SLEEPLESS.

"What am I doing?" I ask myself in the mirror.

Last night I kept myself turning in bed, for some reason that I don't even know. That was the first night that I didn't think of Oli since his death. All I thought was the gorgeous gray-eyed of a man who ran away from his office and didn't come back after the meeting. What's his problem anyway?

I play with my engagement ring on my ring finger while I'm humming the song played on my phone. My officemates are already rushing to get in the cramming elevator. Some say hi and greets a good morning and some thinks I'm invisible. I know exactly what are they talking about so I keep my volume on my headset louder even it's already deafening my ears.

Enough thinking of bash already! You had all that last night!

I'm sure he isn't doing the same.

I start my routine as soon as I get in my office. No signs of Bash. It's almost nine in the morning when I check the time on my wristwatch.

"Wow! very impressive! The most punctual Hughes in the History of Hughes!" I slump my ass back to my chair dramatically.

"Well thank you, sweetheart!"

I jerk in my seat and compose myself when I meet the gray-eyed old version of him.

"S-sorry, um, Good morning Mr. Hughes!" I say and stand up as the heat creeps on my cheeks. I am sure he knows who am I referring to.

"Kiara, Bash won't be here. His driver informed that Bash still in bed and not feeling well. I guess he has jet lag. I will let him work from his home or he can take off for the rest of the week," he says politely. He is the best of a father to Lizzy and Bash, though he's very strict as boss while at work but he is nothing alike when he's out of his building.

"So, he won't be here today?" I ask and my voice sounds disappointed. Jeez!

He chuckles. "I need him to sign some papers and you have to go to his penthouse. I need the documents at the end of the day." He pauses and fishes out something in his pants pocket. "Take this key if he will not open for you and I will write for you the passcode of his security system."

I take the key from his hand unsure. My brows meet and look up at him. He's smiling at me and I can't help but smile back and nod curtly.

______I meet his driver, Edmund at the lobby. He guards me all the way up to the penthouse then he goes back when I'm already at the front door of Bash luxurious den. I press the doorbell; Daddy Seb said if he won't open for me then that's the time I will use the key and the passcode.

Tapping my black high heels on the floor patiently that's given to me by Lizzy when we went shopping two weeks ago. That's one of the perks of having a best friend of the daughter of a Billionaire, always having gifts. I press again, no answer.

I roll my eyes and press it frequently, Jeez, is he deaf? Is he really not feeling well? Did he happen to eat peanut butter or strawberries? I know he has allergies to them.

Before I can press again I hear him from the other side says coming, I stand straight and hug my file manager tightly to my chest and take deep breaths. My heart starts thundering in my chest. The shiny dark wooden door unlocks and swings open.

Wow! if he looks hotter than the molten lava, now half naked Bash looks hotter than hell. How does it even possible? His black bedhead hair looks good even it shouldn't. He looks tired though with half-closed eyes, rubbing his face with his long fingers.

"Can't be a little patient?" he comments with his sleepy voice. He opens the door wider for me and walks away without looking back. I want to inspect his body but he's already leaving me standing glued in front of his door. He ignores me.

What are you expecting, Kiara?

I gasp when he turns his back on me and I am sure he hears it because he stops and freezes. He turns back and looks at me with my hand already in my mouth. My green eyes widen and I can't say anything like I lost all my thoughts.

"Trinity, come in and close the door behind you. Feel comfortable. I'll just grab a shirt," he says after clearing his throat. He walks away again while I'm still stood frozen. I blink many times.

Swallowing hard. "Oh My God," I whisper but I am sure he hears it.

"Have a seat, Trinity, be down a bit," he says while walking.

From his torso to his back are muscles-ripped and they look sexier when he moves. He must work out a lot in a gym to gain that. He took care of himself while he was away. Unlike me, I have a lazy ass to even run on a treadmill but my body never even gain weight since I was a kid.

I finally able to move when his back is finally out of my sight. I walk towards his enormous and modern living room. I place down the folder to the coffee table that I've been gripping tightly to my chest. I sit down and rest my back on the black leather couch.

My eyes wander around. I'm used to seeing luxurious home since I'm close to his family. The living room has a black brick wall decorated with modern and stylish furniture. Wide floor to ceiling glass wall windows. Raindrops inspired chandelier hanging at the double high ceiling room.

I hear footsteps getting closer so I stand up and draw a deep breath while wiping my sweaty palms on my fitted dress.

"Good morning, Trinity!" He smiles that makes a school girl daydream, showing his dimples and straight pearly white teeth like you've seen on toothpaste commercials.

"Good morning, Mr. Hughes! Your dad sent me here for you to sign some papers that he needed to be at his desk at the end of the day." I bend down to grab the folder from the black glass coffee table.

He slumps his body down to his black leather couch with a loud whoosh. He rubs his temples with fingers then releases a sigh tapping the empty space between us. I stand still with furrowed brows, glaring at him. He stops from rubbing his temples when he notices me not moving.

"Tri, I have a terrible headache. Can we talk about what dad told you later?" He's feeling close to me, huh?

Tri?

I have a terrible and horrible heart. It beats faster like I run three miles on a treadmill.

"Why do you have my name tattooed on your back?" I ask out of curiosity but more like an interrogation.

He sits straight then stands up. "Follow me, I need a caffeine," he says but sounds like a command. He saunters away.

I groan kicking off my high heels when I saw him barefooted. "Mr. Hughes!" I yell, following him. He stops abruptly so I halt to stop to avoid bumping into him.

"Call me Mr. Hughes again--"

"Or what?" I ask cutting him off.

"Trinity," he warns.

"You didn't answer me."

"Bash," he responses.

"What?"

"You didn't answer me, Bash," Rephrasing and emphasizing his name.

I pout and follow him to his copper colored-wall kitchen. "Why didn't you go to work?" I ask while he's busy filling up the coffee machine.

He has a perfect muscular athletic body. He was physically fit before he left but now he looks more mature, muscle-ripped, and hotter that every woman will daydream of bedding him.

Shitty brain!

He doesn't answer, instead, he opens the wall mounted fridge, taking a transparent plastic container, opening it. He opens the microwave placing two croissants inside then closes, pressing the screen to set the timer.

"Take a seat, Tri," that's all he says.

I do what he said. He ignores my questions then I will ignore his. He places a plate with the pastries and a mug of black coffee and another mug in front of me with a coffee with cream. He still remembers what I like.

"I put sugar already on that," he says.

I lift my eyes to look at him and it's a mistake because he's staring at me. He raises his brow like asking me what. I shake my head. I grab the steaming mug and sip it. It tastes like what I really like.

"I was drunk when I got this tattoo last night, I can't remember what happened; it's vague but I remember something that I got into some tequila shots challenge."

I didn't look at him,

He sips his coffee. "I was surprised to see it in the mirror when I went up to grab a shirt," he adds.

Why do I feel it isn't awkward talking with him?

"Don't worry, I will ask an appointment for cosmetic surgeons, maybe they can remove it while still fresh."

I look at him then nod.

"I will work from here today. I don't have the strength to go to the office."

"Okay."

"It means you'll stay here too. I have an office here from the door to the left."

"I know."

"Where is he?" He asks.

My brows furrow. "Who?"

"Luke." He looks at my fingers. "Your fiancé."

My eyes widen then I burst out laughing. "Luke? My fiancé?" I ask laughing.

He looks confused, and looks hurt?

"Luke is not my fiancé, Bash. I'm not marrying a gay." I press my lips together to contain my smile.

"Then, who is your fiancé?" he asks.

My smile fades. "Luke is my gay roommate since college and he is engaged to Ryker." I feel like I just drained all my energy. I can't believe he doesn't know what happened to my fiancé. I guess Lizzy didn't mention anything to him about me.

My shoulders droop. "My fiancé died six months ago," I say slowly.

His eyes widen, swallowing hard and blinks rapidly. "I'm so sorry, Tri. I've no idea,"

"Of course, you don't. why would you even care?"

"Of course, I care, Tri," he says, sounding sympathetic.

"Like you are."

"Tri," he says grabbing my left hand causing me to gasp. He does too, he tightens the grip. A heat from the contact spreads through my toes that I curl unbeknownst. My heart swells that makes my breathing to catch. I pull my hand but he tightens it even more.

I look at our hands slowly up to his taut arm, to his chest that is breathing heavily, to the throat that swallows, to his red slightly parted lips, to his straight nose and to his gorgeous and mesmerizing gray eyes that are looking straight back to my green ones.

We look at each other for as long as I can take his gaze in. He never breaks it until I surrender. I feel his thumb moving and gently caressing my knuckles. I almost moan at the sensation of the caress he is giving me. I can't help but grip his hand tighter like I'll fall from the stool where I am seated if I'll let it go.

"Trinity."

My breathing stops.

"I'm here now," he says with concern but what I can clearly hear is the longingness in his voice. His voice turns huskier and deeper. I pull my hand abruptly when he loosens it a bit.

"Let's get back to work," I announce then stand up taking my coffee with me and walk away back to the couch.

His office is larger than my room and cozier than his main office with dark colored-wooden walls. His huge mahogany desk is placed at the center with nothing but only his laptop on top. From my left is the two opposites shelves of hardback books. At his back are the cabinets and drawers where he'll probably place some files.

One long brown L-shaped leather couch and a brown chair with arms place at its left side. A small liquor cabinet aligning the couch. What catches my attention is the sketched of his face that I still remember he stole it from me and now it's mounted on the wall just above the couch with a black frame.

"Is that my sketch that you stole from me, Bash?" My heart melts.

How does he even keep this for so long?

He smirks. "Seat in the couch, Trinity and give me the papers that dad wanted me to sign. Anything important for my schedule today?"

I offer the folder that has papers in it.

He takes it from me.

"You don't have any appointment for today. Your dad said you can take the rest of this week as an off if you want to, or you want work from here as you wish,"

He looks up at me. "Really?"

I nod. "Ask your dad to confirm,"

"That's not how to answer your boss, goldfish," he says casually.

I stay still.

"It's still has an effect on you, Tri."

"That's not right to bully your assistant, Mr. Hughes!" I say sternly then walk towards the couch.

He just chuckles.

I seat on the couch frowning. Why my life has to be this sucks? What I did to let God punished me since birth?

"Trinity?"

My head snaps.

"I mean it."

"About what?"

"That I'm here now."

"I don't need you!"

He stands up from his chair and walks towards my direction, taking a seat beside me. My heart will combust in my chest. He leans closer to me wrapping his long arms around my tiny body, planting his chin on top of my head.

I can feel his warm body presses against mine. I can smell his masculine and cologne scent. I wrap my hands on his right arm and press it closer to me.

I close my eyes and feel him and just listen to his breathing and frantic heartbeat. I'm sure he can clearly hear how my heart is beating. For him.

"I need you, Trinity," he says, kissing the top of my head. I didn't let him go and just feel this amazing moment with him.

_______

BEAUTIFUL READERS, I almost had a heart attack when I checked this chapter and it was completely blank. OH, MY GOD! I don't know what to do and Thank God! I still have this copy safe and thanks to Word😂😂😂.

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