The Summertime & Butterflies » Zarry ✔

🦋 12: Fall : Truth

"It's already freezing and Winter isn't even here yet." Zayn said as he pulled his coat closed and stepped out of the elevator.

"It's close though." Asher said. Asher was a guy who had been working with Zayn for the past year and a half but Zayn recently became his superior two weeks ago.

"I know."

"Maybe we should go get coffee after this meeting."

"Together?" Zayn asked.

"Of course."

"Hmm. Didn't you ask me to dinner a couple days ago?"

"I did. And you came, didn't you?"

"I did."

"And when I asked you to breakfast a week ago. You came, didn't you?"

"I did."

"So coffee isn't too much to ask compared to that then."

"Coffee and?"

"Um... Coffee and desserts?"

"Yes. Of course coffee and desserts. I was wondering if you were expecting something else from me afterwards though. After all, wouldn't this make the third time? I know people sometimes expect certain things by then."

He smiled. "Oh. Not me. Just a simple coffee date. That's all I expect. Or should I say, it's all I'm asking for and want from you."

Zayn studied him a bit. Asher didn't seem like the type to lie and deceive but he had learned from his past relationship that looks never told the entire story. "Okay. Sure, then. I'll have coffee with you."

They walked through the lobby together and then down the hallways to a conference room. They opened the door and stepped right in and the few people who were already there looked at him. An older man pat him on his back.

"Mr. Malik. Or should I say, Mr. Zayn Malik so the new people don't confuse you with your father. It's nice that he's enstrusted you with a position like this within the company so young. Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Men your age chase a lot of skirttails and are too busy already raising babies to handle business like this. You're a model for everyone else to follow."

"Um... Thanks?"

He sat his briefcase down on the floor and took a seat at one of the chairs at the table. He felt good about himself. Working with his father had turned out great and his career was headed in the right direction despite still being in his fourth year of college. Plus this guy Asher seemed to be into him in a genuine way. So there was nothing he was currently asking for. Except one thing. And that was for his new start to continue feeling new for a while. Because he really needed that feeling.

* * *

"To be honest, I was afraid people might not respect me and say I only got here because of my father." Zayn was saying when they were at the coffee shop. "Because technically I did. He had a job waiting for me when I turned eighteen."

"Yes. But you're in year four at this company now. What you have is not just because of your father. It's because of your hard work too. If you were lazy and only depended on your father to get things, you would not have lasted four years like this."

"True."

"And I'm not just saying that because you are now my boss by the way."

Zayn chuckled. "I know."

"So about the traveling. You like it?"

"Do I like begging my professor to let me make up assignments? No. I'm just lucky that it's Fall break this time."