HEART FOR HIRE ✓

Eleven

By mid-day, I am convinced that if I don't take a minute and rest, my legs will fall off from all the walking. Zion does not seem to have a similar problem because he continues to swing his long legs in each and every office without rest.

"Damn, I think it's going to rain today," a man, almost Zion's age comments loudly from an open office that Zion is heading too. He is standing in the corner of the office taking water from the dispenser, watching Zion like an angel fell from the sky.

"The weather forecast-" a younger woman, who I assume is the man's secretary because of the black office suit she is wearing, says as she scrolls on a tablet.

"I don't care about the weather forecast," the man laughs. "If Zion Thompson comes to the company willingly, it's most likely to rain."

"You shut your mouth Riley," Zion scowls at the other man. "I will have you know that I care about this company very seriously."

The younger woman excuses herself from the room after greeting Zion and I with a bow of her head and exits. Zion immediately sits on the rotating office chair and stars playing with it and signals for me to sit on the couch.

"You came with someone, huh?" the man, who Zion addressed as Riley smirks. "You never do these things."

"That's because she is not like one of them," Zion smirks back.

I sit there confused throughout the conversation. I know that they are talking about me although I can't gather the confidence to ask them to clarify.

"That's what you always say," Riley continues, "but whatever. What brings you here?"

"I brought Natalia here and her friend Alex to taste the wine we are releasing this year," Zion explains, "and Natalia, this Riley. He doubles as the wine's quality assurance manager and my best friend."

"I'm humbled to meet you Natalia," Riley extends his arm to greet me. "You are the first woman Zion has brought into the company-"

"Riley," Zion interrupts in a warning tone.

"Fine," Riley raises his arms in surrender,"I won't reveal your secrets. Just so you know, your mother is coming here in a few hours."

"Why?" Zion looks bewildered

"Wine tasting. She informed me last night."

"And you didn't think to let me know?"

Riley shrugs. "You didn't tell me that you were bringing someone."

"As my best friend who is closer to my mother than I am, you should have let me know," Zion stands up and paces around the office. "I can't let her meet Natalia!"

My head automatically snaps to him as soon as he mentions my name. I know that it shouldn't bother me that he doesn't want me to meet his mother but I can't help asking myself why. What's the worst that can happen?
Does he think that I will ashame him? Is he hiding something?

"Yeah, I know how she gets," Riley reaches out to massage Zion's shoulders, "I can delay her if you want."

"That will look suspicious."

"Then what do you suggest we do, Mr. Thompson?"

"Can you bring some samples we can taste out of here?" Riley nods his head. "And please, make sure that my mother is not informed of my visit."

"Aye aye boss," Riley salutes his best friend and makes a call to who I assume is the person who will bring the wine samples.

Isn't this what I came for? To taste wine? Then why am I disappointed?

Just a few hours ago, Zion was praising me for giving a good business idea. Why is he so against me meeting his mother?
Didn't Riley just say that I'm the first woman Zion ever brought to the company?

"Are you okay?" Zion turns to me. "You have been quiet since we entered the room. Does Riley make you nervous?"

I shake my head to hide the disappointment through my voice.
Does Zion's reluctancy have to do with the fact that he just said that Riley is closer to his mother than himself?

"I think I should go and check on Alex," I say the first excuse that comes to my head. "Just to make sure that he isn't causing any trouble."

Zion seems to buy it because he lets me off the hook without further questions.
What he doesn't know is the fact that I don't even remember where the unit Alex went to is. I know that I can just ask around but everyone looks so busy and I can't find it within myself to distract anyone from their work.

"Excuse me ma'am," the younger woman from Riley's office calls out to me from the end of the corridor I'm standing in, looking left and right for where to find Alex. "Are you lost?"

"Can you direct me to the dairy production unit?"

"Of course, I can escort you. When Riley and Mr Thompson enter that office, the least time they spend in there is four hours," the woman laughs.

"That's nice of you," I nod in appreciation as she leads me to the elevator.

"That's the least I can do," she smiles, "Mr. Thompson would murder me if anything happens to you, God forbid."

"Why would he do that?"

"Of course I have to be responsible for you. After all, you are his girlfriend, aren't you?"

"What?" I gape at her. "Why would you say that?"

"Are you kidding? Everyone wants to know who Mr. Thompson's girlfriend is and since you're the first woman he has ever brought here, it's evident that you are the one."

By now, I'm speechless. Do I look like the kind of girl a rich man like Zion would date?
Not that I don't like the sound of it, but realistically, it's impossible.

"But I must admit," the woman breaks the silence, "I like that he chose someone so simple. Besides, you seem like a nice person. That means that when you finally become a boss here, you will treat us well."

Woah, isn't she moving so fast?

When the elevator opens to the familiar dairy unit, I run out without another word and run into a baffled Alex.

"Where the hell have you been?" he asks, detaching me from himself.

"My friend," I let out a deep breath, "it's a very long story."