Love- As Real As the Moon

38

Nick

The click-clack of high heel shoes echoing off of marble floors and granite walls of the office wakes me up. I spent the night in the office completing the CEO work as she calls it and slept on the couch outside my cabin. There she is, today is her heels day, so she's wearing high black boots. She's in all black today-a black top and blazer paired with black pencil skirt. She looks like a confident business woman. Black complements her very well but there's something about her wearing different colours which always leaves me mesmerised.
"Good morning." She smiles.

"Morning, Hayley." My gaze travels from her shiny black hair to her high boots.

"Were you here all night?" She asks concerned.
This is what I don't want. I don't want her to be concerned for me. I want her to just let me be.
I nod.

"Well, it shows. I'm gonna get you a coffee." She keeps her bag on her table.

"No, thank you. I have an assistant to do that. "

Her smile starts to fade but she brings it back. "Right. Okay. Sorry."

"Don't be."

"You should probably go home, get some rest and come back. The meeting with Mr Ward is today. " She sits.

"Shit. The meeting." I frustratedly groan and look at the ceiling.

"Don't worry, I've got everything ready. I could explain it all to you real quick." She says softly.

I shake my head. "It was my job, Hayley. You don't have to do my work as well."

She sighs. "You already have a lot of work and you made me the co-co-head of this project so it technically is my work too." She talks with her hands.

"Fine. I'll be back in an hour. Then you can explain everything to me."

She nods. How can someone be so spot on with every fucking thing? Hayley Campbell is fascinating.
I drive home and get ready for the meeting. This is a very important deal for me to prove myself. All these years, I was running the company but under the name of Andres. This, is my first deal as the CEO of the company and I have to bag it. My phone rings.

"Morning Nick. Remember me?" Levi says.

I scoff. "C'mon Levi."
Levi is my closest friend after Ol. We used to be classmates. He was the only boy who could keep up with the grumpy, introverted guy and he's been my bud since then. He's also the reason behind Hayley and my first meet. Her fiancee is Hayley's sister. It's a small world.

He chuckles. "Do you realise it's been 4 months since you talked to your soon to get married friend of what 15 years, asshole?"

" Yeah. Its been long. How are you doing Lev?" I ask as I wear my tie.

"Not Good really. The wedding is in weeks. The stress is higher than Mount Everest."

I smile. "Chill drama queen. It's just a wedding."

" Just? Really? I feel sad for your future wife, sicko. Anyways, I called to ask if you would be my best man?"

"I would be honoured." I say as I leave my house.

"Yeah. Thanks man."

"My pleasure, Lev." I get into my car.

"Also, you didn't tell me you're Hayley's boss. She's Lina's sister remember?"

My jaw clenches.She's everywhere. There's not one place I can be without a mention of hers. If not by someone else, my mind is filled with thoughts of her. Not even in my bath I'm alone- every time I touch myself, I wish it were her hands instead of mine. Something is fucking wrong with me.

I unclench my jaw and reply,
"I know. I didn't think telling you was required."

"Huh. Okay ass. Yeah coming baby." He shouts into the phone.

"Hey I gotta go now. See you at the wedding." He says.

"See you Lev." I hang up.

~

Hayley is waiting for me in my cabin when I arrive  She looks at me as I close the door and.........she slaps a hand on her mouth like she's trying to hold a laugh as I sit opposite to her .

"What's funny?" I ask in confusion.

"Your tie." She says, her voice muffled.
I look down at my tie to find it crumpled and uneven.
Thanks Levi. I roll my eyes and stand up. I quickly try to untie it but it just gets worse. Now, she breaks into a whole loud laugh.

"Yo-you-" she wheezes. "I'll help you."
I shake my head as she stands up and walk towards me still laughing. I take a step back. She stops laughing.

"I'm sorry. It's just funny how the millionaire CEO who's perfect can't wear his tie." She wipes her tears.

I smirk and walk towards her. "You think I'm perfect?"

"I-I mean you - um-uh ........ you're perfect at everything you do so." She shrugs and stretches her hand to remove my tie. She's taller with those boots but I still have some inches above her. I can smell her scent.
Strawberries and roses.

"Done." she says. My gaze falls to her hands which are still placed on my chest. She follows it and quickly removes her hands.

"Thank you." I say. She nods.

She then explains me everything she has prepared. It's perfect. It's exactly how I would have done it. Fucking fascinating.

~

We shake hands with Mr.Ward and walk with him to his car. He says goodbye and drives away. As soon as the car is out of sight, Hayley pounces on me with such force my back hits a car.

"We did it!" She shouts.

"Yeah." I say softly, placing my hand on the small of her back.
As realisation hits, she slowly moves away.

"I- I'm  uh..... "  she stammers . "I'm sorry. I just got caught up in the moment. Um.....sor-"

"Thank you." I interrupt.

She scrunches her brows in confusion.

"Thank you for helping me with this. For not letting me mess this up." I give a small smile.

"It was all you Mr. CEO." She winks. My pants get tighter at her wink while my smile widens at her smile.