FALLING SLOWLY

11

The following day as Mira walks into the company, she mutters her usual words of encouragement.

"Everything is going to be alright, Mira. Let's focus on work; that's what truly matters. Let's forget about Andrew or Brand---" She swallows her words  as she sees Brandon flirting with other ladies from the company.

Mira rubs her eyes; wanting to believe that her eyes were playing tricks on her but there Brandon was in the flesh, his hands trailing the skin of that red haired lady she knew not.

"That pr***!" Mira cussed as she makes her way towards him; her anger obviously taking the best of her.

She poundered on what she should do to him; grab his hair? Kick his person or slap him as hard as she could.

When she just a stone throw away from him, Mira decided to be 'humane' for the sake that she was at work.

Crossing her arms, she stared at Brandon; who suddenly noticed her, long and hard.

"What are you doing here?" Mira questioned through clenched teeths.

"Mira, right?" Brandon questions as if to confirm that it wasn't his girlfriend, Mirabel who wasn't Infront of him. He could never get used to the fact that they were twins. "What a surprise! What are you doing here?"

"I asked you first"

Brandon shows Mira the collar on his neck. "I'm a reporter. I came here looking for some scoop"

"I see" Mira says not buying his story; her gaze meeting the red haired. "And you were getting it by flirting?"

The red haired quickly denied it. "It's nothing like that, I swear"

"This man has a girlfriend. Reporter or not, you shouldn't sell yourself that short, right?"

The red haired stared at Brandon in disbelief. "You have a girlfriend?"

Before Brandon could utter another word, the red haired had scampered off leaving him to face the big bad wolf; Mira.

Brandon gritted his teeths; he was clearly annoyed. "I clearly told you it's nothing like that"

"I know. So telling her that you have a girlfriend wasn't to do any harm. It was to set boundaries which I clearly saw that you didn't"

"Hey!"

"If you don't want me telling Mirabel about this, you should act accordingly as her boyfriend. If you like her, date her and if you don't, leave her. You are not some sort of trophy you know?" Mira turns to walk away but Brandon suddenly grabs her wrist.

"Do you think I haven't tried to end things with your sister?" He scoffs. "I've tried but your sister is a freaking leech who keeps clinging to me"

Branson smirks. "Fine, I admit it. I was flirting with that red haired back there so what? Even if you tell Mirabel about it, she'll still choose to believe me over you"

Brandon trails hands over Mira's brown hair; her eyes filled with tears. "So act accordingly as her sister. If you want her to be happy, you will keep your mouth shut about what you saw today and if you don't, you can go ahead and tell her"

Burning with rage and trying her best to fight her tears, Mira watch Brandon exist the company through the main entrance.

"Mira, what are you doing here?" Valentina questioned as she approached her. "Are you crying?"

Mira dabbed her tears, forcing a smile through her lips. "That's ridiculous. Let's head into the office together, shall we?"

"Okay. But are you sure you're oka--"

"I'm fine. My eyes get teary from time to time. Let's go"

Together they made their way into their office as Mira tried her best to act as if nothing has happened.

Let's not mix our personal life with work. She thought throwing herself down on her seat.

"So based on our last survey. Not only are we changing the taste of 'Enchanteur' but we are restructuring it completely. The taste, it's texture, everything" Mira says to her teammates.

"Then why don't we come up with a new products entirely?" Dwayne questioned.

"Because costumers won't buy it given their already experience with 'Enchanteur' "

Valentina grumbles. "I hear another 'all nighter' in your voice"

Mira looked apologetic. "I'm sorry. It can't be helped"

"Well I'm down for it" Andrew chimed in enthusiastic.

Dwayne frowned at him; teasing. "Of course you are down for it, you workaholic"

Mira smiled at her teammates, impressed. "I'll make sure to treat everyone after"

"You'd better or I'll kill you" Valentina threatened.

"Yes, yes" Mira says as the team began to work. They came together joining ideas.

Once a conclusion was met and the new 'Enchanteur' lip gloss was made, they made the girls try it on and give their honest opinions.

Then they worked on whatever needed corrections.

Kyle stepped out of his office at exactly 8pm and saw the marketing team working hard; even though Mira had shut him down from ever driving her home, he didn't feel comfortable with her and Andrew in the same space.

"Are you guys not going home?" He asked.

"We're working just a little bit more. Goodnight, boss" Dwayne replied.

"I see.. Then" Kyle walked past them slowly; waiting for Mira to look in his direction but she never did.

After three hours of endless working, the team stretched out their hands; exhausted and beat up.

"I'll order some snacks now" Mira says. "Let's take a break"

"That's fine with me" Valentina replies.

"I'm going to get a cup of coffee" Mira announces to her teammates as she alights from her seat and makes her way towards the coffee maker at the other end of the room.

When she got there, she saw Andrew already there; instantly she turned around.

"Are you here for coffee?"

Mira turned around to face him. "No"

"Then..would you like a cup of coffee?" Andrew questions extending a coffee cup at Mira.

Andrew had never once brought up his confession since that day. Could it be that he doesn't remember it or was he rulling it as a mistake?.

Mira was still pretty much uncomfortable being around Andrew but his gesture, the tone in his voice, the way he'd politely asked if she wanted a cup of coffee made it difficult for her to turn him down.