Bring Me Back

chapter eight

Everything around me seemed normal like a n everyday rush hour in the office till my last step clicked in front of the conference glass door with messed up film, blocking the inside view.

It has the company's name scribbled across the large panel without doubt and I presume everyone is inside already, except me.

But I find no one except me and him.

He's the same man, who bumped into me earlier.

I can make out from his red and dark blue checkered suit from behind.

He's talking to someone on phone while standing at the far end of the room.

His hands spike up in air, behind his head, calling me in without turning.

For a second I jolt my own vision around to clarify if that sign is meant for someone else.

But there's no one here except both of us.

As soon as I get in and shut the door behind me, my phone blares with a text from Dorothy that she and the founding member are running late and they will take at least 30-minutes to arrive. They are extremely sorry for that but they have already informed the new man standing in front of me with his back, lean and commanding.

At this time nervousness has been replaced with confusion. He is continuously barking silent orders that are going over my head.

I hear numbers, some short forms, places and timings in the conversation.

But no name.

So, I sit down the brown leather chair and place my stuff on the long table.

The tumbler of hot coffee and water bottle is already here.

So, I take my chances and drink up water instead of coffee. I need to stay hydrated because honestly, I have no option but to wait..

I can't even Google him because I don't know his name or what he does.

Almost instantly, I fetch my phone out and shoot a reply to Dorothy as my last resort.

"What's his name, Dorothy?"

I see those three dots typing, taking her time.

"Landon Moriarty"

I read her message and my eyes forget to blink.

Then before I can escape or call for help, I hear someone call me out and my head zooms up without any hint on how to react.

"Miss, you okay? Shall we start? I am Landon Moriarty, by the way, and you are?"

He asks, standing just inches away and  forwarding his hand for a formal handshake.

I am experiencing his husky voice and rougher presence like I am high on the world's most affective drug because I don't feel myself.

"I...Im...Ho...I..."

"Hey, relax, are you okay? It's okay. Have some water."

He says while sitting on the chair adjacent to mine. I can't find my voice. He will get to know instantly the moment I speak.

Or is that all in my end? It has been more than 5 years now, Essie.

And how can I be sure he's the same Landon Moriarty? But what are the odds? Ben said Landon is here in Texas and can another guy from the same name land into my office the same day?

The probability of it being the same guy are higher than the opposite case, honestly.

But, I don't know how to verify it yet while he's sitting next to me and occasionally giving me a worried look rather a look that speaks about familiarity between him and I.