27 He Is Your Enemy

ELENA

The light chattering and bustle from the outside of my office sipped through the thin gaps between the door and the window. But not a single word landed on the infertile land of my brain.

My eyes were fixated on the screen of my laptop on which instead of a research paper I needed to read, a smiling crocodile was twirking on some song, that I didn't recognise.

For the past twenty minutes, the crocodile was not tired of dancing, and my mind kept running back to the last night.

I remembered it in bits and pieces, only a few flashes. Only one face was dominating every fragment of my memory- Devon Sanders.

I didn't remember what I did to aggravate him so much. But his deadly grey eyes sent chills down my spine. How did I even survive that encounter with that man?

I had no idea!

When I woke up in the morning, I found myself clutching onto Joanna's favourite teddy bear, occupying her entire bed, and my poor friend had to seek her sofa for shelter.

She didn't tell me how I got to her place and what happened after I succumbed to the temptation of filling my insides with bitter alcohol.

I lifted my head to peek out through the glass wall of my office to see her talking with an employee. Her eyes lifted and met mine. I stretched my lips in a smile, but all I received in return was a cold glare before she walked away.

Yeah! You guessed it right!

Joanna was mad at me and was punishing me with her famous silent treatment.

I sighed, clutching my hair in a fist, my elbow resting on the edge of the table.

What a mess I have created!

I heard the knock on the door before it was pushed open by Steve. At least he was on my side!

"Boss, I have a news."

"What news?"

"About Devon Sanders!" His eyes sparkled with excitement, and I wondered what that man had done this time.

For some reason, my cheeks burned, and my eyes shifted to look at my scraped palms. The proof of insult he had thrown at me last night.

"Is he dead?" I asked in a sharper voice.

Steve visibly cringed but shook his head slowly "Erm... not yet at least."

"Then I am not interested!" I opened the window I should have focused on and began reading though none of the words made any sense to me.

"But Boss-"

"STEVE!" I warned.

He sighed in defeat yet mumbled under his breath anyway. "He left!"

My eyes froze, and my finger hovered over the 'down arrow'. I blinked.

"He... l-left?"

Why it bothered me so much? Or... was I even bothered?

"Yes, he and his PA left late in the night after we picked you up from his guest house."

I licked my lips, a habit I had picked up recently, before nodding my head once.

"Alright! Keep your eyes on the factory." I said absentmindedly.

Steve left, and I was alone again with Devon's thoughts on my mind.

No man had ever occupied my thoughts like him! I had faced many business tycoons and was victorious against them. But whenever I imagined the day I would stand with my chin up in the air and he, bowing down in front of me, I didn't feel that rush of adrenaline, nor I felt any kind of joy.

All I felt was... a peckish feeling inside me, wishing to see him stand straight and strong the way I have known him.

"God, Elena! Get a grip girl! Stop thinking about that monkey. He doesn't deserve your that much attention. He is your enemy. ENEMY!

You have to find a way to win against him. Come on!"

My fists clenched tightly as I reminded myself who he was to me. And just like that, my mind was clear of his thoughts.

*

*

*

DEVON

The driver drove the car in urgency while I sat in the backseat with Christine. The night sky sheltered our heads, and the crescent moon followed the car all the way.

The tense silence inside the car was domineering the silence of the night

I didn't feel like playing the video game on my phone, something I usually do whenever I get a chance. I felt Christine's gaze lingering on my torn knuckles every now and then.

I didn't bother to treat them. I liked it raw, painful and bloodied. Just like myself!

She must have sensed my mood and thus didn't press further to treat the wounds. I was glad she understood that and perhaps that was why only she could survive as my PA.

As soon as the car entered the city limits, I felt like I had been transported into another world. How different Swindon was from the city!

Here everywhere I see, I found only a forest of cement, the skyscrapers competing against each other, the cars racing past each other and the people running to keep up with the slipping time.

Unlike Swindon, where the lush green mountains call out to me, the slowly flowing river's sound uplifted my mood, its clear sky giving me the hope of a better future and a woman who pushed me over the edge of rediscovering myself.

The car entered the posh locality of the city, where plots of multiple acres spread throughout. Mighty mansions and villas decorated the landscape, and the artificial peace came from the isolation from the hustling and bustling of city life.

The car passed a number of such lavish properties that one could only dream of, but very few managed to achieve. It finally slowed down its pace as it neared a large villa washed in white.

The security ran to punch the security code in the system to open the sturdy metal gates that kept the outsiders out of the property.

Christine squirmed in her seat, watching the villa nearing closer and closer before the car came to a halt.

"Let's go." I told her before getting out of the car.

A helper came running to take my luggage which was not much. I stuffed as many clothes and things as I could possibly fit in a duffel bag before sprinting out of the guest house.

I heard the clicking of Christine's sandal hot on my tail. I rushed through the large doors made up of fine-quality Mohogany and straight into the living room.

It was past midnight, and I expected everyone to be asleep. But I was surprised to see aunt Julianne sitting in a lone armchair in a corner of the extensive living room.

She didn't notice me until I stood in front of her. And as soon as her eyes caught the sight of me, they teared up instantly. She stood up before throwing her hands around me and sobbing on my chest.

My heart pained watching her state. For me, my aunt was one of the strongest women that I have come across.

Christine stood a few steps away, watching us with a worried face. I could tell how exhausted she was after such an eventful day.

I pulled away from aunt and made her sit back in the chair. I heard another set of light footsteps before Fredrick appeared out of the kitchen with a mug of hot coffee in his hand.

He looked relieved seeing me as if I would solve all of their problems. I wish!

Looking up at Christine, I said, "You should go and have some rest. Fredrick will take you to one of the guest rooms. The driver will take you home in the morning."

Christine looked hesitant. A couple of times when she had to stay at home because of me, she looked as hesitant as tonight.

"I think I should go right now, Boss. I don't want to bother you." She said, slowly fidgeting with her fingers.

Aunt Julianne wiped her tears before turning her head to look at Christine for the first time since we arrived.

"Christine, my dear. Devon is right. It is too late, and we don't want your mother to panic or get disturbed in her sleep.

Fredrick, show her a room and see if she needs anything."

That left Christine with no choice but to comply. "Thank you, Mrs Burke! Good night!" She then met my eyes and said, "Good night, Boss!"

The moment aunt Julianne looked away from her, she mouthed please while pointing at my knuckles.

I couldn't help but smile at her care. I watched Christine following Fredrick before they both disappeared.

I shifted my attention back to my aunt, who looked at me with tired eyes.

"Aunt Julianne..."

"Why were you not picking up my calls, Devon? Do you know how worried I was? Weird thoughts kept bugging me for the day, and I just..." More tears ran down her eyes.

I hugged her again, running my hand soothingly on her back to calm her.

"Now I am here, aunt Julianne. Everything will be alright!"