Cliff’s POV
I rushed out as soon as the elevator opened, pushing open the door to my office.
I had a feeling that Bonita wasn’t handling things well.
I didn’t know why or how, but I just felt it.
That gut feeling when you know something’s wrong, or rather guessing she bumped into trouble while I was gone.
If she happened to bump into my father, then it would be chaos. He wasn’t one to handle women I met very well. He was sort of naive and always atrocious when it comes to having a conversation with them.
I saw what happened between her and my sister, I just didn’t have the guts to stop Melody from hurting her.
I mean she always tells me everything I needed to know.
She never once lied to me.
And so does my father.
But why was there something that wasn’t seem to be clicking into place, someone lost and out of place in my life, like Bonita?
The moment my eyes met her amazing ones, there was a dull feeling from my thoughts that suddenly drew close to remembering.
And that moment, once she wrapped her arms around me, I felt an overpowering sensation like sparks running up her arms and connecting to my body.
I flung the door open.
It was a sight to see, not really what I was expecting, but my office was empty.
I squinted my eyes to the door leading to Bonita’s office, seeing it slightly open.
I came in closer, grasping the cold knob on my hands. I heard voices, both familiar to my hearing.
I pulled the door wide.
I backed away, seeing my father standing infront of the door. “Father, I never thought that you were aquainted with Bonita” I said, glancing to Bonita who looked pained and desperate to see me.
Was she crying?
“Actually, I told her to handle her job seriously since you always have a hard time finding the right secretary for you” Father said, shifting in his position and blocking my sight from Bonita.
He smiled at me and placed both hands on my shoulders. “If this one’s giving you a hard time, let me know and I’ll hire you a better one”
I didn’t know what he was trying to point out, but I grew angry from his choice of words and shrugged his hands off my shoulder.
I tried to speak without any anger heard from my tone. “It’s no bother, I can already tell that she can handle the job pretty well” I looked back to Bonita, the look on her face looked even more horrible.
I reached out to her, but my father interluded and placed an arm over my shoulder. “Why don’t we talk for a moment son? See what’s been happeing since I left to visit your mom?”
I looked over my shoulder, expecting to see Bonita still on the same position, instead I saw her walking away. I flinched when she closed the door behind her and left from my sight.
I sighed, trying to let out all the stress punding in my head. I took a seat across from my father, seeing the grin on his face as he sat down. ” I see you’ve had a business deal with Zachary, how’s that going so far?”
I pursed my lips. “Our partnership has been a terrific addition to increasing our sales, they benefit from us and we do the same”
He clasped his hands together, satisfied from my answer. “Very good, I always knew I could count on you”
I tried to smile back but my mind wasn’t focused on business right now, It was clouded with worry for Bonita.
Her pained face bothered me so much, I scrutinized my eyes to the ground, trying to remeber her face as she looked at me and my father.
“Are you ready for a wife now? I can get you one immediately”
I narrowed my eyes, petrified by the idea of marrying right now. I didn’t know why that felt so queasy, hearing him say that. The last time he asked that, I wasn’t so fraught by the topic, but now it felt like my father asked me a rhetorical question.
“Now’s not the right time”
“Why do you wait?”
“Because I’m expecting someone else”
My father raised a brow. ” And who’s that?”
My heart begun to pound rapidly against my chest, the one person I could think of an answer to that question was someone I barely even knew.
I laughed, the sound quite nervous and shaky. “I haven’t met her yet, but I’m sure I’ll be meeting her soon”
My father had a scowl on his face, filling my head with confusion. “You know I don’t like lies son”
I creased my brow, bewildered by his declaration. “I’m not”
“Is it her? Is it that pathetic secretary?” He snarled, anger clear from his tone. I was angry for some reason, the flame flickering inside as I tried to control my outburst.
“She’s not pathetic, she’s somehow amusing and interesting at the same time” I thought of her, the hands that once sent sparks running through my body as she combed her luscious brown hair, the eyes that gazed and pierced my soul as we met, and her soft vanilla scent that lured me in closer to her.
My father scoffed, my observation of Bonita gone as he glared at me and walked out of my office.
I didn’t follow after him.
As I sat down on my chair, I can’t help but to think of Bonita again.
I stood up from my chair and promptly walked out of the room, searching for the lady that walked away from me. I searched high and low, every room I went she wasn’t there.
I stopped, catching my breath from running around the hallway. I brought out my hanky and wiped the sweat from my face, I was tired but restless to find her, I wasn’t going to give up until I see her.
I tried once again, with luck on my side this time as I happened to bump into the man Bonita was with a while ago.
I tugged him by the arm, stopping him in his tracks. He narrowed his eyes at me before hesitating to stand still. “Have you seen Bonita?” I asked, one brow furrowed. His face showed pain as if he had been punched in the gut.
I left him, impatient and had no time for his emotional outburst. I ran through the halls, once again checking every door I passed by, earning a few judging looks from my employees. I narrowed my eyes at them and they mumbled their apology before ignoring me.
There was one room I haven’t checked, and it was the restroom.
I rushed to my destination, hoping to find her as soon as possible.
I stopped once I saw her walking out of the bathroom, wiping her eyes as if she’s been crying.
She met my stance and paused, sniffling quietly as she stared at me. Her blue orbs fascinated me as I got closer, whiffing the vanilla scent she always smelled of.
She was my addiction, like a drug that kept me wanting her all over again. Even if I once stopped, the yearning desire to covet her was unstoppable.
I wasn’t sure whether this was wrong or right, but I was certain about one thing.
It’s that chances are worth the gamble, and I’m willing to risk anything to reveal her purpose in my messed up life.