A Woman Scorned!

CHAPTER 9

With less than a month to confirm everything for the planning of Dina's wedding, my head hurts.

I've missed work for more than three weeks, but Farah handled everything perfectly.

Grandma convinced me to come to work and that she'll take care of mom.

Now I just need to focus and once everything is over, I won't be planning any other event for at least 2 months. I need to spend time with my family.

It's a warm Thursday and I'm suppose to be meeting with Dina at 10. I'm already at the office, on my feet, going through every little detail. I can't have her complaining about us being incompetent.

"Can I come in Ms Aleeya?" Farah knocks once then peeps through the half opened door.
"Sure, come. Any problems?"
"Not yet." She walks up to me and hands me a cup of coffee. I take it and put it aside for time being.

"What do you mean?"
"Before you came in, Mr Miller was here. He demands to speak to you."
"Damn! How could I forget about Miller?" With everything that has been going on, I forgot that my lawyer is giving me problems.

"Calm down Ms Aleeya. I did convince him to give you time until after the wedding."
"He won't stop until he rips out my heart, I'll see to it by the end of the day. Is Dina already here?"
"She called and said she's 15 minutes away, I'll bring her to the office when she gets here."

"Okay and I'm not missing anything about the draft right? I need to confirm it."
"Everything is there Ms Aleeya."
"Okay do this, enlighten me."

"Well, since she gave you four themes, we decided to merge them. For the wedding ceremony, the hall will have decorations of fairytale Garden. Then the wedding reception will be Great Gatsby with a beach touch."

"Sounds good. I'll explain everything else to her when she gets here. You can leave."
"Alright."
"And thanks for the coffee." Farah smiles then walks out. I take my coffee, smell it and sit on my chair with a smile on my face.

Every sips just brings me calmness and warmth. The stress lessens.

"I'll call Ash." I take my phone and dial Ash who picks up after three rings.
"Hey, I just pulled up to your building. Wanna come out for coffee?"
"Uh... okay, be right out." I do need a break before meeting Dina so, why not?. I place my mug on the table, grab my purse and run out of the building.

"Geez can't believe you're here." I say walking out, meeting Ash. He's looking really handsome, dressed in a three piece navy suit. He's leaning on his car, busy on his phone but he puts it away seeing me approach.

"I had to see you, come here." He opens his arms for a hug and I run right into them.

He squeezes me so tight like he has been dying to hold me. I hug him back, pulling him close and smelling his cologne, gosh he smells so good.

We let go after a few seconds and he just looks at me with his cute smile that makes me feel all sorts of emotions.
"You're okay?"
"Yeah I just... I just wanted to see you, and hold you."

"Ash..."
"I know... I know we're not that close, we had sex just once and you don't like me like that, and and but..." He goes quiet looking worried.
"Ash are you alright?"
"I've been having shitty days and (Pauses) let's go have coffee."
"Sure." He holds my hand and walk across the street to a nearby coffee shop.

"Here sit." He pulls my chair and makes me sit comfortably.
"Thanks."

"Good morning, can I get you coffee?" A waiter asks us politely.
"We've just been here for a second man."
"Ash, no." I reprimand him for speaking rudely to the waiter. Honestly, he really is having a bad day.
"Sorry I just..."

"Look just get him a double espresso and please make it strong. Then please get me black coffee, with less sugar and a pinch of cinnamon." I instruct the waiter with a smile, he nods and walks off. "You're really having a bad day, aren't you?"
"I've had better days."
"Well..." I reach for his hand. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Just that..." He trails off as if not sure where to begin.
"It's okay if you don't wanna talk about it."
"I just don't understand why my family is making me do this." Ash says sounding and looking concerned.
"Do what?"
"I mean I get it, yes we're childhood friends but seriously?"
"Ash what are you talking about?" I ask confused.
"My mom, she's insisting that I..."

"Here you go ma'am, sir." The waiter interrupts, placing our coffee on the table.
"Thank you."
"Enjoy." He walks away as I turn my attention back to Ash.
"What is your mom making you do?" He goes quiet just looking at me. I press my hands on his. "Ash, you know you can talk to me right?"

"Alee, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you." He says with a straight face. "I know we've been talking for like a few weeks but, these feelings are so strong."
"Feelings?"

"That day at the hospital, when you called me babe. I acted weirdly because I... I didn't know how to respond to the sudden electric wave I felt in my heart."
"So you stopped talking to me because of that?"
"No." He scratches his head.

"I stopped talking to you because I knew if I didn't, I'd fall for you, deeply."
I hear Ash talking but, he's not making sense... there's just something in his eyes.

Something he's hiding or rather trying to tell me.

"Is there something wrong with falling for me?"
"(Shakes his head) No, not at all. But it's wrong, at least for me."
"What do you mean?"

He goes quiet for some time, just staring at me.
"Zodiac is there something you wanna tell me?"

"(Sighs) I could tell you that I really like you and I want to explore this thing called love with you." He holds my hand and his cute smile once again appears on his face, but I just feel like there's more to this. "If it so happens that this is not some silly stupid crush and I'm really falling for you, then I'll cancel everything."

"Cancel everything?"
"I'll stand up to my mother and I'll cancel my..."
"Hold on..." My phone rings and I realise it's Farah. Dina must have arrived.

"Yes Farah?" I answer the call. "Okay I'll be right there."
"Work?" Ash asks as I hung up.
"I really have to go, my client is here." I say standing from my seat.
"Right, but can we talk after work?" He also stands, walking to my side.
"Sure I'll..."

"Hold on..." This time Ash's phone rings, he sighs and answers. "Yes?, Alright I'll be right there." He hangs up then puts his phone in his pocket.
"I'll call you after work Ash, I really have to go now, bye."
"Listen..." He grabs my wrist as I was about to walk away.

He walks closer to me, really close. He puts his warm hand on my cheek and leans in to kiss me.

His kiss is so warm, passionate and electric. I can't help but kiss him back. He slides his hand around my waist, pulling me closer. The kiss goes on like it's just the two of us on this planet.

I lightly push him off as I pull away from the kiss, taking a deep breath.
He smiles, takes out some money from his wallet and puts it on the table. "Just think about what I said." He places a kiss on my forehead then walks out of the coffee shop.

Running my fingers through my lips trying to take in what just happened, I realise I really like this guy. "Explore love with him? No, no Aleeya, no." I reprimand myself, thinking out loud.

After what Teka did to me, I can't just let another guy into my life. Especially a guy I barely know.

I shake myself out of my thoughts then run out of the coffee shop, running to my office.
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