A Step Closer to Love

Arabella stood at the gate of the mansion. She looked inside and thanked God that she was able to successfully avoid him. She knew she could not avoid him forever but she would continue to do so until she couldn’t.

She looked around her and realized that she could not recognize it anywhere. She was suddenly tempted to go back and ask for help but then Kieran might have come out for breakfast and her lie would be exposed.

She pulled out her phone from her bag and checked the location of the company from her phone. It was a thirty minutes walk from her current location. She looked down at her shoes and laughed loud to herself.

She only wore heels to impress the people at the company. She was not going to do it any longer. She has to get coffee first. She pulled up a search result on the coffee shops next to her. She found them within a few steps from her and decided to get a cold coffee drink from them.

As opposed to Crescent Bay Japan at this time of the year was much cooler as they approached the winter. She got her drink and stepped out to the platform of the coffee shop.

She pulled up the Uber app and ordered one. There was no way she was going to walk all the way there. She got to the front of the building where her company was located at eight am sharp.

She was extra early so she waited in the cafeteria on the first floor. If she knew that there was a cafeteria here should wouldn’t have had a coffee outside. She ordered a sandwich and pulled out her iPad and began to read a book.

The alarm she had set for eight forty-five rang so she stood up and went up the building. It was her first day so she needed to make a good impression on her bosses, especially the one living in the house she lived in.

She pushed open the door to the small company. She began to wonder if the company would be able to afford the salary that they had promised her.

The company had an open space kind of setting with three offices facing them. One had the CEO plastered on it. The other had CCO plastered on it and the last had Chief Editor.

Since Arabella had applied for the role of an editor she knew that she would be working right beside the editor. She prayed silently in her heart that the editor whatever gender would be a loving and kind person.

“Hello, how may I help you?” a petite girl said standing in front of her.

“Hi, I am Arabella Bishop and I resume today for the role of editor here,” Arabella said.

“Those Bastards” the woman sighed out loud.

“Sorry,” Arabella said confused.

“Oh don’t mind my language” she sighed in frustration.

“Who do I meet to start?” Arabella asked.

This woman was probably the office assistant and there was no way she would stand wasting time when she had probably so much to do on her first day.

“I am Aurora Quinn and I am the Chief Editor and Co-CEO of the company”

Arabella felt her eyes and mouth opening by themselves.

“Hello ma’am”

Kieran comes down for his breakfast. He meets his mom and dad at the table. They were arguing. Ever since Richard retired he had been having it on outs constantly with his wife.

“And did you consult me before bringing the girl?” Richard asked.

He had no problem with Arabella it was just that his wife did not consult him before inviting her over. He would have still supported but he felt insulted by his wife.

“I never knew that I needed your promise to invite my best friend’s daughter to my son’s house,” Everly said sitting beside him.

She felt Richard kept hounding on unnecessary things that morning.

“And do you both think this is a good time to be talking about this with our guest just above us,” Kieran said sitting too.

“Don’t pay attention to your father. He just likes blowing things out of proportion” Everly said putting a piece of pancake on Kieran’s plate.

“Mom” Kieran cautioned.

“I am sorry then,” Everly said giving in.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

She had always felt cheated living with two men. One husband who did not care and an extremely distant son. For the rest of the dinner, they were all quiet with no one commenting or saying anything.

“Mom, call the girl I am about to leave,” Kieran said standing up.

“She has left. Didn’t I say so earlier?” Everly asked.

“No you did not say so you were busy arguing with me,” Richard said under his breath but loud enough so they could hear him.

“Oh please,” Everly said rolling her eyes. “I have better things to do in the morning” she added.

“Why did she leave early?” Kieran asked.

“She said that she had to resume by eight am,” Everly said entering back into the kitchen.

“But she is supposed to resume at nine am” Kieran called after her.

“Maybe she mixed up the time?” Everly asked as she came out of the kitchen with a to-go cup in her hand.

“Here is your tea,” Everly said giving him the cup.

“Thanks, Mom,” He said taking the cup from her hand.

He wondered why he mixed up the time. He entered his car and drive towards the office.

When he got in he met Aurora and Arabella in a deep conversation. The two women had met and clicked.

“Kieran,” Aurora said as her eyes laid on him. She jumped and went to hold his hand. “I missed you” she added.

“And I did not miss you”Kieran responded peeling her hand off.

Arabella was able to read the situation that Aurora was in love with Kieran while Kieran did not have a slight affection for her.

“Did you get the wrong information?” Kieran asked turning to face Arabella.

“Sir?” Arabella asked confused. She felt that Kieran would want to stay away from her in the office after all he gave off the cold vibes.

“Did you get the wrong information?” Kieran asked again. “Why did you leave the house before eight?” he added in a question.

“The house?” Aurora asked in confusion