HEART FOR HIRE ✓

Thirty Seven

Three days after the date, my phone has been vibrating as if I am some kind of an internet famous person. Zion won't stop texting me. Even for small reasons like Riley arguing with him about something or sometimes with absolutely nothing to say.

He says that he just wants to check on me.

Several times, I've attempted to ask him the burning question - what are we?

We haven't seen each other since that day, and therefore, I still can't help but ask myself what we are now. Are we a couple? Maybe a thing - if that makes sense or anything close to a relationship?

"You don't need a label," Jeanette told me yesterday. "But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't ask for clarification. He has to tell you where both of you stand before you get ahead of yourselves."

"It's so hard to be a human," I sigh. "There is so much to put an answer to. Who knew that this whole feelings thing could get confusing?"

Even though he said that I'm the only person he has ever taken on a date, it means nothing if he doesn't put a label to it. Are we going on more dates in the future? Are we having fun or whatever the millennials call it - friends with benefits?

"Why does it have to be him to put a label?" Jeanette questions. "You can put a label too if you want."

"What?" I turn to her with my jaw dropped.

"Look, I'm not saying that he shouldn't make the next move or anything. He clearly told you that this thing, whatever you have going on, is according to your pace. Right?" I nod. He said it's all about me. "That means that he is waiting for you to do something, or say something to show that you would want the both of you to move forward. I could be wrong but that's my opinion."

"You could be right," I stroke my chin. "But I don't want to be clingy or anything. He will get tired of me if I dangle in front of his eyes every single time."

"But if you just keep quiet and wait, someone else will confess. Guess who will lose?"

"So, you are saying that I should confess to him?"

Jeanette nods. "Absolutely. Tell him how you feel and what you expect from your weird ongoing thingy."

"Do you have any ideas on how I can do that?"

"Well," she thinks for some few seconds,"you could surprise him with something he really likes."

"Like cupcakes?"

"Yes!" she snaps her fingers. "I can help you bake some cupcakes for him and you'll surprise him at his office."

"What if he rejects me?" I frown. "I'll be so embarrassed in his office. I don't think I can take it."

"But if you don't go, you will have to be curious for the rest of your life until he confesses himself. Do you wanna live knowing that you could have done something but you didn't?"

"No," I shake my head. "Let's bake the cupcakes."

Jeanette pats my back and joins me for the baking marathon.

By midday, the cupcakes are ready and so am I. Jeanette helps me choose the cleanest and best looking black jeans, an off-white leather jacket and a grey t-shirt.
She helps me with my make-up and does my hair as always.

I take an Uber to Thompsons Inc, my heart beating at an abnormal speed and internally bursting with excitement to see Zion and nervousness of what's going to happen.
Is he going to be happy to see me?

Because it is meant to be a surprise for Zion, I request to be directed to Riley's office instead of Zion's. I'm pretty sure that the receptionist won't allow me to see Zion without an appointment and she will have to call him to confirm. Hence ruining the surprise.
So, I'm directed to Riley's office and thank heavens, I still remember the floor it is on.

"Ma'am!" Riley's secretary from before runs up to me and bows her head in greeting. "It's good to see you again. May I escort you to Mr. Thompson's office?"

"Is he in?"

"Yes, he is," she confirms. "Please follow me."

Then it hits me that I actually don't know where Zion's office is because he didn't show it to me when we came for wine tasting.
I follow the secretary into the elevator and we go up by two floors till the elevator opens.

"His office is at the end of the corridor," she points at where I'm supposed to find it. "It was nice seeing you again, ma'am."

"It's Natalia," I smile at her. "Thank you for being nice to me."

"No, problem Miss Natalia. Have a good day," she bows again and the elevator closes behind her.

I enter the corridor and start walking towards where the office is. It's dim until I step inside and the motion sensitive bulbs come to life.
On the right side of the corridor are bathrooms and two other offices belonging to people whose names are pined on the doors.
On the left side of the corridor is Zion's and Marble's offices.

I wonder if Marble is in office too.

Careful not to make loud footsteps, I walk quietly to Zion's door and knock twice. I head a faint "come in" and take it as my cue to go inside.

I push the door and enter the office, big as the size of my whole apartment. It's painted grey, has a large mahogany table behind which Zion is sitting, focusing on something on his laptop. On the right side is a huge window that faces the other side of the town that's not congested and on the left is a big shelf with huge files and books.

"May I help you?" he asks in an authoritative voice without looking up.

I giggle internally.
"Would you like a massage?"

His head shoots up and he looks at me with wide eyes.
"Natalia!"

The shock slowly turns into a smile and then he opens his arms widely to invite me in for a hug.