Desolation // l.p.

Chapter XII

I look up at the apartment building, Mr. Payne's dry cleaning hangs on my one arm while the box with his mother's gift is in my other. I tell my self I need to hurry before the box falls, as I feel it sliding from my grip. I'm not sure what it is, for when I showed up at the store all I needed to do was tell them I was there for Mr. Payne and they handed me the box, already closed and sealed shut. Though I was glad that it was already picked out and packaged into a gift, there was still a part of me that wanted to know what was in. Maybe it's just because I'm hoping I could have gotten some insight on Mr. Payne's family, or just curious as to what he gives as gifts. Either way it will end the same, his mother with a birthday gift and me not knowing what it is.

The building with Mr. Payne's apartment is exactly like Payne Industries. Modern, tall, and entirely made up of glass. My mind wanders through all of the possible people who own a home in this place. It makes me sick thinking about how much money they have and spend each month to live here, while so many people have no money, and no home. I bite my lip and begin to walk towards the door. A doorman greets me politely, his uniform almost makes him look like a security guard. With all of the expensive apartments and what not that is here it wouldn't surprise me if he was a security guard. I'm almost surprised that he didn't stop me as he never would have seen me before.

I question whether I should stop and talk to someone or just go straight to Mr. Payne's apartment. He told me how to get there and what to do to get in. I quickly make my decision and head straight for the elevator. I receive an indifferent stare from a woman, a tiny dog connected to a leash in her hand as she walks hurriedly to the doors. I hit the button and shift on my feet, waiting for the doors to ding and open. When the doors finally open I let out a breath and waste no time walking in. The doors close behind me as I turn to face the panel on the wall.

I set the box down onto the wooden floor of the elevator, pulling the paper with the code I was given out, my eyes reading the five digit number. I raise my hand to the key pad and begin hitting in the numbers. Nine. Five. Three. Six. Nine. I hit enter and the elevator begins to move. I grab the bar on the wall, noticing how it barely feels like the elevator is moving, how smooth it ascends the building.

I watch the light that tells me the floor numbers, watching as it climbs towards the "P" at the top. I'm anxious to see what Mr. Payne's apartment looks like. Wondering if it'll be anything like what I am imagining. Impersonal and modern, like everything else in his life seems to be.

I peer down at the gift on the floor. Trying to picture the woman it will be going to. Trying to picture Mr. Payne's mother. I imagine an elegant woman, with dark hair and dark eyes like his. Her features show evidently that his looks are from her as she had most of the dominant features. I see the diamonds strung around her neck, a matching pair of earrings and a modest dress to go along with her lady like behavior. Whether it's how she really is or not, it's how I am going to pretend that she looks. It keeps her in the good side of my mind, opposite of her son who seems to sit right in the middle. With his light hearted kindness away from work, and his asshole comments at work, he deserves the position right in the middle.

The elevator comes to a stop, the doors sliding open almost gracefully while revealing a large foyer. I bend down and pick up the box with the gift. My eyes shifting from place to place as I take cautious steps out of the elevator. My eyes find a black leather sofa, spotless walls painted in white with nothing but a large tv hanging surround the room . Gray slate makes up the stone around the fireplace and a glass coffee table  is in front of the sofa. Art and sculptures make up any decoration in the large sitting area. I tear my eyes from the room and its contents. Staring across the room there is a hallway, I probably need to go to. Mr. Payne didn't tell me where his bedroom is, but I'm sure if I look around I will be able to find it. As I pass an opening in the wall I peer through it, glancing into the kitchen, noticing how clean and unused it looks. I see a clock hanging on the wall and evaluate that I have roughly twenty minutes before I need to be back so I really can't waste too much time trying to explore.

I continue my journey down the long hallway doors and arches scatter the long hallway as I pass at least seven or eight rooms before I come to a set of double doors. Praying that this is the room, I open the door and breathe a sigh of relief, grateful to have found his bedroom, or at least a bedroom. Whether it is his or not is a completely different problem. I walk in and place the box carefully on the bed, laying his dry cleaning as neatly as I can next to it. I spin on my feet and take in the large room. A wall of windows lines the side of the room across from the door. A door in the corner next to it, probably a bathroom or something. I can't say that the room surprises me. No pictures, no clutter... It's exactly like his office. The same modern and impersonal personality that he carries through with everything.

I'm distracted when my phone goes off in my purse, I pull it out and look at the screen, frowning when I see it is from Mr. Payne. I read it silently, all it says is to get back to the office as soon as possible which was my plan anyway. Ignoring the anticipation to respond to him I turn it off and tuck it back into my purse. I collect myself and look around the bedroom once more before I decide it is time to leave.

...

"I told you to get here as soon as possible." Mr. Payne frowns as he fixes his tie in the reflection of the window in his office. It looked perfect before, I guess now it's just flawless.

"I did." I admit, checking the time on the clock hanging on the wall. I'm a few minutes late but hopefully it won't be too big of a deal.

"Because of your ignorance Ms. Fletcher, my lunch meeting cancelled knowing that I would not be able to make it there on time." He says, taking a seat at his desk chair and looking at me expectantly.

"Well that's a little foolish, it would have only been a few minutes." I tell him, not acknowledging him blaming this all on me.

"You know what they say, time is everything." He says leaning forward, intrigued by my turn in the conversation. There are many things that I feel guilty about with him, and I'm not going to let this be one of them. He is the one who gave me so any things to do n such little time.

"Is that what they say?" I ask, trying to hold in the smile I know is trying to break through. He smirks, but doesn't respond, just watching me with a careful eye. My breath hitches in my breath throat as his heavy gaze rests on me. I do my best to not let it shake my nerves, clenching my fists to distract myself.

"Anyway," he clears his throat after the short minute of silence, a short minute that didn't make me uncomfortable for once, "I took the liberty to schedule a lunch date for the two of us-" He says quickly, standing. My cool facde slipping quicker and sooner than I had expected it too.

"What?" I almost gasp, hoping he is joking. I really hope he doesn't mean just the two of us. I don't want to sit and have awkward small talk with him while I eat dinner, I have awkward small talk with him now... "Why?" I spit out anxiously, wondering how he thinks this could possibly be a good idea. I shrink back as he walks around his desk, getting closer and closer to me.

"So we can get to know each other a little better." He says with a neutral expression. "Now, I made a reservation so- we should go." He says and walks past me, I hear his office doors open and I close my eyes, unaware of any feelings that I should be feeling right now.

A/N: Sort of a filler chapter but important none the less :) sorry for the wait guys, next one won't take so long!

Love ya! - Rachel Xx