This Thing Called Love (ON HOLD INDEFINITELY)

chapter thirteen

NOW

"Happy birthday Reign!"

"You're glowing, it must be because your 26 today. Happy birthday!"

"That dress, is beautiful! Happy birthday, Reign, meet us after work for drinks!"

I forced a polite smile as all my co-workers wished me a happy birthday. I declined all their invitations in going out. I finally had my family back and I wanted to spend every second with them. What I failed to remember, however, I had a gala I needed to attend with Silas. As a reminder on my work laptop came up, I realized I was going to have to spend time away from them anyways. Any other time I would cancel, however, this was a big step towards moving Silas's company forward. We've been working on this assignment for months and tonight was the night we needed to schmooze investors.

I sighed, running my hands through my hair from the top of my forehead. I don't know how Tobias would react. But, he was in a good mood this morning. Maybe he could take tonight to rekindle with Olivia. Just as I picked up my phone to call him, Silas's assistant, Jane, walked into my office.

"Happy birthday, Reign," she warmly greeted. I smiled back at her before resting my phone back down.

"Thank you, Jane."

"Silas is asking for you to meet him at Two Hands."

"Two Hands? In Little Italy?" I asked, puzzled as to why he wanted me to meet him so far from work.

"I assume that's the one. Where you two first met, during your interview process, correct?" She asked, typing something away on her phone.

I opened my mouth before clamping it back shut. Had we really gone so far away? Well, I mean Silas was the one who led the way.

"Yeah, I suppose that was the one," I finally replied. Jane looked up from her phone and smiled.

"Very well then," she replied. "You best be on your way! I'm eager to find out he had planned out for your birthday. I mean for my birthday last month he gave me the week off and gave my family and I tickets to Disney World! I'm sure you can imagine how happy my kids were..."

I gave her a polite smile as she began rambling on and on about her birthday. I grabbed my purse and keys and tried to think of a nice way in telling her I didn't want to listen to her bragging.

"I'm sorry, Jane, I promise I'll listen to your story another time. It's best I don't keep Silas waiting," I told her, itching to get out of my office.

She giggled before throwing her arms up. "Of course, Reign! I'll see when you come back."

I gave her another smile before slipping out of my office. I took a deep breathe as I pondered why Silas wanted me to meet him so far away. We usually ate at the Thai restaurant just a block away if we had any urgent tasks to complete.

Maybe he was trying to surprise me? No, if he were to do that he would've done it in front of the whole company. But then again, he knows how much I hate surprises, so maybe he thought a small surprise would be okay. I groaned. All this thinking was making my head hurt.

I got into my Acura and put the directions in the GPS installed in my car. I was pleased to see that it wasn't that far, only fifteen minutes away, however, the all-hour traffic mode New York City had proved otherwise.