~Sienna~
"Dad, what have you done to Sienna? Look how frightened she looks." Nova rushes to my side.
My shoulders sags with relief, my eyes closing briefly.
"Sienna?" She whispers.
I smile, shaking my head. "I'm fine. Nothing happened."
But she doesn't believe me, I can tell by the way her brows pull together.
"I've to return to my work now." I say quickly, rushing out before I melt under her genuine warmth.
I should feel shameful, disloyal, unworthy.
Yet, all I can think about his the feelings he stirs in me and how my control keeps slipping away.
I'm so ruined and beyond saving.
Later, Nova's text message pops up on my phone saying she has to leave early, something urgent came up.
Work today runs smoothly, easier than yesterday, but I still have to stay until Norman finishes. I follow behind him into his private elevator as he presses the button to downstairs.
I'd prefer to use the regular one, but he insists, and who am I to object.
"I'll drive you home. Let me get the car," he says and steps away.
My mouth falls open, but no words come out. Can I handle another moment alone with Norman?
"Sienna."
The sound of my name makes me turn, and my stomach drops. My feet stumble backward as the color drains from my face, the hair on my scalp prickles, my ears rings.
Everly, my ex-friend.
After I caught her and Julian, I haven't seen her since.
A slow smile spread across her face as she walks closer in a tight fitted suit, designer bag hanging off her shoulder.
Does she... work here? Or something?
I'll have to ask Nova, she'll know.
"What are you doing here?" She asks, eyes running over me, then pauses and widen. "You work here."
"Hmm, that must have been Nova's doing, your little rich friend." She sneers. "Peaks of being the CEO's daughter's friend."
I grind my teeth, but keeping quiet.
If she wants to pretend she didn't betray four years of our friendship, then I'll just pretend she doesn't exist.
"Is that how you want to play it?" She snorts. "You should have gotten over this. You know men-if he'd wanted you, he wouldn't have been with me."
I draw in a deep breath, anger brews inside me, hot and fast, it feels as if I'm going to explode.
"Why are you so shameless?" I hiss.
"Shameless? That someone loves me, and I love him too, and we're together? Is that being shameless." She sighs. "You have everything Sienna. You're intelligent, you're good at what you do and you've got your rich best friend-and Julian."
She shrugs. "I have to struggle to get everything I need. I tagged along with you because I want those connections. You can't expect me not to take it when it came. I'm just doing what makes me happy."
I can't believe what I'm hearing.
"Really? I thought we were friends. And I don't have nothing. You know where I came from, and how hard I fought to get here. And you say this?"
"Whatever," she dangles her bag. "It's all in the past now, and it's better for you to remember that it's me he wants not you." She smirks, walking away but pauses.
"I work in the Real Estate Department, hoping to see you. Want to see how long you'll last here with your back entry."
"Sienna."
Norman's voice cuts through the air.
Everly's eyes widen as she looks at him then back at me, her eyes display a look of shock and confusion, before they fade into envy and rage.
"You roll with the father now?" She whispers. "Just how far are you willing to go to reach your goal?"
My eyes snap up to her, the grip on my bag tightening, something in me breaks the moment she says that words.
"Not everybody has to be a cheap hoe like you. Spreading that loose cunt of yours, just to reach the heights, but you'll never get there. You want to know why?" I say stepping closer, my tone low but sharp.
"Everything I have, I worked... hard for it. And you'll fall down on your face before you ever climb a step. So go on, feed yourself whatever makes you sleep at night, and wake up the next morning trying to be me." I flip my hair, walking away while she stares at me, stunned.
"You and Julian can both go rot in hell, cause you deserve each other." I throw over my shoulder. "And I'm looking forward to how long your relationship will last." I smile and walk away.
Fucking bitch! Fucking stupid bitch.
She thinks she can come at me just like that. I would have like to respect our years of friendship even though she betrayed me, but she thinks she's superior.
Fuming, I storm towards Norman's car, and slide inside.
"I'm sorry." I whisper, fastening my seat belt.
I have forgotten about Norman waiting for me during the rants and it isn't until I turn and see the car did I remember.
I pray I never run into Everly again, she brings out the worst in me.
"Are you alright?" Norman asks as he pulls out of the driveway.
I nod. "Yeah."
The soft hum of the car is the only sound accompanying us as he drives.
I stare out the window, watching as the streetlights blur by, the people strolling the night, Everly's words about doing what makes her happy echoes in my head.
Funny how I'd said the same thing two weeks ago even though I was drunk I still remember every bit of what happened that night.
Why can't I also do what makes me happy? He's right here and I'd been fighting these feelings, and it's not like I expect more from him or that I want him to marry me, it's about the feelings of the moment.
I just want to feel something real, I want him and he wants me too.
No strings attached, no commitment and no one has know if we don't tell.
It won't hurt Nova and I'll still be her best friend, I'll just keep my secret and to live my life.
Give in to my feelings with Norman, I'd be his dirty little girl, let him use me however he wants.
My thighs claps tightly against each other, my breath rush.
"We're here." Norman says, breaking my trail of thoughts.
I clear my suddenly dry throat, and swallow. "Thank you." I whisper.
I unbuckle the seatbelt and reach for the door handle.
"Do you want to talk about what happened at the company?" Norman asks. "The conversation seems pretty intense."
I shake my head without thinking. "It's nothing."
"Are you sure?" He ask, his tone gently, concerned.
"Yeah." I nod and step out. "Thank you."
I close the door and walk over to my apartment, I didn't hear the sound of him driving away till I enter the room.
Leaning back against the door, I exhale a long, shaky breath because if I'd stay in that car a moment longer, I'm sure I'll be begging him to take him.
I kick off my heels and head for the bedroom, I just want a shower and some sleep before my brain shut down for the day.
But my mind won't stop racing, a part tells me it's wrong, I can't do that, another voice whisper, it's not like you want forever with him, maybe this is just about choosing yourself for once.
Maybe it is.
I sink into bed, closing my eyes as a strange calm washes over me.
