6

Through my tears of despair, Phoebe tries to get the worms out of my face.

- Explain to me, damn it! I don't understand why you're in this state and it's driving me crazy.

I wipe my nose and snuggle further into the chair at Starbucks, our Starbucks.

- He kissed me, I breathe.

"And that's a reason to cry?" He stank of the mouth or what?

I shake my head, because it wasn't. I might have preferred, at least I could have run away for that reason and not a worse one. Phoebe urges me to continue. I know she's losing her patience and I feel like a fool doing so much fuss to tell her everything that happened. But it seems so crazy to me!

- Yesterday when we went clubbing, I danced with a man. I even hoped to sleep with him, like that, without expecting anything afterwards.

- But it's great, we are progressing towards your recovery!

I ignore his remark so as not to annoy me. I don't need to heal, I'm no longer in love with Patrick. He was a complete asshole and he does not deserve my dwelling on him. I then explain to Phoebe that I was so drunk I couldn't remember the night before.

- Wait, you slept at his place? Without sleeping with him? Kaileen, but... You're really bad at it, my word!

- Is that what you remember? I was at my boss! The Vice President served as my driver and tonight Thalion kissed me. They are stamped in this company! Can't you see that the sun has made them completely crazy?

My best friend bursts out laughing before taking a few sips of her coffee to calm herself down. I tell him my suspicions that the CEO is purposely driving me crazy to quit. He didn't want me when I arrived. He explicitly said to Wes in front of me.

"If he's doing this to free you... You know what?" Tomorrow I'm going with you to see him, I'm going to show him what I'm warming up! You could sue for sexual assault!

I roll my eyes. Sure it would pay off my dad's debt, but is it really assault when the person consents? Because it is clear that I was and if he dares to start again, I would be just as much.

We part quickly and she insists she'll come over the next day to lecture him, but I don't take her words seriously. I notice the next day how wrong I was. I find her parked in front of my house waiting for me. When she sees me, she waves to me and I get in her car looking like a funeral. It is possible that in the end, it is he who fires me.

- Well, what floor is it? she asks, parking the car in the underground car park.

- The last, without much surprise.

She drags me into the building and is shocked by the richness of the place.

- Well said so, there are some who have fun!

She squints at an abstract painting hanging on the wall and under glass.

"Kaileen!" A male voice calls out to me.

I turn around with Phoebe and see Wes trotting towards us. He smiles at us and his eyes lock on my friend. I'm not surprised, she often has that effect on men. As attractive as Wes is, he still can't resist it.

- Hello, are you? he asks with a flirtatious smile.

“Phoebe, Kaileen's friend. And you are Wes, right?

She details it from top to bottom and her interested air proves that she is satisfied with what she has in front of her. I'm seriously witnessing a flirtation session between the Vice President of the company I work for and my best friend. I must have done something really ugly in my past lives to deserve this.

“Yes, I'm delighted to meet you, Phoebe.

"And I'm free tonight from six o'clock."

She smiles at his surprised look and hands him her personal card.

- Text me so that I send you the address where you should come and meet me, she adds before walking away. See you Kaileen!

I snort at Wes' totally dumb face and he takes it a little badly, as he sulks as he carefully tucks Phoebe's card back into the pocket of his beige suit jacket.

"Is she always like that?" he whispers.

- That's why she saw countless beds, I joke while calling the elevator.

He mumbles words that I don't understand. Once in the cabin, I go to press the button for the penultimate floor, but it stops me in my tracks.

- I'm going to the same floor as you this time. I have to deliver files to Thalion, he explains to me, showing me the documents he holds in his left hand.

He doesn't seem to have recovered from Phoebe's innuendo, as he's sweating when we arrive in my office. I put my bag on the floor next to the chair and notice that there is movement in the CEO's office. Immediately, I feel bad. I'm relieved that Phoebe forgot she had to yell at my boss thanks to Wes, praise Wes! But that doesn't prevent me from being completely powerless against Thalion. I don't want him to win this dating game and send me away. I need this work and I intend to show it to him.

I go after Wes and notice that he is in the middle of a dozen cleaners trying to put Thalion's office in order. The latter is trashed, literally. The chairs and the desk are knocked over, as well as the shelves and everything on the surfaces are broken and appear to have been smashed against the wall. I hold back a gasp of amazement, but Wes notices me and comes over to me.

“Thalion isn't here.

"Was there a fight?"

He scratches his head before looking at me seriously.

"Did you say something that might have angered Thalion?"

I shake my head, because it's true. For me, I said nothing wrong. I hope it's not related to... At this thought, I blush. Wes notices my confusion and asks me for an explanation.

"He...kissed me yesterday, I sadly admit."

He doesn't react right away, but a light seems to have gone on in his head, as he forms an "o" with his mouth and nods.

"And you pushed him away," he understands. For what ? You don't like it?

I'm surprised by his reaction and shake my head. But they are really not good in this company! I've been saying it for so long, it must be true, right?

- It's not that, it's just that he's my boss, I retort.

- So what ? Is that just what bothers you? You know, no one in this company is going to judge you for being in love with the CEO.

- I am absolutely not in love with him! My face turns red.

I then turn on my heels, wanting to end this conversation that makes me uncomfortable, but he doesn't seem to hear it that way. He follows me to my office and sits across from me. I'd like to tell him to leave, but that's not polite, then he has every right to be here, he's the Vice President after all.

“I really think Thalion is interested in you and took your refusal badly. Finally, very badly taken, he adds after having cast a glance towards the office of the person concerned.

I sigh and put my head in my hands. All of this has to be a big joke, right?

'I rather think it's a game for him. He wants to crack me up to quit. He said in front of you that he didn't want me.

"Because he finds you too attractive."

"Wha...what?"

He's joking, right? Or he took his dose of drugs just before coming. Otherwise I don't understand. Thalion Wolfsbane cannot be interested in me. I'm Kaileen Silver, just Kaileen Silver with my red hair, my horrible freckles and my despicable crushed nose. How could he find me pretty? He who is so... perfect?

- He told me. You're preventing him from concentrating. He's attracted to you and you don't seem to be, so it's driving him crazy. I am wrong ?

“No, you're right. I don't want to be with him.

His shoulders instantly slump and I feel bad for lying to him. It's not good, I know. But seriously? Am I really going to tell him that his best friend, the one he considers a brother, doesn't leave me indifferent? That on the contrary, he could do with me what he wants? What would I look like? Ridiculous.

-I understand. When he arrives, give him these documents for me, okay?

He leaves the files for me and quickly disappears, increasing my feelings of guilt.

“Well, back to work.

After this sentence said aloud to motivate me, I try to catch up with my delay from the day before. I give priority to emails and letters this time and I manage to finish everything before the lunch break. I'm quite satisfied with myself and I almost forgot about Thalion. When we talk about the wolf... The latter arrives at this time and seems, as always, in a foul mood. He stands in front of my desk and clears his throat so that I raise my head.

— I wanted to apologize for what happened yesterday.

I know he is sincere, but his attitude has sincerely put me in all my states and I dare not tell him the bottom of my thoughts.

- Please. I don't want it to be tense between us at work.

- Ah really ?

I couldn't help it, it really came out on its own. He raises an eyebrow and gives me an amused smile.

"It's because she has a tongue..."

I glare at him and cross my arms.

"Dine with me tonight," he said suddenly.

I jump. It's totally unexpected.

"Wha...what?"

"Don't make me repeat myself, please.

I take a deep breath so as not to throw my hand in his face. He's so weird, like there's more than one in his head.

"Is it for work?" I ask in a shaky voice.

He squints and seems to be probing me for a few seconds before nodding. I don't know if he's lying, but honestly, I don't want to piss him off again. Afterwards, I really wonder what his intentions are. Does he do that to irritate me or destabilize me, in any case, it's successful. I no longer know on which foot to dance and I feel totally powerless in front of him. He has this strange gift of making everything around him look small.

My hesitation doesn't seem to suit him, because he smoothes his dark green suit with a dry gesture. I don't know if it's a “decide now or I'll strangle you” kind of warning, but I take it as such.

"Okay, when do you want me to arrange a reservation?"

A victorious smirk settles on his face and it pisses me off. I already regret having said yes to him. How would he react if I changed my mind right now? Certainly very badly. But I have to admit that the idea is tempting, just to make that smug look disappear from his face.

- This evening.