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“I meant the door,” I chuckled. “Don’t want our food to get cold.”
Ovi blushed and headed to answer the door. When she returned, she held two bags. “You know that we are only two people. These bags are heavy. Did you invite someone to join us without telling me?”
I reached out and took one of the bags. “No. But I figure that we would need to eat more than one meal. Remember, I will be here tomorrow as well?”
She didn’t say anything, but her exasperated exhale said enough. Another thing I seemed to be doing well lately was taking our lighthearted mood and sucking the joy out of it. I needed to learn when to shut my mouth. Even though it was the truth, reminding her of it didn’t go over well at all.
We ate in silence, but once we were done, I knew exactly how to break this awkwardness. “Are you ready to get to work?”
Her eyes widened and she instantly reached for her laptop. “I am. While I was showering, I couldn’t stop thinking about Ibby.”
Disappointing. Because when I shower, I find myself thinking about you. Definitely not the same thoughts, I’m sure.
I hope.
I didn’t want to be attracted to her. She said I could make the impossible happen. Even the universe couldn’t make me look like a knight in shining armor, or Prince Charming. I didn’t eventhink if I hired her father back, she would completely trust me. Couldn’t blame her either.
“Don’t worry about Ibby. I will take care of that. I was hoping you could pull a status report for the work that was completed yesterday and that was scheduled to be completed today.”
She didn’t start typing. Instead, she closed her computer and said, “Not that I don’t trust you, but...”
“But you don’t,” I stated.
Ovi shrugged. “Your track record isn’t good.”
I didn’t want to fight, but I needed to set her straight. “Ovi, you’re judging me on one instance only. As I said before, you know nothing about me.”
“True. But that ‘one instance’ wasn’t a small one. It changed not only how things are being done at the factory, but my personal life also. Guess when you do something, even screw it up, you do it completely,” she sighed. “I don’t want you doing that for Ibby’s family too.”
Ouch.
“Is your life screwed up? Are you miserable?”
“I wouldn’t say miserable, but your actions didn’t help things at all,” she stated firmly.
“And your father's actions?”
“I already explained. He was dealing with the loss of my mother. Granted, he didn’t handle things in the most professional way, but he did what he needed to do at the time,” she tried explaining.
“And so did I.”
“You had options, Niko.”
“Trye did as well. And before you go and defend him all over again, think about the fact that he is gone again. He’s not ready or willing to return to his old job. He knows it. I know it. It’s time for you to face that fact as well. I amnotthe bad guy here. I’m just the person who is trying to keep a company in the blackso other people don’t lose their jobs. There is just one question left,” I said.
I could tell she hated hearing what I had to say, but she wasn’t disagreeing with any of it either. “What is your question?”
“Do you want to continue to be part of the solution or not? And before you answer, think about it. Not about your father, or me. Think about what you want, Ovi.”
She got up and started to pace. Then she put a hand by her temple and rubbed gently.
Fuck. Why am I pushing her now?
I got up and went to her side. Taking her hand, I led her back to the couch, and we sat down.
“Ovi. Forget what I said. What I asked. You just relax. No stress. I got everything else,” I stated, now worried about her all over again.
“No stress? That’s funny. I have been living in a state of high stress for more than a month now. I’m not sure I remember how to relax.”
