18. Gossip

Tenor's POV,

I've never been embarrassed in my entire life like I am right now , it's so embarrassing how I even dare ditch my work to talk to Tayler unknowingly. And even more embarrassing because she know I was ditching work to talk to her !

I can't believe I did that.. what's this new behaviour in me ?? ,, am I alright?!

" Sir, what do you say?? Will you come?? Mr. O'Brien?"

" Uh.. yes of course." I agree not knowing what I have just agreed on .

Mr. Brastorn, "That's so so nice sir , it would be good to have you hear in America." 

Mr. Wang , "Then I guess the meeting is over, I'll rush over there and make sure to give you a report sir, Zaijian (bye).

The laptop goes blank, they're all gone, I can't believe I agreed on going to America absent mindedly. I don't even know when he asked me to go there, I've been distracted in the whole meeting.

Ugh.. this is insane,,

I call Alina , when she picks up ... "come in my office."

Alina, "Yes sir."

She enters after some minutes .

"Has Mr.Brastorn informed you about me going to America??" 

Alina, " Yes sir."

" When is that??"

Alina, "At the end of this month, before Christmas Eve, the event will be on 23rd, sir."

" Okay , you can go back to work."

She looks at me intently and then asks, "can I have permission to say something which is personal, sir?"

" Go on" I give permission wondering what she's gonna say because we never talk about personal issues.

Alina, "Sir, you seem distracted since last month and I was just wondering if you're okay. "

"What? Uh.. yes am absolutely fine , it's just work becoming so complicating every day." I lie .

Alina, "But we're all better now, weren't you the one who told us the other day to relax a little bit because work is going on smooly now? Besides, those days when we were struggling with work you weren't like this."

" What are you trying to drive at, Alina?? Are you now judging your boss? Have I become that soft??"

Alina, "It's not like that sir , I just like this new you more."

What does she mean by ' the new me'??! How exactly am I now?!?

Alina , "Sir, am really happy for you, everyone is." she says going out the door.

" Hey , come back" she keeps walking like she's shying away "Alina, I said come back."

"Yes sir" she come back.

" What did you say? What are you happy for me about?"

" Because the companies are all working well and they are leading ."

" Do you really think I buy that?? You better tell me the truth now Alina!"

" Sir.. it's really not me who started the rumors about it."

"What rumors ??"

"That you've finally fallen in love and you have a girlfriend..." she says shying away and her face also shows fears probably fearing of what I'll say next , l can't believe this ! I can't help but laugh at her silliness .

Now she's even more surprised seeing me laugh, they've never even seen me smile.

"Am pretty sure you're the one who spread those rumors because you're the one who see me mostly, they see me like ones in a week." I say , not mad at all.

"Am so sorry sir, I was just so excited because you seemed happy for once, you even send messages nowadays,something you didn't like doing and you even forge..."

"Okay stop! That's enough. " I know she was gonna say I forgot about the meeting, I feel embarrassed again . "You got it all wrong, she's just a friend."

" That's still so great , you have a friend now, am really happy for you sir." 

" Thanks , now you might wanna stop the rumors that you started. "

"Yes, right away sir."

Speaking of 'my friend ' isn't she in America? Actually , this could be a great chance to meet up with her this holiday, yeah..

Suddenly I can't wait to go there.

Alina, " You're smiling.

Ugh!! Not again..

"You.. you go back to work ."

" Yes sir." She goes hesitantly smiling idiotically.

"And tell Brastorn that I'll go." I say becoming straightening my face , that's when I realized I was smiling.

I won't tell Tayler now that am going there , I'll surprise her when I get there. I hope she will agree to meet me.. why am I even thinking about that now , I'll cross the bridge when I get there. 

I decide to look into work, after sometime I realize that am not concentrating at all.

Wait a minute, am I now building castles?!? It's like I can't wait to go there..is it that I can't wait to go there or to meet her?

I don't like this feeling, I think am falling in love . Just the thought of that make me laugh , it really sound funny . Me.. falling in love, haha.. what is this?!

Why am I so excited about this girl? Am I walking myself into another break down or am I really falling in love as they're saying.

In love my foot , totally impossible , God..my head is gonna explode, it's like since I talked to her that first time she's all I can think about, what's this ? ..."Love at first talk" haha...

I wonder if she has a boyfriend.. I'll find a way to bring up that topic what?!? ...wondering about her, having a boyfriend now?

I need a distraction. I decide to walk around the company to see if I'll diverse my mind . In the elevator I press any floor after floor.

Reaching 41st floor I hear low voices from one of the rooms. I go near the door that they are coming from , just when am about to knock , I hear Alina's "Am telling you it's true , that girl is in America, why else would he smile that hard when saying that he can't wait to go there,, you should have seen his smile , my goodness.. that man's handsomeness is out of this world, I almost couldn't hold back myself. Leave alone his smile , his laugh.. you've never heard him laugh, right ? Then do your best not to hear it because it will not matter whether you're a woman or a man, you'll fall for him."

Another voice "I envy that girl so so much!"

Another girl's voice "Just how does she look or what does she have? All I want is to see her!"

A man's voice "She must be from Jupiter, I mean, I can't believe there's a person who can make Mr. O'Brien to smile , that man seems like he died already, it's just his body walking around."

Another adds, "Maan.. you've surprised me , that he laughed? And even more unbelievable that he chats ?!"

"How about you call us when that happens so that we see that ourselves or secretly take photos or videos."

Alina's voice, " You think am lying??"

"I didn't say that!"

A man's voice, " I bet he's fallen in love."

They left work to come and talk about that?? I can't believe what am hearing. There's another man's voice, " Guys , we better get back to work before he suspects something wrong."

They both agree but before they open the door, I open it,they are all shocked and look like they've seen a ghost , especially Alina.

After standing there and looking at them , trying to surpress my anger , I say calmly .."Am gonna say this just ones and I don't wanna repeat it ever again. This is a place of work and not a gossiping place! Am not pleased with this , and not because you're talking about me,, I don't give a damn about that ,, but ditching your work to come here and gossip?!? Seriously?!? And most of you are heads of dipartments?? You know I can fire all of you now and still get another large number of people, just this minute to replace you, you know that, right?? So don't make me see this again!" they look tensed.., "You can now go back to work 'before I suspect something is wrong. ' "