**Zahra**
A month later
My thoughts were still like gall, and anytime I closed my eyes, I felt miserable. The guilt had been eating me up.
It was as though I'm part of the reason why my mom had to meet her untimely death.
Am I really a disappointment to my parents because of this divorce and marriage thing she was talking about which I had no idea about?
My spirit sank even lower when the numerous unanswered questions clouding my mind couldn't be responded to by anyone, not even my so-called best friend.
What's actually going on?
I sat down there frozen on my couch and that sound that slipped through my mom's lip was still fixed in my mind like it happened yesterday.
As my mind was a crazy mixture of doubts, Lena's phone buzzed loudly and snapped through my reverie.
She raced from the kitchen and stared at the caller ID with a soft smile on her face. Then she double-tapped on the screen and kept it on loudspeaker.
"Hello, Miss Lena; how's she doing now? I just returned from a business trip and I heard what happened. Actually, that's heartbreaking, my condolences to the Kaplan family," a very familiar voice broke through me.
Suddenly, some names kept slipping through my thoughts, but they seemed unclear. The air seemed tense as confusion swirled in me.
"Mr Waltz…anyway, thank you," Lena replied as her eyes slowly swept over me.
"I'm pretty sure she will resume work soon," she added.
Is that Evander Waltz? The name echoed in the black stillness of my mind but I couldn't place my finger on anything though.
"My…my… who's that?" Lena interrupted me, as my words got stuck in my throat.
"Yeah, yeah Evander Waltz," she spoke with a forced smile curled on her lips.
"I hope you will resume work tomorrow right?" she asked and dropped the phone back on the table.
I stared at her in dismay, and I swallowed the lump that had risen in my throat. "Umm…I don't…but it seems…," my voice cracked.
He's just my boss? It seems there's something more to it though I can't place my finger on it.
All of a sudden, before my mind could process anything, tears slowly found their way through my cheeks unexpectedly.
My body stiffened and wave after wave of shock slapped at me. For a moment, I couldn't understand what was actually wrong with me.
"But why are you shedding tears? You don't trust me? Huh?," she questioned as her free hand wiped the tears on my face.
I sobbed and my voice choked as my lower lip trembled. I stared at her intently, and I couldn't help but wonder why my heart was beating so fast just at the mention of his name.
Is everything really alright with me?
"Umm…ugh…," I tried to grasp for air.
"Hey, hey! Zahra, look at me. I understand that you're still hurt…it's fine if you can't resume work now. I will inform Mr Waltz to extend your break," Lena spoke as she tried to place a call through to my boss.
Meanwhile, I wish I knew why my tears were flowing nonstop. Is it still about the demise of my mom?
"Oh it's fine. Okay? I will…but," I interrupted her and she was calm again.
"He sends his condolences to you too. I think probably it's because he couldn't reach you that's why he called me instead," Lena uttered while she handed over a phone to me.
"You should rest now…I guess, huh?" She suggested as her gaze instinctively moved to the wall clock.
"It's 9pm already," she added and I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
**********
My alarm clock woke me up the next morning on time. As I opened my eyes, the summer sunlight filtered through my window, filling my room with a honeyed glow.
It was as though I had a different energy all of a sudden and I hopped inside the shower to freshen up.
It wasn't long when I got ready for work without wasting much time. I admired the blue gown I had chosen for such a Monday morning as I stared at my reflection.
It made me feel like despite how confused I felt, I can conquer anything that comes my way.
I banged my door behind me as though something was about to change everything today. But I couldn't place my finger on it.
"Your breakfast in your car, Miss Kaplan," my maid spoke while coming from the kitchen when I stepped foot into the living room. I gave her a nod and headed on.
A few minutes later, I was at the Waltz Group and held my brakes in the garage. Through the window, I perceived a gentleman standing in the doorway.
As I swung the door of the car, that same gentleman was already near my car.
"Ugh! Thank goodness you're here finally, Miss Kaplan," his husky voice broke through me.
"Who are you? And why…are you this cheerful about my resumption?" I asked eagerly but my voice cut midway.
I didn't realise the minute everything I was holding fell on the floor.
I didn't understand what was happening to me. He can't just be my boss when the connection was undeniable, like something ancient that neither time nor distance could
erase.
"Is that his assistant now?"I questioned the gentleman closer to me, but my eyes couldn't leave them.
My deathly stares made him spun towards our direction, with a brief smile. "That? Hell no! Have you forgotten he got married not long ago? Or… are you confused?" His eyes slowly went back on them.
"That's his wife," he added.
Before I could reply, before I could understand the depth of his words, Mr Waltz was an inch closer to me and bent down to pick up my stuff, which had scattered on the floor.
"Sorry, Miss Kaplan," he said softly.
"Oh, your breakfast? But that's not a problem, it will be replaced with coffee," I gasped in disbelief.
How…how did he know I love coffee in the morning as breakfast rather than tea? My mind couldn't process anything but…
"What…coffee?" That slipped through my lips as my eyes roamed on him.
"Yeah…I mean…is that okay?" his voice broke miserably.
I stared at his lips and the only thing fixed on my mind was how badly I yearned for them at once.
"I got you an assistant by the way. He's Javon. And my condolences, too, for your loss," his words seemed to hang in the air as my eyes flew open.
I blinked rapidly, trying to push away the crazy thoughts that had clouded my mind, but it seemed impossible.
And before I could utter a word, he turned towards Javon and handed over my belongings to him.
"It is really great…you're here today. Your assistant will take you through the research projects we're handling currently," he added but his voice kept on stuttering.
"Th…ank you. I will…I mean, I will check them out and give you feedback," I managed to say.
"What the hell is going on over there Evander?! You kept me waiting just because of a stupid staff," that voice shattered me.
"Anyway, I will be waiting for your feedback on the projects," he spoke as he tiptoed towards his wife who was breathless with fury.
I needed to shake this thought off my mind as soon as possible. He's someone's husband and I'm unsure if I'm hallucinating.
I don't know why I feel he is mine and not hers. Or just maybe I'm insane like my mom told me? Or something far stranger had happened?
Why the hell is Lena not saying anything?