Cherry - part 16

Cherry

Favors

It was rare that Cherry's father asked her to do him a favor. She was seldom home when he needed things to be done, and if she was, it was usually something he made one of his assistants do. They also had to earn their living somehow. That was why Cherry was amazed when she found herself walking the long trip to one of her father’s offices. Richard, her driver, had offered to drive her, but she needed the fresh air. She was supposed to deliver a message to Mr. Cryx himself, something about an important meeting next week. Why not just send him a mail, she had wondered, but her father made it clear that this was important, and he could trust Cherry to get that message through to him. It was sealed in a little envelope, and she was way too excited to sit still in a car. She looked at her watch. It was late, and she had skipped dinner at home. She would have James to come up with something later.

The sun was bright orange, but it wasn't time for the sun to go down yet.

She waited in the reception, being offered all kinds of beverages. She had asked to see Mr. Cryx, who of course was in a meeting with the board at the moment. The receptionist had said “It can be up to an hour, but take a seat and I'll tell him you've arrived.”

The building had interior design in cherry tree, marble stairs and pillars. It was such a beautiful contrast to the dark tree. Her dad knew which designers to hire, that was for sure. Her mother had also pitched in with ideas. She was sitting there, looking at the reception, and being proud.

“Miss?” the receptionist says, leaning forward from behind her desk, “you were here to deliver a message for Mr. Cryx, right?” Cherry nods. The receptionist is blonde her nails is neatly been done at a salon.

“He sends someone to get it now.” She explains and lean back in her chair. The way she sits right now makes her look like a boss.

Cherry is quite surprised when she sees Percival walking towards her. He looks more than tired and also kind of mad. He's wearing black pants, a shirt and a stunning blazer. He looks so classy. He also looks quite surprised when he sees her.

“Cherry. What a surprise.” He manages to smile, and his smile touches her.

“I'm just here to deliver this.” She hands him the envelope. The silence is never-ending between them. She looks at the envelope; it's still in her hands. He hasn’t even reached for it yet. She moves in involuntary slow-motion. And then she remembers how his eyes had fixed on hers when he caught him and Cathy in the alley that night. She's ashamed of every feeling she ever had about him, even though he doesn't know it.

“So... you look tired? Is it the first day?” She says, incredibly slowly. He looks shocked at the envelope and takes it. Their fingers touch. She shivers.

“Yeah, first day, and my dad is making me work overtime. It's the meeting... I'm just waiting for it to finish, then I can get home and get some food.” They share a laugh.

“I should get going... I suppose James have got something for me when I get home.” The seconds slowed down once again, and she looked directly into his eyes. She was locked there.

“Unless you want to join me?” Her voice is lower, trying out the territory she just reached. The territory where it's okay to ask boys home to a private dinner. Not boys, just boy. Not just some boy, a boy she fancied. He looks shocked. She regrets every word she ever spoke to him or near him.

“I would love to join you. If you wait here, I'll get out of here as soon as possible. I'll be right back, I promise.”

Her smile is wide and butterflies are in her belly. She cannot get her eyes of his feet which are moving very fast across the polished floors. The eagerness in his walk makes her head spin.

She gets eye contact with the receptionist who smiles at her.

“It's quite a beautiful office.” Cherry says, in a high pinched voice.

The receptionist nod and smile a smirky smile.