The next week passed agonizingly slowly as I waited to hear from Chase. All my messages and calls had been ignored, and I was in the dark of where our relationship was now, since the almost kiss at the charity fundraiser. I received my contract via a courier and looked over the details carefully. I was thankful that they did not set the start date yet, especially with everything that had happened. Flicking on the tv in the living room, I turned to the news channels, expecting to see Chase's face splashed for all to see, but nothing was mentioned.
Clearly money kept most secrets hidden, I pondered over that image as my dad joined me, sitting next to me on the large pale green sofa.
"So, Elena, what plans do you have for later today? I took a call earlier from Jeff, Chase mentioned him to us weeks ago, he's the head of security if you remember."
Turning off the tv, I placed the remote on the coffee table in front of me and turned slightly to my right, so I was partially facing Dad.
"Oh right, yes Jeff, sorry I was a little distracted. I have no plans Dad, you know that." I sighed as I placed my hands in my lap, forcing my gaze to linger on them, thoughts of Chase touching me and the kiss that never happened flooded my mind, I could still remember how he smelt as he leant towards me.
"Well, Jeff asked me to come along this afternoon to discuss consulting them on the security for the series of buildings they own, suggest changes they can make, things like that." Dad took my hands from my lap and held them up to his cheek.
"That's if you don't mind of course, I thought we could grab some food on the way back and you can choose a cheesy movie for us to watch, how does that sound?" I smiled at these words, he always could cheer me up, even if he didn't know what he happened, he knew something was wrong when I returned home alone and shut myself away for the weekend. Bingeing on romance movies and chocolate.
"I would love to Dad, I'll go sort myself out then we'll take the bus, which will give us plenty of time to talk about movies on the journey." I leant towards him and placed a gentle kiss on his stubbly cheek. Standing I picked up my phone and checked it again, nothing had appeared in the last few minutes, but I don't know why I should have been surprised, my phone was never on silent.
Swapping my slippers for my furry snow boots I took two coats out the cupboard by the door, before helping Dad with his and making sure we had everything, I checked my phone one last night and we headed out the door.
I was tense the entire bus ride, Dad kept talking in quite a calming way that didn't really need much input.
Will I see him? Will he know I'm there?
My stomach clenched as we pulled up to the bus stop. This was it, the moment of truth. I helped Dad out of the bus, the steps were the hardest for him with his crutches, being narrow and quite steep I had to go in front of him and help him, bracing myself in case he fell.
He was getting so much better with them on the flat ground; however, he would sometimes get quite cocky and insist on a race, it's funny how fast a determined man can go with only one leg. It would be at least a year before the physiotherapists would consider prosthesis, the doctors wanted to make sure the wounds were completely healed and there were no further complications.
I pressed the button for the automatic door and followed behind as Dad approached the reception desk.
"Good afternoon, welcome to Crawford Industries, how may I help you?" the lady stood behind the desk dressed immaculately, her hair and makeup perfect but subtle. Her smile was warm and welcoming.
"Hello miss, my name is Charlie Maclaren, and this is my daughter Elena Maclaren, we are here to see Jeff, he called me earlier and mentioned he would make you aware, that I was coming this afternoon to meet with him." She responded by picking up the phone and pressing some buttons, she spoke only to say that we had arrived. Placing the phone back in the receiver, she pointed to the chairs behind us and asked us to wait, Jeff would be right with us.
I was glad we didn't have to wait long, being in this building made me think even more about Chase, my mind wondered where he was, if he was upstairs, if he knew I was in his building. Jeff's large steps echoed behind us as he approached the small, carpeted area.
"Mr. Maclaren, Miss Maclaren, thank you for coming today, lets head to my office and we can discuss some business, shall we?" he raised his arm up and indicated towards the elevators.
"Yes of course, we'll follow you, this place seems a bit of a maze" his eyes darted all around the foyer, I could tell his police head was looking at all the possibilities of potential improvements already.
***
Upon entering the elevator, Jeff inserted a key into a lock beneath the buttons for the floors, I felt the lift descend rather than ascend.
When the elevator stopped the doors opened onto a long corridor with only four doors off it. Jeff stepped out into the corridor, and we dutifully followed. He stopped at the second door and opened this one without a key.
His office was larger than I expected, it had floor to ceiling glass doors which lead out onto a private garden room, a fountain in the middle was flanked by cast iron benches and flowers overflowing from large terracotta pots. The space looked tranquil, somewhere to come from the hustle and bustle.
"Please take a seat outside Miss Maclaren, would you like a glass of lemonade, my wife makes it specifically for me to enjoy, but I rarely get the chance too" stepping out into the garden room I had expected it to feel cold, but it was a warm room, a light breeze ushered in by fans overhead.
"Thank you, that would be lovely" I took a seat next to the fountain and looked in the water, four koi fish swam happily in the current created by the failing water. One was very inquisitive, coming to the surface to see who had come to visit them, hoping that person also had some food.
"That curious fella is Sidney, he's always on the lookout for food" Jeff passed me the tall glass of cloudy lemonade, taking a sip I could tell it was homemade, the fresh lemon zest tasted like it had been plucked from the tree and made into a refreshing juice within moments.
"This is delicious, thank you" nodding he walked back inside and joined my dad. I had been lost in my thoughts of Chase and the other night when both of the men stepped outside and stood beside me.
"We are all done Elena, if you're ready to go?" standing I picked up my empty glass and handed it into the waiting, outstretched hand of Jeff.
"Very nice to meet you again Jeff, I hope your meeting was a fruitful one?" Jeff chuckled and patted Dad on the back, unsteadying him slightly but Dad tried his best not to show it.
"You have no idea how insightful it was, he has already told me about six different things that can be changed just in the foyer, I believe it's important to get an outside view of a place you've been for a while, it's easy to miss the obvious" Dad straightened up at the compliment, I could see this would bring him out his shell again. He needed purpose and recently I could see that losing his job was really taking its toll.
"Thanks Jeff, I'll be in touch about the building tour, if I notice anything else on our way out, I'll call you, we've got Elena's graduation next week, but I'll touch base with you before then" We followed Jeff to the elevator and went back up to the ground floor. Dad was shaking hands with Jeff when I heard my name called. I turned round to see Benjamin striding towards me. A smile beaming from his mouth.
Damn he looks just as good as before!
"Fancy seeing you here Elena" I was quite stunned to see him here, unsure of what to say next I just giggled, a nervous giggle into my hand.
"Oh yes, hi Benjamin, ditto I suppose, Dad had some business here, so I tagged along. How are you after the other night?" Benjamin took my arm and lead me slightly away from Jeff and Dad.
"All the better for seeing you, I didn't get your number the other night, I would be a fool if I missed the opportunity a second time."
Chase was the invisible man, who would it hurt right?
Sucking in a deep breath, I reached over and took Benjamin's phone out of his hand, typing in my number and calling it so I had his. It was a very brazen, very unlike me thing to do, perhaps Dad's happiness was rubbing off on me.
"There we go, we have each other's numbers now." I smiled sweetly at him before I stepped towards where Dad and Jeff were still engrossed in their conversation.
"I'll call you soon Elena, I hope dinner will make up for it?" nodding I walked behind Dad and opened the door for him.
"Oh, and call me Ben!" he called out just as I walked out the door.
Out in the icy fresh air I could suddenly breathe again, the weight of worrying about Chase lifting and floating away in the light snow drifting past me.