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CHAPTER FIVE

Evelyn.

.

.

“Sir? I've been phoning your line since early this morning but I haven't gotten a response. Is everything okay?” I said nervously as I stood across from Liam in his office. He had a dark expression on his face, and his scowl could have swallowed me whole.

“Why don't you tell me?” He said suddenly, and I froze.

“I…uh…I don't understand what you mean sir.” I said, taking a step back. His office was dimly lit as always, and it made his nonchalant position even more threatening.

Why did I have to be so nosy?

I shuffled my feet, waiting for the worst.

But to my surprise, he looked away, shut his eyes and exhaled.

“Leave.” He ordered.

Didn't have to tell me twice.

I scurried out of the room as always, and clutched my chest. Maybe he didn't want to talk about it, or maybe it was something else.

Why don't you tell me?

What could I possibly know?

“Ev?” A pair of fingers snapped in my face. I blinked, turning to find Gina with an incredulous expression and staring at me.

“Jeez. That's no way to bring someone back from Dreamland.” I said, tugging on her finger.

She snorted. “Yeah right. Dreamland is right inside Mr Liam's office. But how can you tell me he's not hot? I mean look at him. Just look at him Ev.”

I chuckled as she continued her ramble. Liam was physically attractive, I wasn't going to deny, but when you're his secretary, it always feels like you're walking on thin ice.

A man shouldn't make a woman feel like that.

“Earth to Evelyn…Hello?” Gina called again, waving her hands in my face.

“Gina, please. And that was better.” I said as we moved back to my office. My mind drifted to Liam's question. What could have possibly happened?

I didn't get the chance to ask Avery about the event a month ago because she switched off her cell phone the moment the event started. But since I didn't get any query emails, I could say she did well.

At least I hoped.

Because Liam's attitude had been like this since then.

My phone rang loudly, cutting me off from my thoughts again. I glanced at the caller ID, and for some reason, (which had never happened before when I got calls from her) my heart skipped a beat.

“Hey pookie, how are you doing?” Avery said on the other end of the line. Her voice was…quiet, and it made me realize something was wrong.

Avery was never quiet.

“Oh you know, I'm alright. Just a few hiccups here and there. How are you?” I replied, resting on my desk. My eyes skimmed over the minutes of the last board meeting Liam had a few days ago displayed on my laptop.

“Oh me? I'm perfectly fine.” She said. There was a slight pause, and it made me narrow my eyes. It felt like eternity. Like she was trying to make a decision on whether she should say something else or not.

And I didn't like it.

“Girl, are you sure you're okay?”

I asked just for the sake of it. She scoffed immediately, and my intuition got worse. Avery was really doing a lot she never does today.

“I'm good, okay? Just feeling a little woozy. I'll text you later.” Her voice was strained.

I didn't want to, but I listened to her and hung up, placing my phone beside my laptop and cupping my face in my hands.

First Liam, now Avery.

Is everyone really bent on making me overthink today?

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

“Lock up quickly. I have an event to attend.” Liam said, strutting past my desk and into his office.

“Um, sir. What kind of event, if I may ask?”

I have no fucking idea where that courage came from.

Liam paused in his stride and turned towards me, his eyes dark and icy. “It's business. I'll fill you in on the details in the morning.” He said coldly, and walked away.

Oh well.

I packed up the rest of my things and headed home, eager for a warm soak in the bathtub. Today was long enough.

“Daphne! I'm home!” I yelled as soon as I walked in the front door. Daphne was my roommate, and we had shared a home ever since we met in college. She was outgoing, wild, and reckless.

Kinda like Avery, but a lot more unhinged.

“Daphne?” I called again when I didn't get a response. Her slippers were at the front door, and her dog Fluffy was roaming around the house, so I was sure she was home.

I sauntered towards her bedroom, and once I saw the door shut, I knew her boyfriend was around. I could already hear them making out as Daphne's moans filled the hall.

Jeez.

Like it was my fault I didn't have a man to do all that with.

I rolled my eyes like the hater that I was, walked back to the kitchen, gave Fluffy a little pat on his head, and poured myself a glass of carbonated water. Fluffy waddled over to me, and sat in between my legs. I looked at her and smiled.

“I wish I had a boyfriend, you know. All those warm romance stuff I saw on TV. It would be really nice to experience some of that in real life don't you think?” I began.

Yes. I was about to tell a dog my deepest thoughts.

Story of my life I guess, but I enjoyed it. Fluffy always listened.

I poured her a small portion of water into her bowl, and left for my room.

Soon, I was tucked deeply into the covers, and the daily flashing of images of my day started in my head. From the annoying bus ride to work, to Liam's odd attitude, Avery's weird phone call, and Daphne's method of making me really jealous.

I groaned.

“Please let me sleep.” I begged subconsciously.

After another 25 minutes, I gave up and walked to the living room.

Daphne's boyfriend, Justin, nodded at me, and I returned the gesture, even though his vision was blocked by Daphne's french curls which were now scattered and messy.

The funny thing was, she would have it as good as new by morning.

“Bye baby.” I heard her whisper as Justin left out the front door.

“Heyyyy girlllll! Okay guess what?”

She never misses the count.

“What is it now Daphne?” I said in mock sarcasm. She pouted, branding the little red marks on the inside of her lips. Why was there so much biting in love making?

“You don't have to be so mean, jeez.” She said sulkily, and I laughed.

“You're the one making me feel like I'm the only single person on the market. Don't blame me if I'm a tad jealous.” I retorted, grabbing a pan from the cupboard.

“Well, that's not my fault.” She said, a sly grin coming to light on her features.

“What do you mean? It's mine?” I asked, walking over to the fridge.

I felt like eating spaghetti tonight.

“I mean, you need to get yourself a boyfriend.” She drawled.

You gotta be kidding me.

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