Lost in You (#Book 2)

Chapter 9

As I walk into the lobby of WE all eyes instantly turn to me. it’s true that I’m as discreet as an elephant in a china shop. “Hi Rach!” I heard Gina call me but I paid no attention to my friend as I head straight to the elevators, thinking hard about how to put things with Austin.

“Hey Rachel!”

“Oh sorry Gina, I was lost in thought…”

“Looks like you had a short night… So? Your message this morning was rater evasive…” she was looking for more gossip as I waited for the elevator.

“It’s a bit long to explain… I’ll tell you all about it later. First I have to put things straight with Austin because his way of dealing with our relationship does not suit me at all! I mean I’m not a child anymore.” I huffed. “He wanted me to stay at the luxury hotel and go to the spa all day long… Can you believe it?”

“Uh huh, that does sound really hard…” Gina smiles at me sarcastically. I realize that said like that, I just sound like a temperamental b***h. She got me there! I’m not going to put things the same way with Austin.

“I’m sorry, I’m just teasing you. You know Mr. William better than me, he likes to have everything under his control… Especially you.” Gina states.

Images of last night’s debauchery come back to me in flashes. Austin had me under his complete control. He won his bet hands down. But I must keep in mind his ploy to keep me locked up in that hotel suite. “I don’t want to live like that…”

“Maybe he just wants to protect you…” she starts to defend Austin.

“Oh no! Not you too Gina! I thought you’d understand.”

My friend suddenly looks sad. “May I remind you that not long ago someone tried to run you over… Not to mention the paparazzi those trail you all day.” I see in her eyes that those newspaper headlines saddened her too. I feel affected. I realize that everyone must have seen my face all over the city. How am I going to keep a low profile now?

And I understand those glances earlier better. Gina’s pretty eyes are staring at me anxiously. “You should calm down a bit before going to see Austin. It’s never good to talk when you’re angry…” I sigh in annoyance but Gina is right. I’ll be more convincing if I put my arguments forward calmly.

“You’re right, I’ll pop over to Matt’s office on my way up, just to chill a little, then I’ll talk to Austin, and put things straight once and for all. See you later, Gina.”

“Wait! Before you, I have to tell you that…” Elevator door closes before she finishes.

How does this man manage to put me in all these states? With him, desire consumes me in the morning, anger devours me at noon, and pleasure blazes in me all night long! Austin, being away from you is hell and loving you is torture… It’s official: I’m a real mess!

I reach Matt’s floor and look for him. He was sitting in his office immersed in his work. “Knock, knock, can I interrupt you?”

Matt turns around and seeing me, gives me a radiant smile that only he has the secret of. “Hey princess!... How are you coping up with everything that’s going on?”

“I’m a nervous wreck, Austin’s really got my back up.”

Matt’s face suddenly clouds over. A dark veil appears in his eyes. “Because of… But what are you doing here, anyway?”

“What am I doing here?.... I’ve come to work, Matt!”

“Yes. But Austin, your office… Well, I mean, your job…” Matt stammers. I’ve never seen him struggling this much with words. Goodness! My adorable friend looks so sad! I wonder what’s on his mind! I need explanations because right now I just don’t get it.

But before I can say anything his colleague with the mustache, who took my place calls him. The urgent files, my work with Matt, my old little office, I miss it all. It was good. I was neither happy nor unhappy before my relationship with Austin, but at least I could do what I wanted.

“Hey, I have to go, I think I’m in for it. Nick isn’t very nice at the moment; he’s been giving me a hard time since you left.”

“No Matt, it’s just that before I was the one doing all the work. But you didn’t notice…” I pout.

Matt bursts out laughing. He manages to make me smile, despite myself. “That’s true Rach, we were a great team, you did the working I kept you motivated!”

“You sat back and did nothing while I worked, yeah…”

“MATT!” we both jump as we heard Nick’s furious voice. Oops. He doesn’t look goos. Better stop laughing.

“Go quick, I wouldn’t like your death on my conscience.” I hurried him. Matt smiles at me.

“Would you like to say hi to Nick? He’s in a good mood today by the sounds’ of it…”

“Stop it! Go to your meeting. I have to go and see the big boss…” I pat him on his shoulder.

“Stay calm, okay, we’ll see each other when you come back down…” he barely finishes his sentence before he rushes off to join Nick in his office, his arms loaded with files. Don’t worry Matt I can’t be more ticked off than I already am. But what did he want to tell me about my office?

Once in elevator I put myself in commando-mode because I have to go face Austin William. I’m determined to give him a piece of my mind, not to just put up with his choices and to make him understand that he has to treat me as his equal. In short, have the discussion that we still haven’t had. But for that, I mustn’t fall into his arms when I get there.

And that’s easier said than done because I lose control every time he looks at me. He has to understand that he isn’t our relationship’s CEO too. He shouldn’t make all the decisions by himself. I tell myself that I have to look though. A real boxer, ready to enter the ring.

When the doors open, I head for Austin’s office, paying no attention to the secretary who’s looking at me wide-eyed. She should close her mouth; otherwise she’ll end up gobbling all the flies in the building. “Miss…” she called but I ignore her as I stomp to Austin’s office. Am I going to trample over our relationship a bit more? My heart sinks at the possibility.