Chapter 8 Dead End

When he left, I took a deep breath, calming my racing heart as I put my hand over my chest, failing to suppress my smile. One meeting with him and I was experiencing an ancient connection. And how could it go unnoticed by my boss? "He is surely enticing, isn't he?" Mr. Layne taunted with a hint of rage. “What?” I turned to him, realizing I swayed for a moment. Blinking when everyone was gone as he was leaning on the table, one hand over my notepad while his other hand was in his pocket. He was giving me an unfathomable look which left me dazzled. "And here I thought you would slap him for kissing your hand." He mumbled and ridiculed me, that was something he did from time to time. ‘It depends upon the person and the situation.’ I truly wanted to retort back to him but I remained silent. He straightened his back and closed the gap, hands in the pocket. He leaned down to my level as he began to say scornfully. "It depends upon the person and the situation, right? Isn't that what you were thinking?" “How do you-” I opened my mouth, left baffled how he knew. He took out his hand from his pocket having a handkerchief in his hand. He held my left wrist without asking and yanked it to him. My heart skipped a beat when my boss was holding my wrist, immobilizing me while towering over me, probably not realizing how close he was. “S-Sir?” I asked hesitantly, startled at his action. Before I could say anything further, he spoke softly, "If you are hurt you better apply an ointment on it." "I-I don't have one." I reasoned, he wrapped the handkerchief around my palm. “It’s okay, you don’t have to.” I raised my gaze and looked at him, devoid of emotions, noticing his enticing features from up closer, moving his thumb over my small bruise. “Unhealed bruises leave a mark and marks taints one’s skin.” He was bewildering me, holding my hand in a firm grip that stunned me before making a keen eye contact as he whispered. “And I hate scars,” “I don’t understand. What do you mean?” I asked, confused. It was going to heal anyways. “Leave it. It’s useless to speak of a thing you cannot understand.” He tied a knot and looked at me blankly, noticing my discomfort. I realized we are a bit too close and took a step back. "T-Thank you." I said, sincerely but looking away. His talk made me vexed as I rested my hand over my chest, not meeting his gaze because he was right. Scars truly taint you but not your skin- your soul… just like mine. “Are you sure about Lucien?” He asked out of the blue. I blushed, “What?” Was it that noticeable? Was it because of his stares or my shyness? “Don’t,” “I don’t understand… what do you mean?” “Just, don’t, stop right there, don’t go further,” “Sir, I-” He took a step toward me, dangerously closer causing me to flinch and left before saying that; looking deeply into my eyes. "You will find yourself at a dead end, Garnet. He will block your path… Watch your every step." Before I could ask what he meant, he left. I wanted to ask him what he was trying to say, what he meant that I am at a dead-end. Or who was going to block my path? ‘What exactly was this dead end?’ What he was trying to tell me is beyond my comprehension. The knitted tension whenever his words reached me- inscrutable yet fatal. “Forget it, Garnet, it’s nothing.” I shivered and shook my head, to liberate my mind from these perceptions. I quickly grabbed my stuff. Staring at the handkerchief on my hand, an unruly beat raced in my chest but considering it pointless, I left. I reached home at night because my workplace was quite far from Lesley's place. I entered her apartment and saw her chilling and watching TV. "Hey! So... Did you finally sign the contract?" She asked cheerfully. "Yeah... but it was so strange." I mumbled. I handed her the contract paper and sat on the sofa after taking off my shoes and putting them in their place. "Maybe someone is being possessive." She teased. I looked at her in disbelief. "Did you hit your head?" I asked. "What? I am right, who indirectly prohibits their PA from talking to other employees?" She tried to reason. "Every employee signs a contract. I am no special." I said, sighing. "You sure?" She asked, leaning in. I roughly took off the handkerchief and threw it at her. "Here you go, the handkerchief of the king of hearts; Roy Layne. It has his scent. You’re gonna love it." I said in an uninterested tone, turning my attention to the television. "What?! Really?! Oh My God!" She exclaimed in such enthusiasm like I have given her holy grail. She inhaled it and breathed out like it was a drug, "So addictive… and expensive, of course. No wonder no woman can resist it." She said, hopelessly, leaned back, smiling. "Are you serious?" I said, agitated. "Of course. All women die to be with him and when you are so close to him, you are not even using this opportunity." "Lesley, I go there for work. Look at him and at me, see any match? Moreover I slapped him. Now, he would slap me to make us equal if I made a move." All my chances were lost. “Great, then you guys would be equal. You slapped him for making a move, he will slap you for making a move. Tit for tat.” She smiled, giving me a thumbs up but I scoffed. "I wonder what kind of a woman you are? Forbidden fruits are delicious, girl. I wouldn’t miss it.” “He was interested in you but too bad you lost your chance." She mumbled, again inhaling his scent from the handkerchief and acting as if the premium stuff was supplied to her. “It's not me who is different, it’s you, Woman. Your fantasies revolve around forbidden bonds.” I reminded her. “I guess, I am easily aroused.” She shrugged, agreeing with me. "Hey! There's blood on it! Is he okay? Is he hurt?" She gasped. I just showed her my palm as she gave me a smirk which caused me to raise an eyebrow at her. "What?" I asked. Her smirk grew wicked when she leaned in. "Oo~" She cooed. "Shut the hell up. You may find him very desirable but I have bigger problems to deal with. I don't have time for it.” She whined at my declination but I got up. “So please, stop these absurd thoughts from entering your mind." I said, poking her head. "Give it back, I need to return it." I said monotonously. She groaned and gave it back. I went to my room. I freshened up, I looked at the handkerchief and washed it. Lesley went crazy over a handkerchief if she saw him at his work, drowned in his deep intoxicating scent, his dominating presence and extremely appealing appearance, not to mention how flawless he held his posture; she would die. When I- who had no interest couldn’t help but to stare then she would melt like ice. I sighed and decided to call it a day. I changed and was about to fall asleep but then my phone rang and the most unexpected person, Mr. Layne called. My heart skipped a beat at his call at this hour. "Hello.." I said softly, trying not to sound sleepy but I was exhausted. "Sorry to disturb your sleep, Ms. Beth, I forgot to tell you something." He said in his usual deep voice. "Yes, Sir?" I asked, suppressing a yawn. "Since you were too lost in staring at ‘someone’, you forgot to get the address from me of his studio." How could he gain solace without taunting me? "I might be lost in someone's words too." I retorted, a frown coming to my features. "You should be. By the way, I have texted you the address of the studio. And be present at 11 am sharp." He ordered. "Okay Sir." I said to which he hummed. There was nothing to talk about so I quickly put the phone down and exhaled and closed my eyes. I yawned and shrugged his words off and drifted to sleep. The next day, I wore a dark blue buttoned shirt and rolled up its sleeves with black pants and rolled my sleeves. The day's gonna be long and tiring so I secured my hair in a ponytail and let some strands of hair fall on my face. I sighed and put his handkerchief in my pocket, it was sure expensive. It was 10. Lesley was gone, I ate some cookies with a glass of milk and decided to leave. The studio was close to my place so I reached it exactly on time. I was glad that I wasn't late or else it would have given Mr. Layne a new reason to mock me. Taking a deep breath, I found myself outside of the infamous photographer dream, delighted to see his place and entered.