Frozen in Time by Radia Al Rashid (the speed reading book .TXT) 📖

See you at work.”

“Nope, I should thank you actually. Anyway, see you.” He says in a breathy voice which unknowingly sends a chill down my arms, in a good way. No, I’m not falling for him, not yet. I already mentioned the reason before, Hormones!

“Bye!” I clamber down the car.

“Bye!”

“That wasn’t bad, was it? Good job Evelyn! You went on a date. Quite a progress.” I know, I’m the sort of weirdo who talks to herself, even in the middle of the street.

 

Chapter Seven

 

“I’m hungry!” I growl after being done with explaining every single detail to Sarah.

“Why didn’t you have your feast?” she winks.

“You weren’t this dirty last time I left you. Tsk tsk, I shouldn’t have left the good girl to turn into some dirty minded bitch.” I tease.

“Whatever you say Ms. Walker. I can feel the spark and tension only by hearing the story. Damn! You guys need to think about a second date. I promise, it’s gonna go somewhere! I ship it.” She squeals.

“No, seriously! I’ll work with the dude. Not only that, he’s my project manager so pfft! Stop fantasizing any ship here. There’s not a single log floating, trust me.”

“Blah blah blah! Not buying any of it. Time is the wisest conveyer. I bet you will call me someday to let me know, you guys just kissed or something else.” She grins.

“Shush! I’m seriously hungry, let’s order some pizza.”

“Pizza as in...”

“Sarah! I want FOOD.” I laugh.

“Cool! After that, you can have something you want, you know.”

“No! I don’t. Oh hey, don’t tell Jules yet. She’ll start expecting some outputs that I am highly dubious of getting any time cos Mr. Rogers will kick my ass if he hears anything, even going on a date with the project manager? Shoot! No, no just don’t tell her.”

“Kay, I won’t but mark my words, you’ll be calling her one day to say everything including this warning you just gave me.” she singsongs.

“Since when are you serving the job of a fortune whisperer?” I cross my arms against my chest.

“I just have a really good instinct! REALLY effective one.”

“I see.” I roll my eyes. “Oi, are you coming with me to this hangout with team members thingy?”

“Who, me? I don’t think I’ll be here that long. Remember? I’m here for the first week only. I’ll be heading to New York on Thursday.”

“O no! I totally forgot that. It’s gonna be no fun.” I sulk.

“Silly! Don’t pout like you just lost a billion dollar! Look at you, already settled better than ever before only within two days. How long would you expect a babysitter to get your ass covered! Come on, you got this. Besides, it’d be really embarrassing if on the third or fourth date you guys come home so passionately kissing and waiting for some real fierce steamy episodes just to find me lying on the couch eating popcorn. I mean, just picture it.”

“Shut it, you crook!” I throw a pillow at her, “You’re making it more and more awkward to face him the next day at work. Just don’t.” I shout.

In reply she gives that smirk of her filled with sass and surety.

I reach the same building our meeting was held the day before yesterday. Sarah went to a yoga class being unable to stay at the apartment for the hyperactive workaholic that she is.

“Hey! Evelyn, right?” I catch a friendly face turning to my side.

“Hey! Yeah, it’s Evelyn.” I smile, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Madison. I like your hair.” Grinning she pulls me into a hug.

“Aw! That’s really sweet of you. Thanks!”

“You had your breakfast?”

“Yeah!” I look around to catch a glimpse of others.

“Cool! Let’s get to work then.” She smiles brightly.

The dimples make her look even sweeter every time she smiles. Her brown curls touch her shoulders in a graceful way. The hazel eyes give off an incredibly amiable aura making it easier to talk to her without any hesitation.

“Of course! Show me the way.”

“Mr. Wilson might not come today as he is busy with meeting the clients. So, we will start the works we are assigned to do here at the office.”

“Sounds great.” Don’t judge me but Aron’s not being here today sort of saddened me, a little.

She walks me through all the tasks that I’m supposed to finish within today before giving me another sweet smile and leave the room.

The works seem quite interesting and exciting but I’m missing the NYC office. Mainly, I’m missing Drake the annoying dork so much. Working in an office without passing comments with him every now and then feels so alien and well, kinda sad.

“Morning weirdo! How’s it going over there?” sending the text I try to place my attention towards my desk.

I am half way through my work when I hear the knock on the door.

“Anyone here?” being a bit startled I ask a rather horror movie question instead of a corporate one.

“I am Aron. If you’re too busy, I can come by later.”

“N-no! I am not busy at all. Come in.”

You guessed it right, I start having a wee bit of an anxiety attack for no reason. Just an Evelyn thing.

“Hello, Ms. Walker! I apologize for not being around in the morning. How are you adjusting?” he gives that OMG smile entering the room. He wears a plain black shirt and folds up the sleeves to amp-up the irresistibility even more. I really am crushing over him! Shoot.

I clear my throat to hide the fact that I’m blushing like an idiot. Another rookie move!

“O yeah! No problem really. I mean, I’m enjoying the works thoroughly and everyone else here is so friendly and easy to go be around. I think, here’s not a single issue I’m facing Mr. Wilson. Thanks for your concern.” I straighten up my polka dotted blouse.

“I’m glad to hear that. If you face any problem, don’t hesitate to give me a call. I’m just a floor away.” He sustains the smile on his face all the way.

“I will. Thank you once again.”

“See you around!” just when he leaves the room can I understand why I become too nervous when he’s around. No doubt that he’s really handsome but that cologne! It’s killing.

Around 4 pm, my rumbling stomach reminds me of the fact that I’ve been unintentionally starving since morning. The work load is really intense although I’m thoroughly enjoying every bit of it. Guess Rogers was the reason I started hating the whole fashion designing thing. I check my mobile before getting up to grab something to ease down my currently seething stomach. No reply from Drake!

Is he ok? It’s been what! 6 hours I sent the text? He doesn’t really keep me waiting more than 1 or 2 minutes with his replies. Should I call?

Being a bit concerned and obviously anxious, I dial his number. No answer! What happened to the dork? God! My systematic panic attacks start to break free of the cages. I dial the number again but to no avail. Shooting a ton of texts to Drake, I step out of the office. Aron’s voice floats in from the upper floor. He seems to be surprised and happy to see someone after so long. Without waiting to nose around his personal life, I head towards the cafeteria. 

I am wolfing down a chicken sandwich when someone passes by to sit at the table behind me. out of natural curiosity, I slightly turn my head around to find a girl (or, do you call the 25 years old a woman? Then, she’s a woman) of about my age sitting there with a cup of coffee. She looks really beautiful and as soon as I look at her, she gives me a warm smile. In reply, I give a little grin being my usual confused self as in what to do and what not to do.

“Is anyone there?” she mouths at me.

“Here? Nope! Just me and my sandwich.” I shrug.

She smiles again, “Can I come sit with you?”

“Sure.”

“Hey, I’m Melissa. Of course, you don’t know me. I’m here with my boyfriend, actually. What’s your name? Looks like you work here?” all the way her smile keeps gluing to her face.

“Yeah, I’m Evelyn. I do work here and does your boyfriend work here too?”

“No! he came to meet his friend. I was feeling too groggy to talk and decided to grab a coffee asap.”

“Cool! So, do you guys live here in LA?”

“Yeah, both of us are from around here but we’ve been outside the country for quite a while. Last week we finally arrived here and we moved in together.” She squeals like a little girl. She is so pure and natural. I instantly start liking her.

“Aw! That’s great news.” I grin, “So, what do you do?”

“I am a chef. the restaurant I work as the executive chef is just two blocks away.”

“Wonderful! I don’t know why but the whole profession of a chef has been absolutely amusing to me like, since when I was a little kid. Give me the address. I’ll definitely drop by some time.”

“Yay! Trust me, I’ll be really glad if you do.” She hands me her card.

“I promise, I’ll be there.”

Checking her phone, she pushes to her feet, “Okay! Evelyn, right? How about I’ll call you Eve?”

“Great! That’s what my family and friends call me by.”

“Cool! Come on, give me a hug. Time to go.” She smiles.

I hug her, “See you then, Melissa.”

“See you Eve. And yeah, you can call me Mel.”

She leaves the café in the same mysterious way she suddenly popped up a few minutes back. My attention gets distracted as my phone starts vibrating. Drake! Where has he been!

“Hello? What happened? Where are you? Are you okay?” I throw a dozen of questions at him.

“Ouch! Slow down. I’m alive and danger free, no worries. I just missed my alarm.”

“What the EF? You slept in and I’m here worrying the heck out of my mind. Jerk!”

“Aw! Look at you. You do care about me a LOT!” he chuckles.

“Shut up.”

“Watch out, don’t fall for me, dummy.”

“Stop teasing me. I was genuinely anxious.”

“Aw! Okay, I’m sorry and I’m doubly sorry for giving you the anxiety. We good?”

“Yeah! You suck.”

“I know! You’re the sweetest angel to tolerate this sucky jerk.”

“Okay, enough I guess.” I laugh, “You seem weird being this nice to me.”

“Yeah, it’s hard to be nice with you, honestly.” He teases.

“Whatever! Aren’t you going to the office today?”

“Yes, I am. I’m on the way to receive a sweet storm of insults from Rogers.”

“Ouch! May the odds be ever in your favor.” I giggle.

“Keep giggling. You’re so mean.” He fakes the sadness in his voice.

“I know! You’re the sweetest angel…”

“Shut it already!” he laughs. “Talk to you later, dumbo.”

“Yeah! Get lost. Bye.”

“Bye!”