Chapter 21

Leila POV

I fixed my lipstick in the mirror, the sound of the Effigy bathroom door opened and closed caught my attention, looking behind me in the mirror I see Stella come into view, smile plastered across her aging face, hair wavy and loose, dressed in simple blue jeans, white flowy blouse, brown leather jacket and a pair of plain white sneakers.

I was still unsure of how she and Marshall were dating.

I do know that watching their affection in passing was sickly.

She was always doing sweet little things for him like dropping off cupcakes and baked good like she was out of the little house of the prairie.

"Hey Leila" She said, nodding at me than heading into the cubicle.

"Stella" I said giving her a forced smile.

"You and Monica up to anything this weekend?"

I rolled my eyes as she spoke to me from inside the cubicle.

"Were probably going out for a drink for a friends birthday, what about you Stella? Anything exciting happening, or are you going to be stuck inside reading the dictionary?"

She laughed, even though I knew it wasn't a joke.

She then came out shortly after and started to wash her hands.

"Actually, Marshalls taking me out this weekend, and I'm pretty excited about it"

"So he's showing you around the correl, good for you"

She laughed again "You're too funny, you're so sarcastic, I love it, I can see why you and Marshall are Friends"

I snorted.

Friends?

I was sure she was stupid.

Made sense to me with why he was interested in her.

I suppose every man wanted a lap dog.

"The best of friends, like you wouldn't believe"

"Anyways, I've got to get back to work, have a great day!" She grinned at me before walking out.

I walked out and headed into Monicas office "Sorry I'm late, I stuck in traffic then got stuck making small talk with Stella in the bathroom"

She looked up at me with a half-smile.

"What?"

"I love your facial expression every time you talk about her"

"I don't have a facial expression"

"She does" I hear Laura's voice come from behind me closing he door "Hey gorgeous!"

"What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd join you both for lunch, see what's bothering Leila for myself" Laura grinned sitting down in the vacant seat across from Monica's desk "Stellavention of you will"

"It doesn't bother me, I don't care"

"She's always like this about it," Monica said.

"Get well soon Leila"

"I'm not jealous, fuck"

"No you're right" Laura said tapping her chin "You're jealous and bitter"

I glared at her sitting down and aggressively opening my salad.

"Jealous of what exactly?" I snorted.

"That Becky next door has tamed your wild man"

"I knew it" Monca whisper yelled "I knew something was going on, he was always asking about you"

"The something that was going on was Leila running rings around him, and she fucked it up"

"I wasn't and I didn't, pussy is just pussy to him, I'm sure he'll get sick of Miss sweet valley high too"

"You slept together?"

"Not recently, no, he went down on me then we kissed but he went too far"

Monica's mouth dropped open.

"Mmmm right?" Laura said with raised eyebrows "She played that man like a fool and he saw through her bullshit, so now he's gone PG to stay safe"

I frowned at her.

"The woman looks like a kindergarten teacher, what's attractive about that? I had him literally falling over his own goddamn feet over me, all she has is him eating her food"

"And probably fucking her good"

I shutter as my mind starts to race, heart pounding, a thousand thread count sheets like silk touch my skin, as his lips travelling down my neck, whispering about how beautiful I am.

I snap out of our, coming back to Laura still on her rant.

"Believe it or not Leila, not all women play mind games"

"I wasn't playing mind games" I said, throwing my fork down, I'm really over this conversation at this point "I literally do not give a fuck, and let me remind the both of you that I can get any man I want, when I want"

They both looked at each other as back at me as I picked my fork back up, fuming, tasting this shitty salad in silence.

"You know what, enjoy your fucking lunch, I'll do you both the favour of removing myself so you can both talk shit about me" I said standing up and grabbing my bag, storming out of the office.

"Leila wai-"

I ignored their pleas behind me as I stalked out of the building, colliding with a hard chest, the toned arms wrapping around me to steady me, a familiar scent that had haunted me all this time.

Not today satan.

"Sorry, that was my bad" His calm voice came, smooth and sincere, looking down at me, an amused smile on his lips.

"Its fine" I said, nodding at his confused expression slipping cross my face as I kept walking to my car, opening it and getting in.

"Leila-"

I ignored him closing my door, watching him from the side for a moment as I started my car, he stood there staring after me at my car, before scratching his head and entering the building.

I leave the parking lot and drive towards my home, I'll call Marc when I get there and let him know I'll be working from home that afternoon.

I wasn't in the mood to be around people.

Especially after being ambushed by two of my own friends.

I didn't care.

I was fine.

I pulled up in my garage and walked into my house, placing my things down and walking to the lounge room, kicking my heels off and sitting on the chaise, looking at the coffee table where the Infinite CD still laid, I flicked the magazine over it and started to text Marc, switching on the sound system, playing halfway through a Nicki Minaj song.

"Anyways I think I met him sometime beforeIn a different life or where I recordI mean he was Adam, I think I was EveBut my vision ends with the apple on the tree"

Ok, this is gonna be a running theme today Is it?

Thanks for that reminder, Nicki.

And what a fucking apple that was.

I flicked off the music, and sat there staring at the blank tv.

I should have left it alone.

I shook my head, knowing full well I wouldn't have even if I wanted too.

I was angry at my friends because for the finest moment, they were right.

But they didn't know it was deeper than that.

This was 14 years deep.

The words still rang in my head in the dark of the night when I felt the walls cracking.

They got more frequent the more little bits bothered me, the memories started to slide through those cracks.

I wasn't sure why or how but somehow it was all flooding back, vividly bit by bit.

And the familiar voice was getting louder again.

"You wanna kick it with me here? Coz I ain't gonna lie" He slurred, voice drawled, icey blue eyes empty and vacant "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, don't worry, come relax, I got you baby"