CEO'S SECRET CRUSH

Chapter 20 needing space

ONE WEEK LATER

MIA'S POV

After spending the week with my dad and Rosie. I finally turned my phone on before heading back to London. I decided I wasn't giving up the job I liked. I was going back, but I wasn't ready to face Daniel just yet so I'm going to tell him I need more time to think about what I want. I was still conflicted on what to do and still missing my mum loads. I don't need a complicated relationship just yet so focusing on work and myself is the way forward for now. I see I had servel missed calls and texts from Daniel, but I decided to ignore them. After say goodbye to Rosie and my dad I started my travel back to London with the radio blasting so I could sing along.

However by the time I'd arrived back to London I decided to just suck it up and go back to work tomorrow.

DANIELS POV

I've tried calling and messaging Mia everyday but her phone has been off and my messages haven't been returned. The week has dragged by and I just can't help but think about Mia and how I'm going to fix this mess. I hope Mia will come back to work tomorrow like she said because if she doesn't I'm going to drive to Bournemouth myself and beg her to come back. Even Leah and my mum haven't heard from Mia except for last Sunday when she messaged them. I pray a weeks space is all Mia needs and she doesn't decided to abandon London completely. It's now 7:30pm and I decided to try ringing Mia again

RING RING RING RING RIN

If your ringing to see if I'm willing to be at work tomorrow then I will be I heard Mia say then she hung up on me before I could say anything.

I was shocked I didn't expect Mia's phone to be on let alone for Mia to answer the phone. And then before I could say anything she had cut me off again.

I tried ringing again but she didn't answer. I figured she would be at work tomorrow I could pick her up in the morning and speak with her before work started.

MIA'S POV

First day back at work and I had a gut feeling Daniel would probably try to pick me up for work. So I had myself ready and left at 7:10am. I headed to a local cafe for breakfast before I went to work. I'm now walking into work and Misson completed on avoiding Daniel. He tried ringing me around the usual time he would pick me up so I knew he was at mine. I just ignored it.

As the lift door is shutting I see Daniel walking into the lobby. I'm not sure if he saw me or not but either way I'm going back to the advertising department this morning.

As I get out the lift I see Michelle.

"Morning Mia I'm glad to see you back how are you?" Michelle asks.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here last week the first birthday without my mum hit me hard. I needed some personal time, but I'm back and ready to work" I say.

"No, it's fine we still have 10 minutes how about we grab a coffee before we start?" Michelle asked.

"Yeah okay then" I say as we start walking for the staff room but as we walk into the staffroom I hear Daniel calling for me. "Mia"

I ignore him making out I didn't hear him and head for the kettle. "Do you take sugar Michelle?" I ask.

"Um, I think Mr wicks wants you" she says.

"Hmm maybe sugar?" I say avoiding what she said

"Yes 1 please" Michelle says looking confused.

As I start to get the cups Daniel walks in saying "Mia can we talk please?"

"I'm having coffee with Michelle before we start work so it will have to wait" I say.

"Oh it's fine" says Michelle.

"No, I said we could have coffee so we will" I say to Michelle.

"Sir?" questions Michelle to Daniel.

"It's fine Michelle" Daniel says.

"Mia how about lunch time?" Daniel asks

"I have plans" I say

"After work?" Daniel asks.

"I have a hair appointment" I say.

"Mia please" Daniel begs.

"Michelle here is your coffee" I say.

"Sir, would you like a coffee?" asks Michelle

"He can make his own if he wants one, come on Michelle I'd like to get updated with what I've missed if that's okay" I say walking out the office with my coffee.

"Sorry sir, but Mia has a point I should get her up to date with what's going on here" I hear Michelle say.

DANIELS POV

So Mia is avoiding me! I tried to pick her up for work and she wasn't there. I then rushed to work to catch her before work starts but she shut me right down. I see I missed her by minutes in the lobby. Looks like I will have to play her game I think as I get out the lift to my floor.

"Jenny have Mia Adams sent to my office, state its work related please. Have Michelle send her UP" I say before going to my office.

A hour later and I'm still waiting for Mia to show her face. I decide to go out to ask Jenny to send for her again but I see Mia getting out the lift as I exit my office.

"Jenny I'm here to see Mr Wicks" says Mia.

"Mia I'm right here you know?" I say.

"So I see" she says looking at me as if I've pissed her off.

"Well come on in" I say walking back to my office.

I go sit on the sofa and Mia walks in taking the chair opposite my desk but facing me.

"Mia please listen to me I never kissed Cindy" I say

"I knew it wasn't worked related shame on you" she says

"Mia please hear me out." I say.

"Daniel I heard your voice mails, I read your messages. I said I'd come back to work. I know what I saw, right now im trying to grieve over my mum and get my life back on track is hard enough without adding a complicated relationship into the mix where you go around having your exs tongue down your throat" Mia starts to say but I interupped her saying "I didn't do that! I swear I wouldn't do that to you".

"So her tongue wasn't down your throat?" Mia asks.

"Well yes, but it wasn't me it was Cindy" I say.

"And your arms where not around her body?" Mia says.

"Well yeah, only to stop her falling I swear she kissed me" I say.

"I need more time to think Daniel please give me some time and I will think about it." Mia says.

"Okay, I will give you time but please don't dismiss me completely I will do anything you want but give me enougher chance when your ready." I say.

"I promise I will give it thought but right now I need to focus on me a little more i think that's fair enough" says Mia.

"Okay, can we be friends at least while you have you have time to think?" I ask

"We can be friends, but I still need space" Mia says.

With that Mia stood up and said "I will be going back to work now. You should work as well"

When Mia left I had Jenny have dairy milk bar of chocolate, knowing it was Mia's favourite and some flowers saying "thanks for speaking with me" on the note delivered to Mia after lunch.

MIA'S POV

After I came back from lunch I was sitting at me desk when a delivery of flowers and some dairy milk chocolate arrived. The note said thanks for speaking with me. I knew who they were from Daniel. I was surpised he remembered my choice of chocolate.

Some of the co-worker wondered who sent the flowers, so I said a friend had sent them wishing me well my first day back. Then I continued with my work.

Over the next following days Daniel had coffee sent upon my arrival to work and after lunch from Costa. And on Wednesday he sent more chocolates. On Friday he sent dairy milk box tray of chocolates with one single red rose.

It's now Sunday and I'm at Sue's with Leah for a belated birthday lunch they both insisted I had.

"Mia I swear that Cindy is nothing to my son anymore" says sue.

"Yeah trust me, she isn't worth worrying about" says Leah.

"Okay, but I just need some time to focus on myself atm, you both know I was struggling before with my grief. I just need some time before I deal with anything else." I say.

"Okay, well take some time but you got to promise your still have lunch with me regularly" says sue.

"Yeah and Hang out with me as well" says Leah

"Okay I promise. Thanks for having me to lunch and thanks for the presents there really nice" I say.

Sue got me make up and bath hamper. Mia got me a handbag, purse and a lovely black coat.

"Im glad you liked your presents" says sue.

"Hi mum, I thought I'd swing by" I hear Daniel say.

I look at sue and Leah trying to figure out which one told Daniel I was here.

"Don't look at me! I'm just as surpised as you" says Sue.

"I'm in the lounge" she then shouts out to Daniel.

I look at Leah she shrugs her shoulders.

Daniel then walks in saying "mum what's for dinner today?" before seeing us all.

"Hey Leah, hey Mia" he says without taking his eyes off me the second he sees us all.

"Dinner your way to early for dinner we just finished lunch" I say.

"Yeah and if you want dinner you can cook it for me" says Sue.

"Okay, I will cook dinner is everyone having dinner?" asks Daniel while still looking at me.

"No, I will be going home soon" I say

"Please stay" says Sue.

"I can't, I have a video call with Rosie in 2 hours anyway" I say.

"You can video call here" says Leah.

"I thought we could be friends, while you have space?" says Daniel.

"Okay fine, but I seriously have to do the video call to Rosie though" I say.

"That's fine, you can do your video call with Rosie I won't mind dear" says Sue.

"Okay" I say smiling at sue. Yet I can't help feeling this has all been planned out.

"Right since your here make yourself useful and make us some more drinks" says Sue.

DANIELS POV

While I was making drinks I couldn't help but smile to myself. Mine and Leahs plan had worked. We would all have dinner together. Even if Mia doesn't want to speak to me it was still dinner in the same room. I'd barely had a hi in passing going to and from work. No messages not even after the sent gifts at work. Michelle said Mia had been recieving gifts, she had no idea they were from me. She said at first she seemed to not care about them but she did smile on the box of chocolates I sent Friday. So I'm praying Mia is getting over being angry with me. After I took the drinks in I asked mum What she wanted for dinner. She said she wanted curry as she likes my home made curry.

Dad and his friends went away for the Weekend camping at some cabin next to a lake for fishing, so he wouldn't be back until tomorrow. One less person to cook for I thought to myself.

I was making the sauce for the curry when Mia came into the kitchen.

"Is there anything I can get you?" I asked trying to make conversation.

"It's okay I remember where the glasses are, I just want a glass of water" Mia says.

"Okay then, how was your first week back at work?" I ask.

"Good, I didn't fall asleep at work as some strange person keeps sending me Costa coffees everyday, though with random choloclate gifts" Mia says.

"So you think I'm strange?" I ask.

"No, but you don't need to send me coffee and chocolates. People are starting to spread rumours that I have some besotted boyfriend." Mia says.

I laugh, "okay I will bare that in mind" I say.

Mia takes her glass of water and walks back out.

Well that seemed better the most Mia has talked to me all week without having be to forced to my office for a conversation I think to myself.

Not long after I heard Mia on the video call, she was laughing and cooing over baby Bella. It was good to hear Mia laughing again. I just wish it was me making Mia laugh.

After dinner which went well as Mia spoke about general things with me, my mum and Leah over dinner. Mia then said she had to go home.

I offered to give Mia a lift, but she said she decided to drive over today. I asked if I could have lunch with her one day during the week as friends. To my surprise she agreed to Thursday. Leah booked Mia in for Friday for lunch while my mum booked Mia in for Saturday not wanting to be left out.

I was happy that it was a small step in the right direction. I would go as slow as Mia wanted and do whatever it took to prove myself again to her.

MIA'S POV

Dinner went well, then Daniel asked for lunch one day next week. I decided we could have lunch as friends on Thursday. As much as I wanted to say everything was okay and go back to normal with Daniel, I knew I needed some more time first to just feel like me again. But I figured we could be friends in the meantime. Especially when the whole family looked out for me so much since my mum passed away, I couldn't just turn my back on any of them.

I was going to ring my dad when I got home but I decided it was probabky abit to late, so I decided I'd ring him the following evening. Instead I made sure my work clothes were ironed. Then I had a bath with some of the bath hamper stuff Sue brought me before I went to bed. I was actually really tired and feel asleep really quickly.