Chapter 25: LET’S GET THIS OVER WITH.
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Alex’s POV:
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I sat in my office looking down at the polished wooden box in my hand, and I thoroughly regretted buying it. It was chocolate brown and the name of some French brand that I couldn’t pronounce was engraved on the sleek surface in metallic silver.
When I told Kate what all had happened yesterday and how I was Jensen’s ‘friend date’ for the event, she squealed happily and most definitely freaked out the store lady, while we were shopping.
Sometimes she’s an embarrassment in public places.
After a painful process of finalizing my dress she convinced me to buy a tie for him. It was an entire set of a tie, a pocket square, a pair of cufflinks and a lapel pin.
I never should have listened to her when she practically forced me to get this. Maybe I could still return it.
“I know what you’re thinking, stop it!” Kate said sternly, from where she was lounging on the sofa.Â
“Don’t know why I ever listen to you, your ideas are total garbage.” I lamented while staring at my best friend with accusation.
She glared back at me. “Excuse me for trying to help.”
“Hey ladies!” Nick stuck his head in at the door. “I have nothing to do, you know why? It’s because everyone who’s supposed to give me tasks haven’t done their own work, they are either zoned out or glaring around- what’s that?” He asked pointing at the box in my hands, as he cut himself off, this guy has the attention span of a squirrel.
“Kate? Would you like to explain what this is?” I turned to her with a fake smile. Nick walked in and stared at the two of us with evident confusion.
With a weak laugh Kate began, “Oh that? It’s just a small present Alex got for Mr. Black.”
Instinctively I reached for the signed tennis ball perched on the table in front of me as a part of my table decoration and aimed it at Kate for the half truth she sprouted.
It hit her arm. “Ahhh!!” She was never good with reflexes.
Nick chuckled, “back up a minute, can someone elaborate what’s this about?”
“Let me explain-” I started, but Kate cut me off.
“No! Let me. So, yesterday Jensen Black asked Alex to be his date for the charity event-“
“He did? Oh my god, this is huge!” Nick was joyous, with his jaw hanging and eyes wide with wonder.
“THANK YOU. At least someone sees it like I do.” Kate said, rolling her eyes at me passive aggressively before turning back to face Nick. “Yes, so that happened but then Alex refused like an idiot but after he didn’t back down they just decided to go together to the event as friends.” She completed.
“What?” Nick said almost like hearing this was traumatic. “Alex, how could you…?”
“She totally lacks the romantic bone.” Kate shook her head.
“So does he, they are perfect for each other.” Nick argued.
“Um… If you both are done with your unnecessary drama can we get back to work now?” I interrupted.
“No we are not done.” Kate turned to me, “you bought it, might as well give it to him.” She then turned back to Nick and explained. “It’s a tie that matches her dress, I made her buy it, but now she refuses to give it to him.”
“Uh… Right” Nick nodded like he totally understood, maybe he did. “Just give it to him and get it over with!” Nick said to me.
“I’m tossing it, this is a bad idea.” I shook my head to myself.
“Nooo! It’s expensive!” Kate protested.
“You didn’t buy it so… ” I mumbled.
“Tsk, don’t be so extra, just go and give it.” She said.
“Extra? Have you lost your marbles?” Can she not understand? After telling Jensen that it wasn’t professional to go as a date, I should go and give him a personalised present?
How would that be interpreted by him. It was such a contradictory act, I couldn’t do it.
“Just give it to him as a friend and no, all my marbles are safe in my drawer. Although I seem to have lost my door mat.” She mumbled as an afterthought.
“Maybe it’s your neighbour?” Nick suggested, and they successfully ignored my dilemma and dove into a totally weird topic of conversation.
“No it can’t be, Mrs. Cole is a lovely lady, I think it’s Tommy he probably took it for his nap.” She said.
“Tommy takes naps on your doormat?” Nick exclaimed.
“Tommy is Mrs. Cole papillon you idiot.” Kate scolded.
I stared at the tiny box in my hands.
Let’s get this over with.
With a defeated sigh, I pushed myself up from the chair and headed towards my boss’s office, ignoring wide eyed stares from the two people in the room, with that box in hand, I entered after a knock.
Jensen was naturally busy skimming through papers and I doubted if he was actually processing what he read.
I don’t know why I suddenly got all nervous but I managed to mumble out a casual “hey, are you busy?”
“Nah, what’s it? Any updates for tomorrow?” He half smirked, then looked up and instantly spotted the box in my hand. “I don’t wanna get my hopes up and assume that’s for me, but is it? ” He asked as he closed the file he was reading and placed it aside.
A scowl appeared on my face, as his smirk widened, I hated every moment of his smirking eyes.
“Don’t look so chipper.” I tossed it at him and he caught it effortlessly. Darn it! Can’t he be a little clumsy?
“Okay… ” He glanced at the box and then at me, “should I be scared?”
Rolling my eyes, I spoke “It’s just a tie matching my dress for tomorrow, I noticed the color is quite unique so a tie would be difficult to acquire.” I purposely ruined the surprise because it was getting too corny and I couldn’t deal with it.
“Couldn’t risk me matching with someone else huh?” He questioned with a wonder-ous curiosity. Was he flirting? Why can’t I ever tell?
“I’m just helping you save some time and energy.” I said, as he opened the box and looked at the contents inside.Â
“Uh-huh? That’s considerate.” He was busy taking in the texture and color of fabric in his hands, as his eyes twinkled with amusement and all degrees of smugness.
I hoped he liked it. “If you don’t like it you can get your own… ” I mean whatever.
“Thanks Alex,” He smiled up at me, “I like it a lot, this is very thoughtful of you.” With those last words he mocked my frail efforts of keeping it professional, although his eyes held an undecipherable warmth. He looked at the brand name of the box again and raised a brow as he asked “do you know what ‘amant’ means?”
He somehow read and pronounced that French word perfectly. I only shook my head and said, “No, I couldn’t even pronounce it to save my life.”
He smiled, “It means lover.”
Wow! Real subtle Alex. Of course the chatty store lady told me everything but that!
I tried not to color in embarrassment and looked away from this amused face. “Right.” I mumbled.
“You sure you had no idea…?” He smirked, having a bit too much fun at my expense.
“Think whatever…” I gritted my teeth, but I couldn’t even get angry at him while he looked at me like that. “I’ll see you later.” I turned around and walked towards the door.
Before I stepped out I heard him say, “Can’t wait for tomorrow.”
He was enjoying this, a lot.
Urgh.
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I almost forgot about Sam’s invite.
I can’t believe this happens every time!
There’s usually no special event for a long while but then suddenly everything starts happening one after another and then there’s nothing fun for a month. Like, why?
I was supposed to wrap up my work early today so as to attend the performance Sam so ardently worked on since weeks. Only problem was- Charity event was tomorrow, and I was swamped with last minute details. I wasn’t immensely worried though, it was all gonna sort itself out.
For Kate Friday couldn’t come soon enough.
When I found out that my usual attire that consisted of suit pants, loose shirts and sneakers weren’t music theatre appropriate, I frowned like my sarcasm wasn’t being conveyed in an extremely dramatic conversation.
Kate made me aware of this fact just a few minutes ago, and while I was appreciative, I wasn’t very happy.
Believe it or not Kate declared it as an emergency situation and we left work early to tackle the said ’emergency’.
I sat in my room, concaving into the soft cushiony bed as I sulked. Kate was tackling my wardrobe situation very seriously as she picked out my clothes, scanned them, shook her head vehemently… before rejecting them.
“We’ll never make it on time if you don’t pick one quickly.” I said as a matter of fact.
Her glare shifted to me as soon as I spoke, “and who’s fault is that?” She looked beyond angry in her red shirt. “You don’t have a single dress that works for the occasion, how are you living your life?!”
“In onesies?” I said unhelpfully, pointing at the gray one I was currently sporting. Her glare intensified if that was even possible. These were the times when I felt like my best friend was actually working for my mom.
“I can’t believe you don’t own anything decent, if there’s nothing you’ll have to wear the dress you brought for the charity event.” She said.
“Not that one, it’s too grand.” I whined.
“Everything else in here is too plain” She went back to dress hunting and from somewhere deep inside the heaps of clothing she asked “where’s that dress I got you last year?”
I struggled to remember and then vaguely recalled her gift for my last birthday. I never wore that one, it was probably still in the box. “Somewhere on the left side.” That was my unused section. “But I probably didn’t bring it here when I moved, it might be at mom and dad’s”
After a few minutes of shuffling she exclaimed “found it!”
Oh crap.
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