on the phone."Postpone the meeting till next week.Something came up!" he says. "Tell the clients I'm busy and they'll have to wait till I come back... Good."CJ hangs up."You really don't have to be here," I mutter."Work is more important."CJ holds my hand and squeezes it. "You are more important."He puts back his hand around my shoulder and kisses the top of my head gently. I'm at a loss for words with all that's happening right now but I truly appreciate CJ being here for me when there's completely nobody.We are sitting on the hospital bench, waiting for the doctors.I lay my head on his chest, quiet, but wild sad thoughts running noisily through my mind.What if I lose my mom? I lost my biological nine years ago! And now I'm gonna lose my step-mom too? I mean, she's a won
I stand beside Enzo's desk with my hands behind my desk.Enzo grins broadly at me. "This is wonderful, Terra."Yea, he finally learnt how to pronounce my name.I smile from ear to ear. "Thankyou, sir.""Lately, you have been doing a great job without me pushing you and honestly," he sinks back on his chair. "I'm impressed.""Thankyou, sir," I say politely."And because of that, I think you deserve the day off to go and-"I cut in impatiently."No!" I blurt."What?""Please don't give me the day off," I say desperately. "I want to be here, working. I'm not more special than any other intern and-""But you've been working your ass off," Enzo complains. "I think you need a break...""I'm not complaining, sir...""But I am. And I think you need the day off, Terra," he insists. "You extend every evening after work and I find you are already here early
I take the car keys from my handbag when I hear a soothing."I thought you wouldn't like the car when I first bought it for you."I look sideways and I see mom.She's standing there, her smile sweet as ever.I grin at her broadly. "Ofcourse I like the car... You bought me on my birthday and it was everything I ever dreamed of.""You never said that when I was here..."That stings. "I loved... I love you mom," tears sting my eyes. "Please come back... I need you."She gets closer and she touches my cheek.I shut my eyes close and feel her warmth...Her love... I miss her..."I don't have to come back... I'll always be here. Watching over you."Tears stream down my eyes as I lift my hand to touch her but she vanishes.And I'm shaking. And crying. And my legs are wobbling. My hands are trembling and the key I was holding is down on th