8
1219 Words
Celeste
My heart rate increased as I walk into the Harlan Corp, it felt like a death march
With every step closer to that shiny glass tower, my palms got sweatier urging me to clutch the delivery carrier so tight I thought the handle might break.
My plan was simple, get in, go straight to the top floor, leave the coffee and pastries with the secretary and get out.
Avoid Ethan as much as possible and under no circumstances see Jared.
In and out.
I hoped.
The ride in the elevator was quite, luckily it was just me inside mentally preparing myself before reaching the last floor.
I walked out of the elevator and to the secretary’s desks. A sleek professional-looking woman with a sharp bob and a polite smile.
Perfect.
This was even better than leaving it on the desk.
"Hi," I said my voice coming out too high but I cleared my throat. "Delivery from The Daily Grind for Mr. Harlan."
I set the heavy carrier and the pastry box on the corner of her desk with a relieved thud. "Okay thank you!" I said already turning to leave
"One moment please," the secretary said her voice smooth.
I froze my back to her before I slowly turned around.
She wasn't even looking at the delivery but at the tablet. "You need to take it in yourself. He's expecting you."
My blood turned to ice. "What? No…That's not... I just deliver and then leave it.."
She finally looked up her smile still polite but firm. "The instruction was explicit, the delivery person is to bring it directly to his office he’ll be waiting."
Panic bubbled up in my chest. "Can't you just take it, please? I have other deliveries to get back to… I don’t want to be late, my boss boss will be mad."
"I'm sorry," she said but not sounding sorry at
all. "Mr Harlen’s instructions are clear… His office is through that door all the way down the hall to the double doors at the end." She pointed with a perfectly manicured finger ignoring my complains.
Fuck!
I stood there trapped.
I could just run away and disobey his instructions it’s like I work for him but then Maria would lose the contract.
I'd lose my job.
I had no choice.
Again.
I never had a choice here.
Letting out a hiss and cursing underneath my breath, I picked the delivery back up and walked toward the heavy wooden door she pointed to with my heart hammering so loud I was sure they could hear it in the whole building.
I pushed the door open.
The hallway was long lined with expensive-looking art my worn out sneakers were silent on the thick carpet it felt like I was walking to the principal's office or to my own execution.
I reached the huge double doors at the end.
They were slightly ajar.
I could hear a low murmur of voices from inside, a familiar woman's laugh….Genevieve's laugh.
My stomach twisted.
I didn't want to do this but I don’t have a choice, taking a deep shaky breath befor raising my hand to knock causing the door shifted under my knuckles swinging open a little more from my slight touch and the view from the gap made my whole world stop.
Jared sat behind the large leather chair behind a giant desk was Jared and on his lap, her arms wrapped around his neck was Genevieve.
She was kissing him, a deep, slow, intimate kiss with his hand was on her back holding her there… almost like she knew I was watching.
I felt like I'd been doused in freezing water.
My heart ached at the sight.
Ugh!
Why do I care?
Gulping a lump I pushed the door walking in, Jared eyes finding mine immediately, he looked right over Genevieve's shoulder and saw me standing in the doorway.
He didn't jump or try to push her away instead he looked at me his expression unreadable.
Genevieve feeling him stiffen, pulled back her head turning and following his gaze.
When she saw it was me a slow cold smile spread across her perfectly glossed lips.
The heat of humiliation shot up my neck and flooded my face.
I wanted to disappear.
I cleared my throat the sound horribly loud in the silent room. I looked down at the floor, anywhere but at them. "I... I'm here to drop off the delivery," I mumbled my voice trembling.
I walked in my eyes glued to the floor.
I headed for a small table near a sofa setting the carrier and the box down with a clumsy clatter.
"Just... it's all there," I stammered. "Have a good day."
I turned and practically ran for the door.
"Celeste dear wait a moment!"
Genevieve's voice sweet as poison, stopped me in the doorway. I didn't turn around, I just stopped with my hand on the door handle.
I heard he walk to me, she walked in front of me, blocking my path to the exit her smile now gone
"I don't know what your little plan is showing up here every day now," she began, her voice low and venomous. "But I see right through it I don't trust you… I never have."
I finally looked at her. "I don't have a plan, I am just doing my job"
"Of course ," Genevieve sneered. "How convenient… the poor little orphan working so hard, needing to come to the big powerful man's office every morning. You're trying to make him pity you. You think because your late father was his friend you have some sort of claim?"
Her words were like slaps. "I don't want anything from him," I hissed back my own anger rising to match hers. "I want nothing to do with any of you… it’s not like it’s my choice to stay with you guys"
"You're lying," she said taking a step closer. I could smell her expensive floral perfume. It made me feel sick. "I see the way you look at him and I don’t like it you slut… Let me make something very clear to you, you won't be here for long. This," she gestured around the opulent hallway, "this life, this man, this future... it's mine and my son’s. It belongs to my family.l and you are a temporary nuisance. A charity case Jared is tolerating out of piety. You don't belong here and you never will."
“You can have all of it, for all I care” I spat back in frustration.
"I know you want what's mine," she spat. "And I protect what's mine. Very very fiercely. Keep your deliveries quick and your your eyes to yourself… I’ll suggest you start looking for another place to stay.”
I was done wasting my precious time on her, I needed to get out of here.
"I have a job to get back to," I said my voice flat and cold as I pushed past her my shoulder brushing hers.
She let out a soft shocked gasp… She wasn't used to people walking away from her.
I ignored her calls walking away, I see the s**t and crap runs in their blood.
To hell with her, Jared and her f*****g son, for all I care.
- Writer
