Strange Attraction (editing/rewriting)

IV

I jerked awake as the silence of my apartment was shattered by the ringing of my phone. I pulled the covers off my face to see my room still pitch black. The phone's screen illuminated the room, and I saw my boss's name flashing—it was his third call today. Reluctantly, I answered, knowing my job was on the line if I didn't.

"Where are you?" he demanded, panic evident in his voice.

"What do you mean? It's still dark out."

"It's nearly 10am!" he yelled. I quickly sat up and saw my black curtains were closed. Pulling them open, I realized it was indeed bright outside, and I was two hours late.

"I'm on my way!" I hung up, threw on the first clothes I could find, and hurriedly navigated the streets to get to work.

When I finally reached the office, I settled in just as my boss, David, came barging in. "You're lucky I had a meeting and didn't notice sooner. I was about to pass on this project if you were another second late."

"What project?" I asked as David fully entered my office, dropping a folder onto my desk.

"We have a couple who wants their new house designed from scratch." These projects were always tough because couples rarely agreed on details, and designing from scratch was challenging without an existing structure to work from.

"Where are they?"

"You missed them. I scheduled a meeting for you at their current home to go over things." He left my office, leaving the door open, which I closed myself.

I spent the rest of the day catching up on the new project. As the office emptied, I unbuttoned my cardigan, feeling hot. While taking notes and researching, the janitor walked in. "Oh, I'm sorry, miss. I thought everyone left."

"No, I'm sorry for getting in the way. I'll be out in five minutes." He closed the door, and I packed up my things, shut off the light, and left, waving goodbye to the janitor.

In the elevator, I pressed the button for the lobby. As the doors closed, I pulled the folder from my purse. When the elevator stopped, someone else got on. "Nightie and cardigan, cool," said a husky voice. I realized I was still wearing a blue-ish grey draped-neck nightie (that could pass as a dress) and a dark brown cardigan.

Without looking at the speaker, I replied, "It's a dress." The man chuckled. Embarrassed, I pretended to be engrossed in the folder.

"I know a nightie when I see one." The elevator stopped, and the doors opened to an empty lobby. I exited first, hearing the clacking of the man's shoes behind me. I headed to the car park, where few cars remained, and drove off. I saw a man getting into a sleek black Audi, probably the same man from the elevator.

The next day, I dressed carefully for my meeting with the couple: a sheer translucent turtleneck white blouse with bishop sleeves, wide-legged high-waisted button corset slacks, and Chelsea boots. The drive was long, but I eventually arrived at a brownish French provincial manor in the woods, covered in overgrown bushes and vines. The house, shadowed by trees, had many open windows and the sound of piano music floated out.

I rang the doorbell, and a small, old lady answered. "Hello?"

"Hi! I'm your architect." She smiled and invited me into the grand foyer. The marbled grand staircase led to different sides of the house. She led me into a cozy living room west of the staircase.

"Let me get my husband." As she left, I observed the family pictures and the large painting above the fireplace. The couple and kids in the pictures were very young. I wondered what they looked like now. The music stopped, and the woman returned with her husband.

"This is my husband Timothy, and I'm Vanessa. We are the Duvexes." We shook hands and sat down.

"So, you want a small cottage-style house and have already picked out the property?"

"Yes, we want it to be homey. This place is too big for us, and my husband is retiring," Vanessa replied.

"Are you putting this place on the market?"

"No, we want it to stay in the family. We'll give it to our son."

"That's nice. Regarding your future home, do you plan to have any grandchildren staying over or host parties?" The couple laughed.

"Our son doesn't have a girlfriend, and our daughter isn't having children anytime soon."

"Well, we can keep that section open for now." The doorbell rang, and Vanessa went to answer it.

To my surprise, Finn walked in. "Olivia!"

"Finn!" I smiled as his parents looked at us, puzzled.

"You know each other?" Timothy asked.

Thinking quickly, Finn said, "Yeah, her friend is married to Atticus, so we've met once."

"Yes," I agreed.

Finn sat across from me, and we continued discussing the project. The meeting ended around 2, and Finn walked me out.

"Well, you look nice," he said. Proud of my outfit, I thanked him and returned the compliment absent-mindedly.

"Ha, what a lie. Compared to you, I look like a commoner," he joked. He wore jeans, a plaid shirt, and brown loafers.

"You do look comfortable, though."

"Thank you, I am."

I looked at the large house. "Your parents are giving you this place? That's amazing."

"Yeah, but not all memories here are great. This house is too big for me." He turned back to me. "Till next time."

"Bye," I said, heading to my car for the long drive back to the office.

An hour and a half later, I reached the office and sent an email to my colleagues about the project. I worked late into the evening, alone in the dark office. Packing up, I headed to the elevator, and the doors opened to reveal the same man from before.

"No nightie this time?" he asked.

"It was a dress," I replied, looking up to see him in a well-ironed suit. He had a mysterious aura with narrow deep-set brown eyes, honey-colored skin, a dark trimmed beard, and luxurious curly hair. His professional and flattering wardrobe completed his look.

"My eyes are up here," he joked.

"Ha-ha," I rolled my eyes.

"Your outfit today is very nice compared to the last one."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"What's your name?"

"Why?"

"If we're going to be elevator buddies every night, it makes sense to ask."

"Hmm, good point. My name is Lucian, Lucian Doyle."

"Olivia Adams," I said, shaking his hand. The elevator reached the lobby, and I left first, heading to my car. As I drove out, I saw Lucian getting into the sleek black Audi. He waved goodbye as I passed.

Arriving home, I walked up the stairs, unlocked my apartment door, and got ready for bed. I set my purse down, walked to my bedroom, and changed back into the nightie. I opened the curtains to ensure I'd wake up on time if my alarm failed, then slipped under the covers and quickly fell asleep.