A Step Closer to Love

Arabella stared at him, this was the most he had said to her ever since she knew him even while he was a kid.

“I mixed up the time” She opened her mouth and then said.

“I would drive you to work from now on,” he said.

He was not waiting for her to give him a response because he turned on his feet. She wanted to stop him but was not sure how to address him. By his first name? By his last name? By adding Mr to his first or last name? She did not know the protocol of the office so she was going to tell him later that she can get to work by herself and that he doesn’t need to worry.

“What does he mean to drive you? How did you meet Kieran?” Aurora asked.

“I have known Kieran since I was young and it was a surprise I got a job here,” Arabella said skipping all the details.

“But why is he saying house and why is he thinking of driving you?” Aurora asked.

She might be nice and pretty but she did not like any girl that competed with her for Kieran’s attention and affection.

She had known him since college and she was determined to make him hers. They had almost dated but Kieran rejected her every time she asked him out.

She, Kieran, and Ryder had been in a group at school. Their friendship was unlikely because while Kieran was in the Department of Business, both Aurora and Ryder attended the Department of Literature and majored in creative writing.

Since Kieran had the business sense the three of them pulled together funds and opened up the business for themselves. The only thing that ever brought the three of them together was that they had the same elective and Aurora laid her eyes on him decided he was eye candy and chased him. That’s how their friendship was born.

“Well, when I was young we had to move far away, later got a job down here and had to move back. My mom and his mom were friends and she invited me to stay over at his house while l look for a place of my own” Arabella added in the last part because of the look on her face.

She knew she couldn’t look for her own space she knew neither her mom nor Everly would let her get away with having her own space as easily as she said it but she could sense that Aurora had a thing for Kieran and that she would not like it if another woman seems closer to him than her.

It was impossible to tell from Kieran’s face and body language if he likes her. He ignored her all through the conversation her had with her and that must have ticked him off a little.

“Okay that’s fine,” Aurora said brightening up. ‘It’s not a big deal she thought internally. There was no way this little girl would dare to challenge what she had built for thirteen years plus’ she thought and then smiled.

“Everyone would soon be here so we would do an introduction,” Aurora said standing up and going in the direction of her office.

A little while later they were all seated in a small meeting room that can take at least twenty-five people at once.

Ryder Hawthorne who was the CEO was seated by the head of the table, Aurora Quinn was by his right hand, and Kieran Sterling was by his left hand.

Beside Kieran, there were four people three men and one woman. Noah, Henry, Aaron, and Mia. Beside Aurora were two women Olivia and Chole. Arabella was seated beside Chole.

“There is nothing serious to talk about, all I want to say is that we should all welcome and treat the newbie well. She would be working under Aurora as an editor” Ryder said.

“Should we go round the room introducing ourselves?” Ryder asked.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

Arabella tried to figure out what kind of man he was. His smile was huge and he looked around the same age as Kieran which automatically meant that Aurora was in their age group.

Ryder had long red hair that was longer than what men in Crescent Bay usually had. He was dressed in a leather jacket which she thought did not portray his age as it should.

“I am Ryder and I’m the CEO” Ryder said gesturing to the rest of the people to join in the introduction.

“We met earlier but I am Aurora and I’m the chief editor and a Co-CEO” Aurora said but all the while looking at Kieran.

“I am Kieran and I’m in charge of finances and management and I am a Co-CEO,” he said. He looked at her briefly before glancing back down at the book in front of him.

“I am Noah and I’m the graphics designer,” he said smirking at her, and then winked.

“I am Henry and I’m in charge of advertising and marketing,” he said uncomfortably meeting her eyes and then looking away.

“I am Aaron and I’m in charge of production management,” he said smiling at her. His smile was the greatest of them all.

“I am Mia and I am in charge of illustrations,” Mia said.

“I am Olivia and I manage the authors and their contracts,” she said looking ahead.

“I am Chole and I am the assistant editor”

“I am Arabella Bishop and I am the new editor,” Arabella said giving a smile. She needed this job or else she was going back to Japan to continue living in her mom’s house.

“As you can Arabella, we’re a small company and we are looking to expand. We hope your time with us would bring about that expansion. We might be just a little in number but respect each other. We call each other by our first names but in a respectful way. Do not hesitate to reach out to any of us for help I would be glad to take on your first request for help” Ryder said standing up at the end of his statement.

He walked to the door of the room before turning back to them. “Tonight we have a welcome party if the newbie and everyone is invited. If you do not come you have a pay cut this month” he said smirking.

“Can he do that?” Mia groaned.

“You know he is not bluffing,” Noah said smiling and standing up too.

“PARTY,” Aaron said in a loud voice.

“Any opportunity they get to party they grab it, ” Olivia said rolling her eyes at them.

“Let’s get to work,” Kieran said in a stern voice.

Everyone apart from Aurora stood up and cowered out of the room. Although they had been instructed to call each other by first names they could not call Kieran by first name because I the authority he exudes around the places.

“Let me show you to your desk,” Noah said.