ONE HEART

Chapter 20 Assumptions

When Mariah returned to her office the next morning, she relived the part of Tessa's conversation with her, where Tessa had said the song she was singing at the concert would all be about her. She blushed at the thought. She also remembered Tessa stepping out of the fitting room, wearing that red dress. What are you thinking about? asked Kyle seeing a certain look on her face. Oh, nothing really. Just thinking about the busy day I have in front of me said Mariah. Turning red. You look as red as that dress Tessa picked for the concert. Mariah could feel herself go redder at the thought. Err, what do you mean said Mariah getting all flustered. How do you know how red it was? I have my spies said Kyle wickedly. I also saw it, going down to the cleaning room this morning. He gave her a smirk. Yeah, I thought after Tessa tried it on again last night, that it ought to be cleaned and in tip-top shape for the concert this weekend. Tessa had to try it on again? queered Kyle. Err, yes. The first time Tessa tried the dress on, I didn't actually see her in it! She just came out of the fitting room, and said she'd narrowed it down to three options. But the one she wanted to wear was the red one because it was more her.

So last night, I got her to come here after work. And try it on again, just in case there were any alterations we needed to do or anything. Did you have to do anything? asked Kyle. No! No! The dress was perfect like Tessa had told me it was. She will look beautiful in it said Mariah. Getting an image in her head, and going red again. Kyle watched her face. Oh, she has it bad. Thought Kyle. I've never really thought she belongs with Devon. I mean he's a nice enough bloke. But when Mariah sees or talks about Tessa.  Her whole face lights up the room. Mariah suddenly realized she had said Tessa was going to look beautiful. She started to backtrack and just said I meant she'd will look nice. Kyle was having none of it. "Mariah" Come to my office a minute. Mariah was trying to make an excuse, why she couldn't come because she was too busy, and needed to get stuck in. I'm not asking you said Kyle abruptly. I'm telling you. She reluctantly followed him to his office. Once there, Kyle showed her to a sofa and told her to sit down. He then phoned through to his PA and asked her to bring in two coffees.

How do you like yours? He asked Mariah. Can I have white with soya milk and no sugar said Mariah. He related that request to his PA. About ten minutes later, the coffees arrived. He took a sideways look at Mariah. He could tell she was nervous. What did you want to talk to me about, so urgently asked Mariah. Because I wasn't lying when I said I have a ton of work to get through. I know what you do for the company Mariah. And I know how hard you work. So you don't have to tell me you have loads of work to do. It's not work related said Kyle. It's about your private life! My err what? said Mariah a little shocked. Her heart started to beat really fast when he said those words. She knew what was coming. You have every right to tell me to mind my own business, obviously. Especially, when I'm asking you personal questions said Kyle. Looking at Mariah squirming a bit, at what he was asking. It's okay Kyle. I don't have anything to hide. And you're also becoming a good friend. If I don't want to answer some of your questions, I won't said Mariah feeling a little overwhelmed.

Okay. said Kyle that all makes sense. Can I ask the first question? Yes, fire away said Mariah clasping her hands together very tightly. You said you and Tessa grew up together. Yes, we did, until we went to high school. What happened in high school? Kyle went straight in for the jugular. He thought in his head, that she may refuse to answer this. Err, it didn't happen in high school. We fell out before then said Mariah a little ashamed of herself. She then carried on. It was a terrible misunderstanding. It happened just before we went up to high school. I'm not going to tell you what happened exactly. Oh okay said Kyle. It's just, that I saw you both in the corridor the other night, and you were hugging one another so hard. It looked like it was more than a hug! Kyle watched as Mariah went bright red. You saw that? she questioned. Yeah, I came around the corner, and there you both were. I didn't want to interrupt. So I went back around the corner and coughed as I came around so that you could hear me coming said Kyle a little sheepishly. It made Us jump out of our skins said Mariah still in blush mode. We do have a connection, I can't deny that.