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.

but you were not

I guess she’s

day and take back our friendship, Trinity, but you didn’t even answer my calls

That was four years

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

understand that? Your friends, classmates, and girlfriends thought I was just your slave. I’m a dog under your leash. Your personal

times did I defend you against those freaking losers, Trinity? How many times?” My voice fills

I have friends now. I’m sure you made friends with

“You’re such an

“You’re an

and your language

“My apology, Mr. Hughes,”

hug?” I ask, hoping she gives in now that we finally talk about the elephant in the

inappropriate. Meeting in less than four minutes, Mr. Seb Hughes will introduce you

I grab the iPad from her 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 the iPad from my hand.

in my chest. “You’re engaged?” I grab her hand a bit stronger, and there you go. The fucking engagement ring on her

My life is doomed!

I try to process what I just find out, but she doesn’t meet my gaze anymore. She just looks down at the iPad

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

than two

at the monolithic view of the building

my lips into a thin line and slumping my shoulders in defeat, I swallow hard the lump in my throat. I lose Trinity

the point of

I don’t answer my

she asks with a worried tone of a sister like she used to when we were just kids. I feel a hand rubbing my

look down at her five-foot-eight inches

be okay,

never been too late,” she says and walks away leaving me alone

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 follow her

have studied hard to pass them because she hated numbers in every way possible. I walk

“Leaving already?” I Look at Dean,

him a smile and a nod. “Yeah, first day, and still having a jet-lagged. I

can work your fat ass

I shake my head in amusement. “Like my dad would

for a good talk, Bash. Just call me.” He pats my shoulder.

mind, Thanks, Dean. You’re not bad,

but man, I love her with all my life, and I don’t care if

we fall in love with each

“You will be fine. It’s not