Minutes Before The Miracle

CHAPTER - 37

Thought of the chapter:-
Anywhere with you is everywhere I want to be...
   - J Iron Word

-x-

EMMA

The pale ochre and aquamarines of dawn filtering through the drapes in beams creates a myriad beautiful waltzing shapes on the white sheets. Rubbing the remnants of sleep off my eyes, I look to my side. Sleeping there like a baby is the most mysterious man I have ever met. So strong yet so vulnerable, so difficult yet so gooey, so mystical yet so obvious, so stormy yet so peaceful. A bundle of contradictions.

A lopsided smile embellishes his face. His warm breath hits my collar bone consistently. A musky smell of morning is all over him. Untangling my hands from the sheets, I thread it once through his messy hair. Slowly, I place my shivering but sure lips on his forehead.

"Good morning," I whisper, a big smile dazzling on my face.

After procrastinating for some more moments, I get down the bed, pick up and put on the robe lying unceremoniously on the floor. Walking towards the windows, I spread open the drapes, letting the welcoming sunrays wish us.

I turn around when I hear his groan. Covering his eyes with his arm, he turns and sleeps on his stomach. My smile broadens a little more, if possible.

He feels like a safe haven.

My safe haven.

Tearing my gaze from him, I look out at the skyline coming to view eventually. And suddenly, I am strongly reminded of a line I had read long, long ago.

'Behind every great day is a great night.'

-x-

I won't be honest if I say that I don't feel a little lonely.

I have been reading the first line of the draft over and over again since I reached office. And the needles are almost touching the lunch hour. I slam the sheets on the table and slump back on my chair, staring at the ceiling.

Steven was awfully quiet this morning. He was miles away even during breakfast and way too cold in his replies, let alone initiate a conversation. He acted so distant as if nothing happened the day before; as if we weren't awake till three in the morning making love or weren't tangled in each other until wee hours, for that matter.

Dropping me at my place, he drove off without a word.

How rude!

Wait... Does he regret it?

"Hello," I say as I pick up the phone that breaks my line of thought abruptly.

"Hello, Miss Grey. Mr. Bradshaw would like to see you in his office immediately." The soft but strong voice of Miss Keller rings through the phone.

He wants me in his office? That too, after brutally ignoring me? For what?

"Miss Grey... Are you there?" Miss Keller confirms.

"Yeah. Yes, I will be there in five," I reply.

"Sure thing," she tells and swiftly hangs up.

I sigh in agitation and get up with some effort, pick my cell and walk towards the elevator.

Reaching his floor, I say a quick 'hello' to Miss Keller and enter after hearing a commanding 'come in' after a knock.

"Good afternoon sir. You called me?" I say, professionalism dripping from every word.

If he can behave like nothing happened after do much, then I can put up a good act too.

He looks at me, bewilderment sprinkled on his otherwise straight face and then looks away to take a deep breath. Getting up and buttoning his goddamn suit jacket, he walks towards me. Even though his demeanor screams that he is all well, his disheveled hair proves otherwise.