Precious to him

My eyes were wide open but all I could see was darkness and in it, I kept seeing Hayden. I could not forget the previous night's moments, especially the hug. I thought Eric would make that day special but Hayden came out of nowhere. Anyone could think I was overreacting but I was not. 

“I think you are planning to resign. You won’t even care about your superiors' words now.” I heard Emma that made me come out of my thoughts. 

“Sorry?” 

“I have been talking to you for the past five minutes. And, now you respond?” She shouted. 

I was zoned out. I didn’t listen to her. 

“Oh! I… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you or something like that.” I apologized sincerely. 

She glared at me for a few seconds before saying "Arrange everything that we need for the evening’s event.” 

“Sure.” 

She rolled her eyes and walked to Jasper to assign work to him. I sat on the chair, letting out a sigh. Controlling myself from all the thoughts that were distracting me from doing my work, I started to take note of the flowers that we needed for the evening’s event. 

As I kept working, Mira walked towards me hurriedly with her cell phone in her hands. 

“Did you see it?” she showed me her cell phone. 

My mouth dropped open when I saw Eric’s I*******m post. It was the picture of us both from the restaurant and the caption ‘My happy place’, freaked me out.

“W-what is this?” I zoomed in on the picture to make sure it was us even though it was crystal clear. I have introduced Mira to Eric and they added each other on their social media accounts. 

“Are you sure nothing happened between you both yesterday?” she asked. 

I shook my head negatively. “I swear. It was like another casual day.” 

“Hey! I’m sure he has feelings for you otherwise why would he post like this?” she felt excited. “I think you can express your feelings to him.” 

Feelings? I was confused. Yes, with him I was happy but not sure if my little crush on him had a serious effect on me. 

“What are you thinking?” she jerked me by my shoulder. 

My gaze fell on the post again and of course, it made me smile. 

“Nothing!” I replied. “I’m happy.” 

We continued to have our conversation, at the same time, working, till we were interrupted by Eric’s visit. 

“Eric?” I walked towards him while he kept looking around. 

“Hey!” he waved his hand at me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, smiling. 

“Nothing. At home, I felt lonely.” He replied. “Are you busy now?” 

Emma cleared her throat making us halt our conversation. I bent my head down as I gave her another reason to be angry with me. 

“Serena dear! Since when do we treat this shop as friends' hang-out spot?” Emma questioned, sarcastically. Then she looked at Eric and asked “Do you want to buy something?”

“Uh… yes.” He said. “Serena! Why don’t you suggest flowers to decorate my house?”

Emma scoffed as he tried to save me from her angry stare. 

“Yeah! Sure. Come with me.” I took him a little away from her. Then he stayed for a while in the shop, knowing about flowers that in turn made us spend some time together. Before he left, he bought cool drinks for me and my friends that impressed everyone out there. 

In the evening, we all reached the venue, where we were going to decorate. As usual, Emma took the lead and everyone started to follow whatever she said. As always, Emma and I got into a quarrel on the subject of picking flowers for decoration, and obviously, she made me keep quiet by showing her authority. 

Crossing my arms over my chest, I stood a little far from Emma and all others, who were carrying out the decoration works in the garden area. 

As I kept watching them, I suddenly saw Hayden walking inside the hotel but in a minute, he disappeared into the crowd. I hit my head for letting me have weird imaginations. 

However, it felt real. It felt like I saw him so I took out my cell phone to text – Hayden, where are you? 

I waited for his reply, which I didn’t get. 

“Are you going to stand there like that or going to help us?” Emma shouted. 

I walked to her and she assigned me the work. As I kept decorating, I saw him again. He was really in the hotel. I walked inside the hotel in search of him. He was there or not, it was not my business but my legs wouldn’t stop moving and my eyes wouldn’t stop searching for him. 

As I kept searching for him, I bumped into a middle-aged man. Before I could apologize to him, he started to yell at me. No one would do it intentionally but some people always find excuses to make others look like they committed an unforgivable sin. 

“You should keep your eyes on the ground, not on the sky.” He shouted. “Watch your steps. Watch where you walk. Workers like you shouldn't even dare to come close to us.” 

That was so rude.

It angered me. I fisted my palm to punch him in his face but I controlled myself from doing it. 

“Mister! Be careful with your words.” 

“This little…” he didn’t finish his sentence when a punch landed on his cheek. 

I gasped as it was so sudden and I put my palm on my mouth while turning my head to my right side. 

I was right. Hayden was really in the hotel. 

“What did you say?” Hayden held the man’s collar and looked at him with his anger-filled eyes. “What the fuck did you speak?” he threw a punch at his face again. “You are not worthy to stand where she is.”

“Hayden, leave.” I held his hand. “Leave him.” 

“Seriously? Do you want to leave someone, who degraded you?” Hayden scoffed. 

Though I was so furious, I could not do anything to people like him. I grew up getting adjusted to everything. 

“What do you expect? I cannot go hitting people, who scold me or get into fights with me.” I said, disappointed with myself. “Leave him.”

Hayden shifted his gaze from me, moved a little closer to the man, and said, almost giving him a heart attack with his angry gaze “You don’t know who the fuck I am but I know you and everyone related to you. If you want to have a peaceful life and want everyone around you to live peacefully KNEEL.” 

“What…” I looked at Hayden. 

The man immediately knelt before me and I stepped back, shocked. I put my palms on my mouth as he said “I’m sorry.” 

No people were roaming the corridors which made the situation less embarrassing otherwise I would’ve run away to hide somewhere.  

“Please stand up,” I told him but he wouldn’t listen to me. 

Then I turned to Hayden and gritted “Tell him to stand straight. You are going overboard.” 

Hayden pointed his finger at him and said “Leave before I change my mind.” 

The man immediately stood straight and walked away. As soon as he left, I shouted “What did you do? That was unnecessary.” 

“You think I’ll let someone go even after they humiliated you?” He clenched his jaw. “I am Hayden bloody Moore and I don’t let go of people easily, who insult someone precious to me.” 

It fluttered my heart and my lips curved up. He made me realize even I could be precious to someone. 

“I should go now,” Hayden said, looking at his watch. 

“Why are you here?” I asked. 

“To meet someone. The purpose I came here was finished.” He said smirking and then he walked away from me. 

I reached the garden area which seemed chaotic with many people gathered around and talking to each other. I stood beside Mira, who was as scared and confused as everyone. 

“What happened?” I asked her. 

“There’s no need for this decoration anymore.” I narrowed my eyebrows at her reply. “The client is dead.”