Tempted By My Boss: Book Two

The minute that Alex left the room, Hailey felt her heart beating a bit loudly. She focused back on Valerian.

"Are you dating him, Hailey?"

"Yes, No. It's complicated."

"It's a simple yes or no answer, it's either you are together or you are not."

"Not everything is a straight or no answer you know."

"Then what is it, Hailey?"

"It's more of a seeing where it goes kind of thing."

"You see that's your problem Hailey."

"My problem?"

"Yes, you don't know how to commit."

Hailey nodded her head in disbelief, "No that's not true."

"Yes, it is. You see you were always telling me that I was the one who was afraid of committing, that I played girls or always went back to Charlize yet all this time it was you who was afraid to give yourself to me. So you do what you do best."

"Valerian let me stop you right there, first of all, I am not afraid of commitment at all. It's just that at times you can see the outcome of the relationship and it is not worth the pain or suffering so I am better of walking away rather than wasting any-ones time."

Valerian leaned in, "How do you know that it is not going to work out?"

"I just know okay!"

"That's bullshit Hailey and you and I both know it."

"You just don't get it."

"No Hailey, I do get it. I don't run away and hide away behind walls. Because there might be a chance that we could work out."

"And those chances are too slim!"

Valerian took a deep breath, "All of what you are saying is based on an assumption. You are just afraid of getting hurt."

"No I am not, you are just putting words in my mouth."

"Then why did you leave me, Hailey?"

Hailey looked at his eyes, when she heard the emotion in his voice, "I already told you why I left. I have a future and a dream and things that I still want to do and those things didn't involve you."

"You could have still accomplished what you wanted to do with me Hailey, by your side. I could have helped you."

"That's what I don't want from you Valerian, I don't want you to coddle me like I am some little child that needs protecting."

"Well, you are acting like a child throwing a temper tantrum."

"What did you just say to me? You and I both damn well know that I am not acting like a child Valerian. You are the child, you can't get it through your damn head that you can't get everything that you want in life."

"I know that Hailey, all I want to know is did I mean nothing to you? Is that why you left? Is it because I wasn't enough? Did you like Alex better? Did you ever love or like me for even a second?"

"Valerian, I did like you but I knew something bigger. I knew that we weren't going to last."

"How do you know that you are not my forever Hailey? Because I know that we are meant to be together."

"You see Valerian, weren't those the same words that you told Charlize?"

"I...."

"Valerian, save it. You thought Charlize was your forever and it turns out that she wasn't or maybe she still is and you guys are going to make your way back to each other. I don't know."

"Hailey, I know for a fact that she isn't the one, and I know that because," Valerian takes a deep breath and then as if swallowing his pride he carries on, "I had never felt the way I have felt with you with anyone else."

"How do I know that's not the same thing you told Charlize?"

"Because I have not slept with anyone nor even looked at any girl for the past year since you left me. I couldn't sleep or get you out of my head. I was going crazy for pit's sake Hailey. And now that I have found you I am scared."

"You are scared of what?"

"That I am losing you, you are slipping past me and I can't hold on to you."

"Valerian…"

Valerian runs a hand through his hair, "I just can't lose you again Hailey."

"I am not yours to hold Valerian."

Valerian shakes his head, "I can't believe that."

"Believe what?"

"That I am losing you again, I just can't let you go, Hailey."

"Why?"

"You are my everything. I don't know how to live without you."

Hailey's eyes widened before she could utter a word, her work phone rang and she answered it. "Mam you have a schedule soon."

"Thank you for the reminder." She hung up.

Hailey sighed, "I have to go to an urgent meeting."

"Can I see you when you are done?"

Before Hailey could accept she remembered that she had plans with Alex.

"Maybe. If I have time." Hailey wondered why she had lied that she had time, why couldn't she have just told him that she was going to go out with Alex. Yet when she looked at him she couldn't bring herself to do it.

His eyes lit up, "Please Hailey, even if you are tired I will do most of the talking."

"Okay."

"Or I will just sit beside you if you like and I won't talk."

Hailey looked at her watch, and she got up and so did Valerian. She escorted him out the door,

"Don't forget Hailey."

"I won't."