Leila couldn't stop blushing. She didn't know what had come over her last night.
That reply was unlike her.
She stopped in front of the wardrobe. Her eyes roamed her clothes in search of the perfect outfits. It was that time of the year again for the company's annual trip. She hadn't expected it to happen this year due to the change in CEOs but she received a broadcast email this morning. Everyone was expected to be at the office with their luggage by 9 am. No lateness.
Kelvin didn't mention it. She didn't know if he would come and she didn't want to ask him. Her fingers brushed a black gown, she hadn't worn it in years.
It was the definition of sexy, hugging her body in all the right places. She pulled it off the hanger, on an afterthought, she snatched her favourite pair of Victoria secret lingerie. If anything would happen between her and Kelvin, she had to be prepared.
Minutes later, Leila was rushing out of the house. She met her co-workers at the parking lot. There was a bus ready to take them. Lily engulfed her in a hug while Susie said something she couldn't remember.
"Do you think he's coming?" Susie asked them.
Susie was spotting a new hairstyle and even a new handbag. The eye makeup she used made her eyes look bigger and her brown eyes clearer. Her clothes were more fitted. Leila moved closer to Lily.
An email had gone round last week warning everyone to desist from trying to seduce the boss because he was married. The HR didn't use those exact words but the point was to stay away from the boss. But it hadn't stopped them from talking about her husband.
"Who?" Lily asked.
Susie made a low sound. "The boss, who else?"
A whistle blew, cutting short their conversation. They filed into the bus in no particular order and Leila picked a seat by the window. The seats were in pairs and she hoped Lily would take the empty seat instead of Susie. Her head raised when Mike sat beside her, he threw his arm over her seat and Leila froze. It should have meant nothing but she was a married woman now.
For the first few minutes into the trip, she didn't say a word to him. But her resistance melted away with his jokes. Hours later, when they got off the bus, she was still laughing at something he said. He helped her with her bags and they filed to the reception area to claim their rooms.
The journey had taken longer than she expected, all Leila needed was a bath and soft bed to nap. Leila's smile disappeared as soon as they entered inside. Amara was at the counter, her fingers drumming into the wooden surface like she was waiting for someone. Leila had a feeling the woman had been waiting on her.
Amara was alone. They shared a brief look and the lady excused Sarah out of the group that entered the hotel together. They spoke in hushed tones for a moment and their gazes strayed to her a few times. Each time they did, it made Leila more nervous than before and she chewed the inside of her lips. She was overthinking this.
Everyone picked a roommate. Two people in one room. All the times they had been here, Lily was her roommate and she expected that to be the case today.
Lily had the same idea, she dangled a set of keys in front of Leila's face. "Guess who your roommate is?"
Amara interrupted Leila's reply, she stood between the friends. "Leila, you are staying with me this time."
"What... What about me?" Lily demanded. If she knew Amara was Kelvin's assistant, she might have lowered her voice. Leila tried to warn her friend with her eyes but Lily wasn't having it. She dragged Leila away from Amara. "Sorry, you're not taking Leila from me."
"You can have the room to yourself, Miss Lily Bloom," Amara said in a voice that was too calm. Calm and dangerous. It reminded Leila of Kelvin. Lily dropped Leila's hand like a hot sauce. "Or do you have a problem with staying alone?"
"No."
"Then, it's settled." Amara placed a hand on Leila's shoulder, called one of the hotel attendants to carry Leila's bag. When they were out of earshot, she murmured, "How do you deal with that everyday?"
She was talking about Lily and Leila caught on quickly. Lily was sometimes dramatic but overall, she was cool.
"Lily isn't so bad."
Amara grunted in response and Leila shrugged it off. She understood Lily's character very well.
They continued in silence until they reached a door and Amara asked the attendant to drop the bags. Leila smiled when Amara gave him a generous tip. She believed the world would be much better if everyone or a larger population was kind.
"He's a good guy," Amara whispered. It was so unexpected Leila was convinced she wasn't speaking to her. Amara smiled when Leila looked on in confusion. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."
She left Leila standing in front of the door. For a second, Leila contemplated running back to the group but she knew that could get her in trouble. She pushed the door open and her steps faltered as she took in the whole room.
The room was huge. Bigger than the room she would have had to share with Lily. It wasn't just a room. It was a suite. There were chairs lined in a semicircle. A television attached to the wall and a green bean bag with a black remote on it.
There was another door to her left. Leila believed it would be their bedroom. Amara did not discuss their sleeping arrangements but she wouldn't mind sharing a bed with her. The balcony overlooked half the city and Leila smiled at the thought of spending most of her evening there.
Leila walked further in and dropped her bag on the couch. There was a jacket draped over the coffee table at the centre of the mini parlour. It looked like Kelvin's. The thought made her pause.
No, she couldn't stay here with him.
On cue, the door to the balcony opened. Kelvin walked into the room. He was frowning. They had not seen each other in about two weeks, the least he could do was welcome her with a smile or something. His countenance made Leila wary, she stood as she was with her hands hiding behind her back. A foot pushed forward as Kelvin stopped a few metres away from her.
"Leila."
His voice captivated her all over again. "Kelvin."
The distance between them grew smaller, Leila thought he would kiss her when he curled his fingers under her jaw so she was staring into his beautiful grey eyes. The idea didn't repulse her, in fact, she looked forward to kissing him properly.
"How was your trip?" she asked. Her voice was scratchy so she cleared her throat. Kelvin made no move to answer, she filled the silence with random questions. "Did you do anything fun? Maybe make any new friends?" His blank stare made her feel stupid but she didn't want to give up on him pretty easily. "It's good to see you."
Her skin burned with embarrassment when he said nothing. She guessed they were back to zero point. Take one step forward, then take ten more backward. If that was what he wanted, fine, she could do that too.
There was no point talking to him about their current arrangement. Kelvin already proved he didn't care for others opinion. She moved to the couch to pick her bag but he stopped her. Leila glared at his hand on the handle of the box.
What exactly did this man want from her?
"Who was that guy?"
Leila trained her face into a cool mask. She met his gaze with a deep frown similar to his. "What guy?"
"Michael Clyde." He took a step forward and she was forced to take one back. They continued at it until she was backed up against the wall. "Do you like him?"
Kelvin was too close. His breath tickled her nose, and his angry eyes bore into hers for an answer. She didn't understand why her husband was mad at her. For God's sake, he was seeing her for the first time in days.
"Of course not," she spat out. He was in her space and it was affecting her. Her body wanted him close but she was mad at him for treating her this way. "Even if I did, it wouldn't matter." Kelvin's eyes darkened. Oh, no. She wasn't supposed to say that. It wasn't too late to fix the damage so Leila hurriedly said, "I am married to you, Kelvin. I'm not allowed to like other men."
"Kev," he corrected.
Leila gulped. "Kev."
She waited for that smile to show he was pleased with her answer but it never came. He backed away from her and she began to breathe normally. He was acting so strange. She and Michael were hardly even friends.
"The next time I see you talking to him," Kelvin said. His voice was so stern she had no choice than to listen to him. "He will be fired. Have I made myself clear?"