59

Andy was already waiting at our regulars' table at Leroys, a chic little restaurant on the West side corner. The food was delicious, affordable and the cocktails absolutely brilliant.

When I reached the table, he jumped up and wrapped his arms around me. I immediately returned the hug and I was relieved. So relieved that a few tears ran down my cheeks. "Oh darling don't cry, I've missed you too" He reassured me and stroked my cheek gently.

We finally sat down, ordered food and drinks and the chattering started immediately. It was as if there had never been an argument. Immediately there was that trust again. We understood each other blindly. I told him everything. Really everything. What Matt was trying to do to Me, that Thiago saved me, who was Delugo, that Matt was gone and dead and so on. Andy was speechless and he very rarely is. He is more of a chatterbox who doesn't mince his words. But now he was shocked. However, I trusted him 100%.

"Alea, I'm so incredibly sorry. Something so horrible is happening and I'm not scolding you instead of helping you," he apologized.

"Well you are rather impulsive and block me quickly instead of listening to me" I explained to him.

"I know and that's stupid of me. I swear I'll never block you again," he promises me. However, he has done so before and he still does it again and again. That's just how he is. My drama queen. My best friend and yet I loved him more than anything as a friend.

After dinner we walked hand in hand through the city. It was a great evening and I finally got into the cab to go home.

Andy said I should start again at BoA and accept Thiago's offer. I should try, I had nothing left to lose anyway. However, I was unsure. After all, Thiago is the CEO, the chairman of the board and I have no idea what this is between us, but it feels like a relationship that I really don't want to lose. I don't want to lose him. I really need to speak to him again.

When I got to my apartment, Thiago was leaning against the wall of the building with his arms crossed. A smile automatically formed on my face at the sight of him. I paid the taxi, got out and walked towards him.

Thiago also smiled briefly and finally gave me a kiss on the forehead "Well, did you have fun with Andy tonight?" He asked me, winked at me and emphasized Andy's name extra long. I punched him lightly in the ribs and finally put my hands on his chest. I tilted my head up and looked into his dark eyes. "Yes we did. We spoke out and I'm happy," I replied.

"Well, then everything is great," he replied directly. "That's it," I said, eventually placing my mouth on his. Thiago returned the kiss immediately. Breathing heavily, we broke apart and I finally took his hand in mine to go to my block of flats or my apartment.

Thiago followed me without a word. "By the way Andy thinks I should take your offer" I spoke into the silence "did he?" he replied mockingly. I knew he didn't give a fuck about his opinion. But not me.

I unlocked the apartment door and we entered. When the door slammed shut, I said: "Seriously Thiago, I'm not sure. I don't know if I should go back to my old job". Thiago turned to me and pulled his browns up "Why? I don't know anyone who would be more suitable for this job?"

"It's not about working on Thiago himself. On the contrary, it would be perfect. But I have concerns about us," I said openly about my fear.

Thiago didn't answer but waited until I spoke again. I took off my high heels and walked into the kitchen to pour us a glass of wine while I continued talking.

"You know what happened last time. You gave me work that I could hardly cope with, we just argued and in the end you even fired me. To this day I don't know why? I'm afraid Thiago"

I put the full wine glasses on the counter as Thiago walked over to me and stopped in front of me. He touched my cheek with his hand and gently stroked my chin.

"This time it's different Alea. I only gave you the extra work out of anger. I wanted to finish you off on purpose. Make you mad. I wanted to punish you for your loose mouth. And the more I was with you the more I wanted you. On my desk. Naked."

I looked him straight in the eyes. I didn't expect him to be so honest.

"Then why did you fire me?" I asked the question again.

"I told you so. Because I wanted you. I wanted to fuck you Alea Miles. And I never date employees. Never." he answered me dryly.

I looked at him with wide eyes. Is he damn serious? This couldn't be serious. I was shocked. Furious. Disappointed. Just everything. I could already feel the lump in my throat.

"I hope that was a joke?" I whispered barely audibly.

But Thiago shook his head. "I'm only being honest with you Alea"

Now I got angry. The first tears ran down my cheeks. "You fired me, took away my job because you wanted to lay me? You saw how exhausted I was. The night you were here with the box of my personal belongings in it. You comforted me and slept with me Thiago" I screamed. That was our first time shortly after I got fired. I could not believe it.

"How fucked up can you get?" I kept screaming.

But Thiago only snorted audibly but didn't answer. What should he say to that?

"You know exactly what I had to go through? It would never have happened if you hadn't fired me. And to know what the real reason was, God Thiago".

I couldn't hold back and cried bitterly. Thiago approached me and wanted to hug me, but I stopped him.

"Don't you dare Thiago Silva" I scoffed.

Thiago paused. He finally turned around and walked to the door. Before he left my apartment he turned to me again

"I'm really sorry Alea. I'm, I was an asshole to you. I know that myself. I just wanted to be honest. I didn't expect that someone that you could become so important to me. And Believe me when I say that I would like to undo everything if I could. However, I cannot. I will leave now. The other boards approved your hiring today. Everything is already in place. You can next week Start Monday. We won't really have anything to do with each other at work. You still report to the area manager. There are no more special tasks from me. We only see each other at events or big executive meetings that are 3x a year. I know you are angry with me,But don't ruin the chance I'm giving you"

Then he left and he closed the door behind him.

I yelled "Lauf" and threw the full wine glass against the door. Fuck. I dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around my legs. What am I supposed to do now? And what does that mean for Thiago and me now?

I was angry with him, of course, but I'm still incredibly in love with him. He just said that I'm important to him. But how important. What if I start on Monday, he said that so coolly that we have nothing to do with each other. Does that mean it's all over between us too?

That thought made me even more desperate. I do need him. I was feeling so lonely and angry at the same time.

What should I do?