Chapter Seven
Laurence at last completed his work for the day and strode out of the elevator towards his office. He was in the foulest of moods and just wanted to pick up his stuff and drive home. However, he froze seeing a haggard Arianna sitting at her cubicle and sleeping with her head on her desk.
His heart went out to the young girl. She might be so tired having arrived so early in the morning. It was already 9 o'clock in the night and here she was waiting for him to release her. Why did she have to be so adorable?
He went into his office and got his stuff. He picked up her handbag and summoned a security guard to carry all their stuff to the parking area. He then shut down her computer and picked her up in his arms, bridal style and carried her to the elevator.
Going into the elevator Laurence felt his heart beating faster as her soft body cuddled more into him. His body felt alive when her arms went around his neck and she lay her head on his shoulders, embedding her face into his neck. He felt his growing arousal and couldn't help his body's response to her. As the elevator went downwards she stirred in his arms and opened her eyes, cuddling more into him. Then realization struck Arianna and she struggled to get free.
"S sir, I'm sorry I I dozed off," she said with wide eyes.
"You should have gone home. What were you waiting for?" He asked with a poker face not wanting her to know how her nearness was affecting him. She struggled more and he placed her down.
"I was waiting for you to give me permission to go sir, " she said in a soft voice. "I don't want to lose this job."
Laurence looked at her tired face. Maybe there was more to her than met his eye. She seemed more vulnerable, more tired, more stressed than the first day when he saw her.
"You won't lose the job. You can leave at 6 o'clock everyday unless I instruct you otherwise, " he said. Arianna nodded and then realized that she forgot her handbag in her cubicle.
"I need to go back for my handbag, " she said not walking out of the elevator when they reached the parking lot.
"It's here. I had it brought down," he said. She walked out of the elevator and saw her handbag with the security guard.
"Thank you sir," she said, going to the security guard and taking her bag. "Thank you, " she said to the security guard. She then walked slowly towards the exit of the parking area to walk home. The last bus had already left and if she started walking now, she would be able to reach home in an hour.
"Where are you going Arianna?" Yelled a furious Laurence. It was late and there were no buses plying at this hour and yet she was walking away from him to go home.
"I'm going home sir. I'm used to walking, " she said turning back and looking at him.
"Used to walking? No way. Get into the car and I'll drop you home," he ordered, getting into his car and starting the ignition.
Arianna shook her head. No she wasn't going to take advantage of him everyday. He might think that she was clingy which she wasn't. Seeing her disobey him made him all the more furious. He drove towards her and stopped right in front of her. "Get in the car Arianna," he gritted out. She didn't argue further. What was the use? Whatever she did, he just got angrier with her. She opened the passenger door and climbed into his car. He drove off silently towards Isabella's house.
"You can come to office tomorrow at 9 o'clock," he said and she nodded. "You didn't tell me why you left your home?" He asked again. He had to know whether she was marrying her friend's brother.
"My dad's alcoholic. He wanted money and I didn't have any. So he was planning to sell me to some stranger. I escaped," she said, closing her eyes. Maybe he'll hate her more now. Maybe he'd throw her out of his prestigious company after knowing about her. Laurence's jaws dropped at her admission. He just got off the road and parked his car in a corner.
"I'm sorry Arianna. I didn't know. I can provide you with accommodation on behalf of the company, " he offered.
"No sir, I can't afford the rent. My dad's looking for me. I don't want to live alone," she said and Laurence realized how scared she actually was of her father.
He steered the car onto the road and drove on and soon reached her house. "Thank you sir," she said softly and Laurence nodded. He wanted her to invite him inside but since it was too late, he didn't insist. She opened the door of the car and went out. She walked tiredly towards her house. Laurence sat in his car and watched her. The door was opened by a middle aged lady who maybe was her friend's mom. Laurence sighed and drove off home.
His home was an ultra-modern building with five floors. There was a tight security system at the ground floor. His car sped inside the highrise and straight into the underground parking. The entire building was exclusively owned by Laurence and his family. It didn't look like a home though but more like a five star hotel with valuable furniture and furnishings. Two years back they used to live in a two-bedroomed apartment in a decent neighbourhood. However ever since Laurence had started doing well, he bought this building and his mom had it renovated according to her taste. Laurence was a man of few words. He didn't intervene with her decision but decorated his own floor as per his taste.
He lived alone on the fourth and fifth floor of the building. The building had two elevators. His parents and Lisa lived on the second and the third floor. The 1st floor had a gym, a library and a family entertainment room. There was a chef to cook for them since his mom didn't cook always complaining of some sickness or the other. Laurence walked into the elevator that took him up to the fourth floor.
The elevator opened and he walked onto the lobby with a door where Laurence punched in a code. The door opened and he went inside. He didn't like opulent or extravagant decor. His taste was contemporary, simple and modern. He went into his en-suite to take a shower when his housekeeper Sandra who also worked for his parents, came in with his dinner.
She placed it on his dining table and went away. Laurence ate his dinner and went straight to bed. He was dead tired. He would talk to Lisa the next day.
Arianna had dinner with aunt Henrietta who had waited up for her. "I was worried about you dear. Next time inform me if you'd return home late," she said.
"I'm sorry, aunt Henrietta. Next time I'll call up," she promised. She was touched by aunt Henrietta's concern for her. They both ate while Arianna updated her aunt why she was so late.
"I think he likes you more than he shows," said aunt Henrietta with a knowing smile when Arianna told her everything that happened since the day she had met Laurence Lennard.
"Oh no no. He actually dislikes me. He's always in a bad mood when he's with me," she said, with dismay.
"I don't think so," said her aunt. Arianna didn't argue further since she knew that she couldn't convince her further. They finished dinner and cleaned up everything before retiring to their rooms. Arianna went to sleep thinking about what her aunt told her. No it was really impossible that Laurence liked her. She fell asleep thinking about Laurence and his intoxicating scent, the warmth and comfort of his arms, the muscular shoulders she leaned her head on. Was she crushing on her boss?
The next morning Arianna woke up late. She hurriedly showered and got ready, wearing the same dress that she wore on her first day. She ate a slice of bread and hurriedly left, forgetting to pack herself something for lunch. It was 8:50 already when she rushed to the bus stop. The next bus was ten minutes later and she would reach her office twenty minutes later. Should she take a cab? Then the whole month she wouldn't have any money left. A cab halted before her and she climbed onto it, giving the driver the address of her office.
She reached her office in ten minutes thankfully. She rushed into the elevator and in five more minutes reached her floor. Hurrying out of the elevator she rushed to her cubicle.
"You're five minutes late Arianna. Sir's already summoned you three times. He's in a foul mood and wants you to see him now," said Mrs Drewett with dismay.
"Ohno, now what have I done?" She mumbled, keeping her handbag and walking over to his office.
