A Step Closer to Love

“Why must you do this every time?” Kieran said his voice low and steady.

Even though Aurora could sense his anger she still thought he was hot at that moment.

“What are you accusing me of?” she asked feigning ignorance.

She had him where she needed him to be all she needed to do was to make her request and it would surely be answered.

“Aren’t you aware of the meeting?” Kieran asked trying to stay as calm as possible.

“I am” Aurora responded standing up.

“Then why do I have to come get you? Ryder called you too. Then why do I have to come from the meeting room to get you?” Kieran asked his anger showing through.

For the first time ever Aurora was afraid of the way Kieran was talking.

“You did not have to come get me” Aurora responded.

“Then why am I here?” Kieran asked slamming his hand to the table.

“Oh geez calm down,” Aurora said when she saw his actions. “I just had to talk to you. I know that you won’t see me when I ask you to and this is the only way I can get to talk to you” she confessed.

“What do you have to say?” Kieran said.

“Can we meet up after the day’s work and have a chat?” she asked sincerely “I have something to say” she added.

“Fine let’s go for the meeting then,” Kieran said now calmer than before.

Aurora stood and dropped back her bag and coat and followed him out.

“The princess and her shining knight” Ryder joked when they entered.

“Can we just get to the meeting?” Kieran said his anger still shining through.

“Okay then,” Kieran said shifting uncomfortably in his chair. The entire room fell into awkward silence. It was obvious that Kieran was pissed and Aurora was not showing any emotions.

“I got a call from Michelle Michigan,” Ryder said breaking the news to them.

Michelle Michigan was a popular novelist who they have been trying to sign in their publishing house. Once the young authors hear that they have signed Michelle they would come running to their publishing house too.

“Michelle Michigan?” Arabella asked in shock. “The Michelle Michigan?” she asked excitement laced in her voice. She was one of her best authors of all time.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“Yes, the Michelle Michigan” Ryder said matching her energy.

Everyone now had excited smiles on their faces. It was a shock that they might have the opportunity to work with her. The famous and well-written author of their generation.

Amongst all of them it was only Kieran who did not carry a smile on his face because he did not know and neither did her want to know who Michelle was. He went into the business because of money, not because of his love of books like the rest of them.

“Okay, so what did she say?” Mia asked ready to hear that Michelle would finally come to their publishing house.

“She wants to come over tomorrow and have a tour of our office before she decides to sign I’m with us,” Ryder said in a shout of excitement.

It was hard to keep his excitement in. When he decided to start this business he never thought of the probability of signing a big author like Michelle, all he wanted was to publish good books, novels, and children’s stories.

“Tomorrow?” Noah asked. “Isn’t it quite short notice?” he added.

“Her schedule is booked with a lot of book signing events and she could only squeeze out sometime tomorrow. Her contract with her former publishers expires soon and she wouldn’t be in the country by the time it expires so she would be signing with us before she travels” Ryder explained.

“That being said Chole and Arabella, I trust you would take good care of her”

“Me?” Arabella asked in shock. Was it possible that she would be given such an important task during her first few days of work?

“Yes you and me” Chole answered overjoyed.

“That being said can we all get here early and get everything you might want to pitch to her ready beforehand,” Ryder said standing up.

“Arabella and Chole, I am sure you would do a good job” Ryder added.

“I would do my best,” Arabella said standing up too. It felt surreal to her that she would be meeting Michelle Michigan just a few days after she landed in Crescent Bay. If she knew she had such great luck she would have played the lottery and won a load truck of money.

“We are all counting on you,” Kieran said standing up too.

“Meeting dismissed. We can all leave for the day so we can get everything we need before tomorrow” Ryder said walking out.

“Yes, Michelle Michigan,” Aaron said standing too.

“I do hope you aren’t planning to make a move on her?” Mia asked standing to face him.

“What do you mean? She is a lady in her forties” Aaron said as he shuddered.

“I thought you liked older ladies? You went after Aurora too” Olivia added.

They all glanced at Aurora who neither said nor made any reaction throughout the meeting. Aurora was thinking deeply about Kieran’s reaction. Kieran had never reacted and acted out his anger in such a way before.

No matter how angry he was at her he never slammed his fist on the desk or yelled at her. Everything changed when Arabella mysteriously arrived there. Now what was to be her job of welcoming and taking care of Michelle was given to Arabella instead of her.

“Arrghh” Aurora screamed out and shook her head violently before standing up and facing Arabella.

“You better do well or else?” she said then gesturing as if she was using a knife to silt her throat.

“Isn’t that a threat, Aurora?” Mia said loudly.

“It’s a warning,” Aurora said sweetly before leaving the room with the great of the staff in it.

“Do you know her before?” Mia asked concerned.

“No, I do not. I met her here for the first time” Arabella said her mind thinking back to their first encounter. Maybe she said or did something.

“She knows Kieran before now,” Chole said informing the great of the people.

“Ohh that’s why,” Mia said her hands crossed over her chest. “It’s not a justified reason for her to do that anyways” she added.

“Just do well tomorrow and I’m sure she would warm up to you” Olivia added before standing up to leave.

Arabella left the room and stood over her cubicle. She would leave for the day and go prepare everything she needed for tomorrow. She has a lot to prepare.

“Arabella” Kieran said standing before her.

“Yes sir,” she said compulsively before connecting herself “Yes Kieran”

“Wait a few minutes. I need to talk to Aurora and then we can go” he said.

“Oh no I think I should leave by myself” Arabella responded.

This was a good opportunity for her to escape the office stress and Aurora.

“It would only be a few minutes,” Kieran said his voice commanding.

“Oh do not worry I would get home myself. I have a lot to do in preparation for tomorrow” Arabella said before turning to leave. There was no way she would allow herself to be humiliated by Aurora.