Page 19 of Mine to Ruin

Those blue eyes come to mind again, and I grind my teeth. What the fuck is happening to me?

Chapter 7

Ellia

I eat alone, pondering what had Kian leaving in a hurry. He went from being attentive and all over me to dashing as if a fire lit under his feet. What emergency could have happened if his phone didn’t even ring? He’s a hotel owner, there could have been endless reasons. When I ask for the bill, the petite woman says it has been paid for.

In my studio, I pick up the remote and switch the images displaying on the walls to a forest, enjoying the finest high tech my place is equipped with. I mix greens and grays and my thoughts wander to Kian, like so many times in the last hours. If I keep this up, all I’ll ever be able to paint are a hundred versions of his eye color. I ignore it and complete an entire abstract painting by the end of the day. My back aches and I put my brushes down and stretch.

There are thirty floors, and thousands of rooms. When I finish painting all the works that this job requires, I might be drained of creative energy.

I grab my bag and lock the door, waving to Anna, gathering her stuff behind the reception desk, on my way out.

I throw my bag on the passenger seat and drive away. A yawn stretches my lips as I walk to my apartment. After I take a shower, I climb into bed and have a group video call with the girls.

“So, how was the first day?” we ask each other, and there is a torrent of answers. We burst into laughter and decide to talk one at a time instead.

Aubrey rolls on her bed, a dreamy expression taking over her features. “The moment my feet touched the ground in New York, I knew I was home. I’m not coming back even if I have to live from one internship to the other.”

“Paris is everything I ever imagined, but it’s not home.” Tara pouts.

“Just three months, and you’ll be back,” I say, trying to console her.

“What about you? How was your first day?” Tara asks and I look away trying to find the words to explain my first day.

“Ellie?” Aubrey asks, raising an eyebrow and even Tara pulls her phone closer.

“I met Kian Reyes.”

And the mother of all interrogation starts.

“Never heard of a boss offering a tour to a new employee, but you’re also the artist hired to do the art for the rooms,” Aubrey says, tapping her chin.

My cheeks burn at remembering how I kissed my boss again and Tara notices.

“Why are you blushing?”

“Oh my God, tell us.”

I can see Aubrey’s nostrils as she puts the screen one inch from her face. I hate to keep things from the girls, but I’m not comfortable enough talking about this yet.

“He is good looking, and he knows it. He’s arrogant, cocky, and switches moods like gears, oh and he eats healthy.”

“How do you know all that?”

I could slap myself.

“A hunch.”

“Yeah, right, because we know you have an affinity for detecting healthy stuff between eating pasta and donuts.”

“Aubrey, we all know you keep your stash of chocolate under your bed,” Tara says with raised brows.

“For PMS, hello! And how many Cokes did you drink today? Does Paris still have them?”

“Just so you know, I had just five,” Tara replies and I exhale, relieved with the change of subject. We talk for a while, back to safer topics.

When we hang up; I call my mom.

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