Chase and Company

Chapter Six: Sighing at Our Strong Brow Game

                On the last night of high school, Camille and I dragged Clark against his will to ride the amusement park’s largest roller coaster despite his constant protests. When we reached the top of the tallest curve, it was like the world as well as my problems shrank. Slowly, ever so slowly, comes the dreaded tilt forward as well as downward. In the next instant, my stomach dropped and I was suddenly bulleting straight towards my problems with the anxious belief that I was going to crash.

               One minute, I was on top of the world with my new internship. Aiden Chase was singlehandedly tipping me forward, giving me the gentle shove down towards my doom.

               Arguing with Milly left me in a state of vulnerability. I was not a person to anger her superiors. But the shock had taken over all of my senses and sensibility.

               “What do you mean we have to spend the night together?” I had asked, eerily calm despite my raging anger inside.

               “I mean what I say. You two will be in each other’s company until tomorrow evening, when work is finished.” Milly looked directly at me, as if daring me to continue.

               Unfortunately for me, I took dares to heart. “And why is that?” I asked, my irritation seeping into my voice like winter chill through crystal clear glass.

                “Ms. Evans, here at Chase and Company, we promote healthy relationships, both with our partnerships outside the company and in the dynamics of the workers within the company.” Milly responded, her cold stare and tone never wavering.

           “This is completely inappropriate! Business must be strictly business. I didn’t ask for a relationship with Aiden! And, if you can’t tell already, Milly, I don’t want to be in his company!” I slammed my palms against the top of my desk, propelling my body up out of my chair. My hair had fallen into my face, partially covering the lividness conveyed through my accusing glare.

          Milly held her gaze at me, her expression hardening. The tension rose as the silence progressed. Finally, Milly raised her chin slightly, ever so looking down the bridge of her nose at me. “If you don’t want to be in Mr. Chase’s company, then you must not want to work for Mr. Chase’s company.” I froze at the words she uttered, my eyes suddenly wide with regret and anxiety. Milly’s gaze softened at the sudden shift of my expression but said no more, instead turning to click her way down the hall without further instruction.

            I collapsed back into my chair, still staring at the air Milly previously occupied. I glanced across my desk to meet the gaze of the superior Mr. Chase. His eyes never left mine but they were different from Milly’s. While hers had been daring, his stare seemed to be questioning me about the turmoil of thoughts and emotions I hid deep within. Curiosity got the best of him until he snapped himself from looking at me and returned to his computer.

               Just as he had looked at me confused, I did the same, tracing the outline of his profile as my eyes began at the crown of his forehead, down and under the slope of his nose to the tip of his chin. I wanted to know what questions his eyes were silently asking and why.

               “Staring at your superior isn’t going to make your life easier here. In fact, you’re eye raping the person who can make it worse,” Aiden stated simply, his voice void of emotion and his eyes never leaving the screen.

               Too exhausted with thoughts running through my mind to come up with a response, my mouth reeled back into a scowl. I heaved a sigh, turning back to my paperwork. Already, I felt like I had hit the ground, but I knew the twists and turns of the roller coaster of my work were barely in sight ahead of me.