broken

''Good luck with the date'' Coleen said before I hop out of her car. She lives two blocks away from my apartment and she drops me off from time to time. With the salary I have from Mávros enterprises, I can actually buy my own car but I love mother earth so I take the bus to work in the morning and walk home after. It's a thirty-minute walk but I love the exercise and besides, Manhattan is such a pretty place at night.

''Thank you, and thanks for helping me with the paper'' I hugged her after I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out of her car.

''Call me after'' she teased ''I wanna know every detail of your lovemaking.''

Shaking my head I responded with a mocking grin ''you need a boyfriend.''

She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue like a four-year-old ''why bother when I can get a one night stand every night.''

I faked puking before I waved her off. ''Thanks again.''

After I saw her car disappear on the curve, I stepped into my apartment building. My place is small, one bedroom and bathroom, open space design for the living room, dining, and kitchen but I like my privacy. Better than sharing a place with a stranger and besides, old Larson is such a friendly landlord and I've been staying here at the same time as I got the job at Mávros enterprises.

I took a quick shower, put light makeup on my face, and let my hair take its natural wavy body before getting into the dress that I bought specifically for tonight. The red silky fabric of the maxi dress hugs my body perfectly for my taste. Not too tight but not too lousy. It's a very special night because it's Max and I's sixth anniversary and I have a feeling that tonight will change our relationship. I wasn't expecting that he'd propose tonight but I plan to give myself to him. We've never done the deed and I'm so grateful that Max was willing to wait for me.

The cab arrived at Eleven Madison Park a quarter before eight and the waitress guided me to our booked table. I waited anxiously for Max's arrival and when he entered the room, my heart practically skipped a beat.

Max was wearing his usual gray Armani suit, he always wears such clothing because he's a real estate broker but most of the time, I practically drool over his yummy body. He played baseball when we were in college but he was never the player, it's one of the things I fell in love with him. He looks good but he doesn't use it to take advantage of women.

''Hi'' he kissed my cheek before pulling me for a hug.

''Hi'' I knew I was blushing like a teenager and I lowered my head as I shy away.

''I'm late, aren't I?'' he said as we placed our orders.

Shaking my head vigorously that I saw the floor spinning on me ''no. I was just early.''

We had our meal and talked about the whole week's work details, well Max talked about his whole week but I love listening to his deep voice. It's a melody I can't get enough of that I want to record it and play it on repeat.

After dinner, Max asked me to walk with him to the small park. We sat on the empty bench as we watched some couples walk hand in hand in front of us. Max and I were never the couple to have PDA's. He said that he respects me and that he didn't want people to see me as one of those easy girls around us but sometimes, at times like this, I just wanted to lean on his shoulders and feel his warmth embrace me.

''How was work?'' he asked after a few moments of comfortable silence.

My heart practically somersaulted. I like Max asking me about my day or anything about me. He never does that, he just waits for me to say something about me which never happens because I tend to keep things to myself. Especially things about work because I didn't want Max to worry about me.

''Same, my boss is still an ass but my friends help me most of the time when it gets rough'' I giggled lightly at remembering my friend's reaction this afternoon. They were furious as hell but still get on business like the professional they are.

''That's nice, do you love working there at the Mávros'?'' I looked into Max's light blue eyes. He was gazing at me and didn't look away when I caught him staring. Blush creeps to my neck and cheek and I'm glad that the night hides my cheek color.

''I do'' I whispered. ''Why are you suddenly interested in my work?'' I tried to lighten the mood but Max's eyes stayed the same, intensified and it scared the hell out of me.

''Ren'' Max held my hand and I jolted at the sudden bolt of electricity that crawled on my skin. ''I want to ask you something.''

Oh, God. He isn't going to ask me to marry him right? I'm twenty-five and I know it's still too soon for us to settle down but what if he does, what should I say?

''What?'' my voice was barely a whisper as I bit my lip.

''I don't know how to ask this from you, we've been together for a long time now and...'' he heaved a sigh which I mimicked. ''...and I need some time off. I want us to go separate ways for now.''

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'I want us to go separate ways for now.'

Max's deep voice continued to play on repeat in my head. It's been two days now and I need to go to the office. Work is my escape. It's the only thing I have for now... now that I'm single and broken-hearted.

The makeup I put on my face is not hiding my bloodshot eyes. I've been crying for two days nonstop and no matter what I do, my tears are falling freely. Washing the dishes, doing laundry, cooking, and even while taking a shower, they can't stop falling.

I sure hope that my friends wouldn't ask me about my date because if I start talking about it, my tears can't stop falling again like a river.

I took Mr. Mávros' private elevator to the 40th floor. At moments like this, I am thankful that my boss is such an aloof person that he even wanted his own elevator where no one can use it except for him and me. He uses it because he didn't want to mingle with his employees, not that he verbally said that to me, it was just my observation, and I was allowed to use it because he didn't tolerate tardiness. I can't use the reason that the elevator was full if I was late anymore, just like my second day at work.

My black dress is my funeral clothes. This was the same dress I used at Mom's funeral when I was sixteen and I use it every time I feel like the world is crumbling on my feet.

As I stepped out of the elevator, Angie, the secretary, gave me a tight-lipped smile as she hands me the list of calls for Mr. Mávros. I thanked her in a very hoarse voice before heading to my office. Scanning the schedule for the day, I called the flower shop quickly when I realized it was the eleventh of June.

My boss has many girls on his tab, when I mean many I mean that he has different women every week. Most of them were models and business socialites but the constant one is Ms. Holland. Sharon Holland is the daughter of Mr. Harry Holland of Holland enterprises, one of the closest business associates of Mr. Mávros. Ms. Holland is my boss's girlfriend, that's what the media knows and I was ordered to keep it that way. To hide all of my boss's flings.

Every eleventh of the month, I needed to make sure that a bouquet of red and yellow roses must be sent to Ms. Holland's office. It's their monthsary date but little did Ms. Holland knew that I was the only one in this building who knew about that date. I wonder if Mr. Mávros even knows about her birthday on the 25th.

I have always pitied Ms. Holland because I know that the relationship she has with my boss is nothing like the one I have, yet here I am, single and she still has Mr. Mávros.

At 8:10 a.m. sharp, I made my way to make coffee for Mr. Mávros and headed for his office to check everything. It needs to be dustproof and everything should be in place, even his parker pen should be working perfectly, or else it'll be a hell week for everyone in the office. My boss hates Monday and this day should be spot-on perfect, the fate of the world depends on it.

The hands of the silver wall clock on Mr. Mávros' office is itching to jump on eight sixteen and when it did, the door at his office swung open.

I waited for him to drop his suitcase and take off his dark blue suit jacket. For a man in his early thirties, my boss is a very sharp and hardworking businessman but behind him are very hardworking people that I hate to admit - are being neglected by him but... - not my place to voice out that thought.

His black curly hair was disheveled today, not as neat as he likes it but then again - not my place to point that out.

As I stood in front of his desk, holding my black notepad, pen, and my phone, I waited for him to finish his morning routine. He took a sip of his coffee, held it out in his right hand, tucked his left hand in his pocket, and stood in front of the ceiling-high glass wall behind his desk, looking over the city.

Two minutes have gone since he took the first sip of his coffee, after five brief sips he spoke ''what's my schedule for the day, Ms. Green.''

''Ten o'clock meeting with your father, Sir, and you are invited for the two o'clock press briefing about the Milan hotel by Ms. Garcia'' - his sister - and I saw his shoulder stiffened. He didn't like the media very much, he liked his private life to be kept private and the media tends to follow him everywhere, being one of the most eligible bachelors in the states.

When he didn't say anything I continued with the whole week's schedule on my hand, most of the time, nothing about his schedule changes except for his dates. Yup, being a P.A sometimes sucks when even his dating life joins the schedule I need to perfect.

''The analysis about the Milan project, I read its content. Who put up that paper on such a short notice?'' he asked with his back still on me. It's like he was talking to my image at the clear window.

''Uhm...'' I fiddled with my pen. Shit! There must be something wrong with that paper. I might lose my job for the seventh time! ''It was me, Sir. I asked for Marie, Jeremy, and Coleen's help last Friday.'' I almost whispered into thin air.

He tilted his tumbler again. He was taking his time with his coffee while I was shitting myself right now out of nervousness. ''It was a good work, Ms. Green.'' He turned around and placed his cup on the right edge of his desk. He glanced at me for the first time since he entered his office and I swear, I saw his lips twitched.

Damn! He's so handsome when he smiles I think I'm about to pass out!