“Good morning, Mel. Missed me?” Darren entered my office without knocking.
“What are you doing here, Darren?” I huffed in annoyance. He was the last person I wanted to deal with.
“We’re working together for a while, you know, right? You better get used to it, babe,” he winked at me, leaning against my desk.
“You know I’m not working on the project till Mr. Hawke designs the first draft of buildings. So you’d better go and work with him till then,” I said sternly, narrowing my eyes at him.
“Why are you so sour towards me?” he asked, pushing my hair off of my forehead.
Cringing back from his touch, I laughed sourly, “Because you’re a dick. Because you made a fool of me by lying to me.”
“You can’t get over it, can you? It was just a mistake. I can be with you again if that’s what you want,” he murmured, like he was doing something noble for my happiness.
“What? Who said I want to be with you again? I cannot be grateful enough that I got rid of you!” I laughed at the ludicrous idea.
“Oh, come on now, Mel. I knew how much you loved me,” he insisted.
“I have never loved you,” I said with certainty, “I can see it now that I’ve learned what a real love is,” I added, murmuring. I didn’t plan on saying that, but it got out of my mouth before I could stop.
“Real love? Is it Kellan?” he laughed. When he finally caught his breath he added, “You’re delusional. That man only wants to fuck you, nothing more.”
I didn’t say anything back because no matter how much I wanted to argue with him I knew he had a point, but this didn’t change my feelings for Kellan.
“That is none of your business. Just know this, I don’t even think about you let alone suffer over you. I got over you the day I learned you were fucking half of the town behind my back. We’ll work together so please don’t make it torture for me,” I told him, walking toward the door to make him leave my office.
Opening the door I waited him to get the message. He walked toward me, shaking his head with that same cocky grin on his face. I kept my ground, didn’t pull away my eyes from him.
“If it’s not work related do not bother me,” I said to him sternly just before closing the door behind him.
I was about to sigh in relief when I heard the voices outside my office.
“I thought I made myself pretty clear, but I see you don’t get it. I’ll repeat myself once more, Mr. Miller,” Kellan said. They were glaring each other, standing toe to toe. Kellan didn’t really shout, but his voice was threatening. I was just watching them from the other side of the glass between us. He pointed his finger at Darren and warned him, “Stay. Away. From. Melody. Is it clear now?”
“You both are so funny,” Darren laughed at Kellan. He didn’t seem scared as he turned around to go toward his office, shaking his head he kept laughing.
When Darren got inside his office, I noticed I was face to face with Kellan, both of us were at opposite sides of the glass. His face was emotionless as always, but his eyes were another story. His eyes hid storms in their depths, pulling me deeper into the hurricane.
He was dangerous for me, for my heart. I experienced this lots of times. Taking a deep breath I turned my head, sat back behind desk. But he didn’t let me go that easily.
He came into my office, locking the door behind him.
“Melody, we need to talk,” he rasped. I could see the shadows under his eyes, but I wasn’t that naïve to think he couldn’t sleep because of me, because he regretted all the mistakes he made. Instead I forced myself to think that he must have fucked that girl, or another one all night long.
It hurt like a motherfucker, but pain was good. Pain was the only thing that stopped me from doing stupid things like jumping back into his arms.
“Is it about work, Mr. Hawke?” My voice was icy, chilled to the bone.
“No. It is about the other day. You need to listen to me.”
I was almost sure that I heard regret in his voice, but I ignored it. Standing up, I hoped I looked confident.
“I don’t want to talk about anything but business, Mr. Hawke. I’m sure you’ll respect my decision as your employee, right?” I said, narrowing my eyes, hoping to be seen as daring as I could.
“Melody-”
“Mr. Hawke!” I interrupted him, “I don’t want to hear what you have to say about that day… and more, I do not care! Now, if you’ll excuse me I have work to do.”
He took a step closer to my desk, putting his palms on the wooden surface he leaned toward me. His breath caressed my face, his eyes roamed over my lips, my cheekbones, my eyes, but I kept my ground.