Flawless // z.m

Three.

The elevator ride down to the lobby was agonizingly slow. The enclosed space was filled with tension and I had to will myself to keep from laughing at how utterly uncomfortable I felt. Mr. Malik and I were the only two people in the confines of the elevator and even so, he stood directly next to me. The earlier disgusted looks completely forgotten. His hands were tightly clasped in front of him and his posture was stiff as if he were enduring physical pain. I rolled my eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time today, and hummed along to the terrible and awkward music.

Mr. Malik seemed to be a tightly bound book, making it nearly impossible for me to predict his next move. He had surely surprised me when he asked me if I was joining him but now stepping off the elevator, I didn't know if he wanted me to join him for lunch or if that invitation was just for the elevator. I slowly fell into step behind him, hoping he'd either pick up his pace to leave me behind or walk a safe distant ahead to guide me to where we were going.

Chicago had grown extremely chilly in the last week and the temperatures only seemed to decrease. Small snowflakes drifted through the wind before the landed in the hairs of pass-byers and melted. The sidewalks were glazed over with thin sheets of ice and the people took extra caution whilst running their errands. I pulled my coat tighter across my body and hitched my bag up my shoulder again. The harsh winds nipped at my cheeks, causing the skin of my face to turn a light pink.

Mr. Malik seemed completely unfazed by the chilly weather. His coat was still draped over his arm and he stood next to a car door as if the wind didn't even reach him. He was looking at me expectedly as I stood under the small roof of the building, trying to keep any warmth to myself. Licking my lips, I walked out into the cold and joined him at his side.

"There's a small café about two blocks down, get me a black coffee and two scones. If you're back before I am, please just leave them on my desk." Mr. Malik smiled as he opened the door of his car, "you should get going, it's a bit chilly out here." He quickly glanced around as if he were just now noticing the harsh conditions before he ducked into his car and slammed the door behind him.

I stood in the same spot, dumbfounded as I watched him speed off. I couldn't understand how I felt because it was simply too cold to feel anything. I'm sure I was angry, but I couldn't feel the heat in my veins due to the air colliding with my body. Mr. Malik's matte black Porsche Panamera 4S had long left my field of vision but I was still standing, almost wishing he'd come back and offer me a ride.

Except he never did.

I muttered every curse word I could think of under my breath as I began my dreadful journey to the café. My hands were plunged deep in my pockets and balled up in tight fists to keep out the cold. The walk seemed nearly impossible due to my high heeled boots and the obvious ice glistening the sidewalk, but somehow I made it in one piece.

The café was indeed small, only holding four tables and a small counter with a window display. The woman behind the display was old, grey streaking her once black hair. Her eyes crinkled as she shot me a large smile and wave, beckoning me farther into the warm building.

"It's chilly out there, isn't it?" she asked me as I finally stepped fully beyond the threshold. I nodded, carefully unwinding my scarf and pulling off my gloves. I clasped my hands together in front of me and walked farther into the café. "What can I get you sweetheart?" her smile was more than welcoming and I instantly felt at ease in here.

"Can I get a black coffee, two scones, a chocolate chip muffin and a hot chocolate?" the woman smiled as she pushed a bunch of numbers on the screen in front of her. I glanced at the screen and pulled out my credit card before handing it to the woman.

"Oh no dear, don't worry about it. You're picking up for Zayn, correct?" It took me a few moments to process what she was asking, as I had never heard of a Zayn before. The confusion must have been clearly written on my face as she quickly added, "Malik?"