Chapter 50: Calling Earth
Oh no! I hadn't even had time to counter attack and she could win the war with this one move of hers. I stepped back away from the screens in frustration. Suddenly my back touched against a hard warm surface and I jumped up in fright. In trying to move away from what had touched me, I leapt to the side but collided with the leg of the table and that threw me off balance. I felt the ground rushing to meet me and closed my eyes. However, at the last second I was pulled up and thrust against a hard chest.
Opening my eyes, I stared in surprise at Dave who was standing in front of me.
'What are you doing here?' I asked, not in a hurry to move away.
He had been in the secret corridor leading to the office, this was why I hadn't seen him on any of the screens and I had imagined that he was in his room.
'I thought that this was my office,' he retorted. Silence followed afterwards and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
'So what happened to your guest?' I asked trying to fill the gap. I used my fingers to trace the buttons on his shirt, their round shape fascinated me. In fact, everything remotely associated to this man was a source of appeal.
He looked at the screens behind me and asked, 'Didn't you catch the live action?'
'I did. I saw how the secretary planned the whole event and then threw the blame on poor Martha,' I confessed. Had I not decided not to tell him anything? Couldn't I just pretend?
He merely raised his eyebrows, but did not say anything. I was the one who was surprised here. He was behaving as if he knew everything from before.
I caught him lightly around the waist and thus anchored, I bent backwards to stare up at his face.
'Why are you not surprised?'
'I knew that Martha wouldn't lower herself to do such an act, however much she might dislike Estena.'
'Did you tell her that you know she's innocent?' I queried, faintly becoming aware that this position had brought my lower body in closer proximity to his.
''I didn't scold her, if that's what you are asking.'
'No,' I insisted. 'Did you tell her you knew she did not tell her anything?'
'She knows I trust her.'
I pulled myself up and stood on tip toe to sustain his gaze, 'That's not the same thing. She was hurt by the accusations.'
'Okay.' I had been gearing up to convince him and the fact that he agreed so quickly put me at a loss for words.
'Uhh, good then,' I finally said, releasing his waist, but once again I miscalculated and tripped on my own leg. If it hadn't been for Dave's reflexes I would have fallen down. He caught me around the waist. It wouldn't have been much painful except maybe for my ego.
He pulled me up and made me stand still. 'Are you fine? You seem to be falling a lot today.'
In fact, it hit me then that indeed I was falling, falling for him. But I couldn't tell him that, it was too early.
'I guess I'm just distracted by what happened. So what will you do then?'
'Estena is a guest and I'll give her the honor that a guest deserves, irrespective of what might have happened,' he said on a note that was meant to be final and turned. I pulled my tongue at his back.
'Fine, but please don't expect me to cozy up to her,' I said crossing my arms over my chest. If he could be stubborn, then even I could be. I did understand his viewpoint, but it didn't mean that I had to like it.
It was almost lunch time and I left to go to the kitchen. Martha was going to leave a tray in Estena's room. By the way, what had she done after reaching Dave's bedroom? I was so busy talking to him that I did not notice what she was up to.
As Martha was leaving, I saw Dave step in and he announced that it was not necessary as Estena would be coming to the dining room for lunch. Of course, how could she lose this opportunity to spend more time with him? Martha was about to put the tray back, but I told her that I would take it instead and eat at the office. She agreed with a smile and before Estena could get down, I rushed out of sight.
Once in the office, I sat in Dave's armchair and observed the action around me on the different screens. Estena was getting down the stairs, leaning heavily on Dave. How could he stand being so close to her knowing that she was pretending? Maybe her chest pressing against his arm provided a compensation, I thought bitterly. It made me sick to observe her acts and I preferred to call Claudia instead to check if she had the informtion I had requested. Dave had shown me how to use his phone and I repeated the same steps.
Claudia picked on the second ring itself and she rushed into the explanations.
'His name is Mr Freere and he is the chairperson of the board of the administration. He has been for years. He is the only one board member to have an office in the old block. He pretty much keeps to himself and often leaves for trips. And you were right, he is the one who convinced the others to award the prize money to Gati's class.'
I didn't want to go beyond the one minute mark, so I quickly thanked her and bid her goodbye. I munched on the lamb lasagne that Martha had prepared, appreciatively and considered the information that I had been provided. It was rare for anyone to get an office in the old block as most members preferred the luxury of the new block, so why did such an eminent member of the board choose the old block?
The old block actually opened on the forest. So, could this be the reason why? He was probably also looking for the passageway I supposed, but if he could travel to Bhuvar on his own, why did he need access to the gateway?
I licked my spoon after eating, Martha had really outdone herself and looking at the screen, I cold see that Dave's plate was empty as well. As if he knew I was observing him, he looked straight into the camera at that point. Even across the lens of the camera, he could still make my body react and I felt butterflies in my stomach. 'Was it not enough that I had just eaten lunch? Did the butterflies have to come as well?' I asked myself ruefully.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone