Head over Stilettos for my boss...

Chapter Number Twelve

CHAPTER 12

JOHN’S POV

The night before another whole week of work began, I had planned out what exactly I was going to do the next day when it came to the Maxine situation. I planned on ringing the florist first thing in the morning and sending roses, red roses, to Maxine’s office. I had debated over the issue as to whether or not to send the roses to her house or office, but decided on office in the end as sending roses to her house would happen WHEN we were together. I had worked late that night and so therefore had arrived home quite late meaning that by the time I had arrived home, most shops, including florists would have gone home.  So I placed the number of a local florist right next to my phone so that that morning, I wouldn’t forget to call the florist. Unfortunately, I woke up late.

I don’t know whether it was because I had been thinking of Maxine unconsciously and I got over excited that I stopped working in reality but instead in a dream world. Did that even make sense? Nope.

So I woke up late and managed to just about make it on time to work. A lot of people found it unusual that I rushed to work even though I was the man in charge. In reply, I always answered them by saying:

‘I am still working for someone in authority. Just because I am the boss, doesn’t mean I should take massive advantage of my position. That’s not the reason I took the job.’

So while I was running around the house trying to make sure I had everything for work, I forgot to call the florist. It was only when I saw Maxine bending over very sexily to pick up the folder she must have accidentally dropped did I remember what my plan had been and the action that I should have undertaken this morning.

Maxine stood up very carefully, placing the folder in the crook of her arm and patting it as if to say ‘stay there’. I smiled at that. She was so caring. I wonder how she was around children.

TOO FAR JOHNATHAN!

Just as she was about to start walking towards the elevator, Ron walked up to her. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the close proximity as to which they were standing bugged me. I didn’t like the way he was stepping so close to her, almost into her personal space and smiling at her. And now she was smiling too! No, wait now she was laughing....and touching Ron’s chest....and looking into his eyes.

‘Morning guys.’

I heard myself say.

I didn’t even remember walking over here.

‘Morning.’ they both replied.

‘Ready for another whole week of work?’ I asked cheerfully.

To be honest, I don’t where the cheerfulness came from because I seriously felt like pushing Ron far away from Max. Far far away. Like Australia kind of far.

‘Guess so.’ Replied Ron whilst Maxine just shrugged.

I looked at her and tried to analyse her a little bit. Within one second, I saw that she was refusing to make eye contact with me. Even now, she was looking at the elevator as if she was busy waiting for someone to jump out of it at any moment.

‘Maxine?’ I asked.

‘I have to get to my office. I have quite a fair amount of work to do today.’ She stated, looking down at her file.

‘Ok, we’ll take the elevator together.’ I suggested.

‘No it’s okay. Besides, you haven’t taken your morning coffee yet. I’m sure you’re craving for it right now.’ She smiled while looking at her shoes as if to examine whether there were any faults with it.

‘I’ll live.’ I smiled. ‘Come on, let’s go.’

‘Actually, I just remembered that-‘

‘Maxine you’re acting as if I’m going to bite you. Come on, let’s go upstairs.’

She paused for a while and closed her eyes for a second before nodding.

‘I’ll see you later Ron.’ She smiled.

‘See ya Max.’ He shouted back. Looking at the both of us weirdly.

As we walked to the elevator, I sensed the tension that was already building up between the both of us. I hadn’t been trying to build tension, but nevertheless it was created anyway. Maxine walked a little distance behind me, not saying a word. For some reason, this hurt me. I hadn’t behaved like a monster in her eyes. I hadn’t forced her to be in a relationship with me. I hadn’t shouted or screamed at her for declining my offer to start a relationship, and yet she was treating me like she didn’t want to be anywhere near me.

The elevator pinged, and the silver doors opened to reveal that we had the entire space to ourselves. I stepped in boldly and then turned around to see that Maxine was still on the floor instead of inside the lift with me.

Once she noticed that I was waiting for her, she hesitantly stepped into the lift. I was beginning to get tired of this and so I asked her:

‘What’s going on?’

‘Nothing much. Just focusing on my cases as a normal lawyer does.’ She stated looking straight ahead.

At this point, the elevator had closed, but I hadn’t pressed the floor that we desired to go to.

I sighed at Maxine’s reply.

‘Maxine?’

‘Yes Jonathan?’

‘Why are you treating me like this?’ I questioned her.

‘Like what?’ she asked still looking straight ahead.

The way that she was avoiding my eyes was annoying me so so much that I left my briefcase at the other side of the elevator and moved to stand right in front of her. She was very surprised at this and even took a small step back.

‘Why are you treating me like I’m the plague?’ I questioned.

‘I’m not.’ She whispered and looked down at her hands.

The avoidance of eye contact was annoying me beyond compare at this point. Was it so much to ask that she looked into my eyes? I just wanted some simple assurance that maybe, just maybe Penelope was right. Did Maxine seriously have some feelings for me? If so, why was she treating me like this? I was tired of these questions running around in my head so instead of waiting for her to look me in the eyes, I took her by the chin and lifted her face up.

‘What have I done that you’re treating me like this Maxine?’ I asked gently.

I had once been so focused on trying to make her look into my eyes, but now all I could think about was maybe kissing her again.  How would it feel to have a make-out session in an elevator? I felt like initiating my own private investigation, so I leaned forward slightly flicking my eyes between Maxine’s eyes and her lips.

‘John, don’t.’ She whispered.

‘Please give me one reason why not.’ I rebutted.

‘Because. Because you have someone else.’

‘Someone else? What-?’

Maxine jumped backwards as the elevator doors opened and we were no longer alone.

‘Hello Maxine. Mr.Grays.’ Gary smiled at the both of us.

Gary leant forward to press the top floor number which was the same number as both Maxine and I while I tried to catch her attention behind Gary’s back.

What had she meant when she said that I had someone else? Surely she didn’t mean Penelope right? I mean, we definitely had nothing going on.

But in Maxine’s eyes, did it seem like we did?