The Space Between

Chapter 36; Jealousy

Sarah was taking to one of her team member Saif who worked in the marketing team when Xavier made himself known to the party. Saif greeting his boss with respect decided to move and get him a drink. While Sarah  stood with a can in her hand. She didn't give him any reaction or try and talk but it seemed as though Xavier wanted to. "You look beautiful tonight as always". Not wanting to be completely rude, Sarah thanked him but her eyes stay stuck to his as they stared at her intensly. He seemed serious for some reason and even mad Sarah noticed. "What were you two laughing about?" Xavier couldn't control his tone as it rang in authority. He was standing at the far talking on call when the sight caught his attention.  It seemed that not only was Sarah talking to that man but seemed to be enjoying his company. The conference was about to start and he would soon have to go to stage for a panel discussion when he decided this came first. But Sarah was having none of it. Staring him right back with her head high, she dared to speak "What gives you the right to ask me that question?"
Xavier looked away as his jaw clenched in frustration. Before he could speak Sarah decided to finish this topic once and for all. "Let me remind you Mr Xavier that just a month ago you had totally pushed me away. Told me in clear words that you don't want to have any personal relationship with me. And now that I AM abiding by your wish you seem to be looking for something else. Well. Let me just tell you then that cold behavior was well received by me but don't you ever think that you can push me away and have an unspoken right on what I do and who I converse with" . If there was one thing about Sarah it was that when she got really mad she didn't shut up until she got everything out of her system and right now she did just that. Giving him the drink she walked out of the hall and the hotel to get some fresh air suddenly feeling suffocated at his presence. Xavier watched Sarah go and was too stunned to speak. Just then Alan also arrived saying that they were going to start a panel discussion soon and he needed to come back stage. Xavier thought about what was more important to him at the moment and for the first time he ditched his work for someone else. Telling Alan to handle the situation , he left following the same path Sarah had gone. Sarah too lost in her thought and teary eyed did not see him coming. She was too lost info feeling this unbearable pain that had suddenly claimed her head. Her head replayed that scene she saw at the TV. Xavier putting ring on someone's hand. And even before that when Amelia told her about the kiss. She was hurt and angry at herself for believing when he said that he had thought of her. Then why was that even now her heart didn't fully agree. Something about that didn't feel right. Feeling bitter about him felt so wrong to her that she couldn't see him in a negative light. She only stopped when her head crashed on someone's chest. Xavier looked down at her teary eyed face and felt his heart break yet again. Almost instinctively his hand was reaching to wipe the tears when Sarah turned her back on him.
"How can I help you Mr Xavier?" Her tone was dejected but  Xavier was  desperate so he  once again came to stand in front of her. It seemed she had composed herself now and was staring at him straight. "Can we ditch the formality first?" Xavier said as his soft eyes pleaded with Sarah. Sarah raised one eyebrow and frowned. "What is this?"
"What?"
"This performance you're trying to put on where you suddenly act like a vulnerable man "
"This is not a performance -"
"Then how the hell can you go from cold as ice to suddenly to this unsettled"
"If you would just listen to me-"
"No what is this? Am I joke to you or are you tricking me-"
Xavier's eyes warnes her as he snapped suddenly in anger "I'm not playing with you." Then his eyes softened when she took a step back. "I would never do that to you. How can you think that?"
"Then tell me what else am I supposed to think? You open up to me at times but as soon as we start to get close you cut me off and then you expect me to be okay with it. And not to forget you have a finance now too so about time this confusing cycle ended. And you know what I hate myself for it because despite all that I can't seem to get you out of my head when I should not even think about you in the first place" by the end of that, she teared up again but looked away from him.
"You're right. I haven't been clear with you and I want to but there is so much that is holding me back and-"
Sarah suddenly laughed "Are you seriously telling me right now that you aren't strong enough to fight for me because I don't care the circumstances if you wanted me enough you would. "
"I do want you but-"
"No buts you either show me with your actions or you don't "
Sarah didn't wait for his reply and walked away. Alan came running once again this time with a much terrible news. Xavier looked at him annoyed but asked "What is it?"  Alan looked at his boss with a serious expression. "Francis is here". If it was even possible, Xavier's eyes became so fierce that for the first time Alan was scared of his boss. Alan led the way as Xavier followed silently behind him. When they reached the said room in the far corner of the ground floor of the venue. Xavier had calmed down enough to think through this situation.  "Ah alas! The men arrived" Francis said as soon as they entered.  The room in question didn't look much except for it was a storage room for all the unused material for the hall. As there was no place to sit both the men kept standing up. Xavier also noticed how weird it was that as compared to before Francis looked rather composed and put together.  Confident and carefree. No one was with him too. Not even his closest man he always kept around.  Something was off about this and Xavier had the feeling he was about to be knocked out soon.