3. SKYLAR

Skylar woke up very late the next day, as the event of the night came rushing to her head. She blushes red as she remembers the taste of his lips on hers. She rubs her fingers across her lips as she closes her eyes to savour his taste.

Skylar opens her eyes quickly when she remembers Camille's word that he doesn't date employees. The tiny hope she had dies immediately. She stood up sluggishly from the bed and went to the bathroom to shower. Today being Sunday, she has promised her mom that she would visit her today.

Skylar dressed quickly in a yellow off shoulder gown with a nude sandal and walked into the sitting room to get her car keys. Opening the car door, she got in and drove all the way to her mom's place.

She arrived at her mom’s place to see her in her flower shop tending to flowers. Her mom is the only person on planet earth that is addicted to flowers.

Opening the glass door, the scent of flowers greeted Skylar as she smiled, closing her eyes to savour the scent. She has missed this so much. Her mom walks out of her office immediately she heard the door opening,

“Skylar darling, how are you?” She hugged her tightly, it's been ages since Skylar last saw her and her mom hasn't changed one bit.

“Mom! I'm fine” Skylar replied, hugging her back before she sat down on the couch beside her mom while she kept staring at Skylar with surprise on her face.

“Mom!” Skylar asked her, smiling “What is it?”

“I'm just surprised you came to visit me today, considering that I've been begging you for ages now”

“Whatever mom,” Skylar said, rolling her eyes as she stood up to go take a drink from the freezer.

“Anything new with you?” Her Mom asked her as she sipped the drink Skylar gave to her.

“Nothing new mom. Ha! Yes, I got a new job and the pay is good” Skylar told her, smiling.

“That's nice then. What kind of job is it?” Her mother asked her.

“Same old kind. I got a job as an assistant artist in a big company” Skylar replied shrugging “What’s going on with you mom?

“Nothing, just me and my flowers. Any new guy in your life now” Mom asked, looking at her again but Skylar avoided her eyes as she wondered if she should tell her or not.

“Kind of” Skylar replies after sometimes, her mom raises her eyebrows at Skylar surprised silently urging Skylar to continue. Skylar scoffs at her, did she think it will take forever for her to move on from Leon?

“But he does not love me back” Skylar continued as she tried to avoid her mother's eyes.

She gasps at her “Why did you think so darling?”

“Because he's my boss and he doesn't do employees, so, I've heard” Skylar replies, trying to show her mom that it doesn't affect her in any way.

“Really?” Mrs. Evans asked, looking at her daughter, telling her with her eyes that she knew how badly her daughter was affected by it. Her mother is the only person that knows her more than she knows myself.

“Yes mom. Anyway, let's leave that, I miss you so much” Skylar said, smiling at her. She went to hug her. She was so happy she came to see her today instead of sulking all day at home.

“Mom, guess what?” Skylar said, smiling as she stared at her mother. Mrs. Evans looked at her daughter curiously

“What is going to be more exciting than you telling me that you are in love with your boss”

“Mom!” Skylar exclaimed, embarrassed with a slight pink blush on her cheeks. She couldn't believe her mother just said that.

“Fine. Tell me already, you know I'm not good with this your guessing game” Her mother said as she went behind the counter to arrange the flowers

“Okay fine, I will tell you. Vino kissed me yesterday at the party” Skylar said, avoiding her eyes, she wouldn't want her mother to judge her. She doesn't even know why she said that.

“What? You went to a party yesterday?” Her mother asked in shock with her mouth open.

“Yes, but it's not that kind of party you are imagining mom. It's a company's party” Skylar replied as her mom snorted at her. She stuck her tongue back at her mother.

“I don't know what to make of it since he doesn't do employees but I felt I needed to get it off my chest. You know” Skylar continued bitterly trying to make sense of the kiss they had. What does it mean?

Her Mom came over to hug her as she whispered to her “It’s alright honey. I'm sure you will figure it out” Skylar sighs heavily as she hugs her back.

“Yes mom, I hope so too. I'm hungry mom, what did you cook?” Skylar asks her mom as she searches around for a lunch box or something to eat.

“Go and check for yourself at home” Her mother waves her off to concentrate on her flower arrangement.

Skylar's mom's house was an extension of the shop not very far away. A white bungalow with a small picket fence. She's so lucky that she stays in a safe neighbourhood. Skylar wouldn't want to imagine what could happen to her at night.

Skylar opened the door and walked in as the smell of flowers greeted her. She shakes her head smiling, mom and flowers. Skylar was really surprised her mother didn't name her with anything flowers like Darcy, Lilly. She shudders from the thought of her with such a name.

Skylar kicks off her shoes and walks barefooted to the kitchen and dishes out fried rice and salad for herself taking it with her to the dining, she sits down and takes a spoonful of it into her mouth.

“Oh! Yummy!” Skylar said, smiling to herself. How she has missed her mom's cooking.

“I see you are enjoying yourself” Mom smiles as she stands in the doorway to the dining room with her hands folded across her chest. Skylar didn't hear her come in, guess Skylar was preoccupied with her thoughts.

“Yes mom. I've missed this so much” Skylar said to her as she took another spoonful of rice into her mouth.

Mrs. Evans walk into the kitchen and sat next to her daughter watching her curiously as she rushes the food hurriedly “Be careful else you chok___” she couldn't complete her sentence as Skylar went into a round of coughing and fanning air into her mouth

Mom stood up as she came over to rub her daughter's back before handing her a glass of water. Skylar took a sip of it and relaxed “I told you to be careful. I don't know why you are rushing the food” Her mother said after Skylar had calmed down.

“I need to be home early. I need to clean my room and select my dress for work tomorrow. I don't want to be late” Skylar replied as she took another spoonful of rice into her mouth but this time, she chewed it properly before swallowing it. She doesn't want to choke on it again.

“That's great honey! I see you are getting better in the ' cleaning' department” Her mother smiles as she emphasizes the 'clean'. Skylar rolled her eyes at her mother, not a bit affected by what she said. It's not Skylar's fault that she doesn't have enough time to waste cleaning her room when she could have someone to do that for her.

“Mom! You know I don't like cleaning” Skylar replied, sticking her tongue out at her mother.

Her mother burst into laughter and watched as Skylar took her plate into the kitchen to wash them, she stacks them neatly in the dish drain to dry while she wipes her hands with the kitchen towel and goes out to bid her mom goodbye.

“Mom! I got to go” Skylar called to her. Her mother walks out of her room just as Skylar grabs her bag and turns to walk out of the door.

“Okay honey. Take care of yourself” Her Mom said, pecking her on the cheek and waving at her while Skylar walked over to her car which was still parked in front of the flower shop.

“And Skylar” Her Mom called out to her. Skylar paused as she was about to open her car door.

She turns to shoot her mother a questioning glance “Yes mom”

“Go get your man. I'm sure he loves you too” Her Mom said smiling. Her mother was talking like Vino is an ordinary man Skylar can get not her boss and a fucking billionaire. How does one get such a man?

Skylar shakes her head at her mother and enters her car. Backing out of her driveway, she drove home with the thought of one man on her mind. Vino Thompson.

***

Vino

He plunged into her one last time and came undone in her hands. He stood up exhausted as he went into the bathroom to clean himself up.

Walking back into the room, Camille was fast asleep as he walked out of the room into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. He took the coffee and went into his study to get some work done before tomorrow.

Sitting down on his desk, the files were opened before him. He blinks twice as he stares into the blank sheet in front of him, thinking of what to write on it. He gave up and took out his phone, his fingers hovering on the dial call while he contemplated on calling Skylar.

The taste of her lips has been on his mind since yesterday still now. She tastes just as he has always imagined “Get a grip on yourself Vino. You need to submit this proposal to the board tomorrow” He scolded himself as he shook himself to get rid of the thoughts of Skylar. He forced himself to concentrate on the file in front of him.

Picking up the pen which he had discarded before. He tries to write something down. The sound of his phone ringing made him abandon the work completely since no meaningful word came to mind. He picked up his phone to see that it was Mr. Ernesto calling.

“Hello. Vino speaking” He called into the phone immediately he picked it up.

“Hello, Mr. Thompson. I need a favour from you” Mr. Ernesto said, going straight to the point. That's one of the things Vino likes about him, he doesn't waste time with pleasantries but rather goes straight to the point.

“Okay. What do you need sir?” Vino asked him with a hint of curiosity in his voice wondering what he might want since this is the first time he's asking for Vino's help.

“I need to borrow an artist of yours for a week or two” He replied as Vino went silent on the phone.

“Why? Do you have another art centre to paint?”

“Yes, but it's in Mexico. I need Miss Evans to paint a mural for me since I'm impressed with what she did here” He replies as Vino frowns, running his hand through his hair.

“Okay,” Vino replies reluctantly as he strolls to the window looking out to the ocean across the street “I will speak to her tomorrow and get back to you”

“Thank you,” Mr. Ernesto said and hung up. Vino slumped down on the chair. Emptying the already cold coffee in one go he stood up and walked back into the room to get another round of sex before retiring for the night.