First Day at Innovation

Emily reached Innovation just on time. She was tired from rushing here and there. Throwing her bag down, she let herself fall on the couch in the lounge.

Taking her iPad out, she started sketching. Even though she didn't want to work here but she came so she would pour all her heart into working.

She paid no mind to the gossip around her. She was engrossed in drawing her new character. Somehow, except for a dog, nothing really fit that character. She erased and drew again. The process continued until she heard a loud bang.

She jumped in her seat, almost throwing her iPad away. Luckily she caught it on time. Did the people at Innovation have anything against her iPad? Shaking her head, she was going to concentrate on her work again, when she heard a loud order being barked at her, "Come to my office, right now."

She glanced up and saw Gerald standing there, his hands inside his pockets. His face was red with anger.

"Oh no! What happened to him again?" Emma rolled her eyes and followed him to his cabin.

"May I come in, Sir?"

He nodded and said, "Sit down."

"Why are you late?"

Emily raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean, Mr. Whitmore? Your company opens at 10 and closes at 6, right? I came before 10. How is that being late?"

"Listen here, Emily."

Emily cut him off, saying, "Listen to me, Mr. Whitmore. I think we both made it very clear that we are not friends. Neither are we close enough to be on first-name basis. And if I recall correctly, it was you who pointed that out the last day. So, please, I urge you to stick to that. It is better for both of us. Anyway, why did you call me here? I don't want to hear rubbish about how I should've come earlier, etc. Please get straight to the point."

Gerald stared at Emily. Her temper had not changed all these years. The only change that he noticed in her was, she spoke less now and her laughter had somehow dimmed.

"Em… Miss Taylor, umm… Mr. Sun said you're working with us. We don't want to go for any verbal agreement. So, here is the contract. Read through it carefully, sign it yourself and then get it signed by Mr. Sun. We are open to discussions about this."

Gerald passed the contract to Emily. Emily took the file and placed it in her bag.

"Sir, your coffee. Ma'am, your tea."

"Thanks Meera,"

The ring of the cell phone broke the silence of the room.

"Excuse me," Emily said and walked to the balcony.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's me, Oscar."

"How did you get my number?"

"Sorry, I know you're angry because I called you without your permission, but this is important."

"I don't want to hear anything right now, Oscar."

"Emily, listen to me. Your mom…"

A beeping sound showed that the call was disconnected by Emily.

"What the hell?" Oscar was enraged. As a psychologist, he rarely got angry with someone, but Emily was the first person who could bring out all his intense emotions.

He understood that he shouldn't have called her, but he only did because he couldn't see Phoebe so sad. He understood that Emily had a lot of pressure. She was probably broken and was going through a lot, but nothing justified her outburst in front of a stranger.

He was sitting right there when she became angry with her mom and said so much to her. She should've apologized, but no. She ran away, like a coward.

Oscar felt a bit guilty because he called her even when she wasn't comfortable with disclosing her number. She probably thought he was a stalker.

Given their circumstances anyone would've thought that. Oscar did not know how to apologize to Emily either. But he really needed to speak to her.

Without any options available, he went to do his own work. His students realized his absentmindedness too.

Four people were lost in their own thoughts. On one hand, Gerald did not know how to keep Emily near him. Emily did not know when all these would end and she could live a peaceful life. Phoebe did not know how to stop pressurizing Emily and not be in the middle of everything. Oscar did not know how to apologize to Emily and untangle the knot in his heart.

Each slept on their problems, but now was the time to work on it. Now was the time to decide and act.

Gerald walked out of his cabin and strolled towards Emily who was standing with her back facing him. She pressed the hang-up button of her phone, muttering something under her breath.

"Emily?"

"Mr. Whitmore?"

"Ger, Emily… Call me like you used to. Can we have another chance? Can you give us another chance?"

"Mr. Whitmore, there is no 'we' and you know that very well."

Emily started walking towards the exit, when Gerald held her hand and pulled her towards him. Folding her hand at her back, he held her in place. She was so close that their nose almost touched.

They could hear the sounds of their breathing. They could see the heaving of their chests. They were so close that they could smell their cologne.

"Gerald?" Emily whispered.

"Mm?" Gerald closed in, his lips barely touching her cheeks. His voice carried a hint of sensuality. His eyes were so dark that Emily couldn't bear looking at him.

"It hurts. Please leave me." Emily begged.

"What about here?" Gerald pointed at his chest. "When you hurt me, Emily, what about then? It hurts when I grab you and you can see that. Can't you see the pain in my heart?"

Emily did not answer. A pair of heels resounded from the hallway.

"Gerald, please, someone is coming."

"Let them come."

"Gerald, this is your company. You can't do this."

"Who said I can't?"

Gerald did not leave Emily's hand, but he shielded her in a way that she was not visible if someone came and stood outside their room.

A knock on the door announced someone's arrival.

"Sir, may I come in?"

"What is it, Meera?"

"Sir, Ms. Paris is here."

"What is she doing here?"

"Sir, she said she has something…. Ahh, Miss Lawson, you cannot enter."

Gerald dashed towards the bathroom with Emily in his arms and set her there before exiting it. He whispered a 'sorry' to her and locked the door carefully.

"What are you doing here, Paris? This is my office, not your parlor."

"Oh, where is that bitch?"

"Excuse me?"

"I heard there is this new designer who joined today."

Gerald raised his eyebrows at Meera. She indicated that she had nothing to do with this. How did she know about this then? Unless the secretary department….

"Meera, call everyone from the secretary department."

"Yes Boss."

Meera ran towards the department and soon returned with a bunch of ladies.

"Who typed the contract I sent this morning?"

"Me, Sir. Is there anything wrong with the contract?" Angela looked down and did not meet his eyes.

Gerald nodded. "You may go."

He did not answer anyone, but he saw Paris stare at Madison, as if warning with her eyes not to spill anything. She did not notice Gerald staring at her at all. Madison blinked with assurance.

Gerald did not say anything. He looked at Meera. She knew what to do. Taking a bunch of papers from his table, she tossed it at Madison and said, "You need to type this out immediately."