Chapter 17: Departure
Sylvie
I blinked twice and kept my eyes steady on Michaels while battling internally if I had heard him correctly, or whether it was the alcohol in my system causing me to hallucinate.
"You don't have to give me your answer right now, but I'll be waiting for it." Michael added while I sat there lost in his eyes. It seemed like a dream, something straight out of my wildest dreams, and I honestly had no idea how to respond to it.
I definitely adored Michael Black, I respected him, but I was yet to figure out if I had romantic feelings for him. Our relationship since the day he returned leaned towards the friendship side, but there was no denying that I daydreamed of being in his arms from time to time.
"I..I need to ease myself." I stammered before getting up from the bed almost immediately. This was supposed to be a dream come true to me, but for some reason unknown to me, I was finding it difficult to accept and just be happy.
I raced into his bathroom and locked myself up inside it for twenty minutes. Why aren't I excited? Why am I not accepting? I questioned myself as I threw water on my face. Was it because of Antonio? I asked myself and soon ended up agreeing to that question. Ever since Antonio and I had sex again, some of my old feelings had reawakened, and somehow I've found myself falling for him once more.
The first time I saw Michael Black, I built up a plan to somewhat seduce him in order to make Antonio jealous. But that plan had died away after I recognized the huge differences in our lifestyles. I had considered that plan as something that was impossible—there was no way Michael Black could possibly be swooned by someone like me. That was what I thought, and it was one of the main reasons I had suppressed my feelings for him. I didn't want to end up falling for somebody who I could never be with.
After calming myself down and recollecting my thoughts, I walked out on him changing into his underwear.
My initial shock gave way to a gulp, and I quickly averted my eyes, my face instantly flushed with embarrassment. "I-I'm so sorry," I stammered, desperately trying to regain composure as I turned away.
Despite my embarrassment, my eyes slipped through the spaces of my hand, and I found myself entranced by his build. In that brief glance, I had quickly committed his perfectly sculpted physique to memory. His shoulders, broad and well-defined, tapering down to a narrow waist. The play of muscles beneath his skin was a testament to hours spent at the gym.
My gaze involuntarily lingered for a second longer than necessary before I forced myself to look away, my cheeks burning. "I'll wait outside," I mumbled, the embarrassment lingering in my voice.
"It's fine, I'm almost done anyway." He replied as he got dressed. He turned towards me afterwards, a curious look in his eyes. "Are you done thinking about it? Do you have an answer now?"
"N..Not yet." I replied sharply while I slowly took steps towards the door. "Give me a little more time."
"A day?"
"Yes."
With that I exited his room, my head still spinning and my vision blurry from all the alcohol in my system. I leaned onto the walls for support, and found Amelie at the end of the corridor, a place I never expected to meet her. She seemed to be busy, but after seeing me struggle with walking, she rushed to help me.
"What is wrong? Have you been drinking?" She asked as she rested my weight on her shoulder. I chuckled nervously to reply, and I saw her expression contort into a frown. "It's not funny Sylvie, we just lost the deal, this is the worst time to be drinking."
"I'm sorry." I whispered before regaining my composure. This was the first time I was getting chastened by my junior, and it felt oddly painful. "Amelie, I need to tell you something, and I don't know how to process it myself," I admitted, my voice hushed.
Amelie looked at me from the corner of her eyes, concern etched into her features.
"What's going on?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for clues.
Taking a deep breath, I began recounting Michael's words, the air thick with tension as I relayed the shocking proposition he had made.
Amelie's eyes widened in disbelief, and I could feel the weight of her unspoken questions hanging in the air.
"He asked me to be his lover," I whispered, the words feeling surreal even as I uttered them.
Amelie gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth. "What did you say?" she asked, her shock evident.
"I... I didn't say anything," I confessed. "I was so taken aback, I told him to give me more time.."
Her expression shifted from shock to curiosity, "Are you going to accept him?"
I shook my head, uncertainty clouding my thoughts. "I don't know, I thought that you might have some words for me." I answered honestly. Amelie was like a junior sister to me, and most times her decision had helped me. I wasn't the best person with relationships, I was hoping that she'd be a lot more experienced than me, and that was why I'd opened up to her in the first place.
"I don't know..." She started, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "What about Antonio? Are you over him?"
I felt my heart skip a beat at the mention of Antonio's name. Everybody always asked me about him first, and it was beginning to make me question myself. Was it really obvious that I still had feelings for Antonio? And if it was, how obvious was it?
"Y.. Yes. There's no way I'd still be with him after what he's done." I stammered before throwing my face away from Amelie's. One look at my face and she might be able to tell I was lying.
"I think you should take a break from all of this romance, especially when your co-workers are involved. Things might end up the way they did with Antonio." Amelie replied, and my high expectations fell almost immediately. I was really hoping that she'd encourage me to go for Michael, but her words were a lot more sensible and reasonable.
"Thank you..." I whispered, disappointment etched into the core of my voice.
"It's fine, get some rest and get yourself ready for departure soon." Amelie informed me as she lowered me to the safety of my bed.
"Departure? We're leaving already?" I inquired, my eyes widened expressively in shock.
"Yes, we lost the deal, there's no reason to stay here and increase costs any more." Amelie responded before making her exit. A light sigh broke past my lips as I fell back on my bed, thoughts of Michael's proposal still going through my mind. I had no idea whether I should listen to myself and accept, or take Amelie's advice to stay away from relationships for the moment. I had twenty four hours to decide, but I could tell I wouldn't be able to come to a conclusion even in one week.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone