Chapter Fourteen
The next morning, Arianna went downstairs for coffee. Last night she didn't have dinner and had gone off to sleep. Everyone might have returned after dinner time she wasn't sure.
She sat sipping her coffee when aunt Henrietta came into the kitchen. "What happened to you? You didn't have dinner last night Arianna?" She asked with concern.
"I was tired so I might have gone off to sleep," she answered.
"We had to go shopping last evening. It was a sudden decision since Hudson has to leave today," said aunt Henrietta.
"No no, it's absolutely fine," said Arianna. Although she was hurt but she didn't have any money so even if they took her along what would she have done there?
"I've got you a few dresses to wear at the wedding. Isa will give them to you. Do try them on and show me dear, okay?" Said aunt Henrietta. Arianna felt very happy that they hadn't forgotten her. So maybe they did accept her as a part of their family. The feeling uplifted her mood and she smiled.
"Thank you aunt Henrietta. Sure I will when I return home, " she promised.
"You haven't been carrying lunch these days. Go get ready, I'll pack you a lunch box, " scolded aunt Henrietta.
Arianna got up and hugged her, planting a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you aunt Henrietta, " she said with a grin.
"This weekend you will learn driving with Isabella and Weston. After you get your license you can use Hudson's old car. It's compact and in very good condition, " said her aunt Henrietta.
"Yes aunt Henrietta, " said Arianna glad to have a car of her own. She flashed her aunt a happy smile and went up to her room to get ready. She chose a grey and black checkered skirt matching it with a plain white full sleeved top. Fixing her hair up in a bun she came down. Everyone was sitting down to breakfast, she too took a plate and served herself some eggs, toast and bacon.
"Finish your food before you go. You've become so thin," said aunt Henrietta, pushing a packed lunchbox for her.
"Yes aunt Henrietta. Thank you," said Arianna.
"Isabella, when are you leaving that cafe job? I think you should search for a proper internship which will help you later, " said uncle David.
"Yes dad, I will hand in my resignation today, " Isabella said.
Weston and his dad discussed his work while Isabella told her about the dresses that she bought for her. "You can try them on when you return from work, " she said excitedly.
"Yes, I'm excited to see them," said Arianna. After ten minutes she left home to walk down to the bus stop. But her eyes popped out seeing Laurence's Bugatti parked right opposite her house. She felt excited at the prospect of seeing Laurence. Last night she had a fitful sleep as memories of Laurence's kisses and his words filled her head. She cried too at her indecisive state and eventually dozed off.
Tim came out seeing her and opened the door for her. "Good morning ma'am, I'll be driving you to the office," he said curtly.
"Good morning Tim. Thank you, " she said, climbing into the car. Tim drove her to the office. Arianna wanted to ask him why Laurence hadn't come but she couldn't. It wouldn't be appropriate to ask Tim. So she just alighted from the car and after thanking Tim, went towards the elevators. She reached her floor and kept her bag at her workspace. It was 8:30 in the morning and she felt that Laurence was already in his room. So she made his coffee and knocked on his door and entered.
Closing the door she turned around and approached his table. He sat at his desk looking haggard and exhausted. His eyes looked tired as he typed away at his laptop. He was strangely wearing the same clothes as yesterday. Didn't he go home last night?
"Good morning sir, your coffee, " she said placing his coffee on his desk.
"Morning, " he said in a grumpy tone without looking at her. "I have a meeting in twenty minutes. Be prepared with the financial statements of the last financial year, " he ordered without looking at her. "That would be all." She nodded disappointedly.
"Yes sir," she said, leaving his chamber. She went to the records room and asked the person in-charge what she wanted. After taking the documents, she went back to her cubicle.
Laurence sighed heavily after she left. He had noticed how delicious she looked in the dress that he'd bought her but if he looked at her he would have lost it. Last night he was busy with his production team as there was a major problem with the Astra collection. He felt tired and needed a shower so he sent Tim home to get him some fresh clothes and a towel. He would take a shower at office itself after the meeting.
He strode out of his room and saw her sitting at her desk with a lost and unhappy expression on her face. Laurence felt excited, did she miss him, did she miss his kisses? Was she sad because he had ignored her? Maybe. "Come on, we're getting late, " he said, sternly in a gruff voice. Arianna nodded and picking up her stuff ran after him into the elevator.
"Have you collected the necessary files?" He asked in the same tone.
"Yes sir," she said softly, looking down at her feet. She should have been glad that he had lost interest in her, that he was treating her only as an employee but she wasn't. Despite the harsh reality, her stupid heart had hoped that he loved her just like she loved him.
They went to the finance department where the conference room was set up for the meeting. The room was full of important looking people who gaped at her with their mouths hanging open. She looked so out of place like a school girl who'd come for an office visit. But nevertheless, Laurence introduced her and the meeting proceeded. They analysed the profit and loss statements of all their outlets all over the world. The meeting went on for two hours. Arianna kept her mouth shut and only did her work, handing over the required documents to Laurence and noting down the minutes of the meeting. She also ordered coffee and refreshments for everyone through the intercom. The cafeteria downstairs provided them with their orders and everyone took a ten minute breather. Arianna went to the washroom to freshen up, not wanting to have anymore coffee.
The meeting proceeded till lunchtime and finally was over. Laurence strode towards the elevator with Arianna trying to keep pace with him. Why was he rushing?
Laurence was feeling hot and dirty, he needed a cool shower immediately. Tim must have got him his clothes. He strode into his chamber, the cool waters was all he could think about.
Arianna sat in her cubicle and typed the minutes of the meeting on her computer. After she was done, she saved it and took a print out. Then she sent it to Laurence. Taking the print out along with a print of his schedule for the day, she walked over to his office room. She forgot to knock and opened the door and went inside, turning to close the door behind her.
Then she turned and was about to go to Laurence's desk when a gasp escaped her mouth, seeing a freshly showered towel-clad Laurence standing in front of the wall length mirror of his office. He watched her reaction quietly through the mirror.
Arianna eyes went wide and her mouth hung open as she took in his gorgeous body, his rippling muscles, his hard, thick biceps, his six pack abs, his well toned legs. It was clear that he worked out a lot. She couldn't look away from him. She now understood how looks could kill.
"I I I'm s sorry sir, I'll come back later," she stammered when she came to her senses, her cheeks coloring profusely. Laurence smirked at her, he saw the way she looked at him. It gave him confidence that maybe she liked him after all.
"Tell me what you wanted to say," he asked her, drying his hair with a shorter towel.
She turned around, her back towards him. "You g get d dressed sir. I'll come back later," she said, hurrying to the door. She couldn't stay in the same room with her semi-naked boss! She had just reached the door when Laurence caught her hand which was on the door knob. He locked the door and whirled her around to face him.
Then he pulled her into his arms, against his bare chest. "Don't tell me you've never seen a man in a towel before?" He whispered into her ear, his lips brushing the sweet spot below her earlobe. She trembled like a leaf.
"No, I haven't, " she whispered.
He untied the towel and let it fall to the floor. Arianna closed her eyes tightly shut. Wasn't this sheer torture?
