No Escape

Chapter 7: Christmas Party Part 2: The Unthinkable

Meanwhile, when Laura went home to prepare for the Christmas party, she saw a note with her present from Adrian and the team, a note that said, “since you couldn’t get to the store to buy it, it came to you. Merry Christmas Laura” the note said and signed by Adrian.

When Laura saw this, she felt like a jerk. “I am so stupid…” she thought to herself, this did bring a smile to her face. “he is… kind of sweet…” she thought to herself.

Laura sighed as she drank some water, “Hmmm… I better get ready for the party then, shall we?” she thought to herself.

The night had finally arrived, everyone let their hair down, dressed to kill and were ready to party the night away for the night where the whole company of LMN gathered together once a year to celebrate the end of a successful year. This year, Laura was nominated by the board to be the hostess of the evening of the party and be the one to present the awards for that evening.

With her trusty PA by her side, Jennifer, she was prepared to present the awards for outstanding work performance, goals achieved, and targets reached.

Laura’s Boss, Mr. Saborow, opened the night with the mic on the dance floor, “Good evening everyone, it has been a very busy and another successful year at LMN, we could not have achieved this year without your efforts and contribution towards the company. On behalf of myself and my wife, we want to say thank you to those who work for us, especially their families and loved ones who are also attending tonight’s Christmas party, who support our workers at home, as this improves their moral when you have a supporting family, so thank you” the boss said as everyone applauded his welcome speech.

“I now invite, Laura Hilton, the head national HR manager for LMN to come up and give the announcements for tonight and hand out the awards.” Mr. Sabarow announced and gave the mic to Laura to continue.

When Laura walked to the podium, she looked for her team, but they were nowhere to be in sight. Laura began to worry a little because her team had not arrived.

She looked down at the awards and their names were listed on the list to receive awards, so she started with those who were present to receive their rewards and left her team until last, just until they arrived, she thought to herself.

“Good evening everyone, and thank you again for coming tonight, to celebrate the achievements of the year that has passed, and look forward to achieving more results in the new year to come, but for tonight, we acknowledge the contributions to those who have really worked hard, and we all have, to make LMN successful the way it has been, so without further due, we will announce the winners of the awards for tonight, lets begin…” she said formally, and starting in alphabetical order, she announced the winners of the awards that evening, starting with the teams who did not work in Laura’s team, and just before she announced her team, all three of them walked in, Tom, Ashleigh and Adrian.

When Adrian saw Laura all dressed up, he was speechless, as he she really looked beautiful tonight, he thought. “Adrian, you alright?” Tom asked, as he was speechless and stood still for a moment. Adrian swallowed a breath for a moment, “Yeah, I am fine” he smiled at Tom. Ashleigh saw Adrian’s reaction and never talked to him for the whole night.

Laura saw her team and smiled at them, “and finally, we saved the best till last! Haha only joking, please welcome my team, Tom, Ashleigh, Adrian and Jennifer” she smiled as the whole place applauded Laura’s team to receive awards.

The four of her team members approached the podium and accepted their awards and some spending money over the Christmas break for their outstanding efforts over the year they worked.

“Thank you, boss” they told her softly and kindly. When Laura presented Adrian’s award, it was the honour’s award for rookie of the year and outstanding performance for LMN. “Congratulations, Adrian” Laura smiled professionally at him handing him his awards and taking photos with the whole team. Adrian swallowed a breath, “thank you…” he said softly.

The formalities were over and the party continued into the night with the Christmas celebrations, with eating, drinking and partying into the night, as most of the LMN staff brought their partners to celebrate, all paid by the company.

After the formalities and everyone were seated, eating and drinking and dancing on the dancefloor of the high rise tower party, Laura decided to walk out on to the balcony for some fresh air, as she loved the view from the high rise tower of the building. The balcony had safety rails to protect people from trying to jump over it.

Laura takes a deep breath and breaths in the cool night breeze, just to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Christmas party. While she is on the balcony, she received a call from her mother, “Baby, are you ok?” her mother asked her.

“Mother, hey, how are you?” she asked her kindly, walking away from the balcony to take a seat just over-looking the city view in front of the balcony, “I am ok sweetheart, sorry I forgot you are at the party” her mother said kindly. “No, no, its alright, I will come up and see you in the next day or so, now we are on holidays at work, I will be able to come and see you.” Laura said kindly to her mother and they both hung up the phone. When Adrian happened to walk out and overheard the conversation, perhaps she had a boyfriend, is what he thought.

“Long night?” Adrian asked her. Laura turned around and saw Adrian, “Adrian, no, not at all, please take a seat” she smiled at him and moved to make room for him to take a seat next to her.

“Thank you.” He said kindly.

“You did well with the presentation awards” Adrian said kindly to compliment her presentation skills.

“Thank you. You did well also, congratulations again on your awards…” she smiled at him, then looked off into the distance.

There is a moment of silence for a moment between them as they both stare off into the distance of the night-time view of the city.

Adrian glanced at Laura as he was about to tell her something when Laura spoke and said, “Honestly, Adrian, if I can be honest with you, I thought you would not have lasted four months here… but I was wrong… you did really well…” she said professionally.

Adrian looked at her for a moment, “Was that… a compliment from you just now….can you say that again, I never heard it the first time” he joked with her in sarcasm.

“No, I said it once and that was enough” she smirked looking down, as she did not want his head to get too big with pride, then she took a deep breath and looked off into the distance, looking at the night lights of the city sky lines.

“Thank you… Laura…” Adrian said softly. “Don’t mention it” She smiled at him.

“It really is beautiful, isn’t it?” Laura said to Adrian, as they sat together looking at the city view together.

“Yeah, it is” Adrian said as he glanced at Laura for a moment, as he could not take his eyes off her, as he swallowed a breath. “Not as beautiful as you….” Adrian thought to himself, but he could not bring himself to say it.

Laura turned to face him for a moment, shaking her head in confusion, “Is… something wrong, Adrian?” Laura asked him confused. “No… not at all… it is just that… you look beautiful….” Adrian said to her softly.

Laura blushed for a moment as she looked down, “Oh… thank you…” she laughed for a moment, “Where’s Ashleigh?” Laura asked him as she looked over her shoulder to look inside for her to change topic.

Adrian looked off into the distance with poker face expression when he said, “We broke up…” he said.

“What….?” Laura asked in shock. “you guys… seemed close…?” Laura questioned. “I broke up with her…” he said simply.

“Why… sorry that is too personal, never mind…. Sorry to hear that…” she said apologetically.

Adrian glanced at her for a moment,

“Come on, no time to be down, come and celebrate your awards at least, eat and drink, enjoy yourself tonight, everything is on the company, so drink responsibility and enjoy the food tonight…” she said to him patting him on the back, which was a sign of trust and friendship.

“Tom!” Laura called out to him, as Adrian turned to look at Tom for a moment, “Yes boss?” Tom asked. “Look after Adrian tonight….” Laura said as she winked at Tom and got up to leave the two of them to go back inside.

“Sure thing, boss” Tom said as Adrian stood up and both Tom and Adrian began to talk man talk as they watched Laura walk back inside.

“Thank you, Tom, enjoy tonight boys, you deserve it” she said to them as she walked back inside the Christmas party.

Adrian kept his gaze upon her as she went back inside. Tom caught on.

“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” Tom said bluntly as they were standing there talking together at the balcony, just the two of them with no one around.

Adrian glanced at him for a moment, “of course not… what are you talking about… …” Adrian shrugged off as he drank his drink with Tom, whilst looking down closing his eyes for a moment in a cool calm collective manner.

“Didn’t look like that tonight my man, I saw the way you were looking at her… why don’t you tell her how you feel?” Tom said to him.

Adrian thought of what Tom said, then looked at Tom and smiled at him, “come on, lets go party. Won’t Jennifer be upset with you for drinking too much?” Adrian asked as they walked back inside. “Of course not… she may be my woman…  but she’s not the boss of me!” he said, being slightly tipsy as he winked at him. Adrian chuckled at him as they walked back inside.

When they went to the bar of the party, they ordered drinks. When Jennifer saw Tom drink too much, she walked towards him, “I thought I told you not to drink too much tonight!” she grunted at him, almost in an annoyed tone of voice. “I am only having a few drinks babe… besides… I have to look after this one here… he broke up with Ashleigh…” Tom whispered to Jennifer. “Oh… I see… well don’t drink too much!” she said and walked off.

“See, I told you….” Tom said in a cheeky manner. Adrian just laughed at him as the boys laughed together, and they were shortly joined by other company businessmen in the LMN company.

The evening continued until about 12am, and Laura dismissed everyone so that they could return home and called taxis for anyone who ever needed a lift home if they drank too much.

When everyone left, it was just Laura and her boss, as her boss told Laura to finish and go home, and the boss would finish the evening with the venue. “Ok… good night boss and thank you…” she said hugging him and he gave her, her Christmas present, “thank you…” she smiled and hugged her boss and his wife.

“Goodnight…” she said and she left the venue, as she saw that her team had left and gone home for the evening.

It was now about 12:30am at night, being a Friday night, Saturday morning, “I should catch a taxi home myself…” she thought.

As she took the elevator down from the venue and walked to the street to look for a taxi, all the taxis were taken, “I will just wait for one…” she said under her breath.

When she tried to take one taxi, it was full, when suddenly, a black limo pulls up, “Laura, is that you?” he asked. Laura looked inside, and it was Trevor. “Trevor?! Merry Christmas to you!” she said cheerfully.

“Can’t get a cab?” he asked her. “No, they are all taken” she said. “Hop in, I will give you a ride” he said opening the door for her.

“Are you sure?” she asked with doubt. “Of course, jump in” he said as he made room for her to get in. As she get got into the limo, Adrian happen to be nearby, as he watched her get into the limo.

“Who is she getting in the limo with?” he said to himself, “Shall we follow her sir?” said his driver, as he was in a car watching her from a distance. “Follow them…” he said as he leered at the limo in front.

“Sir, if I may say so myself, that may be the young lady’s lover, sir…” he said professionally and formally. “Just follow them…” he said to his driver Frank. “Yes, sir.” He said and followed the limo, being his family’s personal driver, whom had served his family for over thirty years, so he was more like family than staff of the family business fortune.

“Thank you for giving me a lift home, Trevor” Laura said kindly. “David, please take us here…” Trevor instructed his driver, then glanced at Laura, “my pleasure” he smiled kindly at her.

“Did you just finish from the LMN Christmas party?” Trevor asked her. “Yeah, just finished, I had to make sure everyone went home before I finished. My boss stayed back to finish up formalities, so I just finished now. How about you, Trevor, did you finish up with your company until the new year break?” Laura asked him as she put on a coat, as it was a cold night.

“Actually tonight, I finished a formal meeting with the board and tomorrow night we have our formal Christmas party. Would you like to accompany me tomorrow night?” he asked her.

“I would like to, but it would look bad for my company image, going to a Christmas party with the competition.” Laura smirked.

“Loyal as ever” he said to her.

Laura smiled at him softly. “Wine?” he asked as he wanted to pour her some wine. “no thank you, I don’t drink alcohol…” she said to him refusing drink kindly.

“Oh, is it because of religious purposes…?” he asked her out of courtesy. “No, I just don’t drink in general and I don’t plan to…” she said to him.

“That is alright, understandable. Everyone has their different beliefs.” He said putting the wine back.

Shortly after they reach Laura’s apartment building. “Thank you again for the ride.” She said as she was just about to get out, “wait” he said to her, as he held her hand. She looked at him for a moment, “Would you… go out with me…?” he asked her. “What…?” she asked him softly yet in confusion.

“Laura… I… have feelings for you… I would like you to go out with me…” he said to her.

“Trevor… I am sorry but…I am not looking for a relationship at the moment… I hope you can understand…” she said when he interrupted. “It’s alright… I will wait for your answer…” he smiled at her, as he kissed her hand and let her go, as she opened the door to get out of the limo.

“Thank you again, Trevor…” she smiled at him, turned her back om him and walked into her apartment building. She watched his limo drive off from a distance just before she walked into her apartment building, as she looked in her hand bag to look for her card key to open the security door to get into her apartment building.

“So, those are the kind of guys you are into huh?” Adrian said, as he was leaning against the pillar of her apartment building. Laura grasped as she looked everywhere to see where the voice came from, and lo and behold she saw Adrian on the side in the corner, leaning against the pillar of her building as he had his arms crossed.

“Adrian!?” She said and exclaimed in shock.

“Sorry I happened to be in the area… so this is where you live huh?” he said. “yeah…” she said.

“I need to call a cab and my phone died…” he said showing her his phone. Laura looked at her phone and her phone died as well.

Laura sighed. “Come on… I will let you in so you can freshen up abit then I will call you a cab and you can head home...you can’t go home just like that a little tipsy” she said as she opened the security door to her apartment. Laura and Adrian may have had their differences, but she treated people like human beings.

“Thank you…” he said kindly.

As she opened the door, he looked off into the distance watching the black limo drive off, as he read the number plate, it looked familiar to him, “Was that… Trevor Reilly of LMX Company?” Adrian asked as he kept his gaze on Trevor’s limo as it drove off, whilst Laura opened the door.

“Yeah why?” she asked as they both walk in Laura’s apartment building.

“Keep away from him…he can’t be trusted…” Adrian leered as he looked off in the distance with a serious expression on his face.

Laura glanced at him, “Thank you for your concern… but I believe it is beyond your boundary to tell me who I can and not associate with…” she said as they walked into her building together and walk into the elevator, as Laura pressed the button on the elevator pad for her floor, as Adrian glanced at her, as Laura pressed the button for her floor, which was the 40th floor of the building.

“Suit yourself……” he said as shrugged his shoulders back being somewhat annoyed yet casual about it, as he looked to the side and put his hands in his pockets.

“Thanks… …” she said with a sarcasm at him in tongue and cheek.

As they reach Laura’s floor, Adrian walks with her to her apartment door, “403?” Adrian asked her. “Yeah, this is my place……” she smiled at him.

“… Laura….” He said her name tenderly, “Yes?” she questioned, “I…” he said, as Adrian’s heart beating ever so rapidly within his chest, as he leaned in towards her and embraced her face tenderly, looking into each other’s eyes, “Laura…” he whispered her name, their lips just touching each other as they both close their eyes when  suddenly, they hear other people coming up from the elevator, they both look to the same direction, when Laura said, “Get in!” she grunted as she pulled him in to her apartment out of panic and closed the door and locked it.

Laura took a couple of deep breaths, “What the heck was that just now…” she thought to herself in a panic, as she turned around and looked at Adrian, as he leaned in and put his right arm against the door, whilst she was between his arms, as he looked into her eyes,

“I know…I don’t have a right to your life but… when I see you in danger… why shouldn’t I warn the one I love….?” He asked her with a saddened expression on his face as he looked to the side as both of his arms are up on the wall as she was in between his arms.

“What…what did you say….?” She asked him in confusion, when “I said… I have a right to look after what I love…” he said embracing her face.

“Woah woah… easy tiger… you don’t love me… secondly you have just broken up with Ashleigh which makes you more vulnerable in your state, and you have had a couple of drinks tonight, I know you can’t think in reason at the moment, but what happened tonight…” she said as she moved his hand away from her face, as she looked him straight in the face, “I will consider this a misunderstanding which will avoid any s****l harassment cases since I am your boss…it will be embarrassing to say I was harassed by my employee…and this what you did to me tonight, did not happen and I won’t hold it against you, Adrian…” she said formally and professionally, as she put up a guard around her heart around him, “I am sorry Adrian, this should not have happened tonight…” she said as she looked at him, then walked under his arms to walk towards her phone that was on the desk, “Laura wait!” he defended.

“I think you should go home…Adrian…I will call you a taxi as it will be awkward for you to stay here for the night…” she said as she walked passed him to get her phone to call a taxi.  

When she put the phone down, he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, and put his head down on her shoulder, “Laura… I am sorry… I… have been a terrible worker for you… someone who makes you upset for no reason… what type of man am I… to make the woman I love, so angry with me…?” he said in despair and in a drunken and saddened expression as he held her tenderly, holding her firmly yet tenderly in his arms like a lover would, as he put his head down on her shoulder behind her.

“What are you on about… Adrian…what did Tom make you drink tonight to make you this gullible?” she questioned as she held in her laughter at his miserable state. He turns her around suddenly and looks into her eyes as he held her face softly, “Laura…I… have loved you from the moment we first met… I can’t help it, but I can’t get you out of my head….out of all the women I could possibly want… you… are beautiful…” He said as he blushed looking to the side, “whenever I see you, I just want to take you in my arms and hide you away from the rest of the world… … I love you, Laura…” he said as he looked with a soft yet serious expression on his face.

Laura laughed when he said this, “Oh really now?” she laughed further at him,  as she calmed down from her laughter, “this isn’t funny…” he said to her seriously, as she looked at him kindly and tenderly, “no you don’t, Adrian… it is just the alcohol talking tonight, not you…I can’t talk reason with you because you are intoxicated… you can use the bathroom to have a wash and I will  call the taxi driver to come and pick you up from here when he arrives…” she said softly.

(Song: Witness the Masterpiece by Ganyos) – Adrian became annoyed and angry at her comments, as he felt she was pitying him, when he softly pushed her towards the wall and held her there, looking into her eyes, Laura grasped for a moment, “Whether it’s the alcohol or not…If I didn’t love you, why would a proud man like me be here … pouring out my heart to you like this…” he said softly and whispered under his lips in a low husky tone of voice, as he leaned in and kissed her suddenly, as it was a moonlight night outside with a clear starry sky, which could be seen from her apartment window. “Why… aren’t I resisting him…” she thought to herself…

As she wrapped her arms around him and accepted his kiss, as he held her in his arms and kissed her passionately. “please… stop him Laura… he will just break your heart… like ‘him’!”  she thought to herself. Laura pulled herself back and pushed him away suddenly, as they both grasped for breath together, as he stared at her for a moment with a blank stare on his face. “Why’d… you stop?” he asked her confused.

Suddenly, Laura received a call from the driver, “I am here, Ma’am” the phone rang and Laura picked it up as she pushed Adrian away for a moment, and walked towards the window away from him, “Yes, of course… can you come up to my apartment and pick up my guest, as he is too intoxicated to come down by himself…please look after him” she instructed the taxi driver. “Of course.” He responded.

“Laura?” Adrian questioned. “I don’t think we should go any further than this, Adrian… I don’t want this to affect our working relationship and go any further…let us stop this where we stand...” She said formally.

“Please leave…” she said holding back tears. “Laura… I love you….” He said in a straightforward manner, looking into her eyes as he said this, as he stood there where she had pushed him, not crossing her boundaries, as there was no lie behind his voice when he said this… “Please… Adrian… leave…” she said as tears streamed down her face.

Adrian looked at her for a moment and swallowed a breath, as he had a flash back of his own childhood memories, watching his own parents fight and watching his mother cry like that. “I… made you cry…” he said with contempt, looking down clenching his fists, as he felt disgusted within himself.

“…I am sorry…” he said in a saddened expression as he turned his back on her and walked out of her apartment.

The taxi driver took him down and took him home.

When he left, Laura locked her door, and slid down her door, with tears streaming down her face, “he kissed me…” she said to herself. “I told myself I wouldn’t let anyone near me… why did it feel so natural with him, to let him kiss me like that… how did I allow this to happen!?” Laura battled within her thoughts.

Meanwhile as Adrian got home, he buried himself more into the drink as he felt hurt and rejected, but most of all, he thought he had hurt Laura… “Sir, if I may say so, you are drinking too much tonight… you remember what happened the last time you did this?” his driver said concerned. “Who cares Frank!!? I hurt her…” he said as tears streamed down his face, burying himself in the bottle as he sat in front of the fire place in his mansion just outside the city. He drank himself to sleep, however when he woke up the next morning, he had completely forgotten what he did with Laura at her apartment, and the fact that he confessed his feelings to Laura.