Umbrella

They were almost finished when Nora's phone started to ring. "What the fuck? Why don't people let me have my food in peace." She cursed and then picked up her phone. Her expression changed instantly when she saw the caller ID and excused herself to answer the phone.

"A bad temper she's got," Penelope said and giggled. "Yeah, but she's soft at heart," Damen said and wiped his mouth with the napkin. Penelope looked at him. "No... no, no. I wasn't saying it like that." She put her hair behind her ear. “I only meant… I – uh… I—” Her sentences were inscrutable. "All right, all right. Calm down, missy." He tried to put her at ease. “Why do you panic about such little things?” He put a meat slice in his mouth. She just shrugged in response and sipped water. Slowly. Very Slowly. Nora came back and dropped her phone on the table. "What happened?" asked Penelope.

"Uh—my agent is at my house. I was trying to change my apartment, somewhere close to the office. He was out of town. He came back today and was trying to call me since morning. I was just super busy and couldn’t take his call. I totally forgot about that.” she said and drank from her glass. "Sorry, guys but I need to go." She said hurriedly. "I'm really sorry, Penny. I would never have to go like that if this wasn’t important." She apologized again. “Sorry.” Penelope hesitated for a moment but then waved her hand in the air. "Yeah, no. I got this. It’s just fine." She smiled and watched her leaving the restaurant.

It was now only two of them. They stayed silent for a moment. Damen cleared his throat and said "I was just messing with you this morning. Nothing personal." She nodded and gave him a small smile.

"Right." He said and took a long sip of his drink not knowing what else to say.

Suddenly there came a light sound of rain hitting the window. She turned around to look outside, it was actually raining.

"Oh, no." She anxiously said. "What happened?" He asked.

"It's raining. I don’t even have my umbrella. How will I go to the bus stop?" She was still looking outside the window. “It didn’t show on the forecast that it would be raining today.”

"I can drop you."

She turned her head almost instantly to look at him that she felt a little dizzy. "What? No." she refused. "I can book a cab." She said and grabbed her phone. "Why not? It's not safe okay. You know how things are. Also, I don't think you can get a cab at this hour." He checked his wristwatch.

“What?” She raised an eyebrow at him. He looked confused. "No, I mean... I don't mean that only because you are a girl. No, no.” He tried to put words together. “I'm just saying that… uh- since I'm here I can drop you, why bother to take a cab?" He said rapidly. His palms were all sweaty and he felt a little uneasy saying all those things at once.

She looked away and pressed her lips into a thin line. “I – uh…” She scratched her temple then finally gave in looking outside the rain. “Okay.”

"Good. Should I order you a drink? Anything?" He asked, feeling relaxed now. "No, I'm good," Damen asked for the bill. “Here, I can pay for my meal.” She took out her card. But Damen refused to take it saying that he was going to pay for it anyways. After that, they came outside and sat in the car. Penelope entered her address on the GPS and he started driving.

"So... um. How was it?" Damen tried to make small talk. Again. Although he knew he was terrible at this he still tried. "It was good." She said and looked outside. "Right," Damen said and played light music on the radio to avoid awkward silence.

The rain was getting heavier with every passing minute. The car turned right. It was a blocked road due to construction work. “It didn’t show on the GPS.” He shook his head and reversed the car. He checked for another route. It was 5 miles longer than the other.

“When did you come here? New York. Like um… before joining the office?”

“Um, about a week probably.”

“You knew anybody here?”

“No. Not really.”

“You came here for the job only?”

“Uh-huh.” She clicked her tongue.

“So… um,” He scratched the back of his neck. It was getting difficult for him to keep this conversation going with her replying with single words. “What are your plans for the weekend?”

"Oh, shit!" She screeched and then put her hands over her mouth. He applied brakes and looked at her "What happened?"

"I left my file and my bag in Nora’s car. Shit, shit, SHIT!" She hit her forehead with her fist. “Hey, hey. Calm down.” He said with wide eyes.

“Marissa is going to kill me!”

“What? Why?”

“Oh, God. Why am I so stupid?” She squeezed her eyes shut, face palmed herself, opened her eyes again, and groaned in frustration.

“Hey…” He did not know what he was supposed to do.

"You are not understanding."

"Make me understand." He rolled his eyes.

"Ugh-- I have this really important report to submit in a day to Marissa.” She started explaining slowly. She was so furious with me today and now I have lost the file. Oh, my God, she is going to kill me the instant I showed her my face.” She whined irritatingly.

“HEY!” He raised his voice and grabbed her both hands to prevent her from hitting herself anymore. Her eyes had become glossy. He felt his heart racing in his chest. He looked into her eyes and then his gaze moved down to her lips. They were pink and soft.

Shut up, Damen. Focus. He thought to himself.

“Calm down. Okay?” He caressed her hands. “We can handle this thing. No big deal.” He paused for a moment. “What about… I go to Nora’s after dropping you. Her house is on my way back home. I’ll get your file and bring it to you tomorrow.” He inhaled and then exhaled. “And then, I’ll… help you making your report.” He smiled.

Sweat droplets had emerged on her forehead, and her palms had become cold. He gave them a gentle squeeze.

"B-but why would you do that? You don't have work to finish? Or any other plans. I don't want you to ruin your weekend for me. I can ask Nora or… Eric to help me." She said in a small voice.

"I really have no plans. And I would love to help you to figure things out. I know that's not how bosses sound generally… but yeah, I'll help you. And after all, we are friends now. I can do you this little favor. Don't worry."

“Friends?” She looked into his eyes.

“Yes? Are we not?” He chuckled nervously.

"Mm... Okay." She said after a moment. She looked relieved. Damen smiled at her, staring her in her eyes. "Uh... you can leave my hands now." She tried to pull them back.

"Huh? Oh, yeah... yeah. Sure." He fumbled and immediately left her hands started the car. He felt a little embarrassed.

Why did such a perfect moment end like that? I’m such an asshole. He mentally slapped himself.

"You said something?" asked Penelope. "Me? No. No." He said without looking at her. His eyes focused on the road. It was still raining. Moments later they were outside her building. "Yeah, just there." She pointed towards the building. Damen nodded.

He stopped the car. "Thank you very much.” She smiled. “Wait.” He checked the compartments and then the backseat. He moved to grabbed something from there. “Here.” He picked up a small umbrella and handed her.

“I – uh… I don’t need it. Really.”

“Take it,” He insisted. “Please.”

“Um, thank you.” She took it from him.

She opened the umbrella and safely got out of the car and walked towards the building. She waved him goodbye and then entered the building. He sighed after watching her getting out of his sight and then drove away.

*

She climbed the stairs when she remembered she doesn’t have her keys. “Oh, what should I do now?” She faltered and stopped in her tracks. She checked the time on her phone. It was late. She reached her floor and stood in front of Hailey’s door. She was still thinking about whether to knock on the door or not when the door swung open revealing Nathan on the other side.

He looked surprised. “Um, hello?”

She had her hand raised in mid-air to knock on the door. “Hi…” She waved.

“Uh…” Nathan expected her to say something but when she didn’t, he asked her, “Do you need… anything?”

“No. Yes.”

“Huh?”

“I- uh… forgot my bag at my friends' place. I don’t have my keys.” She fidgeted.

“Oh…” was all he said.

“What should I do?” She almost whined.

“Oh.” He said and then shook his head. “You can get an extra pair from Grace downstairs, girl.”

Relief washed over her face. “Of course.” She put her hands together. “Thank you.” She beamed and walked downstairs. She took small steps towards Grace’s office. Mr. Grace was sitting on a couch reading a book. He closed it and placed it on the table in front of him when he saw her standing in the doorway.

“Yes, Miss Bloom?” He smiled at her.

“Uh—Mr. Grace…” She came inside the office. “I -uh… forgot my bag at my friend’s place. I do not have my keys. Do you have an extra pair of keys to my apartment?”

“Ah. Okay.” He stood straight and walked towards the cupboard. “You can give a copy of these to Hailey.” He said while searching for the keys. “Here,” he finally found it. “Return them to me after handing over the copy to your neighbors.” He handed her the keys.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.” She took them and went upstairs. She unlocked her apartment and hanged the keys. She was still holding the umbrella. She stared at it for a moment then put it adjacent to the shoe rack with her umbrella and walked inside. She entered the bathroom and removed her makeup. She filled the bathtub with warm water and took a long soothing bath. After that, she wore her trousers and tank top and slid under the sheets. She read a book for some time and then slept like a baby.

***