BASH
“Fuck!” Dad curses.
I turn around quickly when I realize what they’re doing.
Heat creeps in my cheeks with embarrassment. I can’t believe I’ve just witnessed what Dad and Mom
are doing in his office. It isn’t easy to be in this awkward situation. I grip the door handle when I hear
my mom giggle.
“Bash, I’m sorry. We shouldn’t be doing it here,” Mom says, laughing.
I stay still.
“We’re not having sex, Bash. You can turn around now,” Dad says who finds everything is okay after
their son just caught them almost having sex.
I face them slowly just to make sure they are both dressed because when I entered moments ago,
mom’s dress zipped down from her back, and dad’s shirt unbuttoned while they were making out on the
desk.
“Can’t you at least lock the door before you start eating each other’s face? Or at least tell me not to
come?” I ask annoyingly and amused at the same time.
I can’t believe them doing that with an unlocked door, but I am happy that they’re still in love.
I know they love each other very much. I never hear them fight about a third party involved.
I hope to have a married life like them when I settle down.
“Is that how you call it now, baby Bash? Eating each other’s face?” Mom asks, recoating her lipstick
while dad is fixing his tie.
I walk towards them, kissing mom on her cheek and hugging Dad.
“Whatever. Thank god, I’m the one who entered. Or this is not the first time someone caught the both of
you doing something here?” I ask, scrutinizing their reactions.
Mom smiles sheepishly.
“Oh, Jesus. Don’t answer that,” I say, raising a hand in surrender.
“Bash, I will let Kiara start her proper job next week. No arguments,” Dad imposes.
“Dad, don’t you think it’s too early for her? She doesn’t have any experience in her new position,” I
resist.
“She has proven herself, son. Don’t you think you’re too selfish?” Dad argues.
I know I don’t have the right, and I will end up following his order.
“I’m not selfish, Dad,” I say defensively. “But I want an experienced employee on my team. She’s a
fresh grad.”
“So do you,” Dad points out.
“That’s the point. I need a well-experienced because I am an inexperienced too,” I insist.
“You will learn, Bash. And so as she. She graduated cum laude from an exclusive university. Give her a
chance, and I trust and believe in her,” Dad says adamantly.
“Why so soon?”
“Why not?”
“Dad.”
“Bash, listen to me, son. You can still talk to her, date her. She’s only a floor away.” I blink repeatedly. I
can’t believe Dad is okay with me dating his employee.
“That’s not what I mean,” I say awkwardly.
“Then why are you against my decisions? I already arranged for your masters. You two will go together
on Thursdays and Fridays both for your masters. Mondays thru Wednesdays, you both will be at work.”
My mouth hangs open. I sit on the empty chair like I lose my strength.
“Baby Bash, don’t you agree with your dad’s plan?” Mom is squeezing my hand.
I look at her, and I see her green eyes full of concern.
“You will thank me later, son,” Dad says and sits back on his chair.
I manage to nod with a small smile, though deep inside, I am against all of these. I’m a grown man, and
I wish he waits for me to do it myself. I am capable of deciding what’s right for me. But too late for that,
he plans everything ahead of me.
I walk lazily back to my office. Why this has to happen to me? How can I last for so long when she’s
with me every day? Dad thinks that’s what I want? If I follow my heart, that’s exactly what I want, and
there’s no way I can run away from this. I just start our friendship, and I’m going to end up ruining it
again.
“Bash, you okay?” Trinity asks cautiously.
I feel a hand on my arm. Even in my shirt and suit on, I can still feel the warm touch on me like skin to
skin. Everything starts to be difficult, and just being with Trinity in this office is torture for me already.
“Did you have your coffee?” I ask her as I sit down.
“No. I’m waiting for you.”
I look at her; her eyes glimmer. She takes a seat in front of my desk and looks at me with furrowed
brows.
“You shouldn’t have waited.”
“Do you want hot coffee?”
I don’t want hot coffee. You’re way hotter, that I can burn myself just by your touch.
I shake my head. I can’t talk because it might slip what’s in my head right now. I grab the muffin she
offers. Our fingers touch. Shit. Why do I feel this way? I take a bite without looking at her.
“What’s going on with you, Bash? Looks like you just lost millions.”
“You’ll be replaced,” I simply say.
Her hands drop down her lap with the muffin still in her hand. Her jaw drops, and her shoulders just
droop.
“Tri, you’re not fired,” I tell her slowly.
“Then why am I being replaced?” she asks quickly.
“Because you deserve a position.”
She’s quicker on her feet and grins with excitement filling in her wide eyes. What I am not expecting is,
she dances.
Christ! She looks pretty even she’s like eight years old who just receives a new doll.
“Aren’t you gonna ask your position?” I ask, and I can’t help but smile at her. I am happy for her, truly.
“I don’t care as long as I’m not gonna map the floor, Fourth,” she replies and moves beside me as she
wraps her arms around my neck. She presses her face on me like how she did it many times before.
I freeze in my seat. That’s the first time Trinity calls me fourth since I came back. My heart is pounding
hard. I felt like this before, but this time, it’s a million times stronger.
I can smell her. Her warm body awakens my unconscious senses.
“Thank you, Bash!” she chirps.
“Thank dad, Tri. Don’t thank me,” I whisper.
She unhooks her arms around me and takes a few steps away. “You don’t sound happy about your
dad’s decisions, do you, Bash?”
My stomach churns sickly. “Like I can stop Dad, Tri,” I reply, annoyed.
“I’m not taking your position, am I? And you know that’s impossible. Then, are you not happy for me?”
“That’s not it, Tri,” I say with scattered thoughts.
“Then what’s the problem? Do you want me to be your assistant for so long?” Trinity demands,
sounding pissed.
“Of course not.” I glare at her.
“Then what’s wrong?” Panic invades her voice.
“You will be the new financial analyst,” I sigh.
“Really?” She seems so surprised, but I can see that she’s pleased to hear that. That must be her
dream position that’s why she worked hard to prove herself that she belongs to the company.
“Yes,” I confirm silently.
“Wait. I’ll be part of the financial department team? Yes!” She’s so excited, and I nod glumly. “Don’t you
want me to be a part of it?” Her smile fades from her beautiful face.
“It’s not like that, Trinity.” My belly flips over. Jesus, I am going to ruin her moments.
“But why I feel it’s like that, Bash. Is it because I’m a new grad, and I don’t have much experience? But
I have proven myself. I graduated with honor. I dedicated and spent most of my time as an intern just to
be a part of this.”
I take a deep breath, and she looks hurt, and now it’s killing me. “Tri.”
She raises her hand, shaking her head. An awkward silence hangs between us. “I will not take that
position anymore. If you want a well experienced, I understand,” she says quietly.
I feel a pang on my chest.
“And I resign,” She adds.
“Trinity, you will not resign,” I say fiercely.
“I just did, Mr. Hughes!” She moves away to her office adjacent to mine.
I quickly follow her, grabbing her arm to stop her. “You are not fired, Trinity. I am not accepting your
resignation. Technically, I am still your boss, and you will do as I say.”
She pulls her arm from my grasp. “I am not working for you anymore. Expect my resignation on your
desk tomorrow.” She faces me with fierce.
She’s definitely not the Trinity that cowers. She’s now the strongest woman I’ve ever met, and I’m so
proud of what she becomes. I’m not surprised why Dad chose her to be on my team. She has proven
herself, indeed.
“You will not do that!”
She enters her office, ignoring me, and I am still following her.
“Stop! Just stop, Trinity!” My breathing catches. I am more pissed and terrified of losing her at the same
time.
She stops abruptly. “What?”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“I don’t care, Mr. Hughes.”
“Say that again.” I hiss.
She faces me. Her eyes filled with anger. “Or what?”
Jesus! This woman is infuriatingly sexy when she’s mad. Her hands are on her hips, glaring at me.
I want to grab her head and kiss her like crazy. My eyes fall to her succulent lips, and she suddenly
blinks and swallows hard when she notices where my eyes transfixed at.
“Don’t test me, Trinity. I might do something that you might not like,” I say calmly despite the rage is
boiling in my veins.
“You just did,” she replies. Anger flashes across her beautiful face, and I hate the feeling that I just
make her angry.
“I just got you back, Tri,” I say with a hint of pain in my voice.
“Forget it!” She yells.
“Don’t shout at me!” I demand respect. I am still her boss and her best friend.
She grabs her bag, tosses her phone inside, and walks past me.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I ask quickly. Panic grows in the pit of my stomach.
She doesn’t answer me and just walks away.
“Trinity!” The last thing I hear is the door slamming a moment later.
“Fuck!” My fist hits the wall before I even realize it. What have I done?
My heart aches than the pain on my knuckles. I bump my forehead against the wall in Trinity’s office.
I’m going to lose her again.
I take a deep breath to calm my nerves, but it does not work that way. I need to talk to her.
My phone vibrates, diverting my attention. It’s Lizzy.
“What do you-- what?”
“What did you do, Sebastian Hughes, IV?” My sister’s angry voice is deafening my ear.
“What did I do?” I ask back, still pissed off.
“I just received a text from K, Bash. Explain to me why she texted me this; I need a recommendation
letter from Uncle Seb. Explain, or I swear to God you will not get our help this time.”
I bite my lip while shaking my head. “I-I don’t know, Lizzy,” I say, defeated.
I walk out of her office, looking back once again before closing the door behind me.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” she’s still yelling into my ear.
“Lizzy, calm the freaking down! You are damaging my eardrum.”
I hear a beep. When I check my phone screen, she just hangs up on me. Seconds later, my office door
swings open.
Dad walks in first. Mom follows, and then my sister.
I sit on my desk, cross my arms over my chest, and prepare myself for the inevitable. I’m ruining
everything I started. I know it.
“Talk!” Dad’s deep voice startles me.
I look down. What should I say anyway? I am guilty as fuck.
“What did you do, Bash?” My sister’s angry voice has me scratched my head.
“It just happened so fast, okay? She didn’t give me a chance to explain.” I take a shaky breath.
Everything really happens so fast that even my family is turning against me. I can’t blame them. They
love Trinity like their blood.
“Get out of this office and solve your problem, Sebastian! I don’t wanna lose a good employee because
of your personal issue!”
I look at Dad. He looks angrier than ever. He’s glaring at me, and that never happened before.
“Baby, didn’t daddy told you that you would thank him later? You should’ve listened to him.” Mom walks
closer to me and rubs my arms. She kisses my cheek and whispers, “She will go to see her fiancé.”
I nod slowly.
“I’m so disappointed with you, brother,” Lizzy continues.
“I know. I know, and you can stop now.” I grab my keys on my desk, stomping my feet closer to them.
“Wish me luck.” I grit my teeth.
I have hope, and there’s a part of me believes in a fairytale. When I left back to the U.K, the pain I felt
that night was worse, and the cut was so deep than the day I left four years ago.
Damn! I’m so fucking emotional when it comes to her, but I will do everything to take her back to my
team no matter how much pain I will endure, and no matter how hard I should try. I won’t give her up
this time.
***
“Are you sure this is her apartment?” I ask Edmund before stepping out of the car.
I button my suit and look up at her apartment building. The six-story brownstone apartment building
looks decent and in a safe neighborhood.
“Yes, Bash. Follow me,” he says.
“I am your boss, Edmund,” I remind him.
“I know, but as a precaution, I have to check first the area to know that you are safe in the place like
this,” he answers with courtesy.
I know he’s just doing my job. and I shouldn’t just throw my anger on him. “Fine.”
Earlier, I received a text from Lizzy that Trinity came back to her apartment from visiting her fiancé.
Lizzy advised me not to text or call Trinity, and that’s what I’m doing. I am such an idiot, and I made her
angry again.
“Bash, I have to lie to the guard that you are Ms. Mallory’s new boyfriend.” He smiles and winks at me.
I roll my eyes. “Thanks, I guess.”
My heart thunders in my chest when I reach her apartment door. I have to take a few deep breaths to
calm my heartbeat.
“Just relax, boss.”
I scowl at him. “Why won’t you go to the car and wait there? I can’t see any danger here. Go back, and
listen to your crappy music.”
“I’m just trying to help, you know.” He looks amused.
“Well, you are not helping. You are annoying me.”
“Fine, but if she punches your face, don’t call for help.” He grins.
“Get the fuck down to the car, and wait for me there, Edmund.”
“Fine, fine. Just knock already,” he says as he marches away, but his eyes are still on me, and I know
he won’t go far.
“Get your ass away from here,” I growl.
The door unlocks, and I glued in my place. When the door swings wide, that’s when I see a sweaty and
half-naked man at her door.
Who the fuck is this guy? A lot of images flash in my head, and most of them are inappropriate.
My nose flares. “Who are you?”
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda