OPPOSITE ATTRACTION - Part 2 Episode 10

Clara’s POV

His lips are softer than I expected. My insides are just melting.

I am too much in the kiss to even notice his touch.

My hands reach up and my fingers bunch his hair in my fist as the kiss deepens.

I didn’t know this is how a kiss feels. This my first time kissing someone, but it feels so comfortable.

Instead of feeling nervous, I feel calm. Like this is meant to be.

I let him lead as I feel like floating on water. I feel like I am on cloud nine.

I don’t know what is happening to me, but it feels so good.

I want to kiss him more and more. Our tongues dance for a while. I am lost in the kiss, in him and in this moment.

“You are the charm of my life.”

“You are mine.”

“I love you, Cara Mia.”

And just like that, the spell cast on me breaks. I let him go immediately breathing for air.

I look up and find him doing the same. He is looking at me intensely.

Whose voice was that in my head? Am I imagining things?

Why did that voice sound so familiar? My mind is suddenly all over the place.

His hands are still around my waist. I move to get out of his hold and he lets me.

“Are you okay?” He asks and just then I go back to the moment we are kissing and realize this is going to be awkward now.

This is going to be so awkward now. But his voice… It sounds so familiar to the one I heard in my head.

What is happening to me? Maybe I am just too infatuated with him that I am imagining it all!

“I am fine, Mr. Bryant.” I look here and not having the courage to look into his eyes.

This is my first kiss and I kissed my boss. Oh clara! “I think I should leave.”

I quickly exit the room and walk to the living room.

I hear his footsteps behind me. Picking up my things and dumping them in my bag,

I take my phone and turn around to find him looking at me intently. “See you tomorrow.”

He nods his head. “Drive safely.” His voice is so monotone that I can’t detect what he is feeling.

I nod my head once and walk to the lift. He follows me.

“Don’t forget to take your medicines, you have two meetings tomorrow.” I remind him.

“I will.”

The lift doors close and I let a breath out.

Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! What the hell?!

I kissed my boss?! Fuck! What is wrong with me?

I am so fucked up! I hit my head and nearly bang my head against the wall.

Clara! Don’t you ever think before you act?! Just why?

Now that I think about it, he didn’t even stop me when I was leaving.

Did he like it? Did he not? What will he say tomorrow?

Will it be awkward between us from now? Was it just a heat of the moment thing?

My heart hurts a little that he didn’t even care to stop me.

Why would he? It’s not like he has any feelings for me. Do I have any feelings for him? Do I? Do. I?

I sit down on the lift floor all the while as it goes down and pull my hair.

Aah! Why do these things keep happening to me?

“Miss! Miss, are you okay?” I hear someone’s voice.

I look up and man in his mid-forties is looking at me with concern.

He is wearing a security uniform. When did the lift doors open? I stand up and walk out.

“I am fine.”

“Are you sure?”

No! I just kissed my boss and ran away from him.

He didn’t even try to stop me. Now it’s going to be awkward from tomorrow.

I don’t know if he wants to talk about it. What do I do, if he wants to?

Or worse, what do I do if he doesn’t want to? What if he gets angry and doesn’t want me to work in the company anymore?

What will happen to me then? I have to start searching for a new job!

Miss?” He calls out again.

“I am fine.”

“Okay.”

He nods and walks away.

I get in my car and start driving. Should I start looking for a new job?

He didn’t seem angry. When I said ‘see you tomorrow’ he didn’t say no.

This is all too much to handle. I should stop freaking out. Okay. Deep breathes. In. Out. In. Out. In. Oh no, this is not helping!

My mind goes back to the kiss we shared. The kiss!

My fingers instantly go to my lips. I can’t think of anything else other than the way his lips felt against mine.

The way he slowly kissed me. Oh God! I should think of something else.

My hand went to my heart. It’s beating so rapidly. I can hear it, like I have run tens of miles.

Coming home, I just sat in the car, taking in everything that has happened while trying to calm my heart down.

I put my head on the steering wheel leaving a long breath.

Okay. Okay! Just calm down. Don’t freak out. It’s not a big deal.

You kissed your boss and… Oh my GOD! I KISSED MY BOSS!

Getting out of the car, I walk in to my house.

“Oh, there she is. I was just about to call you.” Mom says while eating her lunch.

Michael is sitting beside mom on the couch.

“We just started. Get your plate.”

I smile and drop my bag on the table before going into the kitchen and coming out with a plate full of food.

Sitting down beside them, I put the plate in my lap.

I just start eating while watching the TV. The kiss keeps replaying in my head.

His lips. His touch. The way we kissed. Everything is so… so deep, passionate and… familiar. What is this feeling?

“Sweetie, are you okay?” I hear mom ask and I turn to look at her before giving her a smile.

“Yeah.” I can tell she knows that I am not.

“How was work today? You usually don’t go on Saturday.”

“It’s fine. It’s just that I need to give him a few files and he had fever so I bought him some medicines.”

“What?” She turns to me. Now she is interested. “How is he now?” I give her a weird look. Why is she so concerned for my boss?

“He seems better now.”

She just nods her head. “Why are you in a bad mood?” She asks. I shrug my shoulders.

“I am not. I just… It’s nothing.”

“Okay.” She looks at me to make sure and I give her a smile. Her attention turns to the TV. Then I remember.

“Mom?”

“Mm?”

“Did something happen in the past two years? Did I date anyone?” I seriously want to know.

She looks at me for a second. Even Michael turns to me. “Why are you suddenly asking that, Sweetie?”

“I don’t know. I… I fell like… like I am missing something.” I look at both of them. “Am I?”

“Clara, we told you everything. Maybe you are just feeling that way because you don’t remember what happened.”

“I guess so.”

My mom just gives me a smile. “I want you to be happy, Clara.”

“I am happy, Mom.”

After lunch, I just go to my room and try to take a rest.

My mind is revolving around so many things. The kiss and the voice.

Whose voice can it be? Is it just my imagination? I around on my bed and groan into the pillow.

Before I know it, it’s Monday. I did nothing this whole weekend.

I just sulked in my room. Although I should say that I am going a bit crazy cause I swear that I saw Mr. Bryant at the park where I went on Sunday evening. I shake my head at myself.

I am. Going. Crazy.

Why would he come there?

I reach to the office and I have never felt this nervous before.

I am almost sweating. Going up to his floor, I place my bag near my desk and take the notepad.

Okay, Clara! Calm down now. That kiss was just something that happened in the heat of the moment. It’s nothing.

Is it though?

Just pretend like it’s not a big deal. Just go in, take notes, come out and do your job like you regularly do. That’s it.

Come on. You can do it.

I walk to his door and gather all my courage. I take a deep breath and let it out.

Just remember. He is your boss and you are his assistant. That’s it.

I knock on the door and wait for his permission.

“Come in,” comes his voice from the other side. Oh God! Why does his voice sound so sexy?!

I push open the door and walk in. There he sits, owning the chair.

He does. My heart rates speeds up and I bit my lip to control my nervousness. Be confident!1

“Good morning, Mr. Bryant.” He looks up from the file and oh my. My eyes instantly go to his lips.

“Good morning, Ms. Edwards.” I look up at his eyes. Oh, the ever so captivating eyes.

“Um…” My throat gets dry and I look away. “I…” look down at my notes to find something to say.

Oh yes! The mails! “I have sent you the mail regarding the presentation that you asked for.”

“Yes, I got them.”

“Oh, the interview that you did on Saturd-Friday… I mean Friday.” Come one, Clara.

Don’t bring up Saturday! He is looking at me to continue.

“What about it?”

“It will be published next month.”

“Okay.” He doesn’t care about it. Of course! The Perfect Man.

How can he sit there and talk to me as if nothing happened between us?

“Is everything ready for the evening’s meeting?”

“Yes. All set.” Today there is a meeting with the financial department to discuss the financial statements of the past quarter year and to plan for the next quarter.

“That’s it then.” That’s it?! So, all this while I have been feeling nervous for nothing? How is he so casual about it?

“Okay.” I turn around to leave. Well that was easy.

“Ms. Edwards.”

“Yes!” Why do I have to sound so exited? Was I waiting for him to call me? Why?

“Can you get a cup of coffee?” He asks without looking while typing on his computer.

“Sure. Black?”

“Like always.”

“Okay.”

I come out of the office and put the notepad down on my go to the pantry.

As I prepare the coffee, only one thing reels in my mind.

He talked with me like nothing happened between us? Isn’t that what I wanted?

I should be happy about it? Why do I feel sad?

My heart hurts. I mean, come on. We kissed! How can he forget that kiss?! Oh God!

Kiss! Kiss! KISS!

I need to think of something else. I take the cup filled with coffee now and place it on the saucer. I look at the coffee as I walk to his cabin.

Black. Coffee!

I mean, who drinks it?

I knock on his door but there was no response. Entering in, I do not find him near his desk.

Maybe he is in the bathroom. Walking to his table, I was about to set the coffee down before I looked at it.

Mm. Black coffee? He is not here. Maybe I can try it once. No harm. Right?

I slowly sip it a little. No! It’s not for me! I put it down on the table. Just then, I hear footsteps.

Oh, he is back! I act like I am adjusting the files on his table.

Did he see me sipping his coffee? Why do I always get in things like this?!

“Thank you for the coffee.”

I look at him as he walks towards the table to his chair. Seems like he didn’t see it. “You are welcome.”

“About Saturday.” He starts and my heart just dropped dead. I look at him dumbfounded.

“What?” Is he going to talk about the kiss?

“Did you note the points about the company we discussed.” So, he is not going to talk about the kiss.

“Um… Yes.”

“Ms. Edwards.” I look at him as he calls. “Please sit down for a second.”

He takes the coffee cup and was about to sip it as I sit in one of the chairs.

Instead of sipping he looks at the cup inspecting it and then at my lips before sipping it. ”

Good coffee. Tastes better than usual.” He sets it down.

I look at him nervously. What do you say to your extremely hot boss whom you kissed? Kiss me again maybe. Stop it!9

I look at him nervously. What is he going to say? What should I say?

One Month Later

“Is that all?” I ask him as I write down what he said.

“Yes. Get the presentation ready by tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“Is everything ready for the evening’s meeting?”

“Yes. I compiled the data you asked for and have sent the mail as you asked.”

“Thank you. That is all.”

I give him a stern nod as I walk out of his cabin.

I walk to my seat and sit down on my chair. My fingers run through my hair and I let out a sigh.

I start on the presentation for tomorrow right away.

Before I know it, it’s four O’clock. Going to the conference room I make sure everything is ready.

There is still fifteen minutes before everyone arrives and I sit there waiting for them to come.

My mind wanders and goes to the time when we discussed about the kiss.

“Ms. Edwards. I don’t want to beat around the bush.

I know you are feeling uncomfortable around me considering what happened when you came to my house on Saturday.”

I open my mouth to speak but he cut me off.

“I just want to clear the air.”

“I understand. It was just a heat of the moment thing. It’s no big deal.”

He just looks at me as I speak. I don’t want him to say that, that’s why I said it before he can. It felt it would hurt more if he says it.

“You don’t need to worry.” He then slowly gives a nod.

“Anything else?” I ask. He looks back at his computer, completely ignoring me. I was a fool to think he would be interested in me.

I was too excited about this whole thing and I just feel like an idiot.

Nothing. You can leave.”

I get up and walk out of his cabin. Why does this feel so painful? It was just a kiss.

Although it’s my first kiss, it shouldn’t bother me. I feel tears pool in my eyes.1

I take a deep breath and let it out. I don’t want to think about it again, It’s been replaying in my head all month and it’s not helping at all.

This whole month, things have been weird between us.

None of us would look in the eye properly for the first week.

Sometimes Michael would come over due to office work relating to the other companies that Bryant Group owns.

The first time he came, he sat in my cabin and we worked together. It was so fun working with him.

At one moment we were laughing when Mr. Bryant walked in.

He stared at Michael for a few seconds and called him into his office.

I didn’t know what to say. He looked angry. He must have been angry because we were slacking time during office hours.

From the next time, even though Michael came, he would only meet me for a few minutes during lunch breaks.

I didn’t mean to cause him trouble so I stayed away from him.

We would only talk on phone to co-ordinate regarding Mr. Bryant’s schedule for the week.

So the whole month went by, but the kiss and our conversation about it keeps playing in head.

But what concerns me the most is the voice that I heard in my head when we kissed.

I still can’t understand whether it’s just my illusion or if it’s real.

I wish I remember what happened in the past two years.

Sighing I look out the window. Today is Thursday. Still one more day before it’s weekend.

Weekend. I still didn’t figure out who is the person that’s been sending me the bouquets.

Too many things. Arrgh!

Soon everyone arrives and we all greet each other.

David from financial team sits beside me. I have only known him since past three months when I started as a trainee for Mr. Bryant as his assistant.

I can tell that he is interested in me. He is a nice man. He is the gossip of the financial department.

He is well appreciated for his work. He has a good reputation.

He is the guy a girl would take to meet her parents. He never asked me out. I have too much going on.

So, it’s all just… just… So frustrating! I give him a smile and that’s when Mr. Bryant comes in to the room.

He gives us a look and shortly the meeting starts. I note down the minutes of the meeting and after an hour the meeting ends.

During the meeting though I did feel David sneaking glances at me and when I look eyes with him, I would give him an awkward smile.

Once the meeting ends, few stay behind to speak with Mr. Bryant while others get up to leave.

Walking to the lift, I wait for it when I hear someone calling my name. I turn around to find David.

“Clara! Hi!” He smiles. I should say, he is charming and cute.

“Hey!” I give him a smile back. That’s all seems to be happening between us. Smile. Smile. Smile.

“Can I speak with you for a minute?”

“Sure. What is it?”

“Look. I like you. I think you are sweet. I know we have only met few times and shared a few words. But, I would like to know you more.”

I stare at him calmly, while I am screaming inside.

“Would you like to…” He trails off. “Um…” Oh my God! He is so cute! “Would you like to go on a date with me?”

I am not going to lie, I thought he might bring it up some day, but not this soon.

“You don’t have to answer now. You can think about it and let me know.”

I relax a bit once he says that.

“You have my number, right?”

“Yes.”

“Will be waiting for your reply.” He gives me a full blown smile that almost makes me smile. Just then the lift comes and he gets in. I was about to get in.

“Ms. Thomas!” Oh no! I look back and there he is. Mr. Bryant! The Handsome Man! No!

The Angry Man! Why is he so angry these days?!

“Come with me. I have a few things to discuss.” He quickly walks to his private lift. I look back at David and give him a smile.

“Bye.”

“”Bye!” He replies back and I walk into the lift with Mr. Bryant

The atmosphere suddenly got cold. I look up and fid his jaw clenching. I look away.

Oh my my!..