ABOVE & BEYOND : IF WE ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 26

ERYX

"Are you screwing Kourtney?" Duaa threw that phrase upon me out of nowhere, catching me off guard. "What?" "answer the question Eryx. Are you?" Of course I'm not. Why would she even think that? Oh I know what it is. She's doubting me again. Doubting that how can I do any kind of work without screwing it up.

Does she really think that low of me? Like I can't even do any work without screwing my colleague. And despite that, Kourtney already has a boyfriend whom she is bringing over the weekend. I was getting angry at Duaa now. She's the one who wanted everything professional from me and now she's asking me if I screwed someone? Where is the professionalism in that?

"So what if I am? I don't see how that is your business." I said as I leaned against the stairs while crossing my arms over my chest. "It is my damn business. I already warned you once!" My mind went back to the restaurant stunt I pulled months ago.

"For god sake Duaa, that was ages ago! And I'm perfectly capable of separating my sex life from my work life. So unless you notice some changes in my work, you have no right to ask me anything." I could see her jaw clenching as she was staring right into my soul. Good. I want her to get angry.

I stepped two steps closer, now making us less than one feet apart. "And what you just asked me was everything but professional. So don't be a hypocrite, Duaa." I leaned closer to her as I whispered the last sentence. She was clenching her fists too. She was fighting her anger. But I wanted her to unleash it.

Her lips parted as if she was gonna unleash it. My eyes fell on her lips and there was nothing more I wanted to do at this moment than capturing those lips with mine. She closed her mouth. Didn't say it. I have hurt her pride. I was not gonna apologise for being an ass. She should suffer like I did these days because of her.

I forced my muscles to turn around because I might have ended up doing something I will regret later. "Tell you what.." I legit got goosebumps as her calm voice stopped me. "If I catch even a slight bit of distraction at work from your or her side, it wouldn't take me seconds to fire either of you. And don't you forget Eryx Ainsworth, your position in Ainsworth Oracles is still in my hands."

"Is that a threat?" she shook her head. "No. it's a reminder." That's the last thing she said before walking towards her room and slamming the door loudly.

Okay, I have no idea what just happened but the way she just talked to me, the way she said my full name, got me mad hard. I clenched my fists. Everything I'm tryna do to keep this woman out of my mind is just backfiring. Now I'm gonna be thinking about her all night.

I looked down and ...oh hell nah!

DUAA

I slammed the door behind me. My fists were clenching so hard that I was gonna dig holes in my palms. I opened the door to the balcony, letting the cool air hit me as I could feel myself getting hotter. My heart was throbbing against my rib cage as I was memorising every single word he said to me.

Every single word. Every. Single. Word. hit my pride. And I can't take it. All I wanted to do was slap that goddamn face of his.

Him. Out of all people. Him!

I was biting my inner cheek hard enough to make it bleed. I couldn't stop clenching my jaw as tears appeared in the back of my eyes due to anger.

Take a deep breath, Duaa. Deep breaths. Calm down.

I held the handle of the door tight in my fist as I allowed myself to inhale and exhale deeply.

I wanted to forget the last hour of my life more than anything. I didn't wanna even think about it because deep down I knew all the twisted things he said were true. And that thought was enough to make my skin crawl. Because my ego is so damn big.

I don't know how long passed as I sat on the edge of my bed in the dark. It was not really dark as the light of the moon was bright enough for me to see my surroundings. Suddenly the vibration from my phone startled me as I took my phone and saw an unknown number calling.

Without thinking much I picked up and I wish I didn't. If I consider my night as worse, well it is about to turn into the worst.

"Hello, sugar."

Sugar. One damn word and I knew who it was. The normal rhythm of my heart was turning fast again.

Noah.

"Oh come on sugar. You are not gonna say anything?"

I couldn't. My whole body became paralyzed. This the second time he called since the break up. I changed my number after our breakup but I had a spare sim and I didn't know he had that number until he called me the first time and I warned him not to do it again. But here we are.

I could hear all those nasty sounds in the background. He chuckled as I still didn't say anything.

"I have all these whores kneel in front me but even after three years all I can think about is your sweet little c-"

I closed my eyes shut. Before he could finish his sentence I slammed my phone on the floor and watched it crack into hundreds of pieces. My whole body was shaking. I buried my face in my palms and realised I was crying. I was furious.  

Furious for what I did with him three years ago. Furious for trusting him. Furious for ever loving him. Furious for what Eryx said tonight. Furious for how he makes me feel.

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ERYX

My fingers curled tight around my bed sheet as a groan escaped my lips and at the same time my alarm went off, making me grit my teeth. My eyes snapped open. What just happened? I looked down at myself and realised what happened.

Sitting up slightly, I leaned against my headboard, burying my face in my palms and I left out an annoying groan.

I just had a damn ass wet dream about the woman from yesterday who looked at me like I wasn't worth a single second of her life.

After our conversation last night, I was already a goner. I had to chase that high the moment I entered my room. She had appeared here and there in my mind during my solo sessions and yesterday night, my mind was solely focused on her. I have tried with every fibre in my body to think about something else but I couldn't.

Just couldn't. This is pathetic of me.

And as if I wasn't feeling guilty enough about thinking of her while getting myself off yesterday, now I had a whole ass dream about her! Like who the heck has wet dreams at 23? Literally no one! And at this hour? This early? Are you kidding me? It's like I'm back to being the horny teenager all over again!

This is messed up. I'm messed up. I gotta get a grip on myself. I gotta stretch the distance between me and her way further right now. Especially right now.

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After taking a quick shower, I got ready as soon as I could. It was 6:05 am. I intentionally set the alarm early so I can get to work early. Even after all this, I was still fully determined to prove her wrong.

I took a step out of my room and saw Duaa closing the door behind her. Damn! When did she even get up? And since when does she go to work at this hour?

I watched her from behind the curtain like a coward until she was completely out of sight. The first few days we went to work together but then things escalated between us so rapidly that before I knew we were taking different rides to work. We both use the company's cars.

As soon as I came to the construction site, I spotted the person I was trying to ignore currently but she didn't seem to notice me as she was busy sipping that bitter goodness from the cup she was holding while talking to Mr Jone and two other workers.

I was about to make my way to the office when one of the assistants stopped me. "Sir, I was told to inform you that today your service wouldn't be necessary in the office."

Your service? Who the heck talks this formally?

"What do you mean?" "Today your presence is required with Ms Wahed and Mr Jone at the construction site."

Oh damn...