(Orion Ligh)
Last week was particularly strange. During the meeting, I sensed a little bit of hostility from Mr. Colton, even though we'd never met before. It was uncomfortable; his dismissive tone and piercing gaze felt out of place. The atmosphere in the room shifted as I sensed the tension, making it a nerve-wracking experience that I couldn't quite shake off.
I need to finish packing this lunch for my jewel.
"Where's my kiss....have a nice day...love you too. Now get or you'll be late."
I can't believe I'm still going to meet him. It's not that I don't want to meet him, it's just that this project is draining a lot of my energy. I'm not used to directly working with companies that'll help us with building one of our hotels. The kitchen is more of my area I don't even know why they had me supervise, the leading team, which in all honesty feels like I'm just there for show. I don't know anything about architecture and all the building stuff.
I should start get going. I can't have any misunderstanding again with Colton. It will be like a stain I can't get rid of. I have to prove that I can keep time.
Picking up my car keys, I step into the garage and enter into my Mini Cooper. I like small cars they're fast and it's enough for both my jewel and I. Stepping on the gas, I arrive at the construction site on time. Well, I'm going to get an earful later on but at least I wasn't late.
" Sense of time ensures that we get done with the formalities in time, Mr Ligh, are we going to have a problem with that?" Colton questions and then continues, "I'm a busy person; I don't deal with people like you." His tone is calm, but cold and icy.
"That won't be a problem, Mr Cypraes, that won't affect our work in any way," I reply, I hope my voice sounded understanding and apologetic, but I doubt my expression showed it. Jeez, talk about lack of understanding.
He just scoffs at my lame excuse. Everyone is now looking at us, expecting something big to happen, I mean I would be too, the way he's staring at me just gives me goosebumps. Turning around he walks off and leaves me and everyone proceeding to enter into the incomplete building for inspection. I follow behind him hoping to apologize for my lateness but when I get close to him, he turns around with a scornful look staring at me.
"Have you been waiting for me?" I ask. He just stares at me up and down as if am some kind of dirty thing in his universe.
" Why would I? There's nothing special about you, don't flatter yourself." He scoffs.
" You do realize am not even on the team, am someone who's just here to watch and make sure no make mistakes are made in preparation for the finalization of the hotel." I practically throw it onto his face.
He brushes past me and practically, ignores me. The audacity of this man. Does he not know I'm very well-liked, except for my very sarcastic remarks? I should work on that it's not something to be proud of.
"Are you just gonna stand there or are you going to join us 'MR LIGH'." Okay like right now the way he says my name is full of hate, pure hate. What did I ever do to him? I barely know him, what's his problem with me?
Catching up to them, we make our way to the beach where they are discussing where to place the family section area. Okay I know when to appreciate men who know how to use their tools but this is next level, are they going to strip now? This is a bad idea I shouldn't stare. It's all that ' work from home' song fault.
Damn, how do you get your muscles to do that? Looking at my arms, I just smile, I mean there's a little bit of a muscle going on there.
"Mr Cypraes that just about does it." I'm brought back by our team leader.
"Let's end it here for today, we shall be in contact In case there's anything that needs changing," he looks over at me and then smirks " Mr Ligh are you done lusting over the construction workers."
" I'm sorry, what? Am I not allowed to appreciate the work they are doing? They are hardworking people who show dedication in their work and it's beautiful, everything about them is beautiful." I try to defend my dignity, that's what people normally do in scenarios such as this. I know I'm failing miserably. The look on his face just tells me it all. He just smirks at me as if he's just figured something out I don't know, weirdo. He then turns to Jake and ignores me again.
"Stupid mutt." He mutters under his breath but I heard it.
"Excuse me!" I blurt it out
He turns back and looks at me. "What?."
"Nothing." I shot back quickly.
Everyone is quiet just looking at us. The tension has grown I don't know what's his deal.
"I'm sorry but I have to ask. Did I do something to you, because it seems like you're out to get me? I don't even know you to begin with and you don't even know me, although we don't know each other plus I apologized the other day," Everyone is staring between us and I mean everyone "Is it because of my presence if you'd like I can skip coming here to 'babysit', my team, Jake can handle himself quite well might I add."
He's taken aback by my sudden outburst. He looks at me and then at everyone else. Were his eyes always that color, hmm, why does he have those eye colors, it's a waste, he doesn't deserve it, could he be nope that's impossible they said it's a common eye color it can't be him.
He clears his throat and answers back in his deep commanding CEO voice. If only he wasn't such an uptight guy, biting my lower lip.
"What makes you think that I hate you," I'm startled and brought back to reality. " You're right I don't know you, am not planning to, you just piss me off. You're a lazy person, who gets distracted easily."
He doesn't know me, yet he is judging my character, what's wrong with him.
"That's it," looking at him, I was expecting something more that is anticlimactic," okay then." He looks at me like he's the one who is offended. Everyone just smiles politely as if they've just withstood a tsunami. Now it's time for my exit. I walk over trying to bump into his shoulders, but I fail, miserable, the height difference is noticeable. His biceps are firm, what does this guy eat, I'm the food expert. I need to salvage my image quickly. Feigning coughing.
"Excuse me I need to leave," coughing "I don't feel good." Walking faster to my car,... enhh! where are my keys?
"You dropped this." Aah shit! why is his voice so deep?
Turning around and taking it from his hand, that's weird. We look at each other as if confirming it at the same time.
I immediately go for my car. I couldn't wait to get out of whatever situation this was. Please start, ooh thank God the car started I thought it wouldn't. I should stop reading novels, I'm going to engrave those words into my brain. I was about to become a cliché, nobody likes that.
Once I got into my house, I immediately went to the bathroom to take a shower. I need to wash away my curse I'm sure Colton Cypraes cursed me, or today just wasn't my lucky day. I know what I must do, find a four-leaf clover. And what was that weird staring, a shiver went down my spine. Just then my phone buzzed it's Richard.
"Yes, dad,"
"Boy, answer the damn phone with greetings, anyway I was asking when you guys are coming over to visit me, it's getting kinda lonely in this house." Old single parents are like children.
Why couldn't he just date like every other single person?
"Dad I told you, we'll come over after next week. I just need to wrap up the business proposal we're working on and we'll come over."
"Okay, what about your siblings? Are they also coming or they're too busy to come."
" Yes we are all coming don't worry Dad, you'll develop wrinkles. Will you now get straight to the point, you always use the same ploy each month it's getting old. You want the night' muffins don't you?"
"Wh..wh-at... Yes! Yes please, I tried ordering from the cafe but they told me it's exclusive, how was I to know that your muffins are only available on certain days and that they're even rare to get. So will you make me some, please for your old man."
"Sure thing dad, take care I've got to go. I need to go pick up my love right now or else she'll throw a fit. Bye and take care." Stepping out of the shower I quickly dress up in my very oversized hoodie and walk out the door to my car.