Bashing Trinity

BASH

I feel the instant coldness of the stainless door handle on my office as I push it open. As I enter, I feel a sudden unsettling in the pit of my stomach when a familiar flowery-scent hits my nostrils.

A gasp from has my head snap, and my eyes are transfixed on the woman in front of me. Everything stops. My surrounding blurs. The beating of my heart races. My eyes widen in shock, and I am surprised that my jaw still attached to my head.

I’m not expecting to see her here in this building, let alone in my office. I wasn’t thinking about her when Dad told me to be nice to my assistant. What’s this supposed to mean?

I shut my gaping mouth close and cough awkwardly. “Trinity.” Her name comes out a whisper, and it feels foreign in my ears.

She blinks many times before she clears her throat. She smiles at me—a tight smile; just a plain smile; a forceful one. “Mr. Hughes, good Morning, and welcome to your new office,” she greets with courtesy. Mr. Hughes? “I hope the interior fits your liking, but we can still request and change—”

I raise my sweaty hand for her to stop. My heart beats faster than before. My lungs expand further, that my ribcage can crack any moment, and it makes me difficult to breathe.

I look at her for seconds, and she meets my gaze then breaks it quickly.

“You didn’t come to the party my family threw out two days ago,” I said almost silently.

She grabs some files on top of my desk with the iPad on top. She hugs them to her chest gracefully and says casually, “I sent Lizzy a message that I couldn’t come. So, as you know, I’m your new assistant; temporarily, and my office is just adjacent to yours,” she puts a little emphasis on the temporarily while pointing at the door on my left.

Her stares give me shiver; her green eyes are shooting an icy glare on me.

She changed a lot. Her hair is cut short just above her shoulders. The color is still the same, though. Her face still has freckles, but they’re lesser, maybe from the makeup she applies on. Her lips are still full, painted with red lipstick.

She taps on her iPad. “You have a meeting in less than ten minutes.”

I take a deep breath. “Trinity, just leave the meeting for a while, can you?” I move closer to her because I badly want to pull her into a hug and feel her warm welcome.

She swallows hard. “Okay, you’re the boss. I placed all the paper works that left by Mr. Peter Williams.” She gestures to the file on top of my desk.

“I’m not interested in that either.” I snap. “What happened to you, Trinity?”

She looks taken aback. “What happened to me?” she asks back, pointing her finger to herself. “Nothing bad happened to me, Mr. Hughes. If you don’t want me as your temporary assistant, by all means, please, just ask the HR for my replacement,” she adds sternly.

“That’s not what I mean.” Why is she acting like she doesn’t know me? “Stop calling me Mr. Hughes. You’re my best friend for God’s sake—”

“Were,” she cuts me off. “Ex-best friend, Mr. Hughes. You are my boss now, so only it’s proper to address you as—”

“I am your boss, so do as I say,” I tell her in an authoritative tone.

“Sure.” She looks down at the empty chair in front of my desk.

She places back down the file she took a while ago and smoothens her dark blue pencil cut skirt that ends just above her knees. She wears a white blouse with a dark blue blazer. She looks beautiful, elegant, and very professional.

my flight to the U.K, but you were

I guess she’s listening.

friendship, Trinity, but you didn’t even answer my calls nor replied to my messages.”

four years

for years with just one mistake I made, and you made mistakes too, Trinity.”

Can’t you understand that? Your friends, classmates, and girlfriends thought I was just your

many times did I defend you against those freaking losers, Trinity? How many times?” My voice fills in the room. Before I came, I did not exactly expect to fight early in the morning. It ruins my

care. I have friends now. I’m sure you made friends with Brits.” She doesn’t look affected. She’s so cold that makes me shiver.

an immature.”

“You’re an asshole!”

her. “Watch your tone and your language when you’re in my office, Trinity.

apology, Mr. Hughes,” she

I ask, hoping she gives in now that we finally talk about the elephant in the room.

four minutes, Mr. Seb Hughes

hand and scroll it down what she jotted down. I stop with brows furrow to the second note. “Dinner with Luke; to discuss the engagement?” I read it slowly, and I almost drop

“You’re engaged?” I grab her hand a bit

My life is doomed!

just find out, but she doesn’t meet my gaze anymore. She just looks down

me. I almost collide with Lizzy when I walk my way to

“Bash, we are about to start in less than two

my hand in my pocket and look at the monolithic view of the building outside, ignoring Lizzy’s voice.

my shoulders in defeat,

What’s the point of

answer my sister.

used to when we were just kids. I feel a hand

inches framed. I shake

will never be okay, Lizzy.”

be, Bash. You will be, and you should be. It’s never been too late,” she says and walks away leaving

meeting went well as I expect, and I can’t help but steal glances at Trinity whose busy writing something on the notepad. I find out that she didn’t

because she hated numbers in every way possible. I walk out of the conference door after talking with

already?” I Look at Dean, marching

I give him a smile and a nod. “Yeah, first day, and still having a jet-lagged. I think I’m excused, right?”

You can work your fat ass

I shake my head in amusement.

always free for a good talk, Bash.

mind, Thanks, Dean. You’re not bad, after all.”

you don’t like me, or maybe you don’t trust me for your sister, but I can’t blame you to be an overprotective brother over her, but man, I love her with all my life, and I don’t care

“Got to go before we fall in love with

will be fine. It’s