BASH
I loosen the grip. My face falls, and my chest squeezes excruciatingly.
She pulls her hand quickly as soon as she gets the chance and walks past me. "Let's go. I still have work to do."
Following her, she strides out of my office to my dad's private elevator. She gestures her hand. I slide the key card that's exclusive only for my family.
"I'm not gonna hurt you. Intentionally, Trinity."
She gets in the elevator and mutters under her breath. "I wish."
We are both silently standing side by side as the lift shuts close in front of us. I can sense the tension in the small gap between us.
The only things I can hear are my breathing and the whirring of the elevator as it brings us down. I can smell the flowery fragrance of her perfume-that's how close we are, but the distance seems so miles away.
"You look beautiful today, Tri." I glance down at her beside me.
"Thanks."
My lips curve to smile. "Don't you think you wear taller high heels?"
Her head snaps, glaring up at me with a cocked brow. "I love my shoes, and what's with the judgment, Mr. All-perfect?"
She's gorgeous and sassy.
"I'm not judging you, Tri, but we will walk down the street. Your feet might hurt, you know." I chuckle.
"Making fun of me already, huh? Just so you know, I wore high heels just right when you were away. Thank you very much."
"I'm not making fun of you. In fact, I think I should pass a regulation banning you from wearing high heels," I say, without breaking eye contact.
Her face turns pink, and her lips slightly parted.
Tempting.
And there's a part of me that notices her. I can just push her against this elevator wall and kiss her lips until they are swollen, but I value the little trust she's giving me, if there is any.
"Don't flirt with me. You are my boss, and we're best friends."
My heart thumps in my chest. A full grin spreads on my lips. "It only takes a single flirt to prove, huh, Trinity?"
Her face lights up, and she smiles at me-a lovely smile.
She bumps her elbows on my arm. "Shut up, Bash."
God, how I missed this.
I let her out first as soon as the elevator slides open.
Following her to the glass revolving door out of Hughes Building, I press my hand on her back to let her move closer to me since it's still rush hour, and we can't help to bump into people in suits, running against the time.
The honking of vehicles and the smell of fumes are everywhere as we get far from the building.
"Tri, are you sure it's okay for you to walk? I'm worried about your feet."
I notice my driver Edmund following us.
Her legs look sexier and longer on those heels. I guess I just like women wearing high heels.
"Oh, just now you are worried when we are near the shop?" she gives me an odd look.
I can clearly see her green irises. She coats some mascara on her lashes, although they're thick enough without her effort.
"You don't want me to carry you, Tri. I've no problem carrying you piggyback, though."
"You did that before, remember? When we sneaked out to watch the Maroon 5 concert?"
I laugh. "How will I forget you wore that tiny purple dress to impress Adam Lavine? What were you thinking? We're going to a concert, not to a nightclub."
She barks out laughing.
God! I always love her laugh. So rich and free, and it always makes my heart flutter.
"Then my car broke down. We can't find a taxi, and our phones are shut off."
I cut her off. "Because you consumed our phone batteries just to take videos and photos of them. And I told you we should take my car. But no, you insisted on driving."
She's still laughing as she grips my arm. "Then my feet hurt like hell. I had blisters. Oh, my God! Thankfully, it didn't happen again."
"At least you got a best friend to carry you."
"Oh, and you almost punched that beggar when he said, "Yo! Watta ass there, folks!" she mimics the beggar's voice.
I laugh with her.
We decide to take our coffee and blueberry muffins to the office. My phone vibrates in my pocket when we are halfway back to the building.
"Dad, good morning," I answer cheerfully.
"Is that you that I see walking down the street?" Dad asks over the phone with a hint of a tease.
I scan him from the crowd but can't find him anywhere.
"Maybe? Maybe not?" I reply with a smirk.
"I think I just saw you, son, with a redhead beside you, laughing."
"A redhead?" I bite my lip to hide my smile. "I'm with Trinity, and the last time I checked, her hair was orange."
Dad laughs as I look down at Trinity with creased brows. I wink at her, causing her to blush.
When I mouth her cute, she rolls her eyes at me.
"You seem to get along now, son. Can I give her a proper position now? You know she's just your temporary assistant, right?"
My stomach rolls.
My smile fades instantly.
"Dad, can we talk about it later? I'll come to your office whenever you're free."
"She needs a position, Bash. She has worked hard since her internship. Don't be selfish. She deserves this position because she worked hard to earn it. You can still see each other outside the work," Dad says authoritatively.
"Dad, let me get to my office. Give me three minutes of your time, please?"
"Bash, I can't let the position empty for long. She is needed there. I won't let that happen for your own self-interest."
I know Dad very well. He's ruthless and strict when it comes to work and business.
"What's the position?"
"Financial Analyst."
My eyes grow a little bigger. "Dad, I'll be in your office in less than five minutes." I look at my wristwatch as I enter the elevator.
Dad hangs up the phone call. He can't put her in that position. She just graduated with less experience. She may be my best friend and be on my team, under my department, but I need someone more experienced than her.
Oh, is that really what you want, or do you want her all to yourself?
"Is everything okay?"
I blink off the jumbled thoughts in my head. She's still carrying a bag of our muffins while I have our coffee.
"Yeah. Everything is alright, beautiful."
"Stop saying like that every time we are in the elevator."
"Do you think I will only say that if we are in the elevator, Trinity?"
"Answer that, Bash," she snaps.
"You know that was not the first time I said you are beautiful. You must have forgotten it already."
"Lizzy's eighteen birthday," she responds.
"Nope. Your eighth birthday. You were wearing a tinker bell costume."
Her eyes grow wide as if it finally clicks together.
"You can't remember that, can you?"
She shakes her head.
We enter my office, and I put down our coffee on my desk. She places a bag beside our coffee.
"Sit down, Tri. I'll be back."
"Where are you going?"
"To see Dad."
I stride upstairs to Dad's office when Elle says he's expecting me. I push the door open without knocking.
My jaw drops with my eyes almost pop out from each socket.
"Fuck."