I turn around.Zach hesitates.My insides flutter, and I wonder what he’s finding hard to say.
“You leaving early … is … is everything okay?”
I chuckle lightly, but it sounds false and, knowing Zach, I’m scared he’ll see right through me.
“Yes.”
As soon as I get back to my desk I check my cell phone.
Fleur: Are you okay, hon?Did you find a place to stay?
Me: I’m fine!??
I add the smiley face to convince her and myself.It’s just a few nights.That’s all.I can do this.
Fleur: Dave only has one bedroom.I’m on the couch, it’s small, but I can ask him if you can stay.
Me: NO.Don’t ask him.It’s fine.It’s only for a night or two.
Chapter 16
MAYA
It happens as soon as I step into the archive room in the basement; the musty scent of dust and paper is all around me.
It lingers in the air, and that, coupled with the deliberately dim lighting makes me feel like I’m stepping into the past; old, dark and archaic.Looking around, I observe that the rows of shelves stretch up higher than I expected.
I’ve been working hard on collating the information he wants.I want to do a good job for Zach, and if I’m honest, I think a part of it is because pleasing him feels easier and more fulfilling than pleasing Katherine.
It also feels … good.
More personal.
I don’t know, maybe I’m getting reeled into something I’m trying hard to resist.Maybe I should have asked one of my colleagues to help me, but I don’t want to give Katherine even more reason to be annoyed with me by taking another member of staff away from her work.Getting someone else to help me with Zach’s project would do just that.
I let out a sigh as I realize the size of this task.Labeled boxes and binders fill every space.There’s so much data and Zach won’t need all of it.It would take me months to sift through everything.
This work isn’t going to be easy, but it needs to be done.Some of the product lines go back decades, and they’re documented in old catalogs, with many handwritten notes.Price lists printed on thick cream paper.It’s slower work than anything I’ve done so far, but this history of how the business started is important.The first product lines were the spine of the business and from there on, everything was refined, improved upon.Stella evolved with the times, responding to changing fashions and expectations while still holding onto its heritage of craftsmanship, quality and understated elegance.
The air feels heavier down here, making me feel claustrophobic and hemmed in, like I need to go up to the surface and breathe again.After a few hours, I decide to change tack, and pull only the most recent files, skimming for patterns and red flags.I climb the ladder and I’m halfway up, tugging a box free, when I hear the door open behind me.
“Maya?”I startle, the sound of Zach’s voice reaches across the room and I’m acutely aware of his presence here, underground, with me.Goosebumps ripple over my arms and down my spine.I heft a box between me and the ladder, resting it gently against it, so I can take a moment to recover as I hold onto it.The boxes, thankfully, aren’t too big, and also not as heavy as I expected.
He’s by my side in an instant.“What are you doing?”he cries, looking up at me in disbelief.I’m so glad that I’m wearing trousers.
“I’m fine,” I say, but it’s not true.Not with him standing so close and looking at me like that, like I’m precious and he’s afraid I might fall and break.
I manage to move the box under my arm.It’s tricky, putting my arm around it, and holding it close enough that it won’t fall, while also gripping the ladder with the other hand, and slowly climbing back down.It’s also dangerous and silly.I should have asked someone to help me.
“Careful, Maya!”His voice is sharp.He reaches up for the box.“Give that to me.”
Before I can argue, he takes ahold of the box and I feel a sense of relief.But there’s something else, too.Something hot coiling in my lower belly.My skin feels suddenly hot, and a throbbing starts between my thighs.
“You could’ve fallen,” he says, setting the box down on the long, wooden table in the middle of the room.His tone isn’t angry, just concerned.“Why did you do this alone?You should’ve asked me, or gotten someone to help you.”
I shrug, trying to downplay it.“I didn’t want to bother anyone.”
“You can bother me anytime.”
