Chapter 5 our dance

𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚊 𝙽𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚘.

I was already on the verge of freaking out, yes freaking out and shitting and getting out of that place. What held me there? My job.

It's been exactly 30 minutes since I've been standing next to Thomas, surrounded by his investors who were talking about something random and while I only knew how to nod my head and agree while Thomas acted interested but by his expression it was possible to see that he was so bored as I am.

- Excuse me gentlemen, the conversation is great but I need to retouch my makeup. - I say moving away from the men who were there, I follow through the people who were there to a door which I was almost sure were the stairs. I open it slowly without making any noise so as not to attract stares.

I go into the gap where the stairs were, soon the lights come on.

I sit on one of the steps removing that heel that was killing me with pain, I lean against the wall with the plan of only leaving there when it was all over, but by the carriage floor the night was just beginning.

At that moment I just wanted my bed, it was after 11 pm and I really preferred to be sleeping.

I close my eyes for a little while trying to at least get rid of the pain I felt in my feet to return to my perfect staging when the door leading to the stairs opens slowly.

- How ugly Miss Collins, lying to investors just to get away from the conversation. - Thomas's serious voice sounds throughout the environment, filling what was previously silence. Or at least a muffled sound from the symphony playing outside.

- You didn't have to come after me, I was just coming back.- I say rolling my eyes and straightening my posture about to put my heels on again, when I hear the same thing.

- You don't need that, rest a little longer. This really sucks, these cocktails used to be better. - he replies with a half smile and lightly scratching the back of his neck.

- Said the man who brought me here against my will. - I murmur softly and I realize that he heard it because he made a face at me, making me laugh.

"Are you always so grouchy like that?" he asked in a curious tone as he watched me.

- Said the guy who lives worse than me when I have PMS.- I reply with a slight laugh at the end of the sentence, I look at him and realize that he was also smiling.

- How about a truce, for today, without insults, cursing or anything like that. Let's just enjoy the rest of the cocktail in peace, what do you say?- he asks me, extending his hand and with a slight smile on his lips.

- Closed Thomas. - I say squeezing his hand and returning the smile.

He sits next to me on the stairs and we stand there, both looking at the wall without saying a word. As the sound of muffled music filled the room.

- You dance well. - he says, breaking the atmosphere between us.

- Thanks. But I don't dance, that was or was meant to be just a joke. - I reply kinda embarrassed and the same nods.

- What do you think of Black Corporation?- the same question, perhaps looking for something that wouldn't let the subject drop.

- It's been an incredible experience, you know, except for the fact that I have a boss who is super grouchy. So young but grumbles more than my grandfather. - I say in a playful tone and he looks at me with one of his eyebrows raised.

- I thought we called a truce?- He asks with his eyebrow still raised.

- I'm kidding, you don't even know how to joke affs. - I say making a pout but then falling into laughter. While he just watched me confused. - what it was ? - I ask stopping laughing and staring at the same one who looked at me confused.

- You are strange, I would even say confused.- he says still looking at me as if he was looking for something.

- Life itself is already confusing my dear. - I say as I stand up and take my heels in my hands.

"What are you going to do?" He asks curiously.

- I'll explore the other floors. - I say shrugging and dropping my heels to the floor, making a bun in my hair.

- How about we go to the roof? - He asks still watching me.

- If you promise not to throw me from above, I'll accept. - I say sketching a smile and taking my heels in my hands.

We went up the stairs, as it seemed the roof was a restricted area of ​​the huge building. After a few minutes we opened an iron door, finally revealing the terrace or roof as some prefer to call it.

The rain that was once thin now fell in all its intensity. I was about to step outside when Thomas grabbed my wrist.

-Are you crazy? You will get soaked. - he says assuming his tough posture again.

- You only live once, Thomas.- I say to him, letting go of his hands and daring to step into the rain while he watched me standing at the door. - come soon, this is amazing.- I say smiling and spinning in the middle of the rain while it remained stopped watching me.

I follow him, a little wet standing in front of him while he watched me without understanding.- I'll help you.- I say removing his tie, and then his blazer that to my surprise he helped me take off. - That now takes off his shoes.- I say still smiling and he looks at me strangely. - Take it off. - I say laughing even more at the expression he made.

Soon he is only in a shirt and social pants. I take his hand pulling him to the middle of the terrace where the rain beat against us with all its intensity.

- What's cool about being cold?- he asks still parked in the middle of the terrace.

- You don't even know what it's like to live. - I say taking one of his hands and then the other.- come let's dance.- I say trying to get him out of his seat.

- But there is no music? - the same question as I had done earlier with Matthew.

- And who needs music. Come on, if you move you can Tom.- I say without realizing what I had said.

-What did you call me ??-the same question making me stop in front of him.- You called me Tom?-His expression now became curious. For he watched me with a mixture of curiosity and joy.

- Sorry, I didn't notice. Ah, the person who spoke is no longer here, I think we'd better go back inside.- I say a little embarrassed and pass by the same, when I feel one of his hands in contact with my waist over the wet dress.

- Wait, I just thought it was different. No one has called me that in years. - the same says putting himself in front of me with a smile on his face. - grant me the honor of this dance, Miss Collins. - He asks letting out a hot laugh then resting his hands on my waist.

- With pleasure, Mr. Mitchell.-

I reply smiling as well, putting my hands on his shoulders.

We started slow dancing, one step here and one step there. The night no longer seemed as cold as before, the rain continued to fall on us, making us even wetter we danced in perfect harmony, I closed my eyes to enjoy that moment even more, knowing that at the end of that night we would only be boss and employee. We are just that.

Countless minutes there dancing in the rain, we were soaked when the door leading to the roof is opened, we were startled by the noise, we immediately let go of each other and only then did I realize what was happening, we were practically glued, hugging to the point that my head was leaning against your chest.

I finally found you.- a voice sounds making me come back to reality. In front of us was Roberto and with him a woman, she must have been around her late forties. Wearing an elegant dress, she had red hair, fair skin and eyes as blue as the waters of the sea.

"Did something happen Roberto?" asked Thomas, resuming his exemplary posture.

- Actually yes, Giulia is waiting for you Thomas. - the same says walk us watching.

- come with me. You need to dry off or you'll get sick. - says the woman whose name I still didn't know.

I go to the door where I go down picking up my heels, I look back one last time and soon I see that Thomas was still watching me. I follow the woman down the stairs to a floor below ours, we enter a kind of apartment and soon she closes the door.

- Girl, you're soaked. But don't worry, we'll take care of it. By the way, you can call me Aurora, and what's your name?- the same question gently while searching something in a kind of closet.

- My name is Emma, ​​ma'am, Emma Collins. - I say still standing in the middle of the room where we met.

- Here girl, this will look beautiful on you. - Says the same returning with a dress in her hand the same was in a violet tone of medium size.

She hands me the dress and shows me where there was a bathroom. I go inside and change, leaving soon after, facing none other than Thomas sitting in an armchair in the room.

- Oh girl, it looks beautiful on you. Now come on, let's fix that hair and that smudged makeup. - says Aurora, appearing out of nowhere in the room and leaving me calmer. - Thomas, I didn't know you were there, where are Roberto and Giulia?- the same question turning his attention to Thomas who was just watching us.

- Giulia is downstairs, Roberto had to answer an important phone call. So I decided to come and see how Emma was doing. - he says the same calmly as if that was the most normal thing in the world.

- I see that his suit fits you well. - she says with a smile on her face. - Well now come here Emma let's give you a hand because the party is going on downstairs.

I sit at a kind of dressing table and it starts messing with my hair. In the end she just dried them leaving them loose and with lighter curls, and a basic nude makeup. But very beautiful.

- Now it's beautiful and ready to go back downstairs. - she says with a huge smile on her face.

I look at Thomas who remained sitting in the armchair still watching me, his rigid posture and closed expression returned, he no longer looked like the one who was smiling and dancing in the rain a few minutes ago.

- Let's go ? - he even pronounces himself in his gravelly voice, standing up in front of the armchair.

I just nod my head, we left there going to the elevator we entered it without saying a single word, as soon as the elevator opens on the floor below I walk beside her while some eyes turned to us.

And here we are again, acting as the perfect friend of long years, we approached Aurora, who was now talking to a woman, she seemed to be around 25 years old. Dark skin and brown eyes, she had long straight hair that went down to her waist. She wore a dress in a light tone that contrasted with her black skin. I must say, she was stunning.

As soon as we approached, she turned her gaze to Thomas and with a smile on her face, she hugged him tightly. And he reciprocated the hug as intensely as.

- I told you the years would fly by. - She says after they both separate.

- It's been a long time, but I'm glad you're back.- Thomas replies with a huge smile on his lips.

- And you, my dear, what's your name? - same question turning his attention to me.

- Ah, nice to meet you, my name is Emma.- I say with a little trepidation.

Emma, ​​I love the name. You remind me of someone. But I don't know for sure, but it's nice to meet you. My name is Giulia, but you can call me Lia or Giu. It's a nickname our parents gave me when I was little. - she says with a sweet smile on her lips.

- You are brothers?- I ask and I realize how inconvenient my question seemed.

- Yes my dear, But tell me what about my brother?- the same question leaving me cornered because at that exact moment Roberta also approaches us bringing with her again Aurora who had moved away.

- Emma is a friend I met a few years ago. We met Lia a few weeks ago, so I invited her to join me that night. - says Thomas with a smug smile on his lips and looking at me with that deadly look as if he wanted to say to confirm the story.

- Oh yes, Thomas never mentioned anything about you Emma. - she shifts her attention to me making me swallow hard.

- Maybe it's because of the time we haven't seen each other. I spent a few years studying in London, I came back a few months ago for my mother's funeral. - I say a little awkwardly, as indeed it was true about my mother's death, except for the time I got back.

- Oh I'm sorry dear, I didn't know. Okay, let's change the subject. How about some drinks, let's drink to life for the night is young. - She says taking a cup from the tray to which the waiter approached to serve us.

~༒︎~

-It was a beautiful performance, Miss Collins, especially when she mentioned her mother's death as the reason for returning from her supposed trip. It deserves an extra bonus, I'll have one of my employees deposit it for you tomorrow. When tomorrow takes the day off, you deserve it. - Thomas says with a smug smile on his face.

We were inside the car that had just parked in front of my house. I grab my purse and look one last time at him, who still has the same smile on his face.

- It was not an act, unfortunately the only lie I told throughout the night was about knowing each other for years. Good evening Mister Mitchell. - I reply coldly opening the car door and getting out, I take a good look back and realize that he was watching me through the window.

I walk among the tulips in my garden, my heart in my hand and memories a thousand, I reach the small porch of my house. I open the door, entering it, closing the door behind me, sliding through it with my hands on my head while thousands of tears invade me.

In the midst of the dark, I allow myself to cry for everything that was trapped inside, cry for who I lost, cry for the shitty life I lead, for everything I allowed them to do to me.

Nobody knows everything I went through, so they don't have the right to judge. Life was slowly losing its color, and I no longer saw the point of anything, tears falling down my face like waterfalls.

I hear the ringing of the bell that made me come out of my trance, wiped away the tears that insisted on falling, by this time the makeup I was wearing was already all smudged. I get up trying to compose myself as much as possible.

I tie my hair in a messy bun while the doorbell rang intensely. It must have been almost one in the morning or later, I take a deep breath opening the door without looking through the peephole.

I open the door to find Thomas parked in front of my door. - Why are you here ? I mean, I thought you were gone. - I say trying to understand what he was doing there.

- You forgot your cell phone on the car seat, were you crying? - the same question raises one of his hands in a failed attempt to touch my face.

- I'm fine Mister Mitchell, thank you for the cell phone. Now I need to go. - I say moving away from the same one who tries to touch my face.

- You know Emma, ​​I loved the night. - he said with a small smile on his face.

- Me, I just do my job. But I admit the evening was pleasant, have a good time Mister Mitchell. - I say rushing to close the door before he said anything else.

I pick up my things that were scattered on the floor and head upstairs. I go into my room and get rid of the clothes I was wearing, I'm just in my underwear and head to my bathroom, put the bathtub to fill and look for my cell phone.

I softly connect it to the sound box that was there. I remove my intimate parts and get into the bathtub allowing myself to sink slowly in the middle of the waters and allow myself to think about everything that had happened.

After a long time I finish my shower, I get out of the bathtub and do my hygiene. I put on my moisturizer before going to sleep and put on my hobby I left the bathroom and went back to my room to almost have a heart attack when I saw Thomas sitting in the armchair in the corner of my room.

- I'm seeing things it can only be, no, you're not real, it's just an illusion of my mind. - I mutter while he just watches me. - Me, I'm going to close my eyes and when I count to three, you're going to disappear. - I say closing my eyes right after.- 1, 2, 3 - I open my eyes again looking at the same place while he still stood there looking at me with curiosity.

-You're weird.- he says making me snort with his words.

- How did you get in here?- I ask the same as I smile when I notice my irritation.

- You forgot to lock the door. - he says with a certain naturalness. - So I went in, and I waited forever for you to get out of the shower and I could warn you. - He said with his eyes still focused on me.

- I appreciate the concern Mr. Mitchell, but now I ask you to leave. - I say turning my back and heading to my closet looking for my underwear and pajamas to sleep in that cold morning.

I look for my pajamas but I remember that they are both dirty, I only wear a shirt that I'm pretty sure was Pietro's and that I certainly had a dress on me and the shorts from one of my babydoll sets.

I go back to my room and find the same emptiness, thank heavens at least until I see Thomas appearing again with a glass of juice in his hands.

- That's a joke. - I say still trying to keep calm. - Go away please I need to rest. - I say at the same time as I smile.

"You know, Emma, ​​any one of my employees would kill to have me in her room." And you shooed me out of your house. - the same smile ladinho. - By the way, I liked the outfit. He ends up looking me up and down.

- I'm not any of your employees Thomas, now for the heavens, go away and let me sleep. I am exhausted. - I say throwing myself on my bed and turning off the lamp.

"Are you really going to sleep and leave me here?" he asked sarcastically.

- My sleep first. - I say turning around.

It doesn't take long for sleep to catch up with me and soon I end up erasing my tiredness.