Leila's heart sped up. Her hands moistened and she subtly glanced around the office for any hidden cameras. There was nothing. More than ever, she wished Mike would disappear from her sight.
"Him?" she whispered so the unwanted man watching her wouldn't hear a thing she said.
"Yes. Kelvin Michael Clyde. He's there with you. Yes?" Yes but he came on his accord without her invitation. Leila could already sense her husband's withdrawal before she spoke. "Enjoy the rest of your day, Leila."
"Kev, wait."
But he already ended the call.
Leila flattened her hands on the table, her insides quaked in anger. She warned this guy to stay away from her, didn't she? This bloody idiot. She opened her mouth to repeat the warning but Mike beat her to it.
"Is that him? Your boyfriend?"
"Yes." And he was mad at her because of Mike. "Now, please leave." Holding out his flowers to him, Leila murmured, "If this happens again, I'll have to report you." Mike accepted the flowers with a grim smile. She might have hurt his feelings but she didn't care about that. "Have a good day, Mike."
Lily and Susie watched their exchange in silence. After Mike was gone, Leila returned to working on the slide, typing harder on the keyboard. She took a break when she no longer understood what she was typing. Kelvin didn't send her flowers today. It wasn't a big deal but she had gotten used to receiving it. She didn't think too much of it until Mike showed up with a bouquet.
Picking up her phone, she hesitated to call him. After an inner battle with herself, she settled for a text.
Leila: Hey.
Leila: When will you be home?
The two texts went unanswered and for the rest of the day, Leila couldn't get her mind off him. After work, she hurried out of the office before Lily confronted her. The ride home was a blur, she rushed to their apartment and dialled his number again.
He was still not picking her calls. It was time for their evening video call but he wasn't picking. Leila chewed her nails as the phone rang without interruption. She would never deliberately hurt his feelings, he should know that. As long as they worked in the same office, she couldn't ignore Mike forever. But after today, she was convinced he would not be bothering her again.
"Pick up, Kev," she said to her screen.
Her heart was heavy, she wanted to hear his voice. She wanted him to scream at her. Anything. Something that showed they were cool. Leila stopped in front of their shared closet to pick out one of his jackets. She sniffed it and hugged it to her chest. After another failed attempt to reach him, she threw the jacket into the closet without caring where it landed.
Shrugging out of her clothes, she got into the shower for a cold bath. When she was done, she called him again but there was no response. Her frustration hit the roof.
What was he even mad at her for? She did no wrong by talking to her colleague. Kelvin's silence annoyed her. She hated it.
In the kitchen, she pulled out ingredients for noodles. Because Kelvin was absent, Leila added onions. If he saw her now, would he be mad? That was his business.
Leila stirred the noodles in the pot and added the vegetables. The strap of her gown kept falling off her shoulder and she shoved it back up each time with a scowl. The dress was a tiny strap pink gown that stopped at her mid thighs. She wouldn't wear such in his presence but since he wasn't home and acting like a douchebag, Leila would dress how she wanted, eat what she wanted, talk to whoever she wanted.
She dished the food and sat at the dining table. His seat was empty like it had been for days. Then it hit her. She missed her husband. She missed his silent presence. Leila retrieved her phone to call him.
No answer.
Fine. She could play the silent game too.
The meal tasted bland in her mouth but she continued chewing. Or she tried to before she pushed the bowl of noodles to the side. She rested her head on the table, lifting it slowly at a tap on her shoulder.
Her husband was home.
"Kev?" She had to be sure. "Is that you?"
His tie was missing, sleeves rolled to his elbows. Her Kelvin was always organised. Kelvin dragged a seat close to her and she hugged herself to stop from doing something crazy with her hands. Something like touching his face or tracing the outline of his lips. He hugged her on his departure, he should have hugged her on his arrival. But Leila didn't say that. Instead, she tried to smile at her husband. They could fight later about his unwarranted cold treatment.
"Yeah," he answered. He wasn't looking at her face but at her chest and she turned a deep red. "It's me."
The strap of her gown was down, revealing a glimpse of her breast. She adjusted it and stood. "Welcome."
Kelvin's face registered his disappointment but none of them mentioned it. She stood for another second longer, then lowered herself back to the seat in silence. Kelvin undid the top buttons of his dress shirt, she glimpsed a bit of his skin and looked away.
"I'm famished," he commented.
On instinct, they looked at the untouched bowl of noodles with onions swimming at the top. His eyes trailed her from head to toe and Leila hid her legs under the table. If she had known Kelvin was coming, she would have shaved or worn something longer.
"I called you," she said to fill the silence.
Kelvin placed one hand on the table. He was still watching her. She took a soft breath and his eyes lowered to her lips.
The poker game was a week ago. He promised her a real kiss. Leila licked her lips at the thought of him fulfilling that promise now. She wouldn't fight against it.
"Yeah," Kelvin replied. She pressed her lips into a thin line. That couldn't be all he had to say. He owed her an explanation. "I was already on my way home. Didn't want to ruin the surprise." Her heart pounded when he leaned forward to brush her cheek, his breath smelt of mint. "Sorry I missed your calls, Leila."
"It's... it's okay." His presence was already affecting her. Butterflies circled her belly, doing a funny dance that made her nervous. Leila jumped to her feet. "I'll prepare something for you to eat. Wait here."
Kelvin wrapped a hand around her wrist. "No."
"No?" He never rejected her offer to cook. She cocked her head. "Are you mad at me?"
His thumb traced lines on the inside of her wrist. Sparks burned under the spot, her nipples puckered and she squeezed her legs together. He was turning her on. Leila needed to get out of here immediately.
"Should I be?" They both knew he was referring to the call and Mike's presence but she wouldn't mention it unless he did. Leila shook her head. "Then I'm not mad at you." He released her and she stepped away. If Kelvin noticed the gap, he didn't comment on it. "Let's go out to eat."
"Okay."
Leila already took her bath but she did so again to buy herself some time. Kelvin was dressed by the time she got out of the bathroom. In a suit fitted to his body and hair pushed back by the gel, he looked breath-taking. She imagined running her hands through his hair.
Would he get mad? Leila moved to the closet but he stayed.
The towel was tied around her chest, she couldn't dress with him in the room. But he was her husband.
Kelvin must have noticed her discomfort, he walked towards her with a bouquet in his hand. Leila smiled.
"Keep your hair down," he whispered. Her hand went to the messy bun she made in the shower. "Don't take too long, Leila. I'll be waiting for you outside."
A rush of air escaped her lips as soon as Kelvin left the room, she leaned on the wall for support. This man was so many things in one. She didn't know how to classify him. She placed the bouquet on the table, plucked out a single stick she tucked behind her ear.
Her hair flowed down her chest like Kelvin requested, she smacked her lips shining with pink lipgloss. A knock sounded on the door and she picked her purse.
"Coming," she told the person behind the door.