Subtle Endearment

27. One Last Time

Kira

Weeks pass by quickly and before I know it, it's nearing Christmas with just a couple days till. It has been awkward between Ian and I since I started coming back to work. The one time I visited him in his office was to say thank you for the dishes he had sent to me everyday while I was out. His face lit up as I thanked him but I knew if I stayed there would be trouble. There's no use giving false hope. I delivered my two weeks notice and left before he could stop me. I'd thought this through long and hard as I spent the last few days at home. I need to leave this place.

I grab my purse as I send my a file via email to Lyla specifying the information on our shareholders. "You're done already?" Alice asks glancing up at me from her computer. "Yeah I'm going to head home now. My flight leaves early tomorrow morning. I'm celebrating with my family," I say clearing the papers off of my desk. "Okay, have a good Christmas, oh that reminds me. The pictures from the photoshoot came out today. They look really good, I had my mom send your photos to you," Alice states. "Oh thanks," I say. I'd completely forgotten about the photoshoot. "Have a good Christmas," I say to Alice before leaving.

"As I enter the elevator I catch a glimpse of a woman in a fur coat. She wears a large fedora and long black boots. She stands out like a sore thumb; I wonder why she's here. She turns away from me looking at something on her phone. Even while on her phone she emits a strong aura as if she belongs here. It's familiar, I don't like it.

"Ma'am, do I know you," I ask hoping my voice isn't as shaky as I think it is. The woman ignores me and holds the phone to her ear. I must be mistaken. The elevator opens as we stop on the second floor and Ian stands staring as if he'd seen a ghost. Are you that afraid of me? Are you avoiding me? I follow his eyes and realize that it's not me that he's looking at but the strange woman in the corner of the elevator.

"Kira, I need to talk to you. Can you step out for a moment?" Ian asks hesitantly. "Can we do this later?" I ask looking at the ground. Ian steps in the elevator facing me. I move to the corner furthest from the woman knowing he isn't going to let whatever he has to say go. To my surprise,  he pushes me further into the corner, effectively blocking my view of the elevator doors. "I'm sorry, Kira," he says. It feels like we're in that position forever until the elevator doors finally open to the first floor. I hear the woman snicker before heading out of the elevator before us.

"Why are you embarrassing me?" I snap at Ian. "I already put in my two weeks notice. I'm not returning so don't try to stop me," I say as I exit the elevator. I take long strides until I'm finally outside of the company building. "I'm not going to stop what's best for you Kira but please reconsider. If there's even the smallest reason why you should stay, then stay" he says. "You don't understand, I can't stay. I can't keep seeing her, hearing her. I need to leave. I have to get away from here," I cry.

"You have nothing to worry about, she's gone," Ian assures me. "But she's not. Ian I think I'm going crazy. I can't take this any longer. I really can't." I say crouching in my yellow pantsuit. "I thought that lady on the elevator was her, I thought it was my mom," I say. Ian takes my hands and pulls me back up. "I don't accept your request to quit," he says. "That's too bad. When I return I'm packing my things and I'm never coming back," I say. I don't want to leave you Ian but it's too painful to be with you. I can't go through that again, don't make me. "I can't be with you, Ian," I whisper. Tears roll down my eyes as the words settle. I won't be with Ian. All those times he's been with me have come to an end. This is the last time I'll be able to touch him. The last time I can lean on him, the last time I can kiss him.

Tears in my eyes, I let my purse slide off my shoulder and fall to the ground as I reach for Ian's face. He leans in placing his soft warm lips on mine. Time seems to stop at that moment as he pulls me in his embrace kissing me under the afternoon sun. "I can't let go of you," Ian says desperation filling his voice. I haven't heard him this way since that day. The day everything went downhill. What would've happened if I didn't know he was in the mafia? Would I be hallucinating like this?

"I have to go now, Ian."