Solana entered her apartment, phone on her right ear, supported by her shoulder as she undid her sandals' straps. "How was your flight?" "Exhausting. We hate flying, remember?" Julie did sound exhausted, but that was to be expected. "Plus the frustration with the delays. I can imagine how tired you feel right now." "How was work? Did he show? Perhaps to buy more condoms?" "I doubt he could've used all eleven condom packs in just 2 days." Sol sighed before adding, "And shhh... Dave will start to freak out again if he hears you. 'She could infect you with that type of behavior' Urgh! Silliness!" Her friend laughed as she mimicked the girl's fiance. Then she got serious after a few seconds. "You only have one week or less in that house Sol. I'll speak to him when he's rested. He's still off duty tomorrow. I'll have him all to myself." She lowered her voice seductively. Sol kicked off her sandals and dropped her little knapsack on the sofa. She started to take off her clothes to
*** Solana ***Solana stood frozen by the open door to the interviewer's office. Facing the door, facing her was 'her' tall, long lash, brown-eyed stranger from Friday night. He was sitting on a large chair, a laptop open in front of him on the scanty equally large oak desk. "Come in." He said without looking up from his laptop.She considered turning around and running back down the stairs, out the lobby, and back onto the street. But she stood frozen for only a moment longer and when she lifted her legs, they carried her forward into the office. Somehow, she remembered to shut the door behind her. On shaky, nervous legs, she went to stand in front of the desk."Have a sit. Welcome." He raised his head to look at her then. His eyes did not linger. It was a very brief look before he redirected his gaze to his laptop screen. There. He saw her. If he was shocked, he was hiding it well. Totally in control of his reaction. Or did he not recognize her? She was sure she was not looking any
*** The Same 3 Days Later In the late Afternoon ***Solana left for work earlier than usual that afternoon. She did not plan on clocking in one minute before her shift starts. She was just restless and wanted to stop at KAY-EF-CEE for a late lunch before getting to work.As the cab drove past the building, she let herself look at the motel. A camry was driving out of the place. It had been three days and there was no email from Mark yet. Should she be thankful? There was an SMS reminder from the landlord, which came in yesterday. So she was not in a position to be grateful if he didn't give her the job.The cab pulled up in front of her workplace and she got out after paying the driver. She was getting her change when she heard that familiar husky voice. "Miss Jang." She turned too fast and her change accidentally fell off the cab driver's outstretched hand. The man waved in apology and pulled his car out of the curb back onto the main road."Mr. Daniels, hi." She was bending down t
*** Phil ***Phil stood at the supermarket's first floor, looking below, and telling himself he ought to get back inside his office to reply to an email that was waiting- His assistant appeared with his tab.“I’m pretty sure I said phone, not tab!” He tried his best not to glower at her. She didn't move immediately. Instead, she stood slightly wide-eyed and open-mouthed. He could not tell if that was surprise or irritation on her face and he did not care at all.“Phone, Linda! Go on.” He shooed her away.The truth was he could not recall what he asked her to bring - whether it was his phone or the tablet. Maybe he expected her to read his mind and know the device he needed at that point. Phil was horribly distracted. And very irritated for no reason. He has been standing here, in front of the door leading to his office on the first floor, since he got back from his short break. From where he stood, he could see most parts of the supermarket sales floor. He could not see all the way
*** Solana ***"Congratulations, girl!" Julie exclaimed over the phone. "You need to focus on what's important here. Which would you choose out of your available options? Homelessness, squatting on David's property, or working side-by-side with that hunk?"Sol's only reply was silence. She just wanted someone to repeat what she had been telling herself all day aloud. Julie was only voicing out the thoughts that had continued to sing in her head since her meeting with Mark earlier today. The only reason she was pretending to ask for the girl's advice was to hear those words aloud. "Also, remember, you love hot bosses. I mean what girl doesn't?""I don't care about a man's outward appearance-""'At least, the manager is eye candy.' Remember that pervert comment from when you got that supermarket job? Don't pretend to forget. Not that you did anything about 'that one' till you're about to quit now."Sol could feel her friend rolling her eyes at that last remark. How in the hell was she
*** Phil ***Phil sat still at his office desk, hands crossed on his chest, laptop open in front of him. Eyes on the screen, he tried to decide how he felt about what he was staring at in his email. The voices right outside his door interrupted his thoughts. "What's this about?""I've sent him an email and I'd like to see him about it." Came the reply. "I wasn't sure about CCing you, that's why I didn't..."Why was Linda asking her too many questions? She was not a stranger here. He already knew who was waiting to see him. That voice. His eyes went back to his laptop screen and this time, he hovered his mouse on the email he had expected nearly every day since after her first month on this job.There was a knock and Linda came inside his office. "Solana wants to see you...She sent her resignation?""Let her in." He said without looking up. He opened the email finally and stared at the first sentence of the girl's resignation without reading further.In the last two days, he'd allowe
*** Mark *** It was 'the girl's' second day at Lovelane and their first brainstorming session. Mark had invited her to sit on the visitor's couch near the desk where he worked in his large office. He took his seat on the single-seater while she sat on the three-seater facing him and backing the desk. He should not have noticed how her skirt crept up, revealing caramel-smooth thighs when she lowered herself on the couch. His whole body reacted to the sight in a way that made him think it was an error to have the meeting in this position. Maybe they should move to where he interviewed her. He turned to stare at his desk but decided that changing his mind now was probably not a good idea. After all, she did catch him staring. 'Can't let her think she has that kind of effect on you, Mark.' Letting out a deep breath, he began. "We have an important task and there's a deadline." The girl looked at him for one second before averting her eyes. It was 9 AM. He'd had his caffeine fix for t
Solana sat in her new office, working on the first task Mark had given her some two hours ago. She lifted herself off her chair to steal a peek through her office glass door at the wooden door across from her office. The boss' door! Looking around her large office, she wondered if it was a good thing that she didn't share the space with anyone yet. It was the same size as the boss' but had two other desks in the corner. She guessed if he hired other admin staff, they would sit there. Because her door was a see-through glass, he would see her anytime he was passing through. Anyone would. She didn't know how she felt about that. But did she have a choice?"I can do this." She whispered again while exhaling deeply. It was her second day on the job, and the meeting with her new boss this morning indicated that the job had really started. Yesterday had been such a peaceful day. She had seen Mark only once in the morning.She had used the opportunity to look around the place. She also met
*** Phil ***"I'm outside the hotel." The Uber driver's voice came through the phone on loudspeaker."Be there in two minutes." Phil replied as finished buttoning his shirt.It was early October. Which meant four-season countries were in their colder months. The weather was much chillier than he expected when he landed the previous day.He doned his new, thick, ankle length jacket as he rushed out of the room to his waiting cab.Minutes later, he was in front of Kendi's hostel in the city center.As she approached him from the distance, furrowed brow, messy curls peeking out of her hair warmer, he admitted silently that she was the reason he'd flown here. Not to piss off Mark some more or get over Solana. "You really are here." Laughter and disbelief colored her voice as she said this."What made you think I was lying?" He asked."What are you doing here, young Gonza." The shock was still in her voice but the amusement was gone."Young Gonza?" He scoffed. "Are you mad at me or someth
*** Solana ***The vibe in front of the motel lobby felt awkward as Mark led Solana away. He was quick to hide the embarrassed look on his face and Phil's fake smile was hard to miss. She looked at Joe's face for clues, but the guard was unreadable as he watched she and Mark moved towards the lobby.When she turned to glance at Phil again, she failed to see his face because Jamal and the temp guard's wide shoulders now stood in the way.Solana also noticed Lucy quickly returning to her seat as they passed the lobby. Mark did not let go of her hand even as they walked past receptionist to the staircase.She felt the need to ask. "Are you and Phil -?" "Chatting." He replied before she could finish the question. "That chat was long overdue."Was chatting the new code word for fighting? More importantly, had been about to do that because of her? That would be beyond flattering. However, it was totally unbecoming, especially for her former boss.Solana decided to find out later. Perhaps w
*** Mark ***"Who was that?" Mark asked his cousin.He wondered why she had been unusually quiet all day. Was it his little speech about parents and how they didn’t stick around forever? He shrugged off that thought. If it really got to her, she wouldn't be leaving, would she?One thing he knew was that she got like this whenever she was upset. Either her father must've really pissed her off or something happened, which she was unwilling to share. He thought his uncle was definitely not the only reason she was rushing back.She ignored his question, pretending not to hear, and he had no desire to press further, so he let it lie. Everyone deserved their privacy."I'm not happy you're leaving so soon." That was the truth."So come to Denmark one of these days. You're rich now. You can afford to go wherever you want." She replied, a half smile forming in her face. "Bring your pretty girlfriend, too." She winked as she moved ahead in the queue."You think she's pretty, huh?" Mark couldn't
*** Solana ***“You two should be working.”The sound of Mark's uncle's voice as he climbed down the stairs sends a jolt through Solana. This man again.She wished the ground would open and swallow her up. Mark still had his arms around her. She clumsily move out of his embrace, lowering her head in complete embarrassment. Stepping a few feet away, she wished there was a wall to hide behind, at least.“Thought you were meeting Uncle John? Mark asked the man.Solana raised her eyelids to steal a glance only to find the older man turning to continue on his way down the stairs. Relief made her suck in a deep breath. He was not on his way to Mark’s office.The man did not reply his question. Instead, he said, “Or you could use one of your suites. You’re not in a movie, Marky boy.”Solana glanced at her boss to find him looking down at her. It didn’t seem like was listening to his uncle.When the older man disappeared out of sight, he took her gently by the arm and led her into her office.
*** Solana ***After the little chitchat at the new kitchen, Solana only saw and heard from Mark just once for the rest of the morning.The brief meeting they had afterwards was nothing close to awkward. It was formal and serious, making her feel like they were back to that time when she pined for him all day and night. It felt like they'd returned to the stage when he looked at her with evident lust but keeps a safe distance.At some point before her lunch break, she wondered if their date on Saturday was not even real. Or were they back to pretending. It seemed like he'd forgotten the fact that she was his girlfriend now. Lovelane was the most important thing, of course. She was alright with that. Can't be jealous of the attention the motel got from him.But she was eager for the day to end. She needed to see how he'd treat her once they were officially done with work.It was break time, and she sat on her desk, wondering if it was alright to check on him. If it be too forward of he
*** Mark ***As Mark and his uncle entered his office for their meeting, he was prepared for any unsolicited comment or advise about his personal life.To his surprise, the man made no reference to Solana when they sat down to talk business. He went back to his usual, dignified, pretentious, proper self, beginning his questions and lectures about all Mark would be handling.Mark followed his lead and kept a professional and calm manner throughout their talk. If uncle Johnny saw him now, he imagined the man would say something like, "how come I never get this type of courtesy from you."The meeting went far better than he expected as they made plans for other businesses outside Lovelane.It turned out that uncle Johnny and Mr. Johnson were wrong about his paternal uncle. He hadn't come to see what his mother left behind to take back from Mark. He was getting the sense that the man came to ensure he was handling the estate well enough. If he thought he wasn't, only then would he make a
*** Solana ***Solana took a deep, steadying breath before opening her door. It is Monday morning and time for work.She had been dating her boss for forty-eight hours, and this day would be the first time they'd work together since they got involved.The sound of a door opening made her want to do one of two things. Nunber one was to get back inside her apartment and lock her door till he leaves. Number two was to run quickly down the stairs. She wanted to hide from him.Choosing the latter, she was already facing the gate but had to stop at the sound of her name."Solana." 'Why, oh why are you nervous?'She turned around and forced a smile through the grimace when a few drops of hot coffee spilled into her hand."Good morning," he said."Good morning," she replied.He moved closer bringing out his handkerchief and took the cup from her. Her hand shook a little when it made contact with his, but Solana was thankful that his did the same.He dabbed gently with his handkerchief, wipin
*** Phil ***The distant sound of a cock crow roused Phil from a sleep that felt like death as he forced his eyes open. The headache that struck as the daylight hit his eyes brought back memories of the night before.He and Kendi had ridden the elevator downstairs and she'd continuously insist he couldn't drive home in his state. Then she'd led him by the arm to this room, dumped him on the bed and left.Shame and anger filled him as he remembered leaning on her soft shoulder for support. The events of the past twenty-four hours made him wish this weekend would end already.Solana's date with Mark and the fact that he spent the evening with his bottle. Plus getting mocked by his ex. These things made him want to run off and start a new existence somewhere far from here."It's not enough that she witnessed the whole thing. You had to get wasted in front of her, too?" It was this very thought of Kendi that kept Phil on the bed, wishing he could vanish from the city.Eventually, he made
*** Phil ***"Hey! Hey!"Kendi stood between Phil and the glassdoor of the lobby. The nausea he'd felt all day intensified as he watched Solana and Mark enter the new, tiny elevator. "Don't even think about what you're thinking about." Kendi warned him, pulling his arm towards the outdoor staircase that led to the bar.Phil didn't know what he was thinking. Except that the bastard had his hand on Solana's lower back while she smiled up at him and gave him those doe-eyed looks."They are just getting back from a date, Phil. That means you lost! She chose him. C'mon." Kendi kept dragging him away, and Phil noticed mister harsh-face security guard now watched him with interest from the lobby's glass door. He felt like going up to that one to ask him what he's looking at. But Kendi had a tight grip on his shirt as she dragged him away."She hasn't told me that yet." He argued."Don't be stupid." She replied, urging him up the stairs.An the image of Mark and Solana, naked in bed tonight,