Néon Raider ♉

Unveiled

It's been a week since Ivory commenced her work as a receptionist at the reputable Laurent & Rhett law firm. She was having the time of her life, getting acquainted with a few office staff, cheerful neighbours and even Gladys, who made her working hours, fun filled and cheerful. 

Ivory sighed, shutting her deep honey coloured eyes, stroking her fishtail braid. Monsieur Martin, the Human Resource Manager had warned her about her fluffy Afro hair. He said it was a distraction and had to be toned down. Ivory had scoured the streets for hours in search of a black hair saloon, till she had found a Senegalese Salon dealing with African hair. She'd met Tilda, the owner who'd tamed her mane into the sleek braid she now rocked. Well, Ivory shrugged. Such was life in a new culture. She would cope in no time and in doing so, she had to live it a minute at a time.

The elevator door binged and a figure emerged from within. In a split of a second, Ivory caught sight of the approaching bundle of charm. The one she never wanted to ever see again. Léon, dressed in a form fitting grey long sleeve stripped T-shirt with khaki trousers and suede Chelsea boots.

Ivory hid with a jolt of her hyperactive reflex act under the shed of her desk, hugging her knees and shutting her eyes. was it too late? She hoped he hadn't seen her. She hoped he went straight to Gladys's desk instead. She was too mortified, shy and besotted to gaze upon his face once more.

 "Hello." Léon's husky voice startled her.

"Ahh!"  She screeched, startled, shutting her eyes tighter in mortification.

"Anyone there?" Léon cooed with a hint of mockery laced in his deep voice.

"Hey." Ivory giggled, straightening her spine as she gazed into his deep mesmerising eyes.

Dear God. She breathed. She couldn't stop palpitating and sweating. That was why she had hidden away from him; to spare herself the pain of goshing over someone she could never have. He was too perfect, she almost drooled. And she, just a fat short receptionist.

"What were you doing down there?" Leon folded his powerful hands across his chest, curiosity seeping from his voice. Ivory fidgeted with her pen, holding it up to his view.

"My pen." She flared a wide fake smile.

"I lost my pen. Found it though. Never mind." She waved, moping her temple with the back of her hand.

"No worries. What can I do you for?" Ivory breathed, attempting to slow her raging heartbeat.

"I am here to see Monsieur Laurent. I have an appointment with him." Leon sniffed, his face a serious shade than it had been moment ago.

"Oh, I'm sorry. He is out on a lunch meeting. He cancelled," Ivory apologised, skimming through the appointment logs.

"Said he would see you tomorrow at 11:30. My deepest regrets, Mr. Parsifal." Ivory offered, clasping her hands on her chest.

Gladys kept making weird gestures from her desk, distracting Ivory who gave her wry looks intermittently. Gladys gestured at her breast area, pouting her lips in a kiss. Ivory scowled unaware of what Gladys meant with her gestures. Léon seemed to follow Ivory's gaze, curious about her weird facial expressions, but Gladys would halt her motions and return to work with an innocent and serious countenance. Ivory shook her head at Gladys as Léon ran his hands through his radiant bun styled hair.

"That's alright. I'll be here tomorrow. Thank you." Léon breathed a frustrated sigh. Ivory nodded, her heart hammering in her chest as he walked away.

Ivory took a moment to study his well built physique. Her jaws dropped at the sight of his gluteus Maximus, as they moved, hugged by the form fitted Khaki jeans he donned. Gladys rolled her office chair towards Ivory and pushed her chin up, closing her mouth.

"Omg, I can't breath." Ivory skipped childishly. She was acting the same way as Gladys when she first met her. She halted her actions, reminding herself she couldn't be one of those hopeless admirers.

"He is walking away. Why don't you go talk to him?" Gladys gave her friendly nudge.

"Are you nuts? Why would I do that? Why don't you go talk to him as well?" Ivory sucked her teeth at such a preposterous suggestion.

"I'm not nuts, I'm serious. Go on." Gladys tugged on the hem of her cotton shirt.

"You are kidding right? Look at him, then look at me. He'll never look at me twice anyway. Never did." Ivory shrugged, pouting her glossy lips.

"Breath." Gladys placed her hands on Ivory's chest. They both shut their eyes and took long inhales and exhales.

"Uh-oh!" Gladys exclaimed.

"Uh-oh, what." Ivory opened her eyes and shrieked at the sight of the face that stared back at her with humour spread on his face. Leon gawked at the duo, a subtle grin plastered on his face. Ivory swiped Gladys's hands from her chest, straightened herself and cleared her voice, her gaze straight and serious.

"It's not what you think." Ivory stammered, licking her lips nervously.

"And what do you think I'm thinking, Miss." Léon chuckled, crossing his hands across his chest.

"That I'm gay, which by the way I am not. We are not. " Ivory Stammered.

"We were just playing, breathing, together. I don't mean together as in dating, just as colleagues." Ivory stumped her feet on the glossed office floor. She was blabbering gibberish all over the place. She sounded like a crackhead. She pitied herself in that instance. What a waste orb human space. She puckered her lips.

"Miss, it is none of my business." Léon flashed a subtle smile.

"I just wanted to keep a message for Monsieur Laurent. Tell him to call me." Léon dictated.

"Its urgent. do tell him that, S'il vous plaît." He punctuated, turned and started to walk away. Then, he stopped, craned his neck and spoke,

"Not gay too." He chuckled in the most attractive way and bounced towards the elevator.

"Coffee? Some time?" Ivory gazed, mortified at Gladys who had mimicked her fruity voice. Ivory stiffened in place unsure of what to do. What had Gladys done? She now typed on her screen as though she hadn't said anything. Now, only ivory stood alone to take the shame.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Léon spun around and lifted a thick brow in question.

"No, I didn't say anything about coffee I wouldn't..." Ivory stammered, fidgeting with her trembling hands. How could Gladys do this to her? Put her in such a shameful situation. Was this her idea of a joke? It wasn't funny, simply sad.

"Yes, Coffee some time." Léon smiled. Ivory froze. It seemed her vocal chords no longer functioned.

"What about tomorrow, after work perhaps? It's weekend, non? Arnani Café? meet me at 12:30 pm." He winked, waved at her and bounced to the elevator and disappeared behind its doors.

Was she dreaming? Did the hot guy just fix a date with her?  Her heart leapt and for the first time in her life, Ivory actually felt what it was like to have butterflies in her stomach.

"You can thank me later." Gladys nudged her, flashing a genuine smile. Guess she could, Ivory smiled, unable to contain her excitement. Her very first date ever. She only hoped she wouldn't Spill coffee everywhere. She was what the French called, Mal à droite. Clumsy.