HIS

Chapter Four

Chapter Four 

[ Anna ]

For the first time in a long time, I spent the night binge watching a Netflix series instead of having to worry about work tomorrow. I stayed up most of the night, ate midnight snacks and tried all weird food combinations Nish suggested, even chips with ice cream.

After what felt like very long time, I really enjoyed my night. I think I needed a day off more than I had realised.

The next afternoon, Nish and I went shopping. The party was the next day, and I couldn't help but already worry about the perfect dress.

"You're Zach Davis' date?" Nish asked me for the hundredth time in that few hours as we went through the racks of dresses.

"It's just like a professional commitment," I say, trying not to sound too flustered, "He needs to be at the party and he's just ensuring that I actually come instead of making up an excuse like I do every year."

She smirks at me, taking her eyes off the section of dresses only for a minute, just to give me the 'I know everything, don't lie to me' stare.

I roll my eyes at her, and continue the work. This was the fourth store we had been to since we arrived, and I just couldn't seem to find the perfect dress.

Some seemed too short, others too flowy, some were too bright, and others were too dull. I didn't have an exact picture in mind, but I knew I wanted something modest, and pretty yet professional at the same time.

The idea of being Zach's date for the evening had grown on me overnight and it suddenly felt like a big responsibility. I didn't feel as nervous when I was representing his company in the U.K. last year as I was feeling now, and trust me that says a lot because I almost passed out when I got to know I had to give the presentation alone for a very important deal, while representing him and his company.

"How about this?" Nish says, pulling out a dress, but there was a spark in her eyes that told me she was just messing around.

And she was, because what she pulled out was a black short net dress that would've ended just around my mid thigh, or maybe even shorter than that.

"Seriously?" I ridiculed.

"He won't be able to keep his hands away if you wear this," she smirks.

"He's my boss," my eyes widen, "That is absolutely not the plan."

"So you're saying you don't have a secret crush on him since the day he took over?" She teased.

A smile creeps on my face. "I'm just charmed by his looks, and his personality... but that does not mean I'm trying to get him to sleep with me."

"Of course you aren't," she rolls her eyes, "But this dress is beautiful. I think you should try it."

I just blinked my eyes at her.

"Just try, promise," she swears.

"Okay," I sigh helplessly, "Can we still continue finding the needed dress now? The party is tomorrow!"

"Yeah... yeah," she smiled in victory as she hangs the dress on her arm and we go on, entering the gowns section.

While Nish almost flees towards the ball gowns, ones too gorgeous for this party, the complete Cinderella styles that I'd probably consider only for my wedding, I walk through the simpler ones. After a few minutes of blankly staring at too many beautiful gowns, my hands touch a satin fabric, almost squashed between two dresses with tulles.

I make some space to see the red satin, and curiosity fills me as I pull it out delicately.

It was a red satin gown, with a cowl neck and thin straps, and looked just my size.

"Nish?" I call, my eyes almost twinkling as I turn towards her. She leaves the dress in her hand and looks up, as I flash her the one I was holding.

"How about this?" I ask her nervously.

"I think it's... gorgeous," she grins back.

It was gorgeous.

Ten minutes later, I stared at my reflection in the mirror of the dressing room. The gown was red, but not a bright tomato one. It was dark and settled, almost touching burgundy. The cowl neck was a little deep, but manageable. The material was thin and soft to touch, but at the same time, assuring. It fit around my curves perfectly upto my lower thighs, and then effortlessly flowing down to the floor, tailing behind me by just a little. It was half-backless, supported by two straps, but I didn't think that would be a problem because I had long hair that would cover most of my back's skin anyway.

Opening the door of the trial room, it was when Nish's eyes that sparkled on looking at me that I knew I had found the perfect dress.

"This looks good. Like really, really good," she said, wide eyed, "I am one hundred percent straight, but I can still ask you to marry me if you wear this forever."

I laugh, "You think this is it?"

"You'll be crazy to drop this one, it feels like it was made for you!" She smiled.

I sigh, looking at myself in the longer mirror again. Hell yes. I'd be mad to leave this one out.

"Okay then," I smile, excitement peeking through my eyes, "I should go get changed."

"You promised me you'd try the black one too." Nish reminded me.

"Seriously?" I whimper.

"Yes!" She insists, handing me the black dress, and then pushes me back into the trial room.

Half heartedly, I changed into the other dress. It was a tube dress, that fit to my breasts and upper body, and just below the bra line, layers of net flew, flowing until my mid thigh. The dress was beautiful, just not apt for the occasion.

I bet if sixteen year old me had found this to wear at her birthday party, I'd be the happiest girl on the entire planet.

I opened the door to Nish, and she stood up almost clapping her hands in happiness, "I thought so... this looks so damn pretty!"

"You like it that much?" I ask her, looking into the mirror of the trail room dubiously.

"Yes! This is like my dream dress, but I could never be able carry this off.  You're lucky!" She pouted.

"And you're crazy," I reminded her. Nish was absolutely gorgeous, and so much so, that sometimes it gave me complex to walk in the same street with her. All the eyes were always on her. She was just a little insecure about herself and her figure but I don't blame her because well, who isn't?

"Now can I change, please?" I ask her and with one final glance, she pretends to wipe fake tears as she lets me walk back in.

I change back into my jeans and sweatshirt that I was wearing, and walk out with the red dress in my hand.

"You aren't buying the black one?" Nish asks me disappointedly.

"I'm already spending over $200 on this one, there's no way I'll spend another $75 on a dress I don't need," I explain, "It's gorgeous, yes. But I don't have an occasion to wear it anyway."

"Okay," she sighs, "I'll place that beauty back on the rack for another lucky lady. You go ahead and bill yours."

I give her a smile and mumble a thank you before walking out and then to the billing section.

Thankfully, it was a weekday and and an odd hour, which meant there was no rush. There was just a lady in front of me, who was just done billing as I placed my dress at the counter.

"That'll be $176, ma'am," The girl at the counter replied, after scanning the bar code through her machine.

"I thought it was $220?" I ask, confused, as I bring my card out of my wallet.

"Yes, this is the reduced price. It's 20% off, mid year sale," she smiled at me as she accepts my card.

"That's... wonderful," I reply, smiling back.

"Excuse me?" There was a voice behind me and I turn around to see Nish, but not talking to me. 

"Yes?" The cashier replied.

My best friend looks at me only for a brief moment, to give me a wink, as she steps ahead and hands the black dress to her. "Please bill this along with the red dress, but we'll pay differently."

"Oh...kay?" The cashier replied, taking the dress and I stare at her in confusion.

"For whom is it?" I ask her.

"You, ofcourse!" She looks at me casually.

My eyes widen, "I told you... I can't... I really don't want to spend so much on something I don't necessarily need."

She rolls her eyes, "I know, but I went to keep this back and I swear to God this dress was just calling to me. It's meant to be yours. So, I'm paying for it, for you."

My eyes widen more, "What? No!"

"Shush," she scolds, "It's a birthday gift."

"That'll be $60 more, ma'am," the cashier interrupts, as Nish hands in the change and then grins.

"What a steal deal," she whispers to me.

"Yeah, what a waste," I ridiculed quietly, then putting the card number into the machine with a frown on my face.  I hated when someone else spent money on me. Especially 60 f*****g dollars for a dress I could have done fine without.

"Sshh," she playfully hit my shoulder, "You never know when an occasion might turn up. It's yours anyway. So, suck it up."

I look at her for a moment before realising there was no convince her otherwise.

"Thank you," I say, a smile spreading across my face as side hug her.

"I'm the best right?" She smirked, taking the bags from the cashier as I put back my card into my wallet.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I giggle, "I'm buying lunch."

"What? Why?" She looked at me, confused.

"Because you just bought me a dress!" I smiled generously.

She rolled her eyes at me, "It was a gift because it was your birthday. I don't think you understand how this works at all."

I shrug, "It is what it is. And it's not like your lunch is costing me a hundred bucks. All you eat most times is an eight dollar salad anyway. I'll be lucky if you buy a drink along with it."

"Only on one condition..." She says.

"What?" I ask.

"You tell me all about that guy you went on a date with," she smirks as we walk into the food court.

"I thought you had dropped that topic?" I raise my eyebrows at her.

"I'm your best friend!" She pouts, placing the bags on the empty chair as we settle down on a small table, "I'm entitled to know what's going on in your life, and especially whom you're going out on a date with."

"It wasn't a date, okay?" I explain, "It was just a hang out. Absolutely random. Unexpected. A one time thing."

"I still don't catch the name of this man, who took you out on an absolutely random and unexpected, 'one time thing' hang out?" She teases, mocking me.

I roll my eyes, "I can't tell you that for very official reasons."

"Wha–" she stops midway, as some realisation strikes her and she widens her eyes, "It was that handsome boss of yours, hmm? Zach Davis?"

I bite my lower lip.

"C'mon Anna," I could see the excitement in her eyes.

I sigh helplessly, letting the grin on my face finally show up as I nod.

"I f*****g knew it!" She almost shouts in the air, "Isn't he one cheeky hot bastard?"

"He's actually sweet," I mumble.

"I'm sure he is," she smirks, "And you're going to tell me all about how that happened, but let's order first. I'm starving!"

"One condition," I reply with a smug face.

"Anything," she agrees instantly.

"You're ordering," I smirk.

She makes a disgusted face, "Always taking advantage of me!"

Nonetheless, she got up and I gave her a twenty dollar bill, "Get yourself whatever you like. And my regular order from Mc Donald's for me, please."

She rolls her eyes, walking towards my favourite fast food restaurant ever and I smile victoriously as my phone vibrates in my pocket.

I remove and unlock it, to a text from an unknown number.

Unknown number:

'Hi, is that Ms. Collins?'

I knit my brows and type back:

'Hi'

'Yes, it is. Who's that?'

It was a minute before another message came in:

Unknown number: 

'I'm Fai. We received your job application, and I must say, we're highly impressed. We'd like to offer you the job of an assistant under our CEO. I was wondering if this is a good time to call and help you through?'

My brows knit more in confusion. I absolutely did not remember applying anywhere for a new job. I was absolutely satisfied with my job at Ivory Stars.

Could it probably just be a spam message?

But on the other hand... I did faintly remember a person called Fai. He was the receptionist at St. George, Ivory Stars' biggest competitors. I had handed over my resume to him as well when I'd first shifted to Brooklyn years ago, and I was offered a job from both companies, but ended up taking the one here at Ivory Stars instead.

Nonetheless, I wrote back:

'I'm sorry, I do not remember applying for any job. Even if I did, I sincerely apologise for wasting your time, but I already have a job, and am afraid I'll have to turn down the offer. Thank you.'

Did they really text people for jobs? That's so unprofessional.

I was debating between marking the number as spam and deleting it when my phone vibrated again. I was slightly frustrated, but when the phone kept vibrating a series of time, I realised somebody was calling me instead.

As I flipped my phone to face me again, I saw it was the same number that just very generously offered me a job.

Puffing some air from my mouth and not giving much thought to it, I picked the call up, wanting to end the confusion for once and for all.

"Hello?" I speak in.

"Do you always sound so professional or is it just because I offered you a job?" A very familiar voice replied from the other end. Familiar... yet unrecognisable.

"I'm sorry," I say in disbelief, "You are?"

"I just told you, I'm Fai," the person ridiculed back. Nish got back with a tray in her hand, with my order and hers, which was predictably just a salad with different dressings and iced tea. I pass her a smile as she raises her eyebrows, asking me who it was and I shrug, frowning.

"And I just told you, I don't know any Fai. And I have not applied for any job, I'm sorry for wasting your time–" I begin, but the stranger on the other end cuts me off.

"I can't believe you forgot me so soon," he teased back.

"I'm sorry?"

"Even I'd at least remember who bought me dinner. Unlike you. Turns out, you're the bigger player." The voice teases back.

I stay silent for a minute, and realisation dawns of why the stranger sounded so familiar.

"Zach?" I almost whisper shout in shock, and then instantly correct myself, "I mean Sir. Sir."

I put my phone away from my ear to recheck the number. He wasn't calling from the office's phone.

When I place it back on my ear, he was still laughing. It was a moment before he stopped, "It's oddly comforting to know you aren't applying for a job anywhere else."

I could hear his smile from the other end.

"I–... uhm–...." I stammer, confused out of my wits. I had never spoken to him on the phone before, and I had no idea why he was calling me now. My mind went blank and all I could register was Nish's smirk and impressed face as I shook that image off my mind, finding some words to speak out.

Say something.

Fast.

And good.

"Thank you, I guess?" Of course I'd reply with something dumb. That's just so... me.

He just laughs under his breath again, before asking, "Are you sick?"

"No, I'm not," I panic, "Was I supposed to be for work? I– I am so sorry! I thought you'd given me an off day?" I mutter to myself, "I must be probably have a misunderstanding. I am so, so–"

I could've gone forever if he hadn't cut me off, "What? No! Of course I was the one to give you an off day."

"Right," I say, releasing the breath I didn't know I was holding.

"I was just asking you this to make sure you don't use the excuse of being sick to bail out on me tomorrow," his voice suddenly turns low and dare I say, intense? My eyes coyly reach the dress lying inside the bag and a small smile creeps on my face.

I don't think there was any way I could bail out now anyway. Or rather, I don't think I wanted to anymore.

"I don't think I will," I say in a mumble.

"Well, I'm happy to hear that," he replies, "On a completely different note, do you, by any chance, saw where I kept the file you completed and gave me yesterday?"

"I didn't," I reply back, "But I can guess it'll be in one of the drawers to the right, most probably the lowest one."

"Nah, I checked....." his voice trails and I hear a sound, probably of the drawer opening, and then a whisper under his breath, "There it is."

"I knew it was here, I was just checking your efficiency," he replied back cleaning his throat and I try not smiling as if he could see me.

"I'm sure you were," I reply back.

"Great! I'll see you tomorrow?" He says.

"Yes, sir," I purse my lips.

"Text me your address. I'll pick you at eight," he promises.

"You don't have to, sir. The party is at your place, I can take a cab, or ask my friend to drop me...." I trail.

"Now, that would be very rude of me," he declares, "To invite somebody and not be there to pick them."

"You've invited a lot of guests, Sir," I remind him, "And I'm positive you wouldn't be going to pick all of them up."

"Well, not all of them are my dates," he says, and I instantly shut up.

"So eight it is?" He asks.

"Yes," I reply in a mumble, "I will text you the address."

"Please do," he adds, "Or I'll be waiting under Monet's forever."

I giggle. "Bye, sir. Have a good day." And then I bit my tongue. Have a good day? Seriously, Anna?

I hear him chuckle under his breath, "You too, Collins. You too." And then the phone goes dead.

I get our from my fantasy land to see Nish staring at me with a smirk on her face.

"What?" I say casually, trying to shrug it away.

"You both were flirting!" She accuses.

"We were not," I defend.

"You were," she rolls her eyes.

"Were not," I correct firmly.

"You were."

"Nope."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"No."

"Yes– s**t!" I bite my tongue.

"YAY!" Her smile lit up like a Christmas tree.

Whatever.