"No it's not true. My name is David Block, I was born in England and I moved here from the city three weeks ago. We are done here now leave." He shouted pointing to the door. What is this strange girl even doing here? Why is he even bothered by her so much? It was at the tip of his tongue but he couldn't reach it.
Sarah was completely outraged, why did he always have to be so stubborn? Well, I can see how this must be on him so I will give him sometime to think it over. "Fine, I'll go but I will be back. I can be every bit as stubborn as you are. See you soon David." With that she stormed out the front door, leaving David completely stunned watching her go. He didn't move an inch while staring at the door unable to process what had just happened. This strange woman had practically barged into his home and told him that he was a fantasy character, then she just expected him to believe every word.
"She's got fire that's for sure. What a strange woman."
David had woken up late for work and rushed around the house getting ready. He shouldn't have stayed up so late reading that little red book but once he started he couldn't stop. That book was so enthralling that had sunk itself in his head during the night. The images of the labyrinth and the young girls quest had danced throughout his dreams.
He was dressed in a grey suit and quickly rushed into the kitchen. It was filled with the scent of fresh coffee. Thank god I bought the automatic coffee machine, he thought to himself while pouring a cup. He chugged it down and grabbed two fuzzy peaches from the counter. Grabbing his suitcase and throwing his trench coat on he bolted out the door with a peach in his mouth. The first thing he saw after the blinding sunlight was Sarah waiting by his car with a cup of coffee in hand. She was dressed in a light flowered dress with a blue jean jacket. He stopped dead in his tracks with surprise but quickly rolled his eyes at her while finishing his bite. "What do you want now? To tell me that Peter Pan has been captured by Hook?" He laughed.
She glared at him while taking another sip. "I told you that I'd be back. I don't have classes for the rest of the week, so I have all this time devoted to making your life into a living hell until you see things my way. So, off to work are we?" Emphasis on the we, she thought.
He took another bite of his peach and finished pulling on his coat. "You are not following me to work. I am very late, now please go away."
She only scowled at him and leaned on the driver's door blocking his way.
What is with this woman? Is she going to do this everyday? I could get used to that, he thought to himself. Pinching his nose and closing his eyes he sighed. "Sarah, please move. I am late."
"Well, let's make a deal then. Take me with you and we'll spend the day getting to know each other. If by the end, you still don't believe me then I will leave you alone forever."
He sighed looking at his watch. Damn I'm going to miss this mornings meeting.
"Tick, tock." She said with a smile while pointing to her non-existent watch.
"Fine." He growled under his breath. "But don't you dare interfere with my work. If anyone asks, you're just a student observer. Got it?"
She smiled brightly in her triumph, moving away from the door and going to the other side. He quickly went in and unlocked the passenger door.
"Nice suit by the way, makes you look all dashing." She said openly looking him over while buckling her seat belt. He smirked at her, he knew that he was a handsome man for he didn't lack in female attention. Some have even accused him of being a playboy but he only told them that he was waiting for the one. The one he could never seem to find.
"Don't let it inflate your ego. Mr. Charming, I bet you have a lot of female callers don't you?" She smiled but also seemed actually a bit jealous. He didn't answer her but the smile on his face grew bigger.
He finished his peach quickly and tossed the pit on the ground before starting the car. He noticed her staring at his second peach and rolled it down his elbow to her. She caught it and smiled. "So you like peaches huh? Well, that shouldn't really surprise me. After all it was a peach you gave to me to give me a drug induced illusion." She spoke while taking a small bite.
He glared at her. "That's another condition of this deal. No talking about your crazy hallucinations. Not to me or anyone else, understand? I don't want anyone to know that my stalker is crazy as well."
She scowled again at him. "Stalker?" She scoffed but then shrugged. "Maybe, but I am not crazy. What I told you before is very real and you are a very important part in that 'hallucination' but I understand that you need time for it to sink in, so I won't mention it again. For now."
The car ride was a very long commute and they sat in silence most of the way until traffic became to thick, stalling his efforts to make it to the office. Sarah started fiddling with the radio but turned it off when she couldn't find anything good to listen to. "David? Can you actually do real juggling, like other than a peach?" Her attempt at making small talk was amusing to him, she obviously didn't have much experience in many adult conversations.
"Yes actually. Back in college, I did Contact Juggling as away for making a few extra bucks. A fading art I'm afraid and I don't think I can do much of it anymore." He was suddenly uncomfortable talking about his college days around her, it made him feel his age compared to the young beauty sitting beside him. She was at most only in her early twenties, almost two decades younger than he. He felt that it was almost wrong of him to even think of her as anything other than a child, still he couldn't help but be attracted to this stunning woman. He was male after all, he thought in his defense.
As if reading his thoughts she asked the question he was fearing. "How old are you? What kind of job do you have?"
His hand tightened on the steering wheel and swallowed hard. "I am thirty-seven going on seventy, due to my job. I am a merger contractor in a very competitive company. I have to always be on the top of my game or be replaced. Not very glamorous but it pays very well."
"Thirty seven." She repeated, trying not to sound shocked so she tried to sound uninterested. "Well, you definitely don't look it. I mean, you look like a hot rock star in his twenties. What's your secret?" Her face blushed a deep red when she realized what she had said. She just confessed that she finds him attractive but he didn't say anything. Sarah bit her lip in thought, he was almost twenty years older than her, wow. But looking at him now he didn't really look out of his twenties yet.
She saw him glance down in embarrassment over this confession and decided not to press it further. "So, your job sucks. Why do you do it then?"
"Well, it's more out of duty than liking it really. It's my job and I will do it to the best of abilities." He stated. There had been a break in traffic and he quickly took his chance to squeeze through.
"How very noble of you. Just like the Goblin King, he didn't like his situation much either but he took his duties seriously." Sarah said before stopping herself. "I mean, um. I'm sorry I forgot."
He didn't look at her but just sighed. "It's going to be a very long day, isn't it?" He asked more to himself than her.
They pulled into the underground parking lot and got in the elevator. Sarah didn't say a word since that awkward conversation fifteen minutes ago. David seemed to be a bit distracted himself. The elevator doors opened on the top floor and they got off. Then David stepped in front of her. "Now remember our deal Sarah. No talking about the Goblin King or why you are here. What do you say when they ask about you?" He wasn't being too serious but she understood he meant it. "I say that I'm a student and observing you throughout the day. I understand, David."
She felt a bit buzzed at this situation. Finally, I can get some real experience in acting. He gave her one last glance before taking her hand and leading the way to the office. The desk clerk waved him over. "Mr. Block, I have your messages here for you." Said the blonde secretary handing him his notes. She gave Sarah a death glared before turning back to David with a bright smile. He wasn't paying attention though as he sifted through the small pile of messages. Sarah just gaped in shock. Wow, I can't believe what is happening here, she thought. The woman shot her another glare while looking her over and sitting down. David said his thanks and led them away.
"Wow, is she ever catty. Did you see the death glare she gave me?" Said Sarah looking back.
David turned back to see her but she was out of view. "Really? Well, I'm not surprised. She's had a little crush on me for quite sometime now and seeing a beautiful woman like you with me is probably something she won't like." He arrogant smile was back in full swing. Sarah sighed, ego alert.
"Again with the ego. What am I going to do with you?" She said with a smile and lightly slapping his arm. It only made him smile brighter as he opened the door to his office for her. She stepped inside the huge office and saw a middle-aged woman standing by his desk. "David where have you been? You missed the briefing today."
David stepped in front of Sarah almost protectively but it was more like he didn't want anyone to see her, which was a little insulting, she thought. None the less Sarah tried to be invisible.
"I've been stuck in traffic for hours but I'm here now with the merger contracts. They are all filled out and signed. I was going to save it as a surprise but now is a good time. The merger is complete." David spoke with a great amount of pride and the woman sighed with a smile. "You've done it again, completely blown everyone out of the water. Congratulations David!" Said the woman and bracing him in a hug. That's when she noticed Sarah standing ever so inconspicuously behind David.
"Oh, hello. I'm sorry, I didn't notice you there. Patricia Cartwright, Co-founder." Said the woman with a light accent and extended her hand to Sarah. "Hello, I'm Sarah Williams. Pleased to meet you."
David stepped in between them. "Sarah here is a student studying in this field and I was kind enough to let her be a silent observer for the day." He said while giving Sarah a discreet look that warned her to play along.
Before anyone could say another word he led the woman out of the office talking about a celebratory dinner. Sarah watched them leave and shut the door quietly. She gave a big huff as she sat on his couch and fell asleep waiting for him to return.
After David left his office he noticed that it was already past two and he was starving. He went across the street to his favorite café and bought two large chicken wraps and salads before heading back. He was only gone about twenty minutes and wondered what Sarah was doing at that moment. He almost dropped the food trying to open his office door and stumbled inside. He blinked confusingly when he didn't see her right away and found her asleep on his couch. He placed the food on his desk and went over to her. She looked like an angel in her sleep and he found himself touching her hair. "You precious thing, who are you?"