"Is it me, or has Miss Rose seemed to be in an awful mood all week?"

I was seated across Javier having lunch.

I placed a forkful of rice in my mouth before replying. "Really? I hadn't even noticed."

That was a lie. This entire week had been hell. Miss Rose was avoiding me at any moment she got. She would not speak to me unless absolutely necessary. Even at meetings; we would sit there next to each other in silence, afterwards we would drive back in silence. Her face was set- expressionless. The worst part of it, I had to pretend that I wasn't bothered by this; I had to pretend to be indifferent to her obvious changes in behavior; I had to pretend that my heart didn't shatter into a million pieces whenever she walked past without as much as a single word or a glance my way.

"Yeah." Javier said as he leaned forward in his seat, "it's been really weird. I've never seen her like this. She seems a lot more irritable as of recent as well. The whole thing is crazy."

"Mmmm," I replied, stuffing another forkful of rice in my mouth to avoid having to come up with a coherent reply.

The rice was tasteless in my mouth. I chewed it mechanically and forced it down my throat before taking a gulp of water to wash it down. I had been drinking freezing cold water much more often as of recently; I like the numbing effect it had. I really needed that right now.

"Are you gonna finish that?" Javier asked, motioning to the rice on my plate which I had subconsciously started playing with.

I pushed my plate towards him and sat back in my seat as I watched him gobble it up hungrily.

"Are you sure you're okay, Muna?" Javier asked, looking up at me with concern etched all over his face, "you seem a bit tense lately."

"I've just been tired and stressed out is all," I replied, forcing a smile unto my face.

It wasn't completely a lie. I was extremely stressed out and tired, but that was due to the fact I couldn't sleep at night. I was too paranoid to even close my eyes for more than a few hours; I felt like I was being watched everywhere I was, and these feelings of paranoia seemed to intensify at night.

"I'll tell you what," Javier said as he leaned over, "why don't you come over to my house tomorrow night. We can watch a movie and unwind."

I almost found myself leaping out of my seat at the offer. I could barely stand being alone in my apartment, anything that meant I didn't have to be alone was good enough for me.

"I'd really like that," I replied, giving Javier a genuine smile.

"It's settled then," Javier said, stretching in his seat before glancing at his watch, "I gotta go Muna, I have a conference to attend."

I waved goodbye to Javier. Shortly after, I got up and began heading back to my floor. Rather than taking the elevator like I usually did, I used the stairs. I really did not want to endure the remaining few hours of work, I was tired and sleep deprived and a headache had begun to form at the back of my head.

I got onto my floor and was instantly shocked seeing Miss Rose standing next to my table with an annoyed look on her face.

"Lunch break ended 10 minutes ago." Miss Rose said unsmilingly as she looked at me, "I pay you for every minute you work here."

"I'm sorry," I murmured, shifting my gaze to the floor.

"That's not good enough." Was Miss Rose's curt reply, "anyway, I need you to go represent me at a meeting at 1pm in Charleston Hotel. "

"Aren't you coming too?"

"No." Miss Rose replied, "I don't feel like. That's what I have a PA for."

I blinked at her. So this was what she was gonna do?

"Charleston Hotel is at least 30 minutes away and it's 12.40 already," I said, glancing at the clock hanging above Miss Rose's office.

Miss Rose shrugged as she began heading into her office, "next time don't be 10 minutes late from lunch." Miss Rose paused right before she entered her office. "By the way, you need to learn how to drive. Part of your paycheck includes driving me places, learn how to drive or you'd see a significant cut in your salary."

I felt my blood rising. Was she intentionally going to be a dickhead? As much as I wanted to be angry at her, I couldn't. I completely understood why she felt that way and not only did I ache for her, I ached with her.

Grabbing my iPad off my table, I began rushing to the meeting. I had to take public transport, seeing as Miss Rose would not drive me there. The weather today was already extremely humid. I was constantly checking my watch throughout the journey. However, despite my best attempts, I still ended up arriving 10 minutes late for the meeting.

I walked slowly into the meeting, clutching my iPad in my arms. As usual, the room was filled with a bunch of middle-aged white men. A man with greying black hair was seated at the head of the table, speaking. He paused once he saw me.

"Hello?" he said, "are you lost?"

I realized that was exactly what I looked like with Miss Rose not with me.

"No, I'm not." I replied curtly, "I'm Muna Johnson, Miss Anastasia Rose's Personal Assistant. She couldn't make it today."

"Oh," the man said.

He motioned for me to take a seat and I did just that as he went back to talking about whatever it was he was talking about before I got here.

The meeting lasted for more than three hours, and I was more than ready to go home once the meeting was through.

I walked out of the Charleston Hotel lobby and began heading for the nearest bus stop. Putting my hands in my pocket, I fished out my phone and called Amanda.

"Hey Girl!" Amanda said the second the line connected, "what's up?"

I felt like weight was lifted off my shoulders just listening to Amandas familiar greeting.

"Hey Amanda, how are things?"

"Same old, same old."

That was good, but I just wanted to make sure.

"Hey Amanda, have you noticed anything out of the usual lately? Or have you felt anything weird? Like you're being watched or something?"

There was a moment of silence on the line.

"Muna, what are you on about?" Amanda chuckled and I could imagine her rolling her eyes.

"Nothing." I replied quickly, trying to change the subject, "how is college?"

"Stressful. I have a bio test in a few hours and I still have no idea what is going on."

I nodded my head, then realized she couldn't see me and murmured a "mhmmmm" instead.

"Is everything okay? Are you well?" There was slight concern etched into Amanda's voice.

"Oh, everything's fine!" I said in a manner that I hoped would make me sound cheerful, "everything is perfect!"

What a fucking lie.

"How is your sexy CEO doing?" Amanda asked, and I could hear the excitement in her tone. I couldn't allow her getting suspicious, that would just endanger her. I panicked for a brief second. I needed Amanda to think everything was going smoothly, that everything was normal.

"She's amazing!" I said, I hated how natural my voice sounded lying, "she took me out on a date the other day and it was the most amazing thing ever."

I heard Amanda screech in excitement from the other end of the line.

"Oh my gosh, Muna, you've got to tell me all about it! But not right now, I have this freaking Bio test I've got to study for."

I sighed inaudibly. Thankfully, I didn't have to recount details of a date Miss Rose and I never went on just then.

I could see my bus approaching from a distance.

"Okay Amanda, I will later on." I said standing up from the bench at the bus stop.

"Okey dokey," Amanda replied, "I'd talk to you later Muna, I love you!"

She hung up, and I was immediately filled with guilt. I really did not want to lie to Amanda. She was my best friend and the only person for the longest time that I had been open with. But I had no choice. I needed to lie to her for her protection. I would never be able to forgive myself if anything happened to her. Never.

I swallowed the new lump that had been forming in my throat before climbing unto my bus.