SPEED DATING WITH A MAFIA KING

5. LATE NIGHT WALKS AND KISSES PART I

My parents wanted me to crawl up the professional ladder on my own, which was why I found myself in a tiny office corner space. My chair swung around, taking it all in. I had been given the position of being the manager of the online publication team, which took care of all the company’s social media accounts.

The real manager was on a month’s leave and I was covering for her, when she came back, my parents would see where to stash me if I did prove to be useful. I was excited no matter what position I was in, I just wanted to work.

One of the women who worked on the team told me the important factors and we were soon heading to a meeting where they all briefed me how they worked and how they approached things. I did not want to step on anyone’s toes, seeing that they just took me as the boss’s daughter who was probably a spoiled brat with a golden spoon up her ass.

To be honest, I was all those things and there was no going around that. There wasn’t much work to do, I just reviewed all the publications that had been previously made, going through them all night, leaving me with no work at all for the rest of the week.

It was so boring, taking Ivan’s work load and doing it for him. I needed something that would challenge me. I got addicted to working unhealthy hours to the point where I don’t even eat, just buried in too much work. I missed being so stressed from having such large piles of files, me munching on all Ivan’s files and asking for more, leaving him wide eyed in shock yet he never complained.

I was also trying to keep my head away from a certain man. We had not spoke since Sunday morning. I don’t know how many times I had thought of our date night and I wished we could go back. I still felt so embarrassed every time I thought back at it, my face turning red. There were so many things I wanted to do differently and not embarrass myself.

From the high he had came with, it was just so deflating as the days moved along with no contact or whatsoever. I missed him so much, my hands running through his watch. I was sure he was busy, just wishing I was working with him so I could at least see him every day. Those eyes, that face and that body.

What if we dated and he actually did not like me at the end of it all?

Back then, he had no way out, or so I thought and now, he had a choice.

I was not really one of the most lovable people actually. I was starting to see the ugly side of me. Spoiled, a brat, naive and the list goes on. A person needs to know their flaws so they could work on them but I did not think I could really work on all that, did not even know where I would start doing that.

My head shook, pulling more files over and burying my face deeper. A schedule was made for me again; working two days and nights without sleep, sleeping on Wednesdays then working Thursday and Friday night to rest Saturday and Sunday.

The team all came by, saying their goodbyes and wishing me a great weekend. I waved back, wishing them a good weekend too. They were really nice people when looking past all the ass kissing and back stabbing which had began happening. They saw me being there as an opportunity to get on my good side so I could put a good word to the boss or something.

I chuckled, not judging because I maybe would do the same thing if I was in their position.

More work was done, my neck a bit stiff. My heels were kicked off, getting ready to just dig in all night long. I would order some food around an hour or so later.

My airpods were slipped on, unbuttoning my shirt at the neck and chest area, taking a deep breath to get into it. I was moving my head, humming, reading files and highlighting paragraphs now and again. I was in the vibe and I was happy in my vibe.

I sang out loud, totally butchering it but I was alone, so I did not care, taking high notes. I closed my eyes, my hand in the air as I hit a high note so terribly with my eyes opening only for me to jump back, eyes wide, a squeal from my lips.

My heart drummed so hard, the pen having turned to be used as I weapon.

“Hell!” I shot out, the pen dropping. I ripped out the airpods quickly, eyes even wider with my hand over my chest.

I could not help the giggle, shaking my head, with the embarrassment creeping up, leaving me burning.

“ Oohh my God, you scared me.” I fumbled out, out of breath. My mind went back to what I had been doing and I went even redder if that was possible, wishing the ground could open up and swallow me.

Then it settled on me that Azrail was actually in my office, my heart drumming harder.

“ Sorry.” He said back, a smirk on his face.

All aches I had been having all week just melted away instantly, his voice like an angel waking me up from a sweet slumber. My eyes took him in. He leaned on the door frame, flowers in hand, just having me go haywire. He seriously had to give a warning before he came to by so I could prepare my whole body because the effect he had on me was dangerous.

He was actually there!

Sh*t!

My hands fell on the desk. I could not comprehend it actually, taking him up again, as if I had not seen him in years.

He looked even more dashing, wearing a black three piece suit, looking so sharp as if he had just put it on, no wrinkles on it, nothing.

I found myself pushing my chair, getting up and moving around my small desk.

It felt a bit awkward, me blushing and all.

I wanted to go to him so bad, finding myself just leaning at the front of my desk, staring at him. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and hold him close. My head bent down, the floors suddenly of more interest, my heart crushing like heavy waves in my chest, my palms sweating.

The silence was too much, my mind working hard to come up with something to say.

I miss you.

Uhm, definitely not that.

“ How are you?” I asked out of the blue, my head tipping up.

He pushed up from the door frame and if I was not caged by the desk behind me, I would have taken a step back from him.

How long had he been standing there? And where was he coming to? I wished I could just scramble away, suddenly flustered by him.

Get it together!

I screamed in my head, tipping my head up and staring at him. I tried to keep my posture and my face straight.

He moved so close until he was just a few feet from me. He looked so dangerous, the dark aura around him having me wet my underwear. Imagine him being mine, my man, wow. It would be a movie.

He had once been mine but I could not keep him, yet I had tried everything. Lord knows I tried everything to make our marriage work, but it had not meant to be. It had been as if I had been working with a wall.

His cologne hit me and my God. My eyes closed on their own, him so close his suit jacket would soon brush on my skin and why wasn’t he saying anything at all? The mystery made it worse, the silence and the game he was playing made it all worse.

The flowers were placed right on my desk, him leaning in as he did that, his chest just before me and all I wanted was to bury my face in it.

He then stepped back, settling before me. I could feel his eyes at the top of my head, me biting my lower lip before I tipped my head up. My eyes took his chest up, his exposed skin and his neck to his chin.

“ Good.” He finally answered with me swallowing and nodding my head.

“ You?” He asked after with me nodding my head as I stared up at him.

“ Good.” I said back like a robot with him nodding his head.

“ Would you care for dinner?” He asked with me smiling.

“ I would, thank you, please don’t close the whole street this time.” I said, giggling a bit.

“ Not that I don’t appreciate it, I really do, it was the best night ever.” I said to him with him nodding his head.

It took everything in me not to run my hands around his waist, bringing him closer. All I could think about was his face lowering, his lips on mine. I had been cheated out of our kiss that night, me and my stupid fainting.

My lips buzzed, missing what they could not have.

“ Okay, let us go.” He said back as I nod my head.

He took a step back just like that, turning around. I walked around the table, bending over to pull my heels. I slipped them on. I wore a long, tight work skirt that was just to mid-calf, a slit up to mid-thigh. A white shirt was tucked in but I had pulled it over the hours and undone the buttons so it was a bit messy. I wore a blond weave. It was glued and tied back but a few strands had escaped.

I closed the files, shutting down my laptop and packing everything away into my bag. I would work at home through the weekend.

Everything was in hand, moving my eyes through the desk to see if I had left anything and I was clear.

I pushed my chair in, turning to walk around it. I picked the flowers from the desk, the bouquet heavy and I could not help but dig my nose in, just breath taking.

My door was pulled, me closing it. I turned, him waiting for me and my eyes sat on his hand which was stretched for me. I smiled, moving my work bag to him which he took. We walked away, my eyes on his arm. I wanted to just ring my arm around his but he hated being touched, turning to stare away with us making our way out.

He had not needed to come up to me but he had and I loved that.

“ How was your week?” I asked as we stepped into the private elevator.

“ Good.” He said back with me nodding my head.

“ How is the job?” He asked with me smiling.

“ It is okay. I have mostly been doing Ivan’s work because there isn't much to do in my position. I love a challenge and hard work.” I said back with him nodding his head.

“ How has work been on your side? I am sure you have a lot of it since everything that happened.” I said, not even wanting to go back to those dark days.

“ It is okay.” He said back with me nodding my head.

Okay.

What do I say from then/

The energy was so different from the previous weekend, the awkward silence just settling back in. I kept on searching for things we could talk about in my head but everything felt stupid. My hands itched, tightening my hold on the flowers because I really wanted this to work.

We walked to the car, smiling as I saw Samuel. We greeted each other, me sliding in the car with the car door soon closed.

The car was moving soon.

“ Thank you for the flowers.” I said with Azrail turning to stare at me and nodding his head to look away. He pulled his phone out only to slip it back in his pocket, looking out of the window.

That is the thing about someone that says they will change. It just sticks for a week or two then slowly they resort back to their old ways. Which was why, if you were to be with someone, make sure you can live with his flaws. An abuser will probably not change, a cheater will probably not change.

Azrail was none of those of course. He just lived all his life alone, he did not know how to open up.

I smiled, him taking his phone out again. I was sure it was killing him that he was not typing at that point or working on something.

The flowers were placed down since they were so heavy. My body shifted, moving closer to him as hard as my heart was beating. His head turned to me with me smiling at him. I just lessened the gap between us but still kept some space.

“ How is project Island going?” I asked because I would never stop trying with him.

“ Still negotiating on the island.” He said with me frowning.

“ Still?” I asked with him nodding his head.

“ They keep fighting over it, taking the negotiations back and forth.” He said with me shaking my head.

“ I hope you get it.” I said as he nod his head.

“ With time.” He commented with me smiling and nodding my head.

“ Do you have anything to do tomorrow?” I asked.

“ I had work.” He said with me smiling and biting my lower lip. I love how he put that on past tense.

“ Did you have anything in mind?” He asked with me swallowing, thinking over it. I did not want to take him away from his work, but still, the distance was not doing us any good. The week had been long enough. If he was going to disappear again, we could forget about making this work.

“ Not really.” I shuffled out.

“ But if you are not busy, we could do something.” I said, my eyes picking up from my hands to his face, taking him in as he stared blankly at me. I could not read him to save my life.

“ I will clear my schedule.” He declared just like that and the emotions that ran through my body were just too much. I had to find a new way to breathe before I died.

“ Thank you.” I said back as he nodded his head.

The car came to a halt with us stepping out before a five star restaurant. He had reserved a floor for us, away from everyone and from all the noise.

The food was good and I did not faint, thank heavens.

Yet, even with little to no conversation at all, I was happy. We sat opposite to each other, eating with my eyes on him. I could not help but take my eyes off him, just staring with him staring back at me. He was frowning at first but as the minutes ticked away, he relaxed.

We did not even need to talk, just talking with our eyes as we enjoyed the food. Anyone that would have come would have frowned and rated us the worst and boring couple ever but I was enjoying myself.

I just relaxed, all my worries chucked away and let my heart lead me away. I was jumping all in, heart on my sleeves. It was the only way to make this all work.

The food was finished early and when he asked if I wanted dessert I shook my head. I had other plans in mind.

“ You want us to leave?” He asked with me nodding my head.

“ Yes.” I said back, and I could see that he was hesitate but none the less pushed his chair back.

I did the same,us standing up.

I turned, waiting for him as he walked around the table with his hand falling on my back, guiding me. I felt it burn through the shirt. I felt it warm against my skin as if the shirt wasn’t there. I felt it ignite so many reactions through my body and even that was just special on its own for me.

“ Have you ever walked through these streets at night?” I asked him.

“ No.” He answered.

“ Me too.” I said back.

“ Can we?” I asked as we got to the door of the restaurant which was getting more packed since it was still early. Samuel was waiting with the door open, the car running.

“ Where to?” Azrail asked.

“ I don’t know.” I answered, turning around and walking. He stood there for a second, me turning to stare at him only to giggle.

“ Come.” I called, my hand calling him as I turned and continued walking.

I heard his foot steps after me, him falling besides me.

“ We just walk around aimlessly?” He asked, sure he was not liking it at all. The control slipping from his fingers.

“ Are you afraid of something Mr Duran?” I asked him having him chuckle.

“ No.” He scoffed off.

“ Okay then.” I said out, continuing with the walk. It was a beautiful night to walk the streets. I never would do that with anyone else by the way. I was too much of a chicken but since he was there, me and him could take down any stupid ass that would try to mug us.