C6 Finding yourself

**DAMIEN**

𝑇𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠.

My smartwatch chimed and I glanced down at it. Well, that was fast.

I pressed down on one of the control buttons on the treadmill and its speed tripled. I continued to push myself harder and harder, my heartbeat increasing along with the rhythm, until my phone beeped with an incoming email.

Snatching it from the safety cocoon attached to the treadmill, I stepped down and headed toward the bench located a few meters away. I plopped down on the bench and opened my phone to check the message.

It was an email from Cheryl detailing my schedule for the day. My eyes briefly scanned the whole piece and committed them to memory. I have a busy day ahead of me.

I fired another mail to her, telling her to get ready for the press conference that we would be attending together later in the day.

Suddenly feeling hot, I reached for my towel and bottled water. Screwing open the water, I titled the bottle back and gulped down the liquid.

“Why, hello there, handsome.” A sultry voice suddenly chirped in from the door.

Looking up and towards the entrance, I saw a brunette dressed in an expensive-looking gym outfit, the material hugging her body snugly and outlining every single shape, advancing towards me with what she thought to be a seductive smile adorning her lips.

My brows drew together and drifted back to the door. Did no one tell this woman that was a private gym room ?

She sashayed her way to where I was still reclining on the bench, her hips swaying softly in the tiny shorts that she was wearing.

“Sorry to intrude on anything,” she said with that undeniable twinkle in her eyes, and ran her eyes down my body with obvious interest. “I was right outside the door when I saw you all alone, and I just thought I might come in and say hi.”

Right. And I'm just going to believe that this was the first time that this woman was seeing, give me a break. I knew women like this, I'm going to bet you my ass that she already knew who I was. She'd probably orchestrated this meeting since last week – after stalking me online, of course– and decided to make her move today.

Exhaling a tired breath, I ignored her and her obnoxious heavy perfume and drank my water instead.

Undaunted by my subtle disinterest, she slunk closer and thrust her perfectly manicured hands forward. “I'm Stacy, by the way. Stacy Jones.” she purred and batted her lashes at me.

I nodded my head but didn't take her hand. She brought it down and chuckled, brushing aside the rejection.

“Hah! I get it now, you're one of those super private hot men, aren't you?” she giggled.

Ya, good to see you actually have a brain.

From the corner of my eye, I saw her blatantly checking me out, her gaze lingering on my bare chest. She adjusted her boobs which were stuffed in a push-up bra and bites into her lower lip.

“So, I was wondering,” she took another close closer, putting herself directly in my line of vision and practically thrusting her boobs in my face. ”If we could be friends? I'm new in town and I haven't gotten a chance to look around a bit. So–”

“Do I look like a travel or tour guide to you?” I asked, cutting her off.

She blinked her heavy fake lashes as if surprised I could speak. “Excuse me?”

“Look, Sophia–”

“The name is Stacy, I told you my name like 3 seconds ago,” she said in a huff and flipped her hair over her shoulder.

Oh, Stacy… Sophia. Whatever.

I looked at her, like really scrutinized her from head to toe and I saw her appeal. I mean, if you are into the feminine slutty kind with a breathy high-pitched voice but with no brain for taking hints, then, Stephanie is your girl. But she's not mine.

I prefer women with brains who can take a hint and not airheads.

I opened my mouth to tell her so when my phone beeped yet again, another text message popped up on my screen. My forehead creased.

Headache 1: Hey you, you're so in trouble.

My brows arched as another one popped in.

Headache 2: As a very concerned sister and your favorite by the way, I'm here to notify you of the tornado headed your way. *Kiss emoji*. All the best. Love you.

Another one followed suit.

Headache 3: Dearly beloved, I regret to announce that you're on the path to having your ass roasted. Sadly, this would be happening just as I am preparing for my wedding and I can't afford to leave my ever–loving fiancé to witness the event in person, but do keep me posted… That's if you're alive. Heeeeeeeee *Skulls and bones emoji*.

Ok… can anyone tell me why my sisters are sending these eerie messages to me right now?

Shaking my head, I stood up and walked to the door to get started with my day.

“Hey, handsome! Where are you going? We are not done talking.” Miss Sultry– voice yelled.

“Get a life, Sonia,” I grumbled under my breath. Some of us have work to do.

****

**CHERYL**

My life this morning has been a whirlwind. From speaking with the new interns on behalf of Mr. Heron to overseeing the expansion project going on in Houston due to our recent partnership with NASA and then finally settling down to plan and schedule me and Mr. Heron travel arrangements to New York for a conference meeting.

Removing my glasses, I rubbed my eyes and exhaled. I really need to get up and stretch my bones, or I'm going to end up scrapping myself out from this chair later or even risk getting stuck here forever. Like literally.

And I still have much to do. I reached for my glasses to put them back on when my phone rezzed. I sat up in my chair and looking down at the screen, groaned when I saw the caller I.d on the flat screen.

I picked up the call.

“Hi, mom.”

“Cheryl, darling! How are you, honey?” my mother's voice came through, cheerfully and chipper.

“I'm fine, mom. How are you and how's dad doing?”

She managed to sniff theatrically. “I'm fine, but your dad–” she sniffed again, and I squeezed my eyes shut, praying for strength from above. “He misses his baby girl, you know. It has been so long since you visited us last.”

I removed my glasses again and dropped them back on my desk. “Mom, I visited you guys last week and I even stayed over for three days,” I said.

She huffed. “Well, that's quite a long time in my book.” she insisted.

My mouth twitched. “Mom, I understand that you are getting quite bored staying at home and doing nothing but worry over me and Sheila, but I assure you that I am a grown woman capable of taking care of herself.”

“Of course, sweetie, I'm not doubting that. But I can't help but worry about my two babies – you especially. You can't blame me, it's a mother's thing,” she said.

“Mom, trust me, I'm fine and besides, I've got tons of work to do to keep me away from mischief.”

“But that's the whole point!” she suddenly exclaimed, and I heard her slamming her fists down on something. “You shouldn't be too absorbed in your job at your age. You should be out there, looking for my potential son-in-law.”

Oh boy! I rubbed the bridge of my nose as a headache so fierce began to thump slightly against my temple, and I wondered how on earth we managed to divert to this subject again.

“Tell me, when was the last time you dated –no scratch that, when was the last time you made an effort and tried dating someone, even if it's a girl.”

My nose instantly scrunched up in distaste. “No offense, Mom, but I'm not into women.” And also, no offense to all the Les out there, it's just not my thing.

“When was the last time you even had a makeover,” she gasped. “Please don't tell me, last year, I might actually break out in hives.”

“Mom, I'm really not ready to date anytime soon, I am a very busy woman and I will make no apologies for striving to build myself and make a mark in my field,” I paused to take a breath. “You know very well how the last one ended,” I added in a mumble.

“I know, honey, and am not against you making your mark out there. In fact, you know I have always been your biggest supporter since you got that job, 'cause I know how much you love it there and how you feel like you have finally found your haven,” she said softly.

Thick emotions clogged my throat as tears brimmed in my eyes, but I quickly sniffed it back and cleared my throat.

“All I am saying, sweetie, is that there's going to be a time when you would need someone to rely on, someone who would love you for everything you stand for, a companion, and you need to start building that companionship now.”

On a neutral ground, I understood what my mother was trying to say. But knowing it and finding it were two different things.

“Of course, mom.”

She sighed, and I could imagine her rubbing her eyes. “You are my daughter, Cheryl, my favorite one at that— please don't tell Sheila I said that, or she's going to have my head since I told her the same thing last week.”

Laughter bubbled in my throat and burst out through my lips. I instantaneously slapped a palm over my mouth to smother it. “Mom!” l laughed.

She huffed and puffed. “Well, it's true,” she defended herself. “And you're prettier too, so it is unclear to me why the hell you allowed Sheila to get married before you.” she mumbled the last past under her breath.

I chuckled. “Thanks for the compliment, Mom, but I have to go now. Duty calls!” I told her hurriedly as I glimpsed the door to Mr. Heron's office opening.

“Wait, Cheryl–”

“Bye for now, love you!” I promptly hung up with a big ass cheeky smile on my face.

Inevitably, my mind drifted off to what she said a few moments ago, and I sighed. My phone suddenly buzzed, and I snatched it up, grateful for the distraction.

It was an email from Damien, with the subject line “Rogers”.

I clicked on it and began to read. It was a list of instructions on how to handle the situation with Mr. Rogers and his company. As I read through it, I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Damien's strategic mind. He was always three steps ahead of everyone else, always making the right moves at the right time.

And yet, he was still so cold and aloof. It was like he had built a wall around himself, shutting out everyone and everything.

I wondered why.

I blinked, catching myself in the midst of my thinking. Ok, Cheryl… what was that? I shake my head vigorously again to get rid of any thinking about Damien.

I sighed and got to work on the project, knowing that I had a long night ahead of me.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realize when Ellie walked in. “Hey, Cheryl,” she said, startling me.

“Oh, hey,” I replied, quickly minimizing the document on my screen.

“You're working late,” she observed.

“Yeah, Damien gave me another project to handle,” I said, feeling the fatigue settling into my bones.

Ellie shook her head sympathetically. “You really need a break.”

I laughed mirthlessly. “I can't afford to take a break, Ellie. I have bills to pay.”

“Yeah, but your health is important too,” she said, pulling up a chair next to me. “You can't keep working like this.”

“I know,” I said, feeling a sense of frustration wash over me. Why is everyone saying this to me today? “But what can I do?”

“Have you thought about talking to Damien?” she asked.

I scoffed. “Talk to Damien? He doesn't care about anyone but himself.”

“Maybe he doesn't realize how much work he's been piling up on you,” she suggested.

I sighed. “Possibly.”

Ellie reached over and gave my hand a squeeze. “Just take care of yourself, ok?”

I nodded, grateful for her concern. As she got up and walked out of my office, I couldn't help but wonder if things would ever get better. Would Damien ever be anything other than my boss? Would I ever be anything other than his assistant?

Jesus Christ! What the actual fuck!

I shook my head, trying to dispel the negative thoughts. I had work to do and no time to waste on idle musings. As I got back to work, I made a silent promise to myself to take better care of myself, no matter what.

Absorbing myself fully into my work, I didn't even notice when Damien closed for the day and went home. It was only when I looked up at the clock and saw that it was already past nine that I realized how late it was. With a yawn, I gathered my things and made my way out of the building, my mind still running through all the tasks I had to complete before the end of the month.

I reached into my pocket to text Gwen and ask her if she's up for a late night meal. Opening the device, a text popped up on my screen.

Gwen: Hey, babes, I won't be coming home tonight. I'm out on a date. Lots of kisses *heart emojis*

I'm instantly flooded with disappointment. But I still text her back as a good friend.

Me: Wow! That's nice. Stay safe, and save all the juicy details for me later. *Wink emoji*

Gwen: Sure! See ya.

I pocketed my phone and sighed. “I guess it will just be me tonight.”

As I walked towards my apartment building, I made a solemn vow to take care of myself more, starting from tomorrow.