TO DIE FOR

Chapter 5

     It  took Sarah half an hour of driving fast from her apartment to Manuel's office.

    The layout of the place was incredible. The office was located on the eighth floor of the MJ High Rise Cooperation building. She went  through revolving doors into a vast lobby of chromium and green and white rubber block flooring. A row of elevators is on her right, and on her left is an inquiry desk, a row of telephone booths.

    She rode to the eighth floor in an express elevator and walked along some more green and white rubber blocks before reaching a double plate - glass door. She pushed open the swing doors and sauntered over to the switchboard.

     The young woman at the switchboard who happened to be Manuel's secretary watched her come.

     "Mr Johnson," Sarah said to the young woman.

     The young woman gave her a look full of repressed yearning and asked if she had an appointment.

     "No," she told her, "but he'll see me. Tell him the name's Sarah Palin and am in a rush."

     The young woman said regretfully, "Mr Johnson never sees anyone without an appointment."

     "Ask him," she coaxed. "Call him and tell him I'm here. You're in for a big surprise, sweetheart."

     She put through the call, saying, "Sarah Palin is asking for you," she said timidly into the receiver. "she says you'll see him." she listened for a moment, her eyes growing big with surprise, then she hung up. "You can go in, Mr Johnson will see now."

    Sarah looked past the young woman with pride and sarcasm and strolled into a big airly room. She definitely was the center of attention.

     Manuel sat behind a vast desk covered with business papers, a cup of coffee, his half opened laptop, and a portrait of his mother.

    "Good morning, Manu," she said, closing the door behind her.

     "What an unexpected visit, Sarah," he said smoothly. "I must confess I didn't expect to see you soon."

     "Came as a surprise to me too," she said and drew up a leather - padded black office chair and sat down.

    "What happened yesterday? I told you to go keep Anikka company while I was working on some company issues, and when I went there, I didn't find you." Manuel said and went to stand by the window.

     Sarah got up and crossed over to the liquor cabinet and poured herself a glass of wine, "I did go at the park just as you asked me to, but to my surprise your girlfriend wasn't really interested in seeing you."

     Manuel turned with surprise and faced Sarah, "What do you mean she wasn't interested in seeing me?"

Sarah walked over to the desk, putting the glass down. She grabbed her purse and removed five photographers of Anikka dancing and flirting and making out with several men. She threw them over to Manuel.

    "Am sure those photographs will explain why." she said, picking up her glass of wine while eyeing contemptuously at Manuel.

     He picked up the photographs, and his eyes widened with disbelief, "No way, could this really be Anikka? Am.- I can't believe it. Where did you get these photographs from?"

     "You better believe it Manu, that's one hundred percent your so-called Anikka." she said rolling the glass in her hands, "I didn't find Anikka yesterday when I went to check up on her  at the park so I decided to wait for a while, and as I was waiting a friend of mine sent me those pictures, she was shocked seeing Anikka dancing and making out with several men so she just had to send me those pictures to confirm if it's really Anikka."

     Manuel threw the pictures in disgust and faced the window again.

    Putting the glass down she crossed over to Manuel and touched his shoulder with sympathy, "am really sorry Manu, but there is literally no way I could hid such sensitive information from you, I've known you for five years Manu, you are my best and most dearest friend of mine. I owe my loyalty to you and not her, and I just can't stand it seeing Anikka do this to you.

    By now i know Anikka very well, am sure these are signs that she doesn't need you in her life,  don't let her torment you like this she's not worth it, you need someone better, someone who really knows you well, who understands you and cares and loves you, in short you need a real and strong woman Manu and... - "

    "But I still can't believe it. How could it be, my Anikka doing that. I know she's crazy and a little bit insane and she can't go that far. She's just so fixed with me to do this  behind my back." his face hardened, and Sarah could tell that he really was angry.

     Sarah reached out for his hand, "Let's just face it, I know it's painful, but it's better than living in lies, don't you think so?"

     Manuel broke out from her grip and moved to the cocktail table and poured himself a glass full enough to float a duck and gulped it all at once.

    Sarah seemed worried, "I knew I shouldn't have brought this to your attention. I am really sorry. I just wanted to expose the type of girl you've been dating." she said apologetically and moved towards Manuel.

    "Don't say that, Sarah. I know you are just looking out for my best interest. You've really been so good to me, I don't know what I couldn't have done without you."

    "So, what are you doing to do now?" she asked, facing him.

    "Am not sure for now. I just need some time to think about it more clearly."

    "I understand Manu, so if it's time you need, then it's time I am gonna give you." she said, moving closer to Manuel she passionately put her cute slender hands romantically on his massive chest and flicked an invisible spec.

    He tendering took her beautiful hands off his chest and held them in his hands,"I can't thank you enough, Sarah. I mean, I really appreciate it a lot. I can assure you that I am ever grateful to you. But right now, my presence is needed in the board room, so it's better if we discuss this another time." he eased her to the table, singling her that it's time she left.

     "Sure thing, Manuel. What will you be doing after work? you should drop by my flower shop and we'll finish our discussion. How does that sound?" she said, picking up her purse and the photographers, "I will leave these pictures with you in case you want to have a closer look." she placed the pictures in one of Manuel's books on the table.

    "I will surely pass by your shop, I swear." he assured her.

    They moved languidly to the door,   "Sure thing Manuel, I will be waiting for you."

    Manuel gently opened the door for her. She reached out, hugged him, and tendering kissed him on the cheeks.   

     "Am here for you Manuel no matter what, take care of yourself, okay." she assured him and walked away in a casually and sexually way.