no matter what decision your heart makes, I will be waiting for you...

Part 49

Y/N's pov~

No, I don't, I never have and I never will. No matter how much you've hurt me, I won't!
That's all my mouth wanted to say, but his gaze, those black eyes that pierced me, and the surrounding... It wasn't the right time to have this conversation. Not here, and not now.
We were still in the restaurant with all our idiotic colleagues around us. I just wanted some privacy with Tom, to talk, that was all.

I couldn't really tell if the gleam in his eyes was a begging, if they were so black with impatience that the lights were reflected in his pupils, or if it was simply the bar lights that were shining around us, but his eyes sparkled and his grip on my waist suddenly felt tighter. Impatience, it seemed. And I didn't really have the time to study his eyes any more either.

"Y/N!" He whispered through clenched teeth, adding a soft "please" as if it would make his question somehow more polite.

Nevertheless, the surroundings made me nervous. The knot in my stomach was building up. I could feel it with each new strand it pulled.
"It's not that easy Thomas.." I avoided eye contact, not wanting to let his facial expression soften me. That's not what I was trying to do.

"It is! It can be Y/N... just say it. Tell me you don't regret having met me." I looked up, our hips still swaying slowly to the music blasting in the background. But I could feel Tom's body stiffening with tension.
"Don't do this Tom..." I didn't want to answer under pressure. Neither of us would be satisfied with the answer I would give, that much was certain.
"But you know it... You know it Y/N!" His grip tightened again, his eyes darkened, and his jaw clenched even more. He wasn't yelling at me, but he was definitely looking desperately, about to fall to his knees. And knowing Tom, he would.

"Listen up, everyone. On today's occasion, I would like to offer one last consolation. Both to you, and to me, but not to forget, my good friend Tom, who in just a few days, will be witnessing the handover of the company to me. Won't you, buddy?" Of course, it was Marcus who stood up with a champagne glass in his hand, clanged the knife three times against the thin goblet, and then made his speech.

It was disgusting, the way he smirked at Tom. I would have lost my nerve at his provocative comment already, but not even at his toothy smile, did Tom try to kill him. He was still standing next to me, calm... except for the teeth clenching, and his jaw outstanding, and fingers clenched in tight fists. He was kind of calm?

Okay, he was probably on the verge of losing his nerve, just as much as I was, but instead of tackling him, he just looked my way, right into my eyes.

With a shake of his head, disappointed and sad, he made his way back to his seat.
Was he mad? he couldn't be, could he? I didn't do anything wrong after all, so he must be mad at Marcus. Who can blame him?

~

It wasn't awkward, not at first, not really. We ate and didn't talk to each other. We listened to the music, and were silent, and we drank wine, but ignored each other's presence.

Funnily enough, Marcus took over the payment, with the explanation "soon I'll be able to afford it anyway". A bit snooty in my opinion, but I'm not complaining. At least he did one good deed.

"I'm going out with some of the others for a drink, want me to give you a ride to the hotel first?" Oliver asked as we gathered in front of the restaurant, all about to go our own path again.

My eyes wandered over to where Tom was standing. About 5 metres away from me, together with Aaron and his girlfriend.
Saying his goodbye.
I still wanted to talk to him, in peace, so it might be better if Oliver didn't give me a ride. Would be less fuss for him anyway.
"Nah, I'm good, but thank you."
"Are you sure? It wouldn't be a problem for me, and after all, you've already had a drink, I just want you to arrive safely at the hotel." I looked at Oliver again, thinking for a moment. Of course, I've already had a glass of wine, maybe even 2 or 3. Who cares, but it wasn't that I couldn't think straight. My thoughts were still just fine.

But a hand on my shoulder from behind interrupted any sort of thoughts I was having. Now they were blown away as the scent of the expensive colognes hit my nose.
His scent.
"I will make sure she gets home safely buddy. Thank you." He gave Oliver a condescending look that was close to a death stare and slid his hand down to my waist. His hard chest touching my back. I swallowed the lump that had built up in my throat, my hands suddenly cold.

Tom was not much taller than Oliver, nor than me. Yet he was the tallest of the three of us, and it felt like he was towering behind me, looking down at Oliver, who didn't look scared, but definitely respected Tom, since he also had a higher position in the company.

Oliver's eyes flicked back and forth between Tom and me, trying to figure out if he could trust Tom 100% and if I was okay with that. So I nodded my head gently and gave him a reassuring smile.
I don't think he trusted Tom a 100% now, but it definitely was enough to let Tom take over me.
"Okay then. Goodnight Y/N." He leaned in, gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, and then backed away to look at Tom. "Take care of her." he told Tom, leaving the two of us alone.

I turned to Tom, letting his hand on my waist slip away. He was standing right in front of me, so close. His chest against mine, gaze still following Oliver until he reached the others and walked away with them.
"He's your..." He finally relaxed his eyes, shook his head in confusion and looked down at me.
"Friend. Tom, you know Oliver, he's Harrison's secretary."
"Yeah... right." He nodded. Only once, very slowly.

"So... will you take me to the hotel?"
"No"  What?  "I have something else in mind. Something more fun..." Oh, well-  "Do you trust me?"
"I- yeah. I guess, bu-"
"Perfect! let's go." He had already grabbed the palm of my hand and pulled me towards the car park before I could even reply. With his free hand, he opened the passenger door of his rental car, which was basically just a black mercedes, put his hand, which was now only gently and carefully holding my fingers, on my lower back, and helped me get in, before quietly slamming the door behind me and walking around the car himself to get in.

"You know if Harrisons finds out about you ta-"
"Harrison won't find out." He interrupted me again with ease but also tension in his voice, fastened his seat belt and started the car without even looking at me.

I trusted Tom, yes I did. At least as far as responsibility was concerned. I trusted him to still be able to drive, because Tom is not easy to get drunk. And I trusted him about Harrison, because if Harrison found out about us, Tom would be more screwed than me. So yeah, I trusted him, somewhere..

"Now, let me make this one night special for you... Yeah?" He grabbed my hand which was lying on my thigh, stroked the surface of my hand with his thumb, and let his eyes wander over my face. I swallowed. Then nodded.
"Okay..."

~Done. A new part. Not a long and well-written part, but I'ma try my best those next few weeks!~