Pov - Noemi

Why am I acting so weird? Isn't it okay if he behaves like he doesn't care about me? Isn't it okay if he doesn't even look at me while I'm talking to him? Isn't it okay if he gave me the cold shoulder?

No!

Yes, it is.

No, it is not.

Ugh!

My mind was a house of queries where questions were arising automatically through a wireless connection with Mr Alvin Hertrich. I didn't know which better way to distract it other than taking a hot shower. Hence, the first thing I did after Alvin's forthright denial was running myself into the bathroom and letting the quietude possess me.

My confounded brain didn't stop reeling at the conjectural questions. To me the other night felt like a dream I had been wishing to envision for such a long time, but wasn't aware about it myself. Nobody had dared to touch me the way he did. He touched me with so much care and respect that I was left with no other choice than revealing whatever it had been buried in my chest.

I imparted a great deal of information about my mother to him. Although my heart had become much lighter after that, yet I could feel an infant fear of divulging more of my past instances with him. I could not let anything else slip away from the wet of my tongue. Not that it would only destroy me, but it would also demolish the only chance of bringing back my mother out of the hell she had been living in.

Now, I was baffled between which one of his personalities was original---the one he carried with himself in the daylight and held it against everyone---or the one he showed to me last night which was hard to believe and even harder to not believe after what I had encountered with him. Nevertheless, the way he was behaving with me at the moment made it apparent that I was a saphead for believing anything could ever change between us.

I hurried out of the bathroom in fear that I was already so much late for the office, and seeing Alvin back in his cruel avatar made it obvious I was dead if not more. I dressed myself in a plain light pink shirt which had a mandarin neckline and a black long slit skirt, coupling them both with a decent pair of silver stilettos. Keeping my hair free and open, I applied as little makeup as I could---neglecting the habits of dramatic makeup.

I walked down to the living room to see Mrs Gibson was setting up the breakfast table while Alvin was not anywhere in my sight. Had he just left already? Why wouldn't he?

As I stepped further, I noticed a maroon handbag resting atop the corner of the couch, shining like a ruby in the sea of black onyx. I picked it up in my hands and noticed it was made of a fine exquisite material and was far too expensive to be mine.

"Mrs Gibson, is this yours?" I questioned her while showing her the bag in my hand.

"No, Miss Noemi, this isn't mine," she advanced towards the handbag.

"Well, strange. This isn't mine."

"This must belong to Miss Bettina I guess," My body froze at the mention of her name, "or perhaps it belongs to Miss Luna. My apologies, I'm not sure. Either one of them might have left it here while they were heading off."

"T-They were here?" I managed to stutter.

"Yes, both of them were here with one other man, but they all left the house with Mr Alvin a few minutes ago. Also, sir told me to inform you that he'll be on a business trip to London until the end of this week, so you need not go to the office in his absence."

It came to me like a thunderbolt; shook me at first and then numbed me at last. He didn't care at all. Did he? The words he said. The actions he made. The care he showed. It was all nothing but a one night commiseration for a girl who couldn't restrain herself from bellowing about her miserable past life. I was so drunk I literally believed a man like him could also have a heart that does not only beat.

"Miss Noemi, are you alright? You look pale," Mrs Gibson put her hands on my shoulders and shook me lightly, trying to get a response, trying to jiggle the batteries and switch the current back on.

"Y-Yes, yes, I'm absolutely fine," I feigned a smile, reattaining my normal posture. "So, I am not allowed to go out, am I?"

"Um--I know Miss Noemi I'm not someone to refrain you from doing anything or order you around for that matter, but I can only request you to stay in. Trust me, it's best for your safety," she narrowed down her eyes while whispering, "and for my job's safety as well."

"Of course, I won't go out if that's what Sir wants."

My words brought back a cheer on her face as she beamed an honest smile, "Thank you very much, Miss Noemi. Have a seat, I have breakfast ready for you."

--------

The days passed away as fast as the tortoise could run. As fast as the entire ocean could evaporate. As fast as the criminals could confess their crimes. If I hadn't had a lifetime of experience with loneliness it would have been more difficult for me to stay alone in a house that screamed money and power but not a shred of peace.

Nonetheless, I kept myself busy in reading---which was very difficult to do when there's near to zero fictional books in Mr Alvin's grand library. Hence, the only book that amused me throughout was 'Tis: A Memoir---quite boring for a woman with taste like mine still interesting enough to prevent myself from overthinking.

In the daytime, I somehow managed to dodge away the thoughts of Alvin and Bettina together at the same place, but in the night-time my mind seemed to become a Mexican factory that worked recklessly for restrained hours. My thoughts were usually around what they might have been doing(hanky panky), what they might have been talking about(planning about their marriage), what they might have been thinking about(obviously not about me). I couldn't keep a halt on my thoughts from weaving the endless assumptions about how their day might have gone.

But why does it concern you if they kiss or marry or in fact have babies together? Why are you overthinking about him when you know it more than anyone else that you'll be kicked out of this house and most importantly out of his life in less than 52 days now?

Yes, my subconsciousness only speaks the words of wisdom. It became my best friend ever since Alvin had left hanging me alone. Most of the time it annoyed me by putting up questions I wouldn't dare to answer, yet sometimes it filled my brain with more or less rational thoughts.

At some point, I ceased asking myself why anything related to Alvin concerned me because I just couldn't answer it regardless. The question had no answer---at least not anything I was aware of. Henceforth, I kept on making a blueprint of their days in my mind until that rosy day.

It was Thursday when I received a call from Miss Luna who was practically screaming like a maniac on the microphone.

'Why the hell are you not here in the office?'

'Good morning, Miss Luna. Are you all back?'

'Please answer my question first---WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR NOT APPEARING IN THE OFFICE WHILE I WAS GONE?'

'You were gone and I thought---'

'You thought! What did you think--oh--isn't it a good time for a picnic now that Miss Luna and others have gone on a business trip? Is that what you thought?'

'No, Miss Luna. Mr Alvin---'

'Yes, Mr Alvin...He indeed saved you this time from all the intensive work that was originally your responsibility to complete as you're my assistant. If, only if he hadn't stopped me from calling you at the last moment, then you would have been doing all the work that I…'

The rest of her words melted down on their way to my ears as my mind once again became a Mexican factory. He didn't take me with them. Well, that was obvious that he didn't. But what amazed me the most was that he stopped Miss Luna from calling me for the trip---which I deserved to go on being the boss's assistant's assistant. Deliberately. He did it deliberately. He didn't want me to accompany them. Perhaps, I might have disturbed Alvin and Bettina's cute little moments. Haven't I?

'Noemi...Have you gone deaf in these three days that you can't even---'

'No, Miss Luna, I can listen to you.'

'Then, get up and see me in the office in 20 minutes, or else I would go bonkers with the amount of work I am witnessing here. Come fast!'

'Yes, mam!'

Now that Alvin had returned back, I assumed Alvin must have been either on his way to home or he could have been chilling with Miss Bettina somewhere. It didn't matter to me, but even if it did, I had to find a way to make it un-matter to me. I wouldn't confront him until and unless I had no other choice left before me. I had to make him taste his own cup of evasive tea that he had served me in the first place.

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As I entered the workplace with Freddie and the two great brawny brutes---who were meant to protect me---I was quite surprised I hadn't already died of so much protection. When I humbly requested those two lads to lend me some space, they replied to me with cold stares and words only a true mind-reader could comprehend. They didn't leave the sight of me until I had to beg for them to stay outside so as to save myself from catching the attention I would only want to throw at someone. I was allergic to attention; it has always caused me ample troubles in my life.

Stepping inside, I noticed everything was strange. Strangely alright I mean. In fact if I could add a tiny bit more to my words, I would say the things were perkier than usual. Employees were working with a smile tugged on their faces which was unlikely to happen when Mr. Alvin was around giving orders like a tyrant. Silence is an overstatement but the environment was strangely peaceful.

Or it just seemed like that.

Moving forward, I heard a female's voice---perhaps a female's murmur---possibly a female's bawl.

There, it was Miss Luna, standing in her not-so-best pose and pulling off her hair from its roots. She was hissing like a dragon spitting fire on a handful of people---and their faces were laughable until I was standing amongst them. Her words were somewhat like---

Why is this yet not finished?

Shelly, why haven't you cleaned the data yet?

Gloria, please quickly make up an awestruck excuse that deterred you from completing the only work I had given to you in a long-long-long time?

Pia, what about your nail extensions? Are they done yet? Must have been more important work than being Miss Bettina's assistant, right? You know what, I must also suggest her an assistant change in case there's anyone worse than you available out in the market. However, I strongly doubt that.

What have y'all been up to while I was out on a business trip---slash---a torture trip---and that too without my lovely assistant by my side and have had to work like a horse on a leash?

Where have you---

Next she noticed me as I was sidling towards her like a dead body that was about to be rot in hell with the forthcoming curses of exasperated Miss Luna Anderson. She pried at me with her vicious eyes and silently cursed under her heavy breaths.

"Welcome back, Miss Noemi," with her hands resting on her back, she furiously whispered at me, "Hope your picnic was as helpful to you as you are an assistant to me."

"Um…No, mam. I wasn't on any picnic."

"Oh, really?!" she crossed her hands on her chest, "Then why were you absent here?" leaning forward, she added, "Especially in my absence."

My eyes unconsciously moved towards Mr Alvin's office, seeking for a little sign of his presence in there. Maybe a little earth wobbling would be enough! Or a loud roar like a lion! Perhaps the door shaking would also do the task. But nothing of that sort happened.

Miss Luna flicked her fingers before my eyes, "Hey! Are you even listening to me?" Turning around to look at the door, she added, "What are you looking at---in there?"

"Um...Nothing important. Just checking up if Mr. Alvin would like to have a cup of coffee or breakfast now, well, only if he's here in the office right now," I jabbered.

"Well, he's not here." I was about to say 'yeah okay alright' when she continued, "And he won't be here until this weekend I assume. Mr Alvin and Miss Bettina will possibly return after two or three days. But for now, my dear assistant, I have better answers to hear from you."

Silence.

I had two choices to choose from. Either I could tell her the actual reason, that is, Mr Alvin had ordered me to stay on house arrest until his arrival. Or I could choose to stay quiet and instead listen to her reprimands. However, if I chose the former the chances were of her sincerely apologizing to me and sending me back home---further resulting in my home isolation---which I needed to decline by anything possible in my hands. And right now in my hands, I had a few words to release out.

With an upended grin spreading on my face, I pleaded to her, "I'm sorry, mam. I'm really sorry. I thought, without you, I wouldn't have any work to do in the office."

"Oh! There isn't any work indeed, you see." Her eyes lingered around in the room and then halted back at me.

"I--I'm again very sorry, mam."

"Yes. Yes, you will be sorry very soon," she sneered at me, "Follow me now."

-------

I was sorry.

Very sorry.

But every time I felt a pang of sorries hitting in my chest, I reminded myself of the time when the only amusing part left in my life was---either staring at the ceiling or counting the stars. Therefore, such a wonderful flashback thrilled me with joy for how grateful I was to work---even if the work was terrible, tedious and torturous.

Data management is a task that sounds quite easy when you have---an advanced computer and a clean record to work with. However, if you happened to be a misfortunate like me then you might find yourself working in an old dusty store room---around thousands of mucky files and documents---and cleaning and arranging them according to their dates, a rather difficult task to enjoy.

The day was almost coming to an end and I was only half way done yet. One side of the wall was neatly arranged and organized with files and records while the other side was yet to be stuffed with the pile of files that was currently scattered around me like debris.

"Ugh!" I groaned in annoyance.

"Noemi!"

I shifted my eyes from the old tattered files to look at the person standing on the doorstep.

Tyrell.

Ugh! Not again.

"Noemi! What the heck---What are you doing here? And why are you doing it?" Tyrell almost laughed at my current situation. Almost.

"Um---Just suffering the punishment of Miss Luna for not attending the office."

Is there any way possible for me to hide somewhere without having to move at all? Because I need it now.

"Oh---but why weren't you in the office all this while?"

"It's a long story. Let's just forget it." I yanked a pink file from the heap and started to wipe off the dust resting on it, hiding myself from his demanding eyes.

After a long silence and a blank stare, he spoke, "Well, I need you.."

It took me a while to decipher his words but when it did, I was already looking at him with my mouth half open.

He needs me. Like what?

"I mean---obviously not like that." He cleared his throat twice before adding, "Actually, I'm going to propose to my girlfriend for marriage?"

Shocked. Surprised. Satisfied. Those were the levels of my emotions and perhaps the expressions on my face. Firstly, I wasn't aware about his secretive girlfriend. Secondly, he was going to propose to her. Wow! Thirdly, why did he need me?

"Woah---Wow!" I was suddenly on my feet but couldn't quite firmly stand on them as my legs wobbled with a sudden rush of blood through my veins. I had been sitting for far too long for my legs to remember what 'standing' is like.

"Well, easy. Easy. Easy, girl," he giggled as he held me back from tumbling on the floor. "I wasn't aware that you were so eager about my upcoming marriage. I must say I'm chuffed."

"Oh, you have no idea how eager I am." I eventually managed to stand before him like a decent lady and we both giggled together this time. "Now, I wanna know everything about her."

"Alright! Alright! I'll tell you everything about her but first, as I said, I need your help."

"My help? Like what?"

"Actually, I haven't decided on a ring for her yet. And I'm actually very worried about whether she would accept my proposal or not." Worry was conspicuous on his face as he continued, "That's why I want to choose everything best for her. I need your help in terms of finding the best and the ideal ring that I've been hunting for."

"But why me?"

"Because," his eyes softened as he said, "You seem like the only person whose simplicity matches with hers. And my instinct says if you choose she won't deny it, for sure."

Crap! I couldn't go out. Could I? No, not with these two monster-like bodyguards and a loyal chauffeur eyeing me like scarecrows. The moment I would step out, they would start following me like a monkey following a banana. Well, not exactly that, but something close to it. Yes.

"I'm really sorry but I couldn't. I couldn't help you. You see, I have this huge work to finish in just an hour. I'm really sorry that I wouldn't be able to help you out." I scratched my head in dilemma.

"Is this all that's stopping you? The work?" He asked me as his eyes brightened with---what---I called hope.

"Um---I guess, yes. That's it."

"Oh, no worries then." He clapped his hands in some unknown joy.

"What do you mean, no worries?"

"Wait, here. You just wait here. I'll be back."

With that he whirled around to leave the room. After a minute, when he returned back he had a whimsical smile tugged on his face which had my chest rising up in trepidation. From behind him, a girl appeared.

"Noemi, this is Sabrina. Sabrina, this is Noemi."

She extended her hand which was usually meant to be warm and welcoming, however, Sabrina seemed to be a little pissed at me for some unknown reason. I noticed her exasperation with the way she puffed her nose while she was sincerely breaking my bones with her not-so-warm-and-welcoming handshake and grinding her teeths.

I would have died under her bloodthirsty eyes if Tyrell had not broken our eye-contact.

"Noemi, don't you worry. My dear, lovely, beloved friend here will take care of your work and she'll make sure everything is not just arranged but also very much clean. You will Sabrina, won't you?" He snickered.

"Yes, I will. I will have to help her to help myself out. Thank you very much, Tyrell---the blackmailer." Fortunately, she glared at Tyrell this time but regardless grinded her teeth at me again.

"Sabrina, you are my sweetheart. Indeed. Now, move fast. The work is waiting for you."

Ignoring both of us, she plodded forward in heavy steps.

"Now, Miss Noemi, as your work is sorted, let's leave now. Shall we? I have heard of a brand new jewellery store nearby that offers the best of the best."

"Um---I-I still can't."

"What? What's the problem now?" He grimaced at my denial.

Ugh! How could I make him understand that I was not allowed to leave even if my life depended on it? Even if the world was breaching into two halves. Even if the world was pleading for my one glimpse. Well, that's very unlikely to happen but still consider such a metaphor to understand the complexity of my current situation.

"L-Luna. Miss Luna. If I leave, she would know I'm not working here."

Yes, that seems like an excuse. A James Bond kind of an excuse. Yes, that'll work.

"Oh, yes. That's right." Thank god! Before I could say anything else, his face lit up in a queer smile. "Well, we can sneak out the back door. There's an emergency door on the first floor which we can use for our escape."

Heck!

"Actually, I-I--Um---"

"Please, Noemi. Noemi, please. I beg you for your help. Please." He clasped his hands together, pleading with me.

Ugh!

"Um--I---"

"Please…" He batted his eyes at me.

"Okay. Okay! I'll go." Raising both of my hands together in the air I kept a halt on his constant pleadings. "But we'll come back in an hour---before the office hours end."

"Yes, we will. I promise. Now, let's go. Shall we?"

"Yes!" I smiled, however, only I knew what danger I was inviting for myself with my every step.

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Thank you so much for keeping up with me and reading my story. It means a lot to me. Something interesting is coming in the upcoming chapters. So, stay tuned!

Love, Meg <3