Muffins and Coffee

*

And like that, the weekend was already over. Cyra had though, paced, hung upside down and again over how today was going to be.

Since the whole incident with Liam on Saturday, she took Sunday off to get her thoughts together as well as drown herself in a bag of fatty snacks and cold treats... Chips and ice cream.

7:15, Cyra walked into the office, with a cup of Liam's special coffee and his favourite French muffins from Penny, she also had to apologize to the Longmans for her behaviour that Saturday as well.

She set down breakfast on Liam's table and went on to the diary Gomez had left for her as she read through and organized Liam's schedule.

8:45 Liam was still nowhere to be seen, Cyra was a little concerned but Liam's day didn't start till 9 and in the end, he was still her boss. She didn't want to poke her nose where it didn't concern her again. Besides it wasn't her job to know everything happening in Liam's life.

"Why haven't you found out where the boss is?" Cyra snapped out of her thoughts when she heard someone talk in front of her.

"Gomez? Er.. we- well, I-"

"Zip it, just call him and find out where he is," Gomez said making himself comfortable on Cyra's table.

Cyra fell quiet, her head hung low as she slowly clung to the hem of her skirt, Gomez looked at the girl he had just spoken to and knew something was wrong.

"Fine, what happened and why wouldn't you call Liam like I just asked?" Gomez asked trying not to lose his patience.

Cyra began to tell Gomez about everything that had happened from the mix-up in the morning to the embarrassing exit later that afternoon and how she has been uneasy since then.

"Look girl, I don't know what kind of relationship you and Liam share and honestly, it's weird and I want nothing to do with it but what I know is, if Liam wanted to let you go he would have done so and I'd be holding your termination letter." Cyra felt her tummy turn in twists.

"But, you're one of the few he can manage and I believe you also want this job. So put on your big girl pants, place that call and show him how serious you are for this job and this company."

Cyra looked at her phone on the table, picked it up and took a deep breath, she remembered Penny's words:

...you chose who you allow to hurt you and you shouldn't let just anyone control your life...

Cyra dialed Liam's number into her phone and as soon as it began to ring, the elevator door opened with Liam's phone ringing in his hand.

"Gomez,"

"Sir." He answered standing up from the table, Cyra stood up after, she figured if Gomez was this afraid then there was really no hope for her.

"I thought you were still supposed to train Miss Hudson, why would she be calling me at this time when work started two hours ago," Liam said walking to his table with Gomez following from behind.

Liam eyed the coffee on his table and sighed, he looked at Gomez and waved the food away, Gomez immediately tossed the coffee and muffins away.

Cyra couldn't believe her eyes, it's one thing to say you don't want something anymore but to throw it away, that's not right.

"Emm, Liam?" Gomez's eyes lit up in fear as he turned around slowly to tell Cyra off.

"What is it, Miss Hudson?" Liam beat Gomez to it.

"Is something wrong with the coffee or muffins?" Cyra asked innocently.

"Why would you ask such a question?" Liam said with hints of anger in his voice.

"Well, you never complained about it in the last week, would you like me to change it or are the muffins not to your liking anymore?" Liam laughed. Cyra was surprised, it was like she said something funny, right?

"Miss Hudson, since when is my personal taste any of your concern?" Liam said in a cold voice. Cyra was taken aback by Liam's comeback, he usually cared about what she had to say sometimes.

"Well?"

"I- I'm sorry sir," Cyra said retreating.

"Get my schedule ready and since you're so interested in my dieting, you can as well draw me up a meal plan and don't forget to identify my allergies, I'm sure Gomez gave you something on that." Liam finished looking back at his system.

Cyra nodded but before she would get to her table, Liam spoke again, "Yes, and I'll be needing that meal plan by lunch."

"But-" Liam shot Cyra a stern look, and when she saw the look in his eyes she quietly sat back down.

"Where were we Gomez-" Liam continued ignoring Cyra.

And throughout that whole week and the next, Liam kept giving Cyra seemingly impossible tasks that either kept her in the office late or the entire night.

And that's didn't leave tonight out of it, tonight Liam had asked Cyra to write up 5 different speeches on the same topic and he would pick one to read at the seminar he had that weekend.

Cyra was still at the office at 10:30 pm, and while she was on her last paper she heard the elevator door open, the back of her throat dried up as her saliva hitched itself in the back of her throat.

She didn't know who it was but only Liam and Gomez had access to this floor. Gomez has been busy with the staff and getting ready to move the company to its permanent structure, and Liam's closing time was between 6 and 9 pm.

"Delivery for Miss Hudson." A familiar voice said. Cyra's head snapped towards the elevator where the voice came from.

A man was holding out takeout over his face and when he lowered his hand, it was Mr Smith. Cyra felt her whole body relax, it was so bad that she almost fell out of her seat.

"My dear, are you okay?" Smith came closer asking.

"Just tired and exhausted, that's all." Cyra adjusted herself as she stood up to get a chair for Smith.

"You've been up here a lot of late nights, so I thought why not help with dinner tonight? I went all out with mashed potatoes, a spicy chicken sauce, and a great big steak. Well, recommend." Smith said making himself comfortable.

"Thank you, Smith, you're a lifesaver," Cyra said folding up the papers on the table.

"You're welcome, dear. What are you working on here?" Smith asked as Cyra set out the food.

"Liam... I mean, my boss has a seminar this Friday on innovation and technology at the annual Business Week at the grand Kensington suite."

"Talk about fancy, but I thought the firm deals in the hotel business and stuff?" Smith asked.

"I know right, but Liam's releasing a new line of phone and computer accessories and is in partnership with some big names, you'd be surprised," Cyra said as she ate.

"That must mean more work for you I reckon," Cyra nodded. They were both silent for a while before Smith spoke again.

"They miss you, you know," Smith added, Cyra froze knowing what Smith was talking about.

"Like I said Smith, I'll go visit the second I have a day off," Cyra said as she continued.

"I know, I know, and I shouldn't be butting in here but you got to take care of yourself too, you're barely getting any sleep as it is."

Cyra understood Smith's worry but this was the life she chose and she was going to do her best, no matter how cruel Liam was being.

This was her destiny now.

"We still care about you no matter how you push them away, no matter how you push me away." Smith finished.

Cyra sighed, "I understand Smith and I'll be sure to do exactly that." Cyra said whipping her mouth with a tissue.

"Done already?"

"I wasn't that hungry." Cyra lied.

"But-"

"I have to get back to work Smith, you can go home if it's too late. It might be another all-nighter." Cyra smiled slightly.

Smith wanted to argue but the tired look Cyra gave him made him drop it, he smiled back at her.

"Don't stay up to long dear, I'll see you tomorrow with breakfast," Smith said walking away, Cyra smiled back as she continued to write.

As soon as Smith left and Cyra was alone, the defining sound of silence consumed the space around Cyra and when she couldn't take it anymore, she broke down into silent tears.

How did I ever end up like this? What did I ever do wrong? Cyra thought to herself then out in her darkest moment, she remembered her mother.

"Mum," Cyra started. "Was it a mistake giving birth to me? Why do I always screw things up just when I'm about to be happy, why?" Cyra said into the darkness and the empty room.

"One sign Mother, just one sign, I need to know if all this is worth it at all. This work, this pain, this tears, I need to know that all this is just a phase." Cyra cried out.

After crying for a few hours, Cyra finally fell asleep on her table which had become normal now. Crying her heart out, the stillness of the office gave her comfort as she hoped something would change.

This was just the beginning.