LOVING EZEKIEL

CHAPTER SEVEN

O...kay?

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Jumping to conclusion that Georgia is an unwelcomed guest due to the unexplainable discomfort caused by her short conversation with Drake, she was neither expectant of speaking with Ezekiel again, nor annoyed that she feels discriminated against—rather, she felt frustrated that she still can’t stop herself from overthinking about everyone and everything too much.

Why do I have to think about issues that doesn’t necessarily concerns me? While she brushes her hair in front of the mirror while sitting on a black, cushioned chair, she absentmindedly stared at her reflection as her hand slowly moved the brush up and down her hair.

“It’s not like he did something wrong.” All he did is to protect his privacy and assure me that nothing’s wrong. Continuing her nonsensical prying, she heaved a deep breath and just stared deeper at the mirror that reflected her negatively painted expression. “I won’t meet with them again, anyway.”

Little did she know, the owner of the hotel room is standing by the door, leaning against the frame with his hands crossed against his chest. While listening to her words, his brows furrowed as he focused on her emotions portrayed through her words due to his lack of daylight vision. Is she feeling bad?

It was not his intention to eavesdrop, but when he is on his way to the bedroom to freshen himself up, he was stopped when he didn’t touched the knob due to the door widely open, smelt his perfumed, and heard Georgia’s voice. Who’s he? And she’s confident that she won’t meet us, hm? Feeling his confusion ruling over him, he raised his hand and was about to knock on the door and make her acknowledge his presence.

But when he remembered that she shouldn’t know about his secret, he stopped midway and took a step back to walk away. But before he could even take his first step to walk out, he heard a rather unusual sentence. “This is why I hate rich people…they obviously hate people like me too.”

Who made her feel that way? Deciding to ponder over it on the couch, he walked back to the living room when he slept earlier. I don’t hate her, though. Knowing that it’s best to lie down, close his eyes and gain more sleep so she won’t see him blind, he ruffled his hair and just sighed.

But…does that mean that she hates me too?

***

Georgia tried her best to use as little hotel materials as she can—she took a bath with the soap and shampoo, used only a towel to dry her hair and wipe her body, picked the plainest white shirt and reused the pants she wore last night, used a brush and sprayed three sprays of his perfume.

Standing in front of the mirror, she looked at her half-ponytailed hair with about half of her hair resting on her left shoulder, his shirt that became her oversized tee that she tucked in her pants, and her right hand that is carrying a grocery paper bag she found in the kitchen where se placed her used clothes. “I think I look decent enough.”

With that short encouragement for herself who can’t even skip the tiring sequence of what ifs and constant If only that’s been keeping her mind occupied while she readied herself to escape the hotel room that’s now listed as a ‘danger zone’, she gave herself a small nod before she marched out of the room, gathering enough courage to bid farewell to the room’s owner.

The silence of the room isn’t heavy, but for her that is thinking ever since she conversed with Drake, the secretary of a man she never thought she’ll crossed paths with, the silence is suffocating. What if he and Drake have some serious matters and I just ruined it for them? What if they have some secret mission and I destroyed their plan A or B or whatever it is?

“I wonder who’s that caller….” As she muttered to herself, she stopped in the living room and stared at the man who is lying down the couch, his left arm is covering his eyes. Slightly tilting her head, she looked at him from head to toe.

His blonde locks that contradict the darkness of his black pillow and navy blue colored couch, his posture that screamed the aura of a protagonist—or a royalty who wears a commoner’s clothes to explore the outside world, and his comfortable image as if he is used with giving his bed to someone else, all of them made Georgia admire him.

To the point that she nearly forgot that she cannot harbor any close, positive feelings to someone far from her league.

“I apologize if sir can’t see you off as his guest. Can I do it instead?”

Georgia’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest when she heard a whispering voice, causing her to turn around and saw Drake who came from the direction of the kitchen, a green headphone is hanging on his neck, and is holding a bowl of popcorn. Noticing that she is staring at his get up, he looked down at the popcorn before he smiled and raised it as if showing it off to her.

“I’m watching a movie on my laptop and my popcorn ran out.” Saying that, he chuckled. Georgia smiled back. “I bet the movie’s freaking good. And don’t worry about not seeing me off, I am not that important of a guest for him or you to do it.” She reassured.

Drake was taken aback with hos she responded about seeing her off. Most people will accept my offer, but she declined it politely. And what does she mean about her not being an important guest? Keeping his thoughts to himself, he smiled at her and walked back to his laptop—right on the couch across the couch where Ezekiel is sleeping. "Are you sure? I think it’s rude if we won’t do it.” He said, now standing by the couch.

Georgia nodded. “It’s not rude, Drake. It can only considered rude if you didn’t comply to what is required.” She smiled. Hearing that, Drake took a seat but didn’t broke the eye contact. It’s cool how she always end everything with words like that. “Well, if you say so, Miss.”

“Please. Just Georgia.” She laughed, then she jerked her thumb towards the door. “I’ll go now, Drake. Please tell Ezekiel-I mean, your boss, that I really appreciate his kindness and hospitality.” She bid, trying to sound as polite and as formal as she can. I better give a good, last impression s they will remember as someone good enough to be mentioned.

“If ever that we’ll meet again, I will treat you guys into something my budget can afford.” She humored, causing him to chuckle. “See you, Georgia.” Taking that response as a cue to leave, she smiled and waved goodbye before walking out—not forgetting to glance at the sleeping Ezekiel for the last time before leaving the room.

Once the door closed, Drake turned to look at Ezekiel. “You found an interesting woman, boss.” He whispered to himself. Witnessing how his boss showed unusual characteristics after meeting Georgia, Drake can only hope that the changes he is seeing will lead to good things. Please give this is a fortunate sign.

Shaking those thoughts off his mind, he was about to press play to continue the movie after popping two pieces of popcorn in his mouth when the doorbell suddenly rang. Surprised, he looked at the door and instinctively look at Ezekiel who woke up because of the noise.

“What the f*ck.” Taking his arm off his eyes, his gray orbs looked at the ceiling, unfazed by the light due to his inability to see. “Who is it, Jones?” when he asked that, Drake quickly ran to the door after lowering his bowl of popcorn and placed the laptop off his lap.

Through the screen that allows them to check the person without opening the door, he saw Georgia standing there with an awkward smile. Pressing the button to enable voice transmission, he spoke. “Did you forgot something, Georgia? You look like you ran back.” when he asked that, he heard ruffling behind him, causing him to turn around and saw Ezekiel now sitting up the couch.

After a few pants and huffs, she finally replied. “I forgot my pet, Finn. I’m sorry, but can you please give him to me?”

“Oh. Okay, hold on.” Saying that, he disabled the voice and turned to his boss. “Miss Georgia said that she wants-”

“Tell her that I will bring Finn to her later at 7 pm. She can decide which place.” Ezekiel quickly replied before Drake could even question him. If she thinks this will be the last time we’ll meet, then let me see how will she react if we’ll meet again for the third time. Unknowingly, a small smile graced his lips upon the thought of seeing her again.

Drake is not an expert, but that slight change in Ezekiel’s expression, and the decision of meeting her again on his own, are more than enough to shake him up again as the secretary of the so-called tyrant of the business world. “Go on, tell her, Jones.”

Snapped out of his thoughts, Drake cleared his throat and turned the voice on once again. “Hello, Georgia.” With that greeting, her expression lit up and a small gasp escaped her lips. “Sir is currently asleep. And I don’t know where your pet parrot is.” Saying that next, her expression dropped and it nearly made him feel guilty.

“However,” with just that single word, her mood raised to another positive level. “My boss is free later at 7 pm. He can personally give it to you so you can give me your desired meet up place and I will relay it to him the moment he wakes up.” After tweaking the message a little bit to make it believable, he observed how Georgia switched her frown into a smile of expectation.

“Well, as long as he can give my Finn back to me, then all’s well.” She chuckled. “He can give it to me to my clinic. Little Sunshine Veterinary Clinic. You know it, right?” she said with a smile even when only the door and the lens is in front of her.

Drake chuckled. “Of course. I will relay you message to him later, Georgia. Take care on your way home.” After bidding farewell, he turned the screen off after seeing her nod and leave with a small smile. Once it’s done, Drake heaved a sigh of relief before turning around to walk back to his beloved film.

However, his happiness ended on his fifth step. “How did you know which vet clinic is she working in?” hearing that serious tone, Drake looked at Ezekiel with furrowed brows. “We met when I was on my way to get breakfast for you and I last day, sir. I saw her with your shirt so I talked with her a bit and she mentioned her clinic so I can find her there.”

“You met with her?” Ezekiel asked. “Yes sir.” Drake replied, even when deep inside, he thinks that his boss just asked the obvious and he just practically repeated what he mentioned before.

“Why did she told you about her clinic?” he asked next. Why is he curious about it? While Drake is questioning his sudden interest, Ezekiel realized that he just made Drake saw a side he himself is unaware of, causing him to groan and just shuffle his hair in annoyance. “Forget it, just pretend I asked nothing.” He said, sounding a little too defensive.

“O…kay.” Knowing that it’s best to not press things further since Ezekiel is a ticking time bomb, Drake walked back to his seat and positioned his laptop back on his crossed legs and picked up his bowl once again. It’s going to be their problem, anyway. Shrugging off the urge to spectate, Drake continued to watch his favorite movie instead.