After Hiro left, I felt like my rational part of mind took absolute control over my body. I guess there was something like a “protect the heart” button inside of me, and the system work, it worked too well. I became absolutely indifferent.
I texted Jay to make an appointment for the next training, since I already missed the one that was supposed to be at 6 AM, he proposed for our practice to be in the late afternoon, I agreed. I wanted to focus on something, anything other than thinking.
Nevertheless, it was only noon, and there were tons of thoughts colliding inside my mind. Most of them were annoying, they were all giving me arguments showing how pathetic I was. But the most irritating thing was, that I wasn't able to shut them up.
“Ana, do you know what it means if someone is fine with risking your life just so he could prove to himself that it was ok to share information with you? It means that he doesn't give a shit about you! It means tha
I couldn't sleep the whole night. My mind was building a shield around me to protect me against the enemies I might meet inside Hiro's company. Nonetheless, I found that moment a turning point in everything that involved Hiro and my current situation. I got up, washed, and wore a light peach, slightly flared shirtdress.He knocked on my door at half past seven AM, then we went down together to his car. He behaved strangely normal, which was absolutely odd for him, complementing my dress, or asking me if I slept well. I tried replying naturally, but somehow I became stiff every time he got closer to me. He was acting like a gentleman, opening every door, and letting me go first. He smiled all the way like it was the most natural way he behaved on the daily basis. For me, replying to his smile was one of the hardest things I had ever done.He opened the front door of his black Porsche and helped me get in, then he sat behind the wheel, and we drove away. He kept glancing
Hiro gazed at Aya and me trying to greet each covering our mutual hostility. I kept wondering if he knew that I wasn't Aya's favorite to begin with, and now I could feel her expression, each time she glanced at me, was getting colder with every second I stood by Hiro. Was it jealousy? Could it be, that she wanted him all for herself and now, some “bimbo” showed up trying to steal someone who was precious to her? Or maybe she simply didn't want him disturbed and unable to focus on their mutual goal? Whatever her reason was, she found me a nuisance.“I want Ana to have unlimited access to TK,” Hiro dropped the bomb.Aya looked at him, stunned. She stood silently for a while, trying to comprehend Hiro's words.“You must be joking, right?” she replied suddenly, irritated.“I mean it,” Hiro stated firmly.She looked at him, like she was hoping to read the truth from his eyes, then took a deep breath and gl
“Could… could you repeat what have you said just now?” I hoped to hear some clarification, or correction of Hiro's previous words.“You once asked me, if there was anything you can do for me… Well, I found you an opportunity,” he smirked.I still had no idea what was Hiro thinking, but I already saw millions of flashing warning signs saying, “Danger ahead!” and I truly felt I should pay attention to those this time. I couldn't tell what did he want me to do exactly, but there was one thing that my writer's brain already assumed…“Are you going to use me as a bait?!” I prayed that he would deny it.“Oh, don't like it when you say it so harshly… but yes,” he smiled wickedly.I felt I had to sit down before I collapse I walked few steps forward and already felt that my knees were weak, I fell on a sofa. Hiro sat right beside me and stroked my head.“I
The next day I woke up restless, but somehow, I naively felt needed, and that became my main motivation to face my doubts and fears. I went down, the car was already there waiting for me. It was the first time I went to TK alone… Well, the driver took me there, but he didn't count.My hands and knees were shaking, my hearted pounded like I was about to have a heart attack, and I was unable to take a deeper breath. Hiro gave me a precise instruction how to enter the company on my own, but I still hoped there would be someone familiar to help me get there. I looked around with pleading eyes. There were few people inside the reception, and few going to the elevators, but none of them seemed to be going down… below floor level 0.Hiro told me to take the first elevator on the left, and that I would better wait, so that I would go there alone. I passed that elevator two times pretending that I was waiting for someone. That felt pathetic.“Of cours
When I went back from TK I made myself a huge mug of strong coffee and started to memorize as many people and their data as possible. Obviously, I knew this wouldn't be ease. I had to come up with a system that would help me remember. After some thinking I figured that I should use one thing that I was certain of, and that was writer's creativity. I decided to stick to associations, so I could match some facts about those people… in the stupider way the better.“Ginger-hair Elliot Walton, purchasing department… He reminds me of a squirrel gathering nuts… I would call him Mr. Squirrel. Then we have… Harvey Brown, Nolan Fortin's deputy, sniper… He looks unpleasant… sneaky… a sneaky-sniper… I will call him Mr. Sneaky-Lizard!” I used my imagination to the fullest.Soon I created my very own imaginary zoo… I had pointy, short haired engineer - Ms. Hedgehog, 6.6 feet tall Mr. Giraffe from IT, and a bi
I had never thought that Melisa's lesson would include… shopping. It was tiring, but it was fun. I felt kind of awkward about using the company's money to buy me clothes, but Melisa explained that she would use it as the expenses from her department's budget… whatever it meant. I still felt like I was spending my boyfriend's money, but the anger inside me made state that even if he was against it, he deserved it as a punishment for not letting me know he was leaving!The clothes Melisa chose for me were… surprisingly innocent. They were extremely classy, expensive but innocent. I felt comfortable in that girly style, without deep necklines, nor short miniskirts, yet it didn't exactly matched my idea of a villainess, or was my imagination too shallow?Our next stop turned out to be more exhausting… We went to Melisa's ballet studio, so I could practice my posture and walk. It was dreadful! It was much worse than my first training with Jay! I
The more Melisa taught me the more I felt how pathetic I was before. I realized how many times I was being manipulated by others. They all implanted so many anxieties in me that I was happy with the minimum of interest and comfort they gave me later. Sending mixed signals, the game of push and pull… I knew how that works, because I was a constant victim of those tricks!The things that Hiro did with me were no different… my only hope was that he didn't do all of them on purpose, and that maybe some part of his words weren't fake. Now, I wasn't sure of anything, but it all had one good point – My affection for Hiro was not blind anymore…“Remember, Ana that we all manipulate others… Children use their cry to get a candy. Low level employees praise their bosses to get the higher position. The more you know about the mechanism of manipulation the easier is defend yourself against it,” Melisa declared.She was right&hell
I didn't know how long we kissed, but my coffee was cold when we finished, I decided to make a new one, and another one for Hiro. In the meantime, he sat on the sofa and kept grinning at me, resembling a good and loving boyfriend, like the time when he was gone and left without saying a word had never happened.“I was mad at you… No, I'm still mad at you for your silence… again. I'm mad at you for not telling me what exactly was your plan about…” I summoned up my courage to say at least that.“It was urgent… it really was. Besides, I only told Melisa, and I knew she would tell you right away,” he explained.“Still… a whole week without a word. I know you are busy… but…”“Did you miss me?” he interrupted me, “I missed you like crazy. I wanted to be with you as soon as I could…” he sounded his words in a deep, alluring tone.I gave up o