The next day Cheyenne is thankful she doesn't have to go to work. She rolls over in bed and covers her head not wanting to deal with the world and its problems. She hasn't felt this way in a while. So hurt that she felt sick. Her chest felt tight and strained. The sun had risen but heavy dark clouds blocked out the unwelcome light. It's irrational to feel this way about a guy. But rationality had gone out the window the moment she kissed him. Everything went out the window when they kissed. 

Xby DNSUnlocker

For months she had suppressed the need to be loved. A weakness she thought it was. Maybe because the last time she had loved and lost she was left weak and hopeless. It had taken a year to get to finally move on from David. She still remembers the pain and trauma he had put her through. The scars from an unhealthy relationship still etched in her heart. She had only briefly told Michael about him on one of their many lunch dates. A mistake she had called it. But it was more than that. It was a tragedy. 

It had started out well enough. They met at a coffee shop and he was sweet and made her smile. A feat most men failed to accomplish. But David was different. He had the power to make her giggle. Cheyenne doesn't giggle. They had started to date and 6 months later they were married. It was something they had done on a whim, a one week long engagement. But she was in love. They went one month strong until his secrets came to light. He had another family, he wasn't married to another woman but had a child with her. And she came to find herself being the other woman in the situation. 

She tried to make it work, to fight for the man she loved but it became toxic. She was becoming increasingly bitter. They divorced and a month later he married her. The mother of his child. That cut her deep. He could have at least waited, or acted like he was devastated. But no. They are happily married and she was left pick up the pieces of her shattered heart and happily ever after. To cope with the heartache, she moved away from everything that was David. Left her life to come live out here with Kim. It took a while to find a job, that she liked and could enjoy. When Mills Architecture came up, she felt she was ready to dive in and give 100% to her career. No more would she be distracted by a man. But  then, Michael happened. And she forgot. She forgot that when she allowed herself to fall , she fell hard and fast. When she loves, she loves with every part of her. But she had made the mistake of thinking it was time to love again. But she wasn't as ready as she thought to be vulnerable to a man. 

Michael brought it out of her though. He made her feel like she was the only woman in a crowded room with just the way he looked at her. Or maybe it was his reservations that made her the bold one. The truth is Michael was saving her in ways he didn't know. It gets lonely when you only have work, gym and home. He made her realize that she wants more and she wasn't quite ready to give up on love. But then the truth of it all came out. She was once again the other woman, for a man who has a baby on the way. If it is his. She fought so hard to get her life back, to be in control of her life and emotions and now she was back in the same position she was over a year ago. Now she is huddled up in a ball of blankets and self loath. She loathed herself for thinking happiness could be possible again. It could be though if... No. She tries to reason to herself. There's only work, gym and home. 

..........

"Cheyenne I'm sorry" Mikey says to himself in the mirror for the 15th time. He stood there observing his tired eyes. He was barely able to sleep for the entire weekend. How could he? His mind was consumed by thoughts of what he would say to her when he sees her. It had only been two days but it felt like forever since he had seen her. 

"Hey you look beautiful" he practices again. He is interrupted by one of the junior architects. He obviously heard Mikey but remains silent and quietly walks to the stall. Mikey inhales deeply and checks the time. 7:45 the time she usually gets to work. She would be coming up in the elevator right now. He knows because every morning he would have her coffee ready and waiting on her desk when she walks in at 7:47. He goes back in the office and sets her cup of french vanilla on her desk. He sits and waits to hear the clicking of her heels on the ceramic tile and the gentle sway of her hips coming down the hall.

7:50 and he doesn't see her. He continues to wait.

8:00 if she walks in after this she would be late. She is never late. He sits staring down the hall refusing to give up hope that she is coming in. Maybe she got stuck in traffic he thinks.

8:15 and Mikey still hasn't moved. He sits there ignoring the pile of drawings he has to check to send off this morning. At 8:30 Jamaal waltzes in with breakfast in hand. 

"Dude, don't you look crappy this morning. And not crappy like every other morning. Like a train ran over you crappy". He says setting his food down on his desk.

""Thanks" it means a lot 

"Why are you sitting by the door?"

"I uh, I'm" Mikey suddenly realizes how crazy he looks with his chair wheeled from under his desk, pointed at the door where everyone can see him staring.

"I'm waiting on Cheyenne"

"Oh? trouble in paradise?" he says standing before him, blocking his view of the hall while biting into his chicken sandwich

"It's none of your business"

"I always wondered why she went for you." he shrugs. "Girls always love the shy guys"

"Seriously Jamaal, get out of my way" Mikey says trying to wheel his chair around him.

"Okay fine. But you're wasting your time" Mikey looks up at Jamaal confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, she texted me. She isn't feeling so well so she might be taking a day or two off"

Mikey doesn't reply.

"It's weird right. Ms early bird is sick and NOT coming to work. Just makes my prospects of getting the position a whole lot greater"

He rolls his eyes at Jamaal. He decides to call her and wheels is chair back to its rightful position behind his desk. He dials her number into his phone. It rings four times then goes to voicemail. He thinks about leaving a message but whatever he could think of to say, he wouldn't say it in front of Jamaal. He decides to go to his and Cheyenne's not so secret hideout. On the way he is stopped by Mrs. Hibberts. 

"Michael. How are you doing today?" she gently grabs his elbow and pulls him away from the door.

"I am doing good Mrs. Hibberts. And you?"

"I am fine. Just fine. You have been here for almost two months and I feel like we have barely spoken. Why don't you come to my office?" she suggests. She asked a question but her tone suggested he really had no option but to say yes.

"Of course".

Mrs Hibberts had a beautiful corner office, adorned by a huge mural of all the buildings she has worked on. The Castleton Bridge, The Great Anglican and the golf course in Newport. These were just the few Mikey could easily recognized. She sat in a settee that was perpendicular to the huge fixed window that gave her a picturesque view of the city. She was an older woman, maybe in her fifties but her eyes were young and vibrant. She signals for him to sit

"Michael, a part of being a good architect is having an eye for detail and being very observant of where you are and the space you are in. Not many people have that trait"

"Um sure" he says unsure of what to say. He was slightly intimidated by her.

"I have been observing you Michael. And even though you weren't my trainee for the start. I am hoping that I get you next"

"Thank you that means a lot" he manages to smile.

"In my observation, however, I have noticed that you have become a little distracted"

"Oh um, its not, i'm not distracted" he tries to say.

"You are. By Cheyenne Forbes" she crosses her legs. A power move.

He doesn't reply. 

"She is a beautiful girl." Woman. "And very talented. But you are in the lead and let's just say office romances, while they might be sweet, they aren't fruitful for the office itself"

"Mrs. Hibberts. Thank you for taking an interest in me professionally. It was a pleasure to see your beautiful office. But my personal matters, though they are in a professional state, are still personal" he says getting up to stand.

"Of course. I apologize for over stepping my bounds. I just hate to see a bright light dimmed by the shadow of lust". This lights a small spark of rage in his gut but he doesn't let it grow. Lust? Lust? Its not lust. 

"This might be too much information, but since you already have expressed interest in my relations with Ms Forbes. She could never dim my light. In fact she is the only one that has kept it shining since I've met her" He gets up to leave then turns on his heels to face Mrs Hibberts who is in the same position "I'll go even further to say that it was never a shadow of lust, but ray of love. I think, I love her. Have a good day Mrs. Hibberts".