Chapter 28: Chapter 28

- Not goodbye

Deila's pov

When I got outside, Nat's car was already gone, ruining my intention of apologizing to him for the way James roughed him. Even though I could always do that, doing it immediately would've reduced the guilt I felt.

I felt overly responsible for what had transpired. I invited him, he was with me and the girls.

"Dei. Dei!" It was Eva calling for me from behind.

"Yeah?"

"You shouldn't leave like this. You didn't even bide your host goodbye."

"What host? The same host, that punched my guest? Oh drop it, there's no way I'll bide him after the way he behaved."

"You should be grateful to him," Sia imputed.

"What for?" I asked rolling my eyes.

"For saving you from doing what you were going to regret after," Eva said.

These girls knew me too well. I sighed defeatedly.

"Yeah, you might be right," I drawled. "I'm tired. Where's–"

"Right here," Lari announced in somewhat an animated voice. Oh right. There she is.

Eva and Sia giggled, I, on the other hand, was too tired to. Too tired and bent on going home.

I got into the car and gestured for them to do the same. As soon as I zoomed off the girls decided to taunt my life.

''Wow!" Lari suddenly exclaimed. "He isn't only a pant dropping Greek god, but also a good ass fighter. That was a punch he packed!"

She didn't need to say who the 'he' was, everyone in the car got it. We already knew who the 'greek-god' tittle belonged to and who had thrown a punch.

"It was epic! I'd go meet him for fighting classes!" Sia squealed. "Did you see how he threw a punch like that and still stood firm to the ground like he didn't throw the most fabtastic blow I'd ever seen?"

Trust Sia to describe a punch like candy. I rolled my eyes inwardly. She used 'fabtanstic' like it was so cool to resort to violence.

"You girls are something else you know that?"Eva asked twittering. "You are passing a punch off as something good? Violence is never good, you know," She reasoned.

Finally. Someone's thinking, I thought grateful.

"Exactly!" I exclaimed in agreement. "Are you guys forgetting that he disrespected Nat? Nat was my guest, and James told me I could invite whomever I wanted. When I did, he gifts them a pack of punch right in the middle of their face. You think that's funny right?"

Lari and Sia both sighed at the same time. False, I knew they were still musing about it in their minds.

"Okay, you're right," Sia said in a voice that was far from being surrendering. "Let's be happy now, that's what this night is about. Don't forget your best friends are leaving tomorrow and this was supposed to be a farewell for them," she reasoned and I sighed because she was right. "Cheer up. Worry about Nat later."

I nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, Tonight is for Lari and Eva, I could be all vexed some other day."

Plus, thank you for not bringing up the whole kissing scene. Thank you, I thanked them mentally.

The drive was going smoothly with small talks here and there until, Lari cleared her throat, getting all our attention at once.

"Guys listen, it's a farewell to Eva. I won't be leaving... not for now anyway.''

"What?" I couldn't see Eva as I was focused on driving, but I was sure the surprise was written over her features.

I for one wasn't surprised, with the kind of tension that oozed between her and Dawn, I half-expected this. I just never thought they were going to get serious, at least not this soon. Were they that serious that she'd give up her job and whole life in LA for him?

"Yes." Her voice was nervous.

In a different situation, where everyone wasn't about to be blown, I'd laugh, like really laugh. Lari was nervous and it was the first I had ever witnessed.

"It's Dawn right?" I queried.

I looked to the review just in time to see her a bit taken aback at my question before she turned the window. "Yeah," she muttered.

"No! No way." Sia's voice was that of disbelief. "Are you for-" she paused pointing at Lari. "Wait... Don't tell me you and Dawn?"

She chirmed when it clicked. "Yes! Fucking yes!"

I shook my head as I tried to keep a smile off my face. So dramatic.

Just when I thought she was done with her drama she started again. "Will I be getting a sister-in-law hug?" she asked Lari and winked.

Lari opened her arms wide. "Sure "

I grimaced when Sia hugged her, thinking, I know that hug, it's the bone-crushing one.

I smiled when I saw them both grinning from ear to ear before focusing on driving.

Eva was still trying to process everything, I could tell from where she sat— next to me on the passenger's seat— that her demeanor wasn't relaxed.

"You know," Eva started and I felt all attention given to her. " When I saw two of you sneak out the other night, I laughed, thinking 'oh their desire to have fun got ahead of them'. I thought you were just being you, the not- scared-to explore Lari I know and love. I never thought you two will get so serious in just a matter of days. And If someone had told me you'd give up your career and 'sweet life' as you call it" she made air quotes, "in LA, I'd never have believed. I'd have told them they were lying. But then..." she trailed.

"How serious are the both of you?" from the corner of my eyes, I saw her turning to face the woman of discussion- Lari.

Lari cleared her throat again. "Serious enough for me to want to stay because if I leave, it will break his heart and mine. We want to see what fate has for us, and I can't break his heart by leaving. You should have seen his face when I told him I was leaving. And him asking me that truth, if I was in a relationship, was us trying to give something away to you guys. I'm surprised you didn't get it."

"I did," I told her.

"Oh wow. So I was the only one left in the dark here? You didn't even think to tell me, Dei." I cringed at Eva's accusatory voice.

"If it helps, I was also left in the dark," Sia imputed.

"Yeah it does," I and Eva said in unison and were followed with giggles.

Who would've thought? Dawn concerned about a woman leaving him? That wasn't only rare, but a first. An epic first.

I cleared my throat, knowing it was expected of me to say something on the topic. "If Dawn feels for you that way and you do him, then I'm happy for the both of you," I told her sincerely.

"He'd better not try messing with my girl's heart," I grunted.

"Or we'd kill him," Eva added.

"With a punch like James packed," Sia insisted.

"And my grandma's baseball bat," Lari said unexpectedly and we all laughed.

Minutes later, we reached home.

As soon as we four stepped outside, Lari hugged me and Eva. She then broke away, enough for Sia to see her gesturing for her to join the group hug. She did, and we were complete. "I love you girls so much "

I smiled as my throat closed. "Me too"

"Me four " Sia sniffled.

"And I love-love you, girls." Eva's voice shook as she said this. "I'd miss y'all."

"We'll miss you more," we chorused.

"But this is not goodbye, babe," I added.

"Never goodbye," Lari agreed.

The four of us right there, hugging each other was all we needed. Our night was made. And oh, will I miss Eva, but as Lari said, 'never goodbye'.

Later that night, I was about to sleep when I got a text from James-

I can't sleep knowing you left angry, Dei. Please, reply to this asap. I need to know you're good.

I smiled as I read the text for the third time. But he wasn't going to know that. I'm pissed at him and pissed I am.

I replied begrudgingly minutes later when I felt like.

Okay

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three weeks. Three weeks since I took the position of CEO. Three weeks of hard work. Three weeks of working my butt off day and night to make my mum and dad proud, and I had.

I truly had made them proud. Just three weeks of me acting as CEO and I had closed several deals, and overly successful. My dad had offered me the position of CEO in another entrenched period but I took it as a joke and laughed it off.

"Deila, one year... just one year of you as CEO of Barbson Empire, and my dear, our company would be the best there's on the continent. Think about it," he'd said after I gave him updates on the newly closed deals on Skype.

And of course, my mum had been ecstatic.

When I saw the environment they were in on skype, I envied them. Huawei had such beautiful weather, and indeed was the best place for a vacation as my parents had said. I missed them. The whole family missed them.

Hopefully, in two weeks, my dad would be coming to take back what was his— his position as CEO.

I sighed, wishing the day come sooner. I missed my work back in LA. When my boss had agreed to me extending my break, I hated him a little. All it took was for him to say no, and I'd have been back there already.

And with the way he agreed instantly, even insisting that I take my time working for my dad, it was either he had my dismissal letter printed already, or dad had something to do with it. My guess was the latter.

I watched the phone expectedly as I'd since I came into the office. Dad had told me on skype he'd be sending someone else to put me through for the remaining two weeks. I still wasn't a pro in the business world, and there were files I had to take care of that were far more serious than the ones Nat's been putting me through for the last few weeks.

Nat had been a great support during these past weeks, apart from him constantly urging me to go on dates with him.

After James acted the way he did the other night at his house, I had thought Nat would give me a cold shoulder, or change his attitude towards me, but he hadn't. He admitted his ego was bruised, and he assured me that wouldn't stop him from associating with me.

I frowned thoughtfully as I remembered the way he had put it, something like —pride goes before a fall, but that I was worth way too much to not stand up back for. Then he told me James wasn't good for me, that he was too violent and that I saw it myself.

Remembering how James acted violently the other day was disheartening, I knew that wasn't him. I'd known him since forever, and he never acted that way once before. He was a bit complicated because I still didn't get the point he was trying to prove when he told Nat to watch as he kissed me.

I wasn't sure why I allowed him either, but I did. I allowed him to kiss me right after he told the truth that he had been with a woman before our date. Stupid me.

We hadn't spoken since that day, and I liked it that way. It was just his occasional Hi's and my begrudging replies of Hello's whenever he'd come to see Dawn. I could tell he wanted to say something else from the way he'd call my name with his mouth hung open, like he wanted to say something but couldn't.

I didn't make it any easy for him, I'd give him a cold shoulder anytime he'd call my name and sometimes go up to my room. I felt his eyes follow me every time he came to see Dawn. His visits became more frequent than before, so I practically had holes all over from the way his eyes burned my skin.

I jerked when the office phone rang. Finally.

I cleared my throat before I answered. "Hello, Racheal."

"Good morning miss Bar- Deila "

I rolled my eyes and smiled when I thought she was going to address me as miss Barbson, my smile grew wider at the way she stuttered, correcting herself by addressing me by my name.

"Good morning, Racheal."

"Someone's here to see you. He said he was sent by Mr.Barbson. Should I let him in?"

"Yes, please," I said curtly before ending the call.

I sat up straight, expecting the entry of my would-be supervisor. The door opened to reveal someone I didn't want to see.

My brows drew together in confusion. What was he doing here? This wasn't the supervisor I was expecting. But when I thought of it, I realized I didn't even know who I was supposed to expect.

He was my supervisor? How?

"James?"

"Yes, Miss Barbson. And you are going to address me as Mr.Martin," he told me with a tight smile.

My brow arched involuntarily. What had they done to James and who was this?

"I don't understand"

He laughed dryly. "What don't you understand? I'm going to be supervising you for the next two weeks and until Mr.Barbson returns to his position as CEO. It's going to be strictly professional. Better we go with first names."

I didn't even know what the hell was going on with him. Or was it what was going on with me? It wasn't bad to address him formally. Don't forget you insisted on Nat to.

I hummed. "Alright then. If that's what you want Mr. Martin, " I accepted, placing emphasis on his first name.

"Okay now, can we begin?"

"I'm ready when you're."

With that, we got down to business. James was good. No, good was an understatement, he was a pro in the business. I wasn't used to this side of him, I didn't want to take it as him being cold, but I felt that way and couldn't help it. It's just him doing his work, dummy.

Maybe him being the way he was what I needed. Wasn't it what I was supposed to like? No, I didn't like it.

We took a break by 1 pm, which was the normal lunch break. I picked up my phone to surf through Instagram and Twitter.

"What the fuck?" I muttered when I saw a post of TheShadeRoom on my TL. It was Meghan the Stallion in a video confirming that Tory Lanez had shot her.

"Shit," I muttered repeatedly because I liked both their songs.

Why the hell would he do that, and for no reason? The answer I got was a rumbling stomach. God, I need food.

I exited Instagram and was going to get food when I heard someone come in. I didn't need to turn to know who it was. I knew who it was— from his 'oh so good' smell and how tensed the air suddenly became, I knew it was James.

"Dei," he called, there was a softness in his voice that made my knees wobbly... he didn't need to know that.

"Yes, Mr.Martin." I sounded harder than I intended, but I didn't care.

I almost bellowed with laughter when he called me 'Dei'. I thought he wanted us to act like total strangers or formal as he put it then why the hell was he calling me by my nickname now?

I heard him sigh. "I'm sorry for how I acted earlier. I was just....hmm. That's the only way I know I can work with you. Any other way I won't be able to concentrate. And despite me trying to act strictly professional, I still can't concentrate properly."

"Why?" it slipped out before I could think. It was so soft coming from a woman that wanted to be hard.

"You," he whispered and I inhaled audibly.

''Listen, uh... I'm not bothered about you wanting to be professional. I'm okay with strictly professional too if that's the only way it would work," I paused as a thought popped in. "What I don't get is why my dad sent you to put me through, seeing that you don't work for him. So why?"

"I find it strange too. He said it was for the best and that I was the best." He shrugged. "Surprisingly my dad was very okay with it. Which is unlike my dad. That man never let me even think of working anywhere that isn't TMG, but he did even before your dad said it."

When I didn't say anything he went on talking.

"If you aren't okay with it, we could talk to him about replacing me with someone else. If it was up to me though, I'd stay. I have a feeling I'd enjoy working with you." He smirked.

God, why me? Why did I've to be placed in such a situation? I thought desperately.

I knew I'd enjoy working with him too, what I didn't know was how intact my concentration would be. If I'd said I wasn't okay with him here, he might get offended. And If I agreed with him on enjoying it...

I didn't know what to reply, so I said, "We'd see."

After some time, he let out a loud sigh. I saw him rubbing his palm to his forehead from the corner of my eyes. "Dei?" he called.

"Yes?"

"About the other night," he started.

"What about it?" I asked feigning nonchalance.

"I lied," he deadpanned.

I turned to face him. "About?"

"I lied in my truth, the irony is beyond me." He snickered. "I didn't have sex that evening before our date. I looked at you and said I had because I wanted you to see what I was doing."

I frowned in confusion. "I don't understand."

"There was no way I could've had been with anyone by 6 pm that day because by 5:49 pm I was already outside your house, and by 6 pm I already sent you a text that I was waiting."

Shit, I cursed mentally as it started to dawn on me.

"Why?" I asked him

"Why what?"

"Why did you lie? Why not just say the truth?"

"The truth? That I had never been with a woman before? I couldn't. So I said what could save me and not get you hurt at the same time."

I searched his face for any hint that he was joking. I didn't see any. He was serious. He had never been with a woman before. I didn't know if I should jump for joy that there was still hope for us to be each other's first.

There was. I wasn't so stupid when I hoped he'd wait for me after all. He did. He dead ass seriously did.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

He walked closer to me and sat on the table. "What?" he asked trying to hide a smile of his own as he cradled my face.

I shook my head.

His thumb untucked my bottom lip from between my teeth. I didn't even know I had it there.

"What about punching Nat? And the whole asking him to watch when you kissed me scene?" I asked, my voice now hoarse.

"I was jealous. Nah, jealous is an understatement. I was pissed as fuck that you were going to allow him to kiss you."

"There was nothing to be jealous about. It was a game and I wasn't going to shy away from it. Besides, you had just said you had sex the night before, what did you want me to think?"

He exhaled. "I know. I thought you'd get it, that was why I looked at you as I said it. And I kissed you to pass a message."

I frowned. "What message?"

"That you're mine," he grunted.

Shit.

I squeezed my thighs together. There was something about how he grunted that had my center pooling. Something in his possessiveness that almost made me moan.

I looked away from him, knowing if I didn't, I'd kiss him and lost myself in him.

Keep it professional, I reminded myself, You're at the office.

I cleared my throat, knowing fully well my throat had close and that if I had tried to talk my voice would've been lost.

"I'm going to get food."

He chuckled. Damn, he knows. He knows how he's affecting me. He knows of the pooling in my center. Damn him.

"Here," he placed a pack of what I knew was a hamburger and a cup of coffee in front of me.

I smiled when I saw the crease on the cup of coffee. He still remembered I loved ice coffee.

I reached for the cup first. "Thanks."

I looked at the cup after taking my first draw to see it had writings on it. I squinted as I read the lines because they were written in tiny italics -

4 Dei

D most beautiful girl I'll ever meet and know

An angel that's got my heart throbbing

And then there was a kiss sticker.

The smile that crept on my face continued to grow wide. I was melting as I read the last part, my eyes trailing on the sticker.

I looked up to see the face of the man who was generating the fluttering happy butterflies in my tummy. To my surprise, he was gone.

How? I didn't even hear the door open. Does he use magical powers now? While I was still trying to figure out how he vanished and why my phone vibrated.

I peered at the phone screen to see a message from Nat-

Hey, Dei. Could I come up to your office now?

We were still on break, if he wanted something it wasn't work-related.

Okay, I replied to him.

Not more than a minute after I replied, he strode through the door. I didn't get how he was so quick... then it clicked. He had been waiting close to the door.

What if I had said no? What the hell was wrong with this guy?

I told myself he wasn't creepy. That it didn't freak me out that he had waited outside the door before texting me. But it was.

"Hey, Nat. It's almost time to resume."

He grinned like I had said something funny. "Oh Dei," he humored.

He held out a cup of coffee, I could tell it was iced as I had told him I liked my coffee iced the last time he brought a steaming cup.

"Here I brought you a..." he trailed when he saw I already had a cup. "Oh, I see you got one already."

"Yes, thank you though."

He sat on the chair that was directly opposite mine.

I noticed he didn't wait for me to tell him he could sit but gave him a tight smile anyway. I didn't quite mind, we're friends? Right?

Maybe not yet, I was an observer, it took me time for me to call a person my friend. I believed we'd get there though. If he'd quit asking me on dates.

I sighed giving him my attention. I just wanted him to get it over and done with. It was only five minutes more before the break was over.

Or maybe I didn't want to be responsible for him and James being in the same room again. I didn't know what it was between them, but I knew there was something.

"So... " I trailed as I waited for him to talk.