Andrew's P.O.V.
Where did she go? She didn't even give me a chance to explain. I blanked before the message to chase and grab her reached the rest of my body, and when I came to she disappeared. I heard Simon and Paige bickering in the distance and my heart broke. How long has Sydney been afraid of me? Has she stayed away because she feared we'd end up like her parents. Ally came in to drop off a couple files for Sydney.
"Where did Sydney go?"
"I am not sure," I replied. "I thought you might have seen her storm out."
"No," she smiled, "Lauren sent me on an errand." The arguing grew louder and closer. "You know seeing Sydney's parents in action explains a lot of her neurosis." Ally started to giggle. For the first time in our months together I realized that this is not the first time she has made a joke at Sydney's expense. No wonder I'm never fully at ease around her.
"Why is that funny?" I'm not sure why I asked, I didn't really care to know.
"What? Come on, Andrew, you've worked with her forever, her neurosis and parent problems are hilarious."
"No, Ally it isn't. Sydney's my friend and her situation is actually quite sad."
"An-"
"Sydney has been worked hard to overcome her childhood traumas."
"Where is the coming from?"Ally backed off and put her hands on her hips. I knew this look, she was getting defensive.
"I'm not sure, but it has been building up for awhile." Ally stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. I wanted to be comfortable in her arms, but I'm surrounded by thoughts of Sydney. Ally leaned in to kiss me as Simon burst in.
"Andrew," Simon growled, "I want to see you in my office."
"Give me a couple minutes, Simon." He saw the plead in my eyes and nodded.
"Andrew," Ally brought my attention back to her, "What is going on? Is everything okay?"
"No." I knew sugar coating this is wrong. "I can't do this anymore."
"What?"
"You are smart and going places, but I have been unhappy for awhile." Ally stepped back and stared up at me. She seemed to dress me down with her critical blue eyes. I didn't see hate or tears like the first time I turned her down, but there appeared a type of judgment. I'd seen this look quite a few times, but this time I returned it.
"Well," Ally began, "This will make my decision easier. I guess I just want to know if there is someone else... well I guess I know that it's Sydney."
"Yes, but I won't really know if I don't go after her. I wish you the best, and you have a great future in front of you. Goodbye, Ally," I left her with that, stunned and silent for once I got the last word. Sydney and finding Sydney were the only things on my mind. My arms needed to hold her, hands itched to wipe away tears I knew she is probably hiding. But first I had to see Simon, I am going to do this right.
I have never been so solemnly summoned to the Boss's office and now it is on terms that I may have upset the office princess... or is that Lauren. Either way avoiding Simon wasn't an option.
I stood in the doorway of Simon's office watching him and Paige bicker about who should go after her. "You wanted to see me, sir?" Both immediately fell silent at my interruption. The accusing silence felt almost suffocating, but I couldn't waste anymore time. "Simon-"
"What happened between you two," Paige exclaimed. My mouth fell open to answer but know words came.
What really happened? I had been working to our latest project keeping my fingers crossed that Paige wouldn't sign a buyout. This company is everything to Simon and the only real safe place that Sydney had left. Simon took Sydney back to his office, and between the talkative Ally and my project I couldn't justify trying to console her at the moment but Heaven knows I wanted too. My already weak focus broke easily when Sydney called my name. For the first time in years I saw her actually nervous. I followed her to the office like she asked, I honestly assumed that she just needed someone to vent to.
Her earnest look nearly knocked me off my feet. She rung her hands slightly, "I'm about to do something and if you like it I want you to tell... and if you don't we'll never talk about it again." I know the look I gave her had to set her a little on edge. "Okay close your eyes." I heard a soft noise ring in the silent room. My wait could've only of been thirty seconds but my curiosity made it feel longer. Next thing I knew her hands spread across my cheeks and pulled me into a desperate kiss. My mind swirled into a daze, involuntarily my hand shot to her waist to bring her closer, and for a brief second I felt all of her emotions pour into that quick kiss. She pulled away with a questioning smile on her lips. I've wanted that kiss since the day we got caught in the fire hose when Simon started a fire.
"Well," Sydney voice cracked. I smiled. I couldn't say a word and she didn't really give me a chance too because when my silence sat a little too long she booked it out of there. Before I knew it she was gone and Ally came in.
I heard a throat clearing in the distant and returned to reality looking into the face of my boss and his ex-wife. "Well," Simon probed.
"Simon, I need to find Sydney." I couldn't wait any longer I had already wasted precious time.
"Not until you give me a good reason to let you go after her," He growled. I knew he would protect his daughter at all costs but never once did I think he would consider me a threat to her happiness.
"Simon, I would never threaten Sydney's happiness." Paige sighed with a romantic tenor. Simon did not look impressed.
"Well, Andrew," he took at menacing step forward, and even with my foot and a half on him he still scares me out of my wits. "At this moment you are the only thing that is threatening my girl's happiness."
"Tell me where she went and I will do my best to make sure that she is happy." I needed to that for myself as well as for her. I've missed too many opportunities and this is NOT going to be one of them. "I need to do this, Simon. I should've been the one to make the move, but I couldn't handle the thought of a rejection."
"So you waited for her to make the first move?" He accused.
"Yes, but now I am a going to go after her. Please Simon, just tell me where she is."
He pursed his lips, and relented, "If she isn't in her apartment, try the John Hancock Building, she'd be having a drink in Signature Room."
"The Hancock Building? Why?"
"Sydney loves her city and the John Hancock building was the first place she ran to when she first ran away from home." I had no time to mull over the new information about Sydney, I had a taxi to catch.
During the elevator ride I imagined what I was going to say to Sydney. What would she be doing? Would she even talk to me? We've let this awkwardness build for too long, whether she knows it or not we were made for each other. The room is surprising busy for a Wednesday afternoon. It is probably all business schmoozing and cheap but curious tourists. It took me a minute to find her but I spotted her sandy blonde bun looking out upon Navy Pier. She cradled a cup of scotch in her hands.
"Sydney," I called to her. I heard her breath catch in her throat. Probably not know what else to do she downed the scotch in her hand. I thought that she would turn to look at me but apparently I had to settle for the reflection of her eyes for now. I can tell she is a afraid and because of that I keep my distance until I can be sure she won't try to run from me again.
"Andrew," her voice is weak. "How did you find me?"
I shrugged, "Simon thought you might be here."
Immediately she turned to face me. Her eyes held a thousand questions and I wanted to answer every one but wasn't sure that I would be able too. I watched her as she made a quick scan of the room. If I were in her shoes I would've expected everyone to be waiting in the corner as well, so I don't blame her for checking. I let her make the next move.
"How would my dad know to look here? Oh wait... that's right he's read my computer diary." What? Computer diary... did she talk about me in it? "Why did you find me?"
Why wouldn't I find you? That question hit me a little hard. Did she really have so little faith in our friendship that I wouldn't do whatever it took to make her happy? Wasn't my sacrifice when Zach infected her phone before her date with that hoity-toity doctor not proof of that?
"You didn't give me a chance to tell you what I thought." I suddenly felt nervous, this is the end of life as I know it. But honestly I will endure any teasing, threats or other consquences as long as I can claim Sydney as mine once and for all. She offered me the seat across for her but I wasn't about to fall for that. I pinned her between me and the window. She would not be getting away this time. "You told me that you going to do something and if I liked it I was suppose to tell you and if I didn't we'd never talk about it again."
She started rushing to get words out, "Exactly, we shouldn't talk about it. So has my mom finally-"
"Sydney," I stopped her before she could get down a tangent. "We didn't even get to talk about it in the first place."
Although she tried to disagree, I shut her down once again. "No! You ran out of the office while I was still processing what to say." I move an inch or two closer. "This time I'm not going to let you run away."
"Andrew..."
I had to be honest with her it was all or nothing right now and I promised Simon I would NOT fail.
"No listen, Syd. I love you," I said it. It felt so good to finally say it! "I have for awhile and you know that." She broke eye contact with me but didn't stop her... she needed it. "I started dating Ally because she seemed nice and when I talked to her if felt like I was talking to you."
"Then you should go back and be happy with Ally," she suddenly added. HELL NO!
"But," I continued as if she hadn't spoken, "now I realize that I missed you more while being with Ally." Saying it about loud brought it all into perspective. I liked Ally but I've always wanted Sydney, no matter how much I tried to be happy with the friend zone.
Sydney looked up at me with bright hopeful eyes. It took everything in me not to kiss her there and then.
"As soon as you stormed out of the office I realized that you were running and I couldn't let you go... at least not without trying to fight for you this time."
"This time?" I heard her prod.
I smiled as I explained all the times that I really should have fought for her, but I was afraid of scaring her away or just making our lives even more awkward. One incident that I left out but really kick myself for... is letting her get her heart broken when that Doctor walked about on her. Holding her that night while sitting on my couch I knew I never wanted to let go, but I did...
Her laugh brought me back to her, "I think I get the picture."
"Do you?" I lift her chin so she is looking straight at me. "Do you, Syd?"
I watch as a lone tear slides down her face. "I don't want to ruin our friendship. What we have is so beautiful."
"I agree. What we have is beautiful, and it is because of that reason I really want to ruin this friendship. I want to ruin this friendship because I truly believe that the most beautiful relationship is going to grow out of the ashes. I also believe that we will be a lot happier too."
"But-"
I had to stop her I'm not even really sure what I said to interrupt her. I had something to say and I needed her to actually hear it this time. "I love you Sydney Ann Roberts, and I want to see where this relationship takes us."
Tears of joy, or at least I hope it was joy, stream down her face. "Oh Andrew! I love y-"
I couldn't wait for the words. I had to kiss her. I will admit that there was a tab bit of desperation in that kiss but I had been waiting too long for anything else. Her eager hands pulled me closer and I didn't dare fight it. I pulled away slightly for of a breath. I whispered. "I know you love me. There will be plenty of time for the words later." I laid a kiss on her forehead. "Come on, we need to go back to the office. Your father and mother wanted to know as soon as a decision was reached between us."
She smiled and laid her head on my shoulder. "Well we better not leave them waiting. Oh wait, what about Ally?" Her sudden change of topic threw me off for a minute, but Ally's name rung in the air and I realized what she was talking about.
"Honestly, I don't care what happens to her." And you shouldn't either if you knew how she talked about you. "She is a great girl and a great assistant, so she could get a employed anywhere, but I would prefer her not around the office."
She sighed, "I agree, Lauren is just going to be heartbroken when she doesn't have anyone to boss around. And Ally was a great assistant, but you are way more important to me."
I wanted to kiss her again for that admission, but I couldn't let her feel sorry about having to fire Ally. "Ally's already decided to move on anyway. She had an offer from a family friend, and so she had already planned on putting in her two week notice."
She look a little shocked, so I decided to shock her even more by pulling her into another sweet kiss. I love how she melted into me. "Finish that water, and then let's head back to the office."
"Andrew," she smiles, "I love you."
"I know, but I will never tire of hearing it." Cloud Nine was miles beneath me as I walked out of that restaurant with Sydney Robert encircled in my arms.