Chapter 2

Julia was still standing there on the corridor, leaning against the doorframe and just took a final deep breath before she pulled out her phone and started writing a new message… a message, because she didn't dare to make a call which David might hear… she was typing as fast as she could, but that wasn't an easy thing with her still shaking hands, then as she hit the send button she murmured a quick prayer to get a swift response from Kim… fortunately, she texted back nearly immediately, saying she has to wait only fifteen minutes until they can pick her up, which was such a relief to know, but as she closed her phone, she suddenly looked down and realized what she was wearing… she was in such a panic that she just pulled back her blood covered trousers, while she was still holding her dirty blazer and bra in her hands… she knew if someone would see her like this, they would surely call the police on her, so she hid her bra into the blazer and quickly found a darker corner in the staircase, where she could hide for a few minutes until Kim arrives… luckily, there were so many things in her head, so it didn't seem too long when her phone beeped, and her ministerial car has arrived…

"Good morning, ma'… are you all right, ma'am?" asked Kim shocked, seeing her dressed like that as she was quickly running down on the stairs.

"Yes, of course and we can go immediately, so come on!" she was a bit too lively, but that wasn't the most conspicuous thing,

"…"

"Let's go! We don't have much time to waste!"

"But where is David, ma'am?" asked Kim, and she suddenly stopped.

"… What?"

"David. Why isn't he here?"

"Because he is still sleeping upstairs," she replied quickly. "I didn't want to wake him up after I occupied his bed last night."

"…" Kim's mouth remained open and she suddenly realized how it sounded,

"I mean he slept… he slept on the sofa, of course."

"I see…" she nodded with not much conviction and opened the door for her, "So where are we going, ma'am?"

"To work, where else?" she answered confidently and didn't understand Kim's hesitation,

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure of it. Look, I'm fine, okay? So please don't start that 'I shouldn't work today' thing."

"That's not why I asked it…"

"Work just doesn't stop because my life turned upside down and anyway, I have to occupy myself somehow, don't you agree?"

"Of course, ma'am, but…"

"So work is just exactly what I need," she explained, then seeing Kim's expression, she just sighed, "…What?"

"I just wanted to say… are you going like this, ma'am?"

"Oh…" she suddenly realized what she meant, "Yeah, I think you're right. Then we'll pop into the flat first, then go to work."

"Certainly, ma'am." she nodded and motioned the chauffeur to go, "By the way, ma'am… your flat was checked during the night and we doubled the guard around the building, but I would go up with you, if you don't mind."

"Yeah of course, just come…" she agreed absentmindedly, while she was already lost in her thoughts. As they stepped into her flat Julia headed straight to the bathroom, but then she turned back for a moment, "Just take a seat and make yourself a coffee. It won't take too long, I promise."

"Thanks ma'am, but I would rather just wait here."

"Sure, if you want to." she said in a hurry, "Then I'll be back soon!"

"Very well, ma'am." she answered indulgently, then watched as she disappeared in the bathroom, perfectly knowing what this 'soon' means for her principal… she knew it could take literally forever for her to get ready, but this time Julia surprised the both of them. After a quick shower, she made her hair and make up, and dressed up as fast as a firefighter… she did everything with professional movements and made her 'work self' in a record time…

"Wow…" it just slipped out from Kim's mouth as she saw her.

"What is it?" asked Julia a bit confused, checking herself in the mirror. "My make up?"

"No, it's perfectly fine, ma'am, just… you were so fast, that's all."

"Uhm, yes because I want to start work as fast as I can!" she answered, full of energy.

"So that means you didn't change your mind about taking the day off…" she tried, hoping she doesn't step over the mark.

"No…" she shook her head confidently, "There's no way I will stay at home, so let's go!"

"Certainly, ma'am… Lavender on the move…" Kim murmured into her earbud as they went down to the car and Julia knew she was right, after the attempt on her life it would have been hard to find someone who'd say a bad word about taking the day off, but the truth was she wanted to be at home as little as possible, but didn't really know why, until she finally sat down in his office chair and looked around… that place beyond the glass wall was full of people and it somehow calmed her… but not because she felt insecure about another possible attempt on her life, but because she didn't want to give a chance to be alone with David, anywhere in private… they say the greater pain kills the lesser… and she felt it completely… because after what happened with David last night, thinking on someone tried to kill her, was the least of her problems… it seemed in her office she gained some time, where she doesn't have to deal with her own life, but actually her happiness was quite early, because as she looked up, her gaze met with David's through the glass wall, what made her accidentally dropping her phone…

"Shit!" Julia murmured under her table as she leant down to pick it up. "That's all I needed today…" she closed her eyes for a moment, pulling herself together, then sat back to her chair, while David's eyes were still on her… she knew he's going to ask questions, questions which she couldn't and didn't want to answer… and she was right, a few moments later he was face to face with her…

"Good morning, ma'am…" he said politely as he closed the door behind him, while she quickly put on her poker face.

"What are you doing here? I've thought you take the day off."

"Actually, I didn't have a chance to say anything against it… but that's not important now, I just wanted to check on you," he answered, carefully observing her reaction, "You just ran away so abruptly this morning, so I thought…"

"Oh, you shouldn't have come here about that! I've told you I'm fine, see?" she flashed a not too convincing smile, "And now, if you would excuse me, but I have to start working."

"Yes of course, but can we talk for a while?" he asked, while she felt panic, but didn't show it.

"The thing is, I'm quite busy at the moment… maybe is it something important?"

"Yes, quite a bit."

"I see, but can't this wait until tonight? I can't really concentrate now."

"Actually, I just wanted to…" he expected resistance from her, when he realized what she just said, "Sorry, what?"

"I said I can't really concentrate now, so tonight would be more appropriate…"

"Oh... of course."

"Fine. Then... then, tonight."

"Yeah, tonight..." he nodded with relief, because it seemed his worries were unfounded and there was everything okay between them… she watched as he went back to his post, but before their eyes would have met again, she suddenly looked down to the documents in front of her and she knew it's gonna be an awfully long day… a long day, which could mean she'll have time to figure out something, so she doesn't have to talk with him… at least she thought so, but actually against any tryings, she couldn't succeed, because David quickly realized what she were doing, and after a little tricking, he ended up being the one who could escort her up to her apartment, where they remained alone, and she felt trapped… she was like a cornered animal, which unfortunately brought out the worst side of her… so after he quickly checked her rooms, he found her in the kitchen remarkably occupying herself with making a cup of tea…

"I've finished with the security checking…" he started unsurely, when she just put on the kettle, but didn't answer.

"…"

"I mean I hope you have time now…"

"Actually, not really. I'm just making my tea, then I wanna go to sleep early tonight."

"But can we talk now?"

"Talk about what?" she asked, and didn't turn around.

"About what happened last night…"

"I think there's nothing to talk about, and actually the best would be to forget it."

"Forget it? But… but I don't want to forget it…"

"It would be better for both of us, believe me."

"But why?… Didn't you enjoy last night?" he asked, and her heart skipped a beat.

"… You perfectly know it's not about that."

"Then what's wrong?" he stepped closer instinctively, but she just continued what she started in silence for a couple of awkward beats.

"…"

"Julia?"

"I've thought it's obvious…"

"No, it's not, so please tell me, because I have no idea at all." he said, feeling more and more desperate now.

"I can't believe this needs to be explained," she sighed and put down the tea bag in her hand. "This whole thing is too risky for both of us. You can lose your job, while I can destroy my whole career, everything what I worked so hard for." she answered, but as she said it aloud, she knew she wouldn't have believed it herself.

"… That's all?"

"How you mean 'that's all'?" she suddenly turned around,

"That doesn't seem like a good reason to me… because I don't care if it cost me my job if I can be with you."

"But I do, David! And you perfectly know if it would turn out, it would be a hell of a scandal."

"But wouldn't it be worth it?… to be together?"

"…"

"Please, say something…"

"Normally, it would worth it of course," she shrugged her shoulders carelessly, "But it's only a temporary thing, so…"

"What temporary thing?" he asked completely puzzled.

"Oh, come now, David! What do you think, how long is this gonna take? A few weeks or maybe a month or two?"

"But… but why would it last for a… wait, have I missed something?"

"No, you haven't. Just there's no point in it, that's what you have to understand."

"But why? Because I'm not one of the posh guys you are used to have around you?"

"You know it's such a nonsense, that I don't even say anything to it… or wait, I do! Yeah, that is the problem!" she tried, but neither of them believed it.

"Ok, seriously, what's the matter?"

"…"

"Just explain it, that's all I ask… hey, I just wanna be with you." he said softly and tried to take her hand, but she pulled it away,

"You really don't have to play the innocent with me…" she remarked bitterly, while her eyes were telling more than a thousand words.

"What are you talking about?"

"We both know that you're a handsome, young man David, who has all the ladies attention and that's okay."

"…" he just looked at her with disbelief,

"Please don't act like you wouldn't understand, I see how women look at you everywhere we go."

"And?!" he asked desperately, felt he will going crazy.

"We have quite a few years between us, so that means ten years later I will be…"

"Ten years older, just like me. So why the fuck is that so important?!"

"…"

"Sorry…"

"Because the next woman is going to come anyway, it's just a question of time, David."

"But I don't want another woman! I want you!" he said vehemently, while her answer was only a forgiving smile,

"Yeah, of course you want it… for a couple of more times, then it won't be so new and exciting and you'll move on, so it's better as if we take it as it never happened."

"But…"

"Yesterday I was fallen apart, so it was absolutely my fault and I'm sorry."

"No, it wasn't a mistake… and I don't want to make an end of it!"

"It was a one time thing, so there's nothing we should make an end of it, and now I'm awfully tired, so if you will excuse me…" she motioned towards the door, but he didn't move.

"… What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid of anything…" she answered with clenched teeth.

"Of course you do!"

"That's ridiculous… I've already told you, there's no point in this whole thing, that's all!"

"You know that you're lying to yourself."

"I won't listen to this…" she started getting mad and opened the front door, "And now, please go…"

"…" he didn't move.

"Go away!" she cried, and as he finally stepped out to the hall, she shut the door on him… but fortunately, he knew he wanted her… and nothing else mattered.

To be continued…