This week has been hectic, still is. We all been allotted individual work and I am working my ass off. It's getting really tiring and I haven't even had the time to paint. I continued to do my work as I saw Melissa walk by my table. Melissa was one of those 'magazine on legs' kind of girl who was capable of dropping jaws by her looks. She was pretty and had elegance but was just too bossy. We all were equal here but she always felt like she was our leader though she wasn't. But I never paid any heed to her, simply because she did not deserve it. I was waiting for her to pass by because I wasn't in the mood to handle her but curse my luck, she came near my table and tried to grab my attention. I wanted her away from me. She gives me bad vibes.

"What do you want Melissa?" I asked rather unimpressed, busy with my work.

"I don't want anything. You don't really have anything I want. I came here to ask if it's all true." I looked at her, still bored. She would have heard some crap again.

"Kindly ask." I mocked her in the sweetest voice I could muster.

She glared at me but then asked nevertheless.

"There have been rumours that you and Allison are seeing the boys. You know, Ian Henderson and Stellan Walker..." I knew it was bound to come out someday but I did not wish it to be today because I need to do a lot of work and this woman here was surely not going to let me work.

"That's what they are Melissa, rumours. Sure, we are friends but we are not seeing each other." I would be a crappy friend to my bestie if I got together with Ian plus only Alice can handle him and Stel, well we were just good friends. Very good at that though.

For now.

Freaking consciousness.

"That's what I have been telling everyone. Like, why would they go after you when they have so many options, I mean look at you?" She looked at me in disdain. I NEED a coffee.

"Yeah....WHY would they go after me. I mean I can't cover my face with layers of make up nor can I walk in those dresses which I am calling dresses for the heck of it. I am not like those gold diggers and I enjoy filling my stomach with real food like pizza.....I am a strong, independent woman who enjoys being in shirts and pajamas. I LOVE MY LIFE Melissa.....but I am sorry that I can't be like you!" I finished my rant, not giving her a glance. I could feel her boiling up with anger and of course, she would have continued but she never got a chance.

"Ms. Mathews, what are you doing here? I think you have some discussion with Ms. Hale here because I remember you are from that department." Ian said to a now pale Melissa. Ha! Take that bitch. But how did Ian come here? Is he into black magic and stuff? I need to warn Alice.

"Umm....no Mr. Henderson...I mean I was h-here to talk to Ophelia and I-I was just going. Have a nice day." And she was off. Was Ian this scary? I guess he could be if he wanted to be.

"You really are good at showing people there places Lia." He looked amused. Why wouldn't he? He got his daily dose of drama.

"Thank you Mr. Henderson. But do you need something?" I asked looking at his confused face.

"Now you are being professional! You never were when you threatened to kick my ass and can't I come to meet my dear friend?" He said, making a pouty face and keeping a hand to his heart. Drama Queen.

"Well, because we are in an office, I am being what I am required to be and you can meet a friend after you make an appointment. I really don't want to make my boss angry, you know...." I said sending him a smirk and he just huffed in return.

We talked for a few moments about the ongoing work and then he was gone. I continued on until it was time for lunch. Coffee, here I come.

We all were sitting in the coffee shop with the three discussing what not as I released a sigh of relief. I love lunch time.

"Why are you quiet Lia?" Alice asked, her attention back on me.

"Lia and quiet....oh please! That girl can never be quiet....and after she just pissed Melissa, you can't really deny! I must admit, her expression was worth watching..." Ian spoke, smirking at me. Why thank you Ian, now I have to tell the whole story to Alice.

"Mellisa....who Mellisa? The one in our office....why? What did she say?" Alice asked turning towards me along with Stel but Ian answered them already.

"Oh she was just pestering her about some rumours about us guys and she went all sarcastic on her ass and I swear I saw steam coming out of her ears.!" Ian said laughing as Alice began to narrate the list of rumours.

"Well...that's not new actually. Back in our place, she was one of the trending topics. There were rumours that she was a mafia queen because she had moves and gave off those vibes. Then, the ones that she actually had so much make up on and that's why she is pretty but then that was ruined once this boy played a prank on her, throwing a bucket of water over her. He ended with pink hair for a month, I wonder who did that? Then there were rumours that she was enrolling for secret service.."  

"Hey....I was actually planning to!" I was really planning to but then I never really got any opportunity.

"You were......after the rumours gave you the idea. Then the rumour Kylie spread that you were dying and that's why you never came to parties...."

"I don't really see how dying is connected to party?" Said an amused Stel with a nodding Ian.

"Neither do I.....she never really liked me! But there were so many rumours..? I don't know any except the secret service one! " I exclaimed as my mind went back to memories of school and Kylie. She didn't. She tried the best to make my life hell. And that's all she could do, try!

"You never are the one to gossip, now are you Lia ?" Stellan asked me raising his eyebrows.

Arching a perfect eyebrow in response, I leaned a bit forward with confidence in my eyes.

"I don't want to gossip. I would rather be the gossip." I said, the words grandma once told me. She was an awesome lady, much like me! I miss her so much.

"Well you sure are in the office. We do actually have pretty good interns this time, as Jack told me. He has mentioned you a few times. Not only that but the fact that you rejected Bryan's proposal is not working either." Ian once again reminded me of that bastard.

Bryan Keller was one of the company's clients. He was a massive egoistic brat who thought he could have everything he wanted. I had not been required to meet him. It was just him and the other seniors but he saw me and made all those pick up lines which were too predictable. He sure was good looking but had a crappy personality. I might have threatened him too but it did not work. He then visited again and then made advancements, some too close to me so I did slap him hard and yelled at him as far as I can remember. Words flew to Mr. Walker and he threatened to break all ties with him if he continued all this behavior. He was even going to do that but then Bryan begged and what not. Suffice to say, I never heard from him again and I did not wish too.

I saw Stellan with clenched jaws. He was angry, he surely was. This had happened just a few days back and I have never seen him so angry. I swear he would have killed Keller then and there but then I had to persuade him telling him that if I wanted that asshole dead, he would be dead. And then I wouldn't want him in jail for murder with that pretty face. Ok....I needed more coffee.

Stel was till angry so I just covered my hand with his, his muscles relaxing beneath mine as his eyes snapped to my own.

"Calm down Stel. He was an asshole and I had given him a good slap and he went with a black eye by you. Now, don't plan his murder here. We can do it discreetly. We can put a bullet through his skull and then pluck his hair out and then his eyes and then bury his body in your backyard....that sure is a huge place." And we all laughed.

"So girls we were planning to go to the carnival with our sisters...Nat and Lila and little Cole because he begged us. Would you want to join?" Ian asked, munching on his waffles that he worshipped.

"Oh....I would love to but we have some shopping to do. Maybe we could join you guys later!" Alice said all brightly while I just groaned.

"Why can't I just go with them and not come shopping with you?" I muttered shrinking in my seat.

"Come on Lia.....don't fuss about it. Its just shopping. And its fun!" Alice defended her favourite hobby.

"No....it shopping with Allison Martin. Its anything but fun!" I grumbled still glaring at my straw.

"I don't get it.....why do you hate shopping so much? Its fun...I mean I went with Nat once..." Said Ian eating those delicious waffles. I want one.

"It was fun because we were ten and dad got us gifts....then you have never actually gone for shopping." Stel retorted looking at his best friend.

"Well, okay! But it won't be that bad...I mean you tolerate her daily so what's a few more hours?" Ian said, looking smugly at Alice who just glared at him.

"Not that bad....are you kidding me? If you haven't already noticed, I am a girl. My ovaries release estrogen and not testosterone. Hence, I can't handle her modeling in every damn cloth. She will wear one cloth and then try it in every damn colour. Fucking blows my mind up. The heels and shoes.....my god! She takes forever to match her heels and I still don't get the idea behind lingerie....I swear to god I am going to go insane if she continues to torture me like that...." I ended and those freaking friends had the audacity to laugh at my outburst while I tried to take a breath.

"Well.......as far as lingerie is concerned; it all makes up for the fun and sexiness." I swear I could feel Allison going all red when Ian said those words but I was too damn busy to win this argument.

"Why spend so much money if no one is gonna see them and if someone does, then they won't probably allow it to rest on her body.....they will end up all scattered on the floor and what you mean by sexy up? Have you looked at her....she can get a guy with a flip of her hair so she doesn't need any of that....and don't deny it. I know you can't!" And that shut him up. Let's just say I won the argument leaving the both stunned and indirectly making them aware of their sexual tension. It wasn't as if they already weren't aware of it. I had not had the fun of teasing them in like.....a few hours. Yeah, I needed my daily dose.

"No one can win in an argument with you now, can they Ms. Hale?" Stel asked me as I paid my attention to him. Of course, he was amused to and tried the best to hide his smile, unlike me as I was smiling creepily at the two jokers near me. Ah....life!

"Well, I think I have good comebacks and often shut the other one out! My trick, dude!" I loved all these silly arguments......made up for the time I lost when I could have made many more memories. In school and college, I was usually a library creature. You could find me with my family or the Martins. I hardly went to parties. That was Allison's and Alex's department.

"But I guess...you signed up for it all when you became her friend so that's that.....and you can always torture!" I REALLY don't like that suggestion.

"Sure...when pigs fly! I enter Victoria's Secret only because of her, not for me! I can't even imagine that....." And I couldn't! I hated tight clothing's with great passion. Pure hatred I tell you.

"Hmmm.....if you could, you would actually look very sexy in it!"

Did I catch that right? I swear I can hear Ian and Allison smirking from beside me already. He had called me sexy once but in a totally different context. I wasn't called sexy because guys probably knew the consequences but I knew Stel wouldn't go through them because I wasn't going all crazy after him. I could feel him slightly puffing out in pride as he thought he made me speechless and Alice and Ian were waiting...

Put your game face on woman.

I leaned closer to him....maybe a little too close and smirked a bit. The one I call the sexy smirk which I hardly use....only when I am watching some awesome guy film and tilted my head a little, raising a perfect eyebrow. He wasn't affected because he was waiting for my reply, which he thought I wouldn't give as his smirk threatened to grow more. You got me wrong there Stel.

"Well then.....wait till you actually see me in one, Stellan Walker! Though the probability is not in near future, now is there Stel?" I said and shrank back in my chair watching the two of my friends slightly disturbed and a lot amused at our interation and Stel....well he stared me for a few good moments because I apparently gave an unpredictable reply before he began again.

"That's not a comeback Ophelia Hale....." He said looking me straight in the eye with a hell lot of determination.

"It isn't? But I did catch you off guard. Plus I know how sexy I would look and you don't need help imagining that.....so you sure that I didn't just leave you speechless there, huh Walker?" I asked innocently looking at the guy in front of me.

He was amused, I could tell but there were just so many more emotions in his eyes that I couldn't catch and it was good because at that time, the position I was at.....I wanted it to stay like that. For now at least. I am a horrible procrastinator....please don't judge.

Alice and Ian were suddenly busy in their own chat. I looked back at him again and this time....it wasn't amusement. It was admiration, a look I was soo scared of sometimes. I tried to ignore it but how could you when a man was practically looking at you like....like....that!

Like you were so much more than yourself.

It thrilled me and scared me at the same time and I might have started hyperventilating, something only he has achieved to do to me so far.

There are many other things only he has succeeded to do to me ever.

I couldn't deny this time. I couldn't or maybe I just did not wish too. Thankfully, I was broken out of my trance as Allison jerked me.

"Lia....okay! Umm....you know there is this uhh....occasion and-and.." She was trying her best but I could smell something fishy.

"Yeah....and Nat has ordered us to bring you. She has this all planned so would you..." Ian helped her out but he stopped short too....what the hell? Stel released a sigh and finally asked the question I guess was coming up....

"Would you go to the ball with us?" He asked calmly as if talking to a kid.

I looked at the three of them and then I smiled a little which creeped Ian further more. I smiled sweetly at them and then said in my sweet, sweet voice.

"A ball.....after attending one a month back! Great joke.....In these few days, haven't you already noticed how much I am in love with those heels and gowns? I can't wait to be in one more. Yeah guys......I am not going! And don't be all cautious, I am not yelling....not yet!" I said as I looked around for a thing of interest.  Allison whined a little again but I wasn't going.

"Come on....its this Monday and it's a holiday that day anyways..." I had no idea that we had a holiday but if we did....I was gonna spend it away in library.

Ian said a bit too but Stel didn't. He knew how stubborn I was. I wasn't going. Final as that.

"Please Lia.....you have to come! It's a ball I have conducted and some of my friends and my partners are coming...." Natalie whined on the other side of the phone. I did not want to go.

I knew Natalie had grown close to me. We had talked many times on phone other than whenever we met if she ever visited the office which was quite frequent. She was very nice and her further request for me to come to the party proves it all. I had so many reasons not to go and yet many to go as well. But I was not willing to wear heels.

"Nat....look now I don't even want to go to shopping and-"

"That's all taken care of. You are forgetting, I am a fashion designer....I have got everything fixed for you, Alice and Lila. My sisters gotta look awesome." I think she said it in flow but she had no idea how much it meant to me. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I gave away my last argument.

"That's right......it will be the people from the fashion world. I don't belong there Nat!" And this one was true.

"You belong with us, Lia. And when did you start giving a flying fuck about what people think. You are so stubborn...but think then, Allison would miss you?" She said sounding all hopefull. I snorted.

"Yeah! If lover boy leaves her that is. He is probably gonna be by her side all night. He practically asked her to the ball if I can remember their conversation."

"Well....that is true! But then....Stel would feel alone!"

Oh come on! Don't play that card on me. That was the last straw she could use and she did and was my resolution that strong now? Hell no!

"Nat....he has you and his family and friends! He will be okay. You keep him okay." I said sighing.

"Well.....I can't lately but you know what....you ask him yourself." And before I could protest, the phone was already transferred to Stel. Well, I can handle him. Right? I wasn't that sure though.

"Stel, don't start. I am stubborn. Thank you very much but you know what I like and what I don't." I could hear him smile.

"Trust me, I do. But Nat really wants you to come because she will be bored to see all the same faces. As she says.....she wants to enjoy with her new found sisters....you and Allison." I can't hold it really well now.

"Stel.....just....I don't know I really don't have a reason to come...and-" I was cut in the middle.

"Come to the ball?"

"Stel, you are asking me fifth time......" I said chuckling a bit.

" No....I mean.....Come to the ball with me? Let me be the reason for you to come to the ball."

Was it different from all the past pleas?

Hell yeah!

It was because this time it wasn't us but it was 'me'. Just 'him'. And I would be lying if it did not make me feel all happy.

I had no reason to go but now that he had asked me and you don't really need to enunciate what he meant. He made him the reason and I could feel all my resolution and decisions and stubbornness crumbling to dust. I couldn't deny HIM. I just couldn't muster up that courage. I couldn't hold it now. I thought of what to answer as I heard his waiting breathless on the other side and with the desperation in them, the words rolled of my tongue on their own accord.

"Okay Stel, I would go to the ball...." I said, not knowing what all was waiting for me.

Hola beautiful people!

I am back. Alive and kicking. Surviving😂

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