"We'll see you tomorrow, Ava!" Quinn exclaimed as she locked arms with her lover. Derrick gave a quick nod before stepping into the lift, leaving just me and myself, alone with the comfort of my work.
How romantic.
Taking some time to recover from the facepalm I gave myself a second ago, I reached for my phone in search of the time before taking a long and heavy sigh.
Only 4 more hours to go.
With work revolving around us, it has been months since I had last seen Alice. And though late, I would not pass anything up to miss this opportunity of meeting her.
Putting on my game face, I trudged to the other room with the blueprint of the final ring I had to construct, this time without the comfort of any music.
Yes, I have learnt my lesson.
Time has a peculiar way of performing. It runs by like a bullet train when you're in a hurry and crawls when you need it to speed up. It didn't take long before I accomplished the pre-ordered ring.
The strain from looking at the computer and minute details dried out my eyes, threatening me to shut them. Reaching for the phone once more to check the time, I hurriedly waltzed back to my office chair before plopping my head on the table for a short nap, not forgetting to set a thirty minute timer.
Nathan's POV
I watched as she slept soundly in the office, peacefully and at rest while I removed my coat to place it around her shoulders. Tucking a loose hair behind her ear exposed her soft and silky skin, instilling a deep hunger that had been quietly building ever since I laid eyes on her.
Bending down, I pressed my lips against her cheek; something that I had been yearning to do. Lingering for just a few seconds before pulling back, I admired the beauty that emitted from her as she remains trapped in her dreams.
-Flashback-
"Who are you? I thought I had said that no one is allowed to come in here."
There I was, sitting with a bottle of liquor grasped between my fingers. I was tired, with a few months-worth of beard growing rampant, and hair that was starkly unkempt and filthy.
"You look pathetic." I heard the woman say, prompting me to shoot a glare at her. She was a beauty, her dark and luscious hair paired with those ocean blue eyes, shimmered brightly despite the lack of light in this room.
"You do not know me. So, get out." I spoke nicely, yet not concealing the irritation and annoyance that she had brought out from me. All I wanted, was to be left alone as I drowned myself in sorrow.
"I know you well enough; well enough to know that you are a coward." The anger burned and stung me, not because of her rudeness, but because her insults were true. "So right now, I am going to do you a favor. But in exchange for that, I will be needing something from you."
-End of Flashback-
"If you knew about everything, would you still forgive me?" My fingers latched on my hair, feeling the painful ache emerge and tear me from the inside out.
BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP!
Ava's POV
BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP! BEEP BEEP!
Arousing from my sleep, I reached for my phone to switch off the incessant annoyance as it screamed unpleasantly for attention. I rubbed my eyes before letting out a yawn.
"Much better," a satisfying sigh left my lips, thankful that I had a short time to recharge my physical battery.
The extra weight on my shoulders prompted me to glance back as I saw a coat draped across my back. Bewildered if it was real or just a dream, my fingers caressed my cheek as I felt a lingering heat; as though I had just received a kiss.
Shaking my head, I removed and folded the coat before hanging it on the chair. I slung the bag over my shoulders and proceeded to the lobby, only to halt in my footsteps as I felt eyes watching my movements. Quickly, I shrugged off the feeling and headed into the elevator, not dismissing the fact that chills did ran down my spine.
I must be too tired.
***
"Sorry I'm late, Av!" As soon as Alice plopped down on her seat, she took a big gulp of water; breathing heavily. "The customers are just so infuriating and stuck up! First, I did the cupboards just as they requested, and guess what! They turn around and criticize me; saying that I did those things out of my own volition. And now, they want to change the entire design of the cupboards. Just what the-"
"Here, have some iced mocha." I pushed my cup of beverage to her. I watched as she downed the whole thing, mouthful by mouthful before slamming the empty glass onto the table with a loud bang.
"Okay..." I spoke, fully aware that we had gained the attention of a few tables in the restaurant. "Two more iced mocha, please." I gestured to the waiter who bowed in acknowledgment.
"I mean seriously, it's no wonder birds of the same feather flock together, or should I say marry each other." She huffed, shaking her head and rolling her eyes, that seems to say, 'the sheer and utter stupidity some people possess.'
Though it wasn't a laughing matter, I couldn't help but giggle at the way she described her plight. Though we were in the same industry, Alice opted for a different line of work, an interior designer. As much as her adoration runs for this job, she loathed the portion of handling customers, which was kind of ironic given how customer service takes up the majority of its job scope.
"Anyway, enough about me. How's your work?" The dishes that I had ordered for the both of us had arrived as the waiter placed them neatly in front of the both of us, together with the two iced mochas.
"Apart from the fact that I'm not paid enough, I'm still surviving." I chuckled, digging into the cheesy and creamy baked rice.
"And yourself?"
I had told Alice about Nicholas' doppelganger, but I wasn't surprised that this question would pop up over dinner.
"I'm surprisingly good," I lied. In truth, I didn't know what to feel anymore. It's just perplexing when you see someone who looks like him but isn't him; although there is no doubt that my feelings are still there.
"I'm just living my life a day at a time. As what you've said, to 'let time take its course', so that's what I'm doing."
"I'm proud of you, Av. I really am." Alice responded, placing her hand over mine. "But man! What are the odds of meeting someone with the same appearance? It feels like its destiny or what's that word...fate!"
"Pfft!" I scoffed while Alice retracted her hand, frowning at my reaction.
"What! You don't believe in destiny and fate?"
"You know, for someone who says they are a realist, you are quite the opposite of that," I replied, popping a spoonful of the delicious cuisine in my mouth, amused at her seriousness on the topic.
"Hey! You may never know. The world is full of mysteries." She retaliated, still not taking a single scoop out of her gourmet.
"Yeah, and we have scholars to solve that. But for now, I'm ready to steal your food if you're not going to be eating it." With the fork in my hand, ready to snatch a meatball out of her plate, Alice swiftly snatched the plate and pulled it close to her chest while using her other arm to cover her food.
"Girl, hands off my food!"
"Come on, just the meatball..." I chimed, as my eyes were fixed on the prize, no doubt salivating at the glorious sphere of meat.
"Get your own meatball, you pig!"
"Just one..."
The night ended with me victoriously stomaching every single one of the meatballs as I gaze unto Alice's pouted face.
"You're a big meanie!"
"Sorry. Not sorry." I teased, without her knowing that I had every intention to order another plate just for her.
**********
Hello everyone!
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