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Chapter 3
(Petal)
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I’m in a considerably good mood as I walk into my office. Spending the morning with Taj has that effect on me. Like magic, he manages to make me feel better and eases my worries. Even though he’s the reason I was in such a bad state in the first place.
I got the silent message, Taj.
He basically told me to forget about Aurora. He didn’t tell me that Aurora was nothing to him. He didn’t tell me that she was just a casual hookup. He gave no explanations but in a way I guess that’s okay. If I’m being honest, I’m starting to think Taj and I are never going to happen. He seems insistent on burying the feelings both of us share.
I could initiate things and ask him out. You know, claim my feminism, female empowerment, girl power and all that shit. But I’m scared. Even though I’ll never really admit that. I don’t know if Taj has a reason for hiding his feelings, heck I’m not even one hundred percent sure he has those feelings, but I absolutely refuse to feel the pain of rejection. The guy always asks the girl out. I’m perfectly content to wait for him to do so. Although, I’m fearful I might be waiting a long time.
“Petal!” my boss calls through my office door poking his head in.
“Good morning, Matthias,” I say.
“Could you get the reports on the Recon teams’ mission to Malaysia on my desk? I need it ASAP,” Matthias says before walking away and into his large office that’s right in front of mine. He didn’t even wait for a reply.
Matthias is a retired Army general in his mid-fifties with a large muscular build and dark hair. He’s a smart, hardworking man who built this entire company from the ground up in just five short years. I respect him more than he’ll ever know but one of these days I’m going to have to complain about my workload.
I get that I’m a genius but being a financial manager, lawyer and secretary is a tasking job, or retinue of jobs, even for me. Then I also have to manage the affairs of the Alpha team which is Taj and the guys. I’m starting to think it's too much. I should probably bring it up with Matthias. Still, I get to work on getting the documents he asked for.
A few hours later, my brain is fried and my eyes hurt from staring at a computer screen too long.
Am I getting paid enough for this?
Then I remember my six-figure salary and decide that, yes, I’m definitely getting paid enough.
After an exhausting day at work, I head home. As soon as I’m through the doors, I collapse on the sofa and fall asleep. When I wake, both Roman and Taj are watching me with concerned expressions on their faces.
“What?” I ask them groggily.
“You’re working too hard,” Roman says first.
“I am not,” I argue sitting up on the couch.
“Come on, Petal. It doesn’t make you seem any less smart than you actually are to admit that you can’t do it all. You’re not a machine,” Taj insists. He sits down beside me and I automatically rest my head on his broad, sturdy shoulder.
It’s so comfortable I almost drift off to sleep again. But Roman is still standing in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest. I remember both men are still awaiting a reply.
“I know. Geez, when did the both of you become my mom?” I say rolling my eyes.
“I could talk to Matthias for you,” Roman suggests and I shake my head.
“I’ve got it,” I assure them.
“You deserve a night out,” someone says from behind me. I almost jump away in fright.
“Geez, Jessie. You scared me,” I say clutching my chest.
“Sorry,” the blonde says unapologetically with a shrug. She comes to sit at my other side.
“As I was saying, you should have a night out. With some friends, just to chill,” Jessie tells me. I ponder on it for a moment.
“Friends? For some reason, I don’t think a night out with the guys would be so calming. No offense,” I say to Roman and Taj who wear matching scowls.
Jessie laughs.
