After Effects

Chapter 46 • After Effects

I stared at my boss as he made his way across the conference room.

His lips were moving, yet no sound reached my ears. His hair stirred, yet no wind touched my face. For some reason he was in slow motion, but I couldn't seem to remember that wasn't normal. It was as though nothing mattered to me, only that I could watch him at the moment without being disturbed.  

We were in some meeting. He was being animated with a power point before him when in the middle of his consultation, he paused and looked over to me. I watched in shock as he leaned onto the table and gave me a crooked smile.

"Are you okay Ms. Harrington?" he chuckled.

All the women in the room sighed with dreamy looks on their faces and I found myself glaring at them until alluring sea coloured eyes took me away from what I couldn't even believe was reality.

"Happy birthday Ms. Harrington," he spoke, and I felt my knees tremble. He grabbed my arms before I could tumble to the floor. I stared openly into his eyes.

"Ms. Harrington," he whispered and a shiver went over my body. I hummed, not being able to give a proper response or look away. His eyes were trained onto my lips and if my own weren't playing cruel tricks, I would've sworn that his face was also coming closer to mine!

I smiled a drunken smile and without my permission, my face seemed to draw closer as well.

"Ms. Harrington..." he whispered again and then his lips descended onto my-

"KATHERINE!"

I flew up from the bed screaming into the morning. My sheet was gripped to my chest and sweat coated my entire body as I sat up to find Jake before me, staring at me with wild eyes.

"Jacob?" I asked breathily.

"Kat," he began slowly, "why the hell were you saying your boss’ name in your sleep!"

:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:
Tuesday
Break Room
11:17am
:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:

He was there. I could feel it. And it wasn't only because the room had gotten completely silent after someone walked in, but because he brought a certain aura with him wherever he went.

I slowly dropped to my knees and soon I was under the small table I had been having my lunch at. Thankfully, I had been alone because no doubt, any company apart from Harper would've brought unwanted attention my way.

"Ms. Harrington?" I heard him call, and I almost felt compelled to get out and go to him, but no! I couldn't do that. Not after that dream! I would never look into his face ever a-

"Boo," I heard a voice say behind me. I screamed loudly, but a hand quickly clamped over my mouth.

I stared up at Riddian, eyes wide in surprise to see him stooped beside the table covering me.

"You can't avoid me Ms. Harrington. I'm your boss," he spoke, and I couldn't help narrowing my eyes at him with a purse of my lips. He rolled his own eyes. "That wasn't a challenge," he made sure to say.

I pushed his hand away.

"I know," I scowled, inching closer to the center of the table and away from him.

He sighed and snatched my hand, dragging me from underneath my disappointment of a hiding place and into the light. We came out right into the view of everyone else in the room, the few people from this floor along with a few others who had either come up for consultation or had recently finished one.