Stone Cold

It felt like today was an unfolding array of unfortunate events. First the new place of residency, the gigantic rock on my ring finger and now this.

"You two, feel free to get acquainted with the place, I'll be in my office." Julian left us to fend for ourselves. We didn't look entirely out of the ordinary, but we looked important. If the looks we received while walking down the corridor was any indication, then we probably looked like we owned the place--which wasn't wrong.

Side by side, Arican and I decided to walk the plank. He was still not talking to me and I was starting to feel restless. We'd been going against our families, fighting for our freedom since day one. Yesterday, we both signed the wedding certificate thinking the other would refuse but with no such luck. It's official now, we're married and the businesses behind our families have been joint.

"Good morning Mr and Mrs. Monette. I was instructed to give you a tour. Right this way, if you will." A tall, athletic build, blonde woman instructed.

When I looked at Arican, his attention had been on his surroundings. The fierce green hues evaluating everything from the employees behind the monitors to the break room on the side of us.

When the woman's heels start slapping the floor, my focus is drawn to the shoe. They were similar to mine in the sense that they were Louis Vuitton-- red bottoms, while mine had pearls embedded all over the material, hers were a simple and sophisticated nude. She had on sheer tights and her pencil skirt wrapped around her form nicely, doing a superb job of showing off her apple like bottom. From where I stood, she had a very good looking figure and a big part of me wanted to see what she looked like without her clothes.

"My name is Cameron and I'm Mr. Monette's secutary, it's a pleasure to meet you both." She said, swinging her head back to greet us while we walked. Her makeup made her look a lot bolder than she was acting. It also made me curious to see what she looked like without all the false lashes and foundation. Probably as gorgeous as she is with it.

"The pleasure is all ours." Arican's deep voice sounded like a volcano in the silent night, the subtleness nearly shocking me. He walked forward until he was by Cameron's side, his long strides making it easy to walk behind him and not step on the back of his shoes.

Just like I did the beautiful woman, my eyes did a slow and deliberate scan of his body. The suit accentuated him astonishing well, it made his legs look tall and fit and that ass..He looked good in his suit from behind, both of his hands still tucked in his pockets. Arican looked handsome, with his short hair styled in waves, tucked behind his ears. His ears were pierced and decorated with diamond studs that highlighted the beauty of his superior jaw line. His neck was strong and slender and overall he was an abundance of eye candy. I could accept the truth.

I realized when we got to the front entrance that I had completely tuned out of the entire conversation. We could see people entering and exiting through the doors from the front desk. Many people scanned their cards on turnstiles before making their way to the elevator off to the side. Some employees took their time and climbed the stairs to the top and then disappeared.

"Your Mr. Monette's son?" I heard before tuning back into the world. Three woman manned the desk and all of them were dressed in the same uniform.

Instead of replying to the one who had asked the question, he gave her a court nod before turning his now glaring eyes on to me.

What did I do?

"Mrs. Monette, Can we order you anything to eat? Mr. Monette has indicated that he has not eaten breakfast." Cameron offered, her smile dazzling but fake. I knew the type; fake smile, visible discomfort, anxious to get away. They didn't like me, within the first five minutes of being here, I've brought upon my own band of Regina George stand-ins.

"Mom?" a question filtered through my ears. There was an urgency to the familiar voice that pulled my attention.

De'Ashya had on a Buffalo Wild Wings shirt and was carrying bags full of food. She was eighteen and looked just as shocked as me.

"Baby girl, what are you doing here?" The last time I saw her had been during my senior years of highschool. She looked completely different compared to her freshmen days. She also ditched her cute braids and started wearing her natural hair out. I absolutely loved her natural hair.

"You look so great!" I gushed before pulling her into a bone crushing hug. My nose got a sinff of her coconut oil scented head and it brought back find memories, damn I missed her.

"She has a child?!"

"Look how old that girl is! She'd have to had her when she was young."

"Mr. Monette is a step father then!"

"How disgraceful."

"A waste."

An ear full of questions and comments starting buzzing through the air and my temperament escalated-- but I tried to reign it in and mentally noted to bite back.

"Why are you working? Shouldn't you be in school?" It was nearing twelve in the afternoon, school wouldn't be over for her. If anything, it should be about lunch time for her.

"They kicked me out not too long after you left. I've been working to take care of myself since." Her big brown eyes started to water when I pulled back. She use to be warm and full of optimistic energy, her old self compared to her in front of me right shattered my heart.

A hand grabbed me by the waist and pulled me in,my side bumping into Arican's.

His eyes swept the girl once before landing on me, a stoic expression kissing his features.

At the very least this hooligan was able to piece together that De'Ashya and I weren't actually related.

"You still have my number correct?" I pointed my question at my baby girl who continued to ignore everything but me. She gave Arican a quick one glance and then zeroed in on my hand. Her shock lasted for only a few minutes before a small smile placated her lips.

She nodded sternly.

"Call me when you get off your shift." I pulled her in for a final hug before kissing her chubby cheek. Something I valued more than anything was loyalty and De'Ashya was the epitome of the word. She stuck by my side through thick and thin and even when things got dangerous, she was the first one ready to step up, not an ounce of hesitation coating a single one of her actions.

People with strong attributes like hers were rare. I started seeing her as someone I wanted to protect soon after. She became important to me and everyone knew it.

I hadn't heard from her since I graduated but not for lack of trying. Her phone was out of service and she had moved since we last talked. De'Ashya truly dropped off the grid and I was going to put her back on it-- starting with school. "You hear me?"

I watched her lips stretch further into a smile, a single tear falling down her face before I pushed her away to finish her job.

I watched her round the corner, adding a silent bounce to her step that wasn't there before.

His hand reappeared around my waist, pulling me in to him a second time, this time my head was clear enough to question it.

Just who is he touching so intimately when he barely wants to talk to me behind closed doors.

"Lunch then?" Cameron tried to pull us back into the previous conversation but now I was on a higher alert-- I didn't like these women. Judgmental people was on the top of my pet peeves' list and brought out the petty I use to be able to control.

Now I see how she matches her bold makeup. It was my mistake to be swayed by my own interpretation of them-- and it will never happen again.

"Yes, lunch Cameron. Arican has already stated that he was hungry so shouldn't you be on the phone already making an order big enough for two? If he didn't eat than assume I had not either from now on. We can find our own way back, thank you. I take my coffee sweet by the way, be a dear and get me one." The verbal message getting across very clear that I was not happy. My face lost it's perkiness the moment they insulted De'Ashya.

Snakes.

"And you three," A second ago I had truly admired all four of the woman in front of me but the disrespect cut me deep and the wound was full of salt, the impression of them now forever embedded in my brain.

Each one of the ladies stood straighter under my glare. You could see the visible surprise etched onto their faces, see the piling regret form in their behavior.

"As the face of our company and the number one defense, I would expect you lot to be smarter. If you couldn't tell me and the girl weren't actually related, that we looked absolutely nothing alike, except for the melonin we both share, then you do not need to be working the front desk. Not only did you assume an eighteen year old girl was my biological daughter but you almost spread an unforgettable rumor. Tell me, how should you be punished?" Although I didn't mind the rumors that could have spread, I was still very unhappy with these three. Incompetence held no value in the workplace and should be cut at the root. What if they offend someone else? Mr. Monette may have out up with it, but I will not.

"You three will be dismissed when I find your replacements." My voice had been full of confidence but in reality, I don't know how much authority I have here. It should be reasonable to assume this is in my power, and if it wasn't I would make it so.

The color drained from their faces after they processed my speech. They looked ready to rebuttal, to argue with me but I was no longer in the mood.Wrapping my arm around Arican's waist just like he had me, I ushered us toward the elevators and away from the snakes. I'd have to talk to the people here while on strict commander mode. To hell if I let these people mentally bully me! I have no problem showing them why I'm the boss.