The smell of coffee in the morning always soothes Abigail’s mind and brings her peace. When she woke up this morning, Theodore was nowhere to be seen, but he left a note saying he had to run into the office early today because Jerry said there was an emergency.
Abigail understood this, and she wasn’t upset. Last night was great, and she didn’t regret it one bit. Though they didn’t share a bed, she had hoped that she would’ve seen him when she woke up.
It was now around ten in the morning, and she still hadn’t heard anything from him. It made her worry. What could this emergency be? She remembered that Theodore once mentioned that Jerry was his COO and right-hand man.
On a night this beautiful, probably everyone in the city was in a great mood. It seemed almost impossible to be upset. The weather was great, the stars shimmered, and the full moon danced along the horizon of the glistening water.Yet, even with everything, Abigail was a nervous wreck, and nothing Najay said could soothe her. With Theodore being gone, Abigail had been more on edge than usual, and now with this dinner with Seymour, she didn’t know what to expect.Was it a promotion? Was it an official proposal to work with them full time once she completes her studies? Abigail couldn’t tell, and being fifteen minutes late to pick her up wasn’t helping either.She had insisted that she meet him at the restaurant, but Seymour wouldn’t have a lady take a cab when he could drive her there himself. But now, he was late, and the shoes on her feet grew uncomfortable.“Abigail, relax. You’ll be fine,” Najay said for the um
“Abigail, you’ve worked for me, and you’ve made my business much better. You’re brilliant.”Abigail dropped her gaze as her cheeks burnt. “Thank you.”“That is why I know I have to have you as an asset in my business. When you graduate, I want--no, I need you full time with me at SHI’s.”Abigail’s face lit up. So it was a business dinner, and it was exactly what she’d hoped for. Her face broke out in a massive grin as her eyes danced in excitement. “Really? I mean, I’d be honoured. I love my job.”“And I love that you are there. You make it better, Abigail. I’d be a fool to let you slip away. Now, I know that you had planned to visit home after graduating, so I wouldn’t expect you to start immediately. But once you’re back, you’re on the team as long as you want it.”“Of course! Thank you, Mr Hansic, you have no idea .
Being a light sleeper was both a gift and a curse at the same time.It was a sleeping trait Abigail developed after everything with Nicholas.It saved her a lot of trouble on mornings when she fell asleep on the couch after studying all night, where she had work the following day.Alternately, on nights when she was exhausted, the simplest sounds like Najay using the microwave or a phone ringing would cause her to jump from her rest.Now, when she felt the bed dip by the middle, and a warm, familiar hand brushed the hair from her sleepy eyes, it felt like a blessing because she knew that it was Theodore -- he had come home.Abigail blinked her eyes open and smiled at him.“Theodore,” she mumbled. Her voice was barely a whisper as her slumber dri
“Get up.”Theodore swept the blanket from Abigail’s body. She groaned, pulling the pillow over her face to block the beams of sunlight that escaped through her thick drapes.“I’m not ready to,” she groaned, evoking a small chuckle from Theodore’s chest.“But you have to,” he pressed. “We’re having breakfast together.”With her head still under the pillow, Abigail kicked her foot in the direction she thought Theodore stood but kicked the air instead.“We have breakfast together every morning, Theodore. Today is no different. Except for the part where you are interrupting my sleep.”The bed dipped on her left as Theodore joined her. “This morning is different. I’m taking you out.”The thought of going out caused a jitter in Abigail’s
The day went by surprisingly quickly. The office grew lighter as Seymour’s presence enhanced everyone’s mood by the hour. That, and the fact that they wouldn’t lose their jobs.At exactly six-fifteen, as Abigail killed the power on her computer and packed her bag, the secretary, her only friend at work, entered her office. Abigail knew the only time Camille came into her office was when she had gossip that they couldn’t discuss in the lunchroom. She smiled at the thought.“Hey, Camille.”“Hey, precious.” As if it was instinct, Camille began grabbing stuff to help Abigail pack her bag.“What’s up?”“Oh, I’m just waiting for my boyfriend to come to pick me up, then I saw your lights still on.”Abigail paused to raise her eyebrows at her. “Okay, I don’t know what&rsqu
The elevator pinged, and all heads turned towards the entrance as Najay waltzed towards the kitchen in all her bold, confidentbeauty.As her eyes met Abigail’s, her smile grew even wider, but Abigail dropped eyecontact.Najay was taken back, but she didn't read too much intoit.She plopped her bottom on a stool by the island and threw her bag totheground.“I have had the longest day! I need food .. . Hey, Theodore. Hey, Angela.”“Hi, love. I’m making beef stew and garlic rolls, and for dessert, apple pie,” Angela told her as she slid around the kitchen.Najay beamed. “Sounds great. And when did you start baking?”&
In a moment when the world felt like it had stopped spinning--as time had ceased to exist, Abigail froze in her spot. Abigail gazed at the woman whose big, green eyes watched her with nothing but mere curiosity. The vivid memory of the woman on Theodore’s phone resurfaced in Abigail’s mind. Cleo was even more perfect in real life. Her brown hair fell to her waist in luscious curls. Of course, she wore extensions, but that didn’t take away from her natural beauty that Abigail was sure sat beneath all her makeup. They could almost hear Theodore’s heart racing from where they stood. Silence reigned in the room for a minute or two. Abigail was the first to walk away, not sparing another glance in Cleo’s or Theodore’s direction. But it was when she moved Cleo found it fit to finally speak. “Theo, who is this?” she asked, and Abigail stopped dead in her tracks, throwing a glare in Theodore’s direction. But it was evident that he tried to avoid eye contact.
The light chatter of happy friends, drunk buddies and men trying to snatch a one-night stand filled the tiny pub.Abigail sat at the bar, staring at the untouched glass of liquor.She thought she’d be able to drink her sorrows away like hundreds of people.Still, drinking was never quite her way of coping, and alcohol reminded her of Theodore.The bartender eyed her from the second Abigail stepped inside with a duffle bag on her arm and tear-streaked cheeks.It wasn’t anything new to see, but the young woman sympathized with whatever Abigail was going through more than she would normally.Abigail only uttered one sentence since she arrived, asking for the glass of Brandy--neat.The bartender, whose nametag read &lsq