FlAvor

Chapter 14

Flashbacks are in Bold Italics

Wiping a tear away, I got up from the seat and walked out of the conference room back to my cubicle. All eyes were on me, but I ignore them as best as I can. Grabbing my things hastily, I go to the elevator. I will not break. Not here. Not in front of all these people. Hitting the first floor, I spot O'Brien standing up with his things. If this wasn't perfect timing, I'm not sure what was.

He sees me, and gets fully into serious mode. "What happened? Why are you crying?"

"Can we do this in when we get back to the club? Please?" I'm on the verge of fucking tears at this point. Everything is really sinking in. Darren is the cause of my life spiralling into hell. I was way too naive to think he was over. But when will it end? All I've done is cry when it comes to him. Our break-up, my apartment, his messages to me, so on and so forth.

"Of course."

The drive back is silent and uneventful. Traffic at this time is terrible, but I take time to understand it all. How in the fuck did he manage to find a girl with those similar features as I? She had to be the one Amy described to me. She had mimicked her voice like mine, dressed like me, the whole nine yards. And Darren taught her.

We arrived back at Flavor. O'Brien and I get out, looking for Blaine. I see him first, standing by the bar. There's others here I don't know around him, but I'm guessing they're starting the set-up for the event coming up.

Blaine instantly lowers the ache I'm feeling some. Just the sight of him, and how so much in love with him I am puts a small smile on my face.

"Come on." O'Brien pulled me towards Blaine. "Even in the time of you looking like a sad puppy, you still get lost in the lover boy."

I only shrug at him because it's not like he's wrong. Blaine frowned at us in confusion as we go in his direction.

"We need to talk, Blaine," I told him. "This is very serious."

"Okay." His frown never changes as he excuses himself. We go to the elevator up to the suite. Blaine hold my hand throughout the whole way there. He knows this is bad by the way his hand trembles slightly in mine, tightening his grip, and I'm not sure if he's comforting me or himself. It might be both.

Once we are in our room, Blaine fired out. "What's going on? Did something happen at work?"

I nodded, a tear slipping from my eye. "Something that has me on mandatory leave from my job." Blaine and O'Brien's stunned looks said it all. I start from the beginning.

My palms became sweaty sitting in front of Ms. Lawrence and four other people who seemed to be of higher power in the company. I tried staying still, awaiting for what I'm about to find out. They all have their eyes on me, noticeably analyzing the hell out of me, and that has me scared shitless.

"Ms. Michaels," one of the men began. "This whole floor received some very disturbing footage of you that has spread through the whole building." Before I can speak, he shuts me down with a hard look. "This business stands at a certain conduct. Whatever you do outside of it is your business, but spreading it here is highly dissatisfying."

"May I get a chance to speak on my behalf, please?" I stressed to them, almost begging. A lady of the panel carries a sympathetic look on her, letting me continue. "Thank you. Now, I just got back from my vacation back in my hometown a few days ago and I've not once come in the office. Whoever came in as me was a fraud."