Resist Me Not

29

All through Monday, my mind kept thinking about how it was just a week ago when I returned from the most romantic trip with Eric. It was insane how life could be completely turned upside down in a blink of an eye.

I refused to talk to Ryan all day, and he tried. He tried getting in the elevator with me alone. To which I responded by getting out and taking the stairs instead. He tried to call me into his office for work-related issues, but I would beg Ashlee to go find out what he wanted first. I would tell her that Adam had me doing so much that I couldn't step away for even a moment. Luckily, she believed me, since it wasn't a complete lie, and she would go see Ryan.

Seven times out of ten, the things he told her all sounded like bogus tasks. Which confirmed to me that he was only trying to find a way to get me alone.

While I refused to speak to Ryan. Eric wouldn't speak to me. I tried calling him several times on Sunday, but it went straight to voicemail every time. So on Monday, I tried calling him at his work number. The receptionist who answered would transfer me, and when he picked up and heard my voice, he'd disconnect the call. Then I tried again, and the receptionist would give me some excuse as to why she couldn't transfer me.

I was frustrated by it and considered going to go see him at his office during lunch. But fate was working against me, and Adam requested we work on the presentation project while we could. He even asked Peter to allow Ashlee to go grab us lunch, so we didn't lose the momentum.

Though I must not have been as useful as Adam wanted me to be. Because shortly after lunch, he suggested I leave work and go home for the rest of the day. He could tell my mind wasn't entirely focused on the task and preferred I come back on Tuesday, ready to finalize everything before our official presentation on Wednesday. I took up his offer and promised I'd be better by then.

Sasha and Becca were still at work, and I didn't have a key, so going to their place wasn't an option. I considered going back to my apartment and just staying there until Eric got home to talk things out. But then I decided I couldn't wait until six or seven to talk to him. I don't know why I thought it was a good idea, but nevertheless, I decided to go see Eric in person right then. 

My heart raced lightly during the train ride to his stop. But the closer I got to his building, it was pounding so fast and hard that I thought it could match the sound of the jackhammer burrowing into the street outside his office building.

I didn't even know what I wanted to say, but I hoped it would come to me as soon as I saw him.

My finger had a hard time finding its way to the button to take the elevator to his floor. I had to grab my hand with my other hand to hold it steady enough to land on the button. The doors closed, and instantly tears started welling up again. I took deep breaths, trying to keep the tears at bay. I didn't need to talk to the receptionist or Eric looking like a raccoon.

"Hi there," I greeted the receptionist who sat behind the tall counter, just by the elevator doors.

She was on the phone, placing calls on hold and transferring. She looked at me, clearly annoyed that I was disrupting her flow. But not annoyed enough to look unprofessional. I was about to tell her who I was there to see, when I saw Eric, just behind her, walking with his colleagues, George and Brian, towards his office.

"Eric!" I said loud enough to get his attention, but not loud enough to capture the audience of all the working people between him and me.

His head snapped in my direction. He looked like he was going to smile at me for a split second, but instead, he kept his face emotionless. He excused himself and separated from the others and walked purposely over to me. "What are you doing here, Vicky?"