Of Kings and Aces

04| Azure Eyes

I will not go to the office at eight. I don't care what that bear says. I'm staying at this coffee shop 'til nine and think about Azure Eyes.

I gave her a proper name because "blue-eyed girl" is commonplace, and she was anything but that. She was unique, even the color and clarity of her eyes were.

That was the original plan. However, Bart found me hiding in one corner and accidentally told Jaxx. Damn snitch. 

My doom would have been imminent if I didn't go to my office soon, so I begrudgingly stood up and exited the booth, saying a wistful goodbye to my quiet time with Azure Eyes before nine. As I was trudging my way back, my phone rang, and I knew who the caller was without looking.

"You're an ass, you know," he said too calmly it was suspicious. If the guy were indeed waiting for me in the office for the past thirty minutes, Jaxx would have already blown his top over my ill behavior. But he wasn't, so maybe the guy called in sick or was suddenly unavailable.

"Yeah? So sue me," I bluffed. 

And true enough, Jacob was suddenly unavailable because the new client demanded to see him immediately to discuss their concerns. My insightful friend threw the new project at our newly hired computer engineer, so he had to deal with that flirtatious woman first thing in the morning. I kind of pitied him; he didn't sign up for this kind of work, but then it was part and parcel of his project.

The first presentation for a very long day of presentations and proposals was about to start when I arrived at the boardroom. The staff greeted me politely as I took a seat at the head of the table opposite the monitor. There was a stack of folders on my left side, each neatly labeled on the side and on the front. It reminded me of the professors who had to sit and read theses from students who hardly knew what they were doing but had to do it anyway to pass the subject. The difference was that I was either going to make or lose money with each proposal I approved or rejected.

In between presentations, and yes, even during the presentations, I've been texting Rachel to ask her about Azure Eyes, but she doesn't remember seeing a blonde bombshell in Camachile Sky that night. She mentioned there were a couple of foreigners but no woman with dusty blond hair and dark blue eyes. No one stood out like that. 

Cara said the same thing. The only other person with me at the hospital was Bart because Seb was not allowed to stand near me within a kilometer radius, and Chino was helping Seb fulfill that restraining order.

Later on that evening, I found myself once again settled on the couch in the Green Room, this time with empty boxes of Chinese take-out. Despite another reminder from Noelle, I had a beer to soothe my headache. Cara did say it was risky, but it was okay to have a beer or two. She was the licensed doctor, so I would naturally follow the expert opinion on the matter, especially one that allowed me to do as I please.

After I sent the last email, I contemplated on what time I would head home, whether I would head home or just sleep in here again because I wasn't done reading the rest of the projects. I was too busy thinking I didn't notice I had already fallen asleep and dreamed of Azure Eyes.

The annoying sound of the phone ringing woke me up in the middle of the night, revealing an unknown number. Thinking it might be a mistake, I rejected the call. However, the same caller ID was flashing on my screen not long after, so I just picked up to get it over with. 

It took me a while to process what the guy on the other end was saying because one, I was too groggy and irritated. Two, he was speaking with a British accent. Three, I didn't know anyone who spoke English with a British accent personally.