Hold Onto Me

Three

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                                                        Copyright © 2021 Cassey9

Rain

As usual Carl waits outside the house clad in his black sleek suit. The tie and shoes marching his outfit are a stark contrast to his snow white dress shirt. I stop his advancement pushing the huge revolving door by myself. Carl instead stands at the end of the stairs patiently waiting and smiling as I make my way to him. His exposed pearly white teeth raising my dampened spirits.

For a man who rose up at the crack of dawn his positive air made most of my mornings. His cheerfulness infectious. Carl was also efficient always on time and ever courteous.

“Good morning Rain,” he greets as I descend the last of the steps, “I take you had a pleasant night.”

“Good morning Carl. I did thank you,” I murmur moving to peck his cheek in greeting. Our connection had evolved since my return home. Over the years the formalities between us seizing owing to the countless times Carl drives me to and from work. Carl squeezes my shoulder in affection and presses a chaste kiss on my forehead. He was like a father to me and at times my confidant.

With Sophia backing every decision from William it’d become difficult to talk to either of them, they’d become so alike like two peas in pod. Hence Carl coming in to help with my dilemmas. We walk to the car awaiting us in the entrée, “You’re bit early this morning,” he comments reaching for my hand bag and leather document carrier. Carl opens the back seat and sets them inside, “A lot of work waiting for you at the office?”

I hesitate at his question halting my entry into the car, “Yeah. Something like that Carl,” I lie giving him a weak smile. Nothing awaited me back at the office having cleared all my reports for the week. Burning the midnight oil did really serve its purpose I always went through my work load faster, leaving my weekends free from stress of overdue tasks.

“Should we wait for your brother? He’s informed me that he’ll be down in a while,” he ask looking back at the front door.

“No. Let’s just go Carl. You can come back for him afterward if…if you don’t mind,” I mutter stepping into the car. The door closes softly behind me and my gaze follows Carl as he rounds the car. The idea of carpooling with William sounding so foreign.

A deep gap existed between William and me mounting up as time passed by. We’d drifted apart, our relationship stretching out like a thin rubber band threatening to break at any slight strain. The conversations had dwindled too and our viewpoints in life complete opposites. If we did go to work together our exchange would be minimum to none.

Before the accident, I knew it’d be hard to convince William of Karey’s and I’s relationship. He was a tough nut to crack after all. Yet I never anticipated he’d use it against me. He hated Karey with a passion, the reason for such strong emotions unknown to me.

The driver’s door open and I jolt up in surprise. Carl looks at me before silently settling in his seat and starting the car, “Are you ready?”

“Yes Carl,” I mutter strapping the seat belt across my torso.

The car slowly pulls out of the canopy and down the tarmacked driveway and I watch the front of the house grow smaller and smaller in our departure. Carl smoothly glides out of the gate and I instantly feel my body relax. All the tension evaporating magically the further we drive off.

I slide back on the seat reaching out for the office issued tablet in my bag. It offers a much needed distraction as I scroll through the morning news feed perusing the headlines for something interesting to read.

The various e-papers offer little entertainment with their splash headlines almost identical.  The outlets were covering the exact breaking story. An oil spill had occurred upstate killing countless marine life and this atrocity caused an uproar from various organizations. The papers describing the scenarios in the coastline dark, slimy and devastating. The consequences of the spill quite adverse to ocean life.

My hand grazes one of the pristine beach photo before the oil spill and a memory of Killan pops in my head. His excitement of our trip to the ocean a delightful one. He’d really wanted to go. I hope Karey and Lawrence had finally granted his wish for a beach vacation. The sigh I let out sounds loud in my ear and I suddenly feel self-conscious of my surrounding.

“Rain,” Carl calls and I look up to lock gazes with him on the rear view mirror, “You should really consider working things out with William. He only wants…”

“We are fine Carl,” I cut his words short.

“Fine. If you say so…Just so you know he misses you Rain.”

“We live in the same house Carl. We work together. We practically see each other every day. What’s there to miss?”

“He misses his little sister,” he states focusing back on the road. His statement living me tongue-tied and short off word, “Think about it Rain. Please,” he adds when he notices my silence.

The rest of the drive is in quiet. Carl never utters another word leaving me to drown in a pool of my thoughts. His words carry weight, one I have been adamant to see and accept. We pull up at the offices street and Carl hurries out of the car to help me out.

“Have a good day,” he smiles handing my belonging. His shoulder squeeze and cheeky smile accompanying his words.

“You too Carl. Thank you for the ride,”

“My pleasure…wait,” he calls holding me back by my hand, “Flo packed this for you. You rarely eat at the house. She wanted you to have this. She specially made it for you.”

Carl opens the passenger side door taking out a black and white stripped baloray lunch bag. I take it and smile at his gesture, “Thank you. And please tell Flo I appreciated her gesture.”

“I will. Now go conquer the world my girl!”

“Mm I will Carl.”

This time I stop and wait for him to enter the car. He hesitates and waves at me again before getting in the car and I remain transfixed to the spot until the car disappears down the block. Carl sure did act like a father dropping his kid off to school for the first time.

A sudden shift of air behind me has me turning as fast as lightning only to relax at his presence. “You look like s**t,” Warren smirks chuckling at my state. My hand goes to rub my face but hesitate avoiding to mess my make-up. He in turn laughs at my fix and reaches out to grab one of my bags, “For real though, you look sidesplitting.”  

“Thanks for that candid observation that I surely didn’t ask for,” I bite back sending him a grin of my own, “And I look fine. Unlike some people who look like they’ve crawled out of some hole. Anything you want to add?”

“No. Just that,” he states turning to head into the building. Other colleagues mill about arriving for their start of the day like us. I flash the power button on the tablet to check the time and it reads 6:48 am.  Way earlier than my usual 7 am clock in time.

Warren swipes his card through the security system and I follow right behind him checking in too, “I was just being honest,” he states turning to offer me his greatest smile.

I place my own bag on the trace machine and watch it disappear as it goes forward. It was unnecessary for me to go through security checks being part owner and all. Though the procedures never bothered me, there were more like mental preparation for my day ahead. Once I stepped through the double doors I’d only step out hours later.

I bump into Warren only to realize he’s been grounded at one spot, his eyes glued to the security guard at the end of the machine. He’s completely mesmerized and taken by the woman, “Why don’t you apply that principle to yourself,” I state in a low voice pushing him forward.

“Shut up! I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he whispers harshly hesitating with every step forward. I step past him noticing the blush covering his face as clear as day.

“Good morning Maya,” I greet picking up my stuff.

“Good morning Ms. Stourton,” Maya replies her gaze still locked on Warren, “Good morning Mr. Tucker…”

“Um…Warren. Just Warren,” he stutters finally making an effort to grab his own things, “Good morning to you too,” he adds lingering at the end.

Maya smiles back at Warren whilst attempting to tuck the absent hair behind her ear, “Have a great day,” she barely whispers turning to attend to next person in line.

A cough sounds behind the two of us but Warren still hesitates, “Come on Romeo,” I mutter pulling him along with me. This was one of the major reason I enjoyed going through security. Watching Warren timid and red faced before Maya was a sight to behold.

“Ask her out,” I state as we move away from the entrance.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Warren mutters hurrying on. I laugh, my voice louder drawing attention and derisive looks to the both of us.

“Really now? Every single day,” I chuckle slapping his back, “You make a fool of yourself every damn day. She’s clearly interested in. Utterly fascinated by you Warren. Just ask…”

“Just shut up about it,” he snap back playfully clearly embarrassed by his mishap.

I don’t take his word to offense and I only laugh. Out of the over 200 people working in Stourton Inc. Warren had broken through my walls seeing past my titles and genuinely reaching out to me as a friend, “From one friend to another. Ask her, you have nothing to lose.”

“She’ll say no. She’s so pretty and I’m…I’m boring and…”

“I highly doubt that Warren. Your advances are reciprocated,” I mutter confidently, “Try it…I can be your wing woman. I’ll help…”

“Rain!”

“Come on! Let’s go back!”

“No. Let’s just head up. We still have work…” he states heading for the elevator, “Mm we have drinks tonight. Care to join?”

“No. I’m a little busy,” I lie for the second time, “Maybe some other time?”

“Sure. You always say that.”

“I do not!”

“Yes you do!” he states drawing me in to the box as it opens up, “Or do you have other special plans?”

“No. Office plans. Working and then more work really…”

“Sure…” he drags out as the box starts filling up, “I know you’re hiding something…or someone. I can’t wait to finally know them…”