23.A million more questions!

Aubrianne Ivanov

I knew in my heart that the questions would not leave me until then. Until then, it would continue to plague my mind until I could speak with Mr. Ivan Grey.

They kept playing on my mind and piling up, too, annndd then thinking about the endless scenarios. Taking in a deep breath, I let it out, sighing heavily.

Wow, this is too much! I haven't earned this yet, I don't deserve it, and this is strange. "Please, I can't accept this," I, out of nowhere, murmured almost to myself, feeling a bit undeserving of all this.

Daniel came sauntering towards me, telling me yet again his favorite line, "strict orders were given, this," gesturing with his hands as he stretched them out with flare, "is no mistake, I assure you."

That didn't make me feel any better. As a matter of fact, I felt worse. Trying to stay optimistic, I said, "very well."

But then I blurted out what I needed to know.

"Question!" I sat on the edge of the bed. I was exhausted from all the things that were running through my mind and I was trying to understand what was going on. Not to mention jet lag.

And the doctor had told me not to exert myself too much.

"Yes, I am listening." Daniel leaned on the bedpost with folded arms and feet crossed by his ankles. His expression was one of concern.

"Ok, so.....would this be deducted from my salary somehow?" I needed to know.

Daniel was about to respond when more words fell out of my mouth as questions popped into my mind one after the other, "because if so, this needs to stop right now."

"Wo..." Daniel shifted his stance to face me with a look of confusion.

"I can stay here tonight and look for somewhere cheaper tomorrow." I continued.

"Woaw, who.." Daniel moved his hand out in a defensive stance. Two palms were facing the front.

"Hey, also, when is my roommate coming in? We can hunt for a cheaper place together and split the rent there. Because the rent might be out of my league here in this neighborhood."

"Plus, if these," I pointed at the apple fest on my bed, "are going to be deducted, then I will have to return them and maybe try to pay off for one item that I know would be useful...."

"Aubrianne! Please slow down." He stood directly in front of me, shoving his hands in his pant pockets after I flinched when he reached for me in a friendly manner.

I had gotten up from the bed and paced the room while I babbled out all my frustrating concerns.

"Please, I assure you, there is no deduction for anything. We were given..."

"Specific instructions," I finished for him, rolling my eyes, sick of hearing that line.

"Precisely, now let us finish up. I know you are tired, but there is more I want to show you." Rubbing his hands together excitedly.

Wide eyes, I scoff, "I don't think I even want to know."

Grinning, Daniel says, "Relax, nothing out of the ordinary."

Seriously? Nothing out of the ordinary. NOTHING outside of the ORDINARYYY? Like WOW! Every single thing thus far is out of the ordinary. Was he kidding me right now?

I held my tongue about what I wanted to say and let Daniel lead me to the bathroom. It was white. White his and hers sink, a white throne, a bidet, clean black and white floor tiles in intricate patterns in the shower, a sliding glass door, shining sliver shower knobs, and a head.

Just wonderful and unique, and the bathroom led into a walk-in closet with a comfy white couch. Porcelain tiles lined the walls entirely and the floor.

My eyes were saucers.

I observe a tall mirror in the middle of the open shelves that line the walls with shoes, handbags, sunglasses, and clothes. You name it, this closet had it. Daniel continued to simply stare at my reactions.

Picking my mouth off the floor and tucking my eyes back into my head. I spun on my heels and said, "THIS has to be a mistake," gesturing wildly, hands lifting over my head and falling back down, smacking my thighs.

Ok, that's it!

"When can I get a meeting with your father?" I asked, a hand on my waist, and one goes up to rub my temple, eyes close for the briefest of moments and open again. I inhaled and exhaled as I shook with the emotions running through me.

I simply couldn't wait any longer. I calmed my breathing.

I need to get some answers, and this is too much.

Why? Why? Why?

Was this an elaborate prank?

Right now, I know it's late, and I didn't want to call and disturb the man, but I could not wait till morning, and yet I was tired.

Though it would be better to discuss this matter face to face.

I wanted to talk to him face to face. I want to look at him when I tell him my concerns and ask him my questions.

Daniel seemed hesitant as he fidgeted a bit, leaning on one foot then the other, but he gave in, letting out a breath, "fine, I will check his availability and contact you first thing in the morning," then grabbing my hands he said, "come, I have one more thing to show you."

I mustered up a smile. "I think you are trying to kill me from shock. I can only imagine the headlines 'dead girl shocked to death,' what a laugh."

He chuckles, "Maybe."

I sigh because I don't think I can take any more of this, and groan out, "ok, what NOWWW?"

Don't get me wrong, all of this is amazing, it is so much more than I expected or could have ever asked for or dared to dream of, but I am wary of the reasoning. I need to know what is really going on here.

I was expecting a lovely little, maybe two-bedroom apartment with a roommate, 'another intern,' and I know I am getting in a week early, so I would at least have been able to pick out the room of my choice and get comfortable. At the same time, I awaited the arrival of my roommate.

Certainly not this. Then there were all the gadgets!

He had turned on his heels and headed toward the door, and I was trailing behind him. We went through another door that led straight back into my room without going back through the bathroom.

We headed out the door, down the corridor, and walked back to the middle of the dining area and kitchen. There is a door that leads to the garage.

As we entered, "and this baby right here is all yours," Daniel declared.

My eyes bulged as I gawked at an obsidian black metallic Mercedes AMG-GT C Roadster. My mouth hung open, then closed a few times as I didn't know what to say.

After what seemed like forever, with a million more questions running through my mind and my heart racing a mile a minute, I shrieked, "oh my god, this is TOO much, whyyy?" Dragging out the why almost like a whine rather than a question.

I certainly cannot accept this. "Is this a company vehicle?"

Because for the life of me, I don't understand it, and I do feel a type of way about it. In my previous line of work, there wasn't any man giving away anything without them wanting something in return, and that thought made me uncomfortable, too uncomfortable for my liking.

Anyways, I compartmentalized that thought. Daniel promised to get back to me first thing in the morning with news about a meeting with his father.

I need to get some answers, and you know what? Thinking about it, if I remember correctly, they tried to shove money at me since I got accepted pending my graduation—something about an allowance.

I shot that down immediately. Of course, I didn't accept it, and I didn't even graduate at that time. How can I take it and make such a commitment without knowing for sure whether or not I will succeed in my exams or even make it to graduation?

I was just being realistic. Before I made such a commitment, I wanted to be sure I graduated first.

I didn't want to risk putting myself in unnecessary debt, and god forbid I was unsuccessful and had to return the money or something. I mean, I just couldn't take the money just like that.

It didn't feel right, and now, funny enough, this extent of things didn't feel right either.