Special treat

Today seemed pretty much different at work, everyone in the company was moving at the same time .There were orders here and there, I forcefully found my way through the crowd and into the elevator.

When I got to my office I noticed that the door to Miles' office was slightly open. I peeped in and saw him standing in front of a large mirror, someone was dressing him and close to them was a moveable rack filled with suits of different colours and designs I bet they cost a lot.

"Ms. Ryan !" He said. It would have been difficult to guess how he knew I was peeping but then he was standing in front of a mirror. There was someone else other than the lady and Miles, he was seated on the couch with his legs crossed. Without having a clear look at him I would have guessed he was a lady because he was putting on heels (female boots), he also had a beret on with painted lips but his beards were there and his body was a little bit muscular. I didn't realize I had been staring at him for long .

" see something you like, too bad I don't do females". He had this polished Italian accent and he is gay! That explains his awkward dressing.

" Just kidding" he said laughing which made me to laugh too in order to break the awkwardness of the situation.

I sat down beside him not because I wanted to but the couch was more comfortable.

"Gregory ". He said extending his hand.

" Paige" I said taking his hand .

" so Greg, you' Italian?" I asked which made him laugh.

" I'm English " he replied with the typical British accent

"I sound like this when I want to put up a show or when I'm dressed like this " he said switching back to the Italian accent.

" So you are not gay?" I asked

" yea... I mean I love men and women" he replied

Okay that's more awkward

I waited till the lady was done with dressing Miles, Greg stood up and walked to where he was admiring the piece with this feeling of fulfilment.

" Our work is done here " he said to the lady signaling her to pack up so they would leave.

"Nice doing business with you" Greg said extending his hand for a shake to Miles.

Then he turned to me and said before they left " I hope to see you next time beautiful one".

I'm glad that was over.

" Everyone seems very busy this morning " I said to Miles who was still checking out his outfit in the mirror .

"We have external visitors and..."

"I know but gimme a break with these people are they really that important?"

"Yes they are and my father is coming!" He said in a distressed tone.

What was wrong with his father being present? what was he hiding? I was about asking why he didn't want his father to be present but he spoke before me.

"Let's go over the presentation one more time". He said this in the nicest tone I had heard from him though it sounded more like an order.

"Okay"

When he was done with rehearsing we walked to the boardroom together. We arrived at the right time because there were just three people in the room so, I walked confidently to my seat and Miles took a seat beside me .

It wasn't long before the other board members arrived. Miles got a call which changed his facial expression and he left the boardroom immediately. Should I go after him?

was the question going through my mind at the moment. While I was still contemplating the door to the boardroom was opened and Four men walked in accompanied by Miles, everyone got up to greet the oldest amongst them which made me guess he was Mr. Bryon (Miles father). Miles walked back to his seat and I could tell he was tensed.

When everyone had settled down the meeting kicked off and Miles was called up for the presentation.

" Remember take a deep breath and be calm" I whispered before he left.

♛.♛. ♛. ♛

Finally the meeting was over and an agreement was reached between the G & D company and ours, they were going to market our products using their models.

They signed a couple of documents and the deal was sealed. Everyone gathered to discuss as usual like they did after every board meeting, this time I walked to my office alone because Miles had to talk with his father.

"What a day" I said as i slumped onto the seat in my office and spreading my hands across the arm rest.

I was trying to rest after the long closed door meeting but my thoughts wouldn't let me be, the only thing going through my mind was why Miles was so scared of his dad and was he the same man I saw earlier who gave a warm and soothing smile to every living thing that crossed his part yet his son trembled at the mention of his name.

I was cut off from my thoughts when my phone beeped, it was a message from Bryan who hadn't called back since Saturday night. Great! I should be long gone in my grave if my stalker wanted me dead. I opened the text.

" where are you? we are waiting at the cafe, the meeting was over years ago" .

He still didn't talk about my calls, wow! I should ask him why, I thought but meeting up to him would be better because I would express myself better.

I was about texting back when the door to my office was opened and Miles walked in. Hasn't he heard of knocking.

I sat up immediately waiting for him to speak or give out orders and leave but he didn't. He took a seat and paused for a while before he spoke.

"Thanks for today, for helping me practice you really do not know how important what you did was"

I should be dreaming, Miles Bryon was sitting in my office and saying all those nice stuffs.

" okay" I said with a confused facial expression. Was that all? he should get going or did he have something else to say? maybe his office needed cleaning or something and I have to stay back to make sure the cleaners clean it properly. I could see him fighting with his emotions and I did nothing but stare.

" Lunch?" He finally asked.

" At the cafe?"

" No! why would I go to the cafe to have lunch?"

Because that is where all the workers have their lunch and you should lead by example .

"Where ?" I said faking a smile.

"You'll find out if you come along" he said standing up to leave.

I looked at the message I wanted to send to Bryan and I wiped it off and reconstructed it saying

Would love to hangout but I'm quite busy.

I quickly packed my things, shut the windows , switched off the light and locked the door waiting for Miles in the hallway.

When he was done with whatever he was doing we walked downstairs together, a car was already waiting for us outside. His chauffeur opened the back door for the both of us.

Miles and I together at the back seat of his car, this would be a very awkward and long ride.

                     ♛. ♛. ♛. ♛

The restaurant wasn't just the normal down the street restaurants as he had described. Everything seemed expensive, I bet they add the bills for stepping on the floor while charging for the food.

Miles had made a reservation before now, but the question was why was he doing this? There should be more other than helping him put together his speech.

As soon as we were seated, I went through the food menu looking for the cheapest meal. Miles noticed me flipping through to the end of the menu a couple of times and how difficult it was for me to make a choice so, he ordered for the both of us.

Few minutes later I saw a waiter pushing a tray of food towards us,

God No! What's Miles doing?

when he got to our table he stopped then placed the tray of food on our table. I opened mine after Miles had opened his even though I was very hungry .

"Spaghetti and steak?" I said out loud.

"What? you don't like it?" Miles asked.

"No, nothing" I said.

The meal wasn't the problem it was the price like who hates spaghetti and steak I'm not vegan but a meal like that for $300. Mia it's just a gift I said to myself .

We ate for a while in silence before he decided to speak.

" I must say I was really impressed by your results"

" Thank you " I said trying to sound formal as possible.

" Are you from Melbourne?"

I really should have stayed back to have lunch with Bryan.

"Yes" I said gulping down the food in my mouth waiting for the next question.

"So..do you live alone or with your parents?"

I stopped eating for a while when he asked this. The questions were getting deeper, did he have to mention my parents?

" I live with my mum, she is a single mum" I replied sipping my tall glass of water.

Miles kept the discussion going even when we had finished eating, he sent his chauffeur home insisting he would take me home himself.

I checked my phone and as expected I missed Leah's calls, she is definitely going to kill me.

"Uhm, my mum called" I said showing Miles my phone which interrupted what he was saying.

Miles paid the bills immediately then we left to his car. I was about to open the door to the passengers seat but Miles beat me to it. Okay, that's weird.

"Thanks" I said then I got into the car and he closed the door before walking to the drivers seat.

" Where do you live ?" He asked while looking at me when we had already hit the road

"Flinders, close to swanston" I said.

He just gave me a nod which I assumed was an OK and he turned his attention back to the road.

I was already feeling very cold before we got to the car and I wasn't with my jacket and to make matters worse the air condition was on. I looked at Miles and he didn't seem cold so I tried to stay calm because my house wasn't so far.

Just few blocks away you can do this.

Miles noticed i was cold when my teeth started to chatter and he handed me a jacket from the back of his car, I quickly put it on and even though I was still cold, I felt a  bit warm, I think he also noticed again because he turned down the air conditioner.

Few minutes later we got to my house,

I thanked him for the meal and ride.

He didn't leave till I got inside and shut the doors.

I met an angry Leah in the sitting room waiting for a good explanation and I had one.

" I can explain " was the first thing I said when I stepped in.

I narrated how my day went to her but she didn't say a thing, she just gave me a stern look then she walked upstairs to her room and banged the door. She was really angry I got home late coupled with the fact someone brought me home, I won't deny the fact that she has given me enough reasons not to trust anyone but come on it's just Miles he has nothing to do with whatever situation we were in, like he doesn't even know me and he thinks Leah is my mum so why did she get so angry? This proves she is hiding something but what? I really need to find out but she was giving any hint or even dropping clues.