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Unit XXIII
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A Step Closer to Love Unit XXIV
The rest of the work day everyone silently went through their work with occasional bathroom breaks and gossip at the lunch break and coffee room. Kieran came out in a bid to run off before he is forced to attend the dinner that would serve as a welcome for Arabella. He was used to avoiding these work dinners as much as he could. "Where do you think you are going?" Ryder asked standing at the frame of his door as he saw Kieran try to slip away quietly. All eyes on the office floor turn to face Ryder's door and all gazes follow his eyes until it lands on Kieran who was just about to leave. "I said everybody must attend and you dare to think to run away? Do you think I can not cut your pay?" Ryder asked walking towards his friend. Ryder had been married and divorced and he had told his friend that the reason he was yet to find love was because of his cold-hearted nature. "I was just going to drop this bag in my car" Kieran lied. He knew that if Ryder caught him trying to escape th
A Step Closer to Love Unit XXV
Arabella was not a fan of alcohol because she was lightweight. After a cup of beer, she could easily pass out. While the was still in Japan she was often ostracized for her friend groups because she refused to join in the fun. She usually preferred her quiet evenings with her nose in her book. "Are you not going to drink?" Ryder asked taking his bottle of beer to his mouth. "You are no fun," Chole said tugging her hand. "I am so sorry. I don't drink because I pass out after a glass" Arabella said explaining herself for the nth time tonight. It was not a strange occurrence to encounter someone who could not handle their liquor. They were rare but not strange. "Take half a glass then," Noah said pushing a full glass her way. Arabella felt uncomfortable. She has never been forced to drink when she did not want to. This was a first for her. 'Were they allowed to do so? Was it because she was a newbie?' she thought as her hands shakily went to the cup. She pitied Kieran because he
A Step Closer to Love Unit XXVI
The dinner ended with everyone drunk except Arabella who was sober and Kieran who was tipsy. She has no idea what to do. She did not know their house address so she could call cabs for them. Taking the courage she shook Kieran who was still half awake. "Kieran" she called his name gently. He opened his and stared into hers. His gaze was deep and piercing and the color of his eyes shone deeply. "How do we get everyone home?" She asked ignoring his deep eyes as they stared at her. "Home?" He asked his voice slurry. "Yes how can they all get home?" she asked again. He smiled a little before he began to have hiccups. That was the first time she had seen him smile ever since she knew him. He always put on a serious expression which made no one come close to him. "Kieran can you hear me?" she shook him lightly again. He yawned and closed his eyes. She looked to the table and her eyes caught the glass of water. They were welcoming her why did they all drink so much? Were they mourning
A Step Closer to Love Unit XXVII
"Ermm" Arabella cleared her throat to grab the attention of the drowsy man beside her in the back seat. The young driver looked at her through the rearview mirror and winked at her. She frowned to send a message she was not pleased with his attitude. "Do you have something to say?" Kieran said his voice slurring. Was now I good time to tell him what she wanted to say? Was it not better if she could allow him to be sober so he could hear all she was going to say? "Don't worry, I would tell you tomorrow morning" she replied sighing. Her whole weekend and week start has been very challenging and stressful. She attended her cousin's elaborate wedding and traveled almost immediately and here she was taking a drunk man home. This was not the way she saw her living here to be. She did not envisage that her boss would be living in the same house and that her immediate superior would have a crush on her boss and that she would be caught in a crossfire that she knew nothing about. "Are y
A Step Closer to Love Unit XXVIII
Everly was worried. It was only Arabella's first day here and she was not back by this ungodly hour she took in the balcony watching for them. She was not afraid because she knew though Kieran had a stone-cold expression he would take care of her out of necessity. He did not need to like her to take care of her. She watched as the car pulled up into the front of the house and how the door of the back and driver's seat opened after a few seconds. She watched the stranger ginger-haired red boy come down from the car too. She watched as Arabella spoke and gave him some cash and how he said a few words before proceeding to leave the house jogging down the path. She watched as Arabella put her head back into the driver's seat for a few moments before popping her head back out and signing. "Did that boy get drunk again?" Everly said loudly. Her son rarely got drunk but when he did it was a show he always put on. She hurried down the stairs and came to him. "Why are you back so late?" Ev
A Step Closer to Love Unit XXIX
Arabella wanted to sleep but she saw the desperation in Everly's eyes. It looked like the same one that she saw daily in her mother's eyes. Her mother craved attention and it seemed the same with Everly. "Well, it is nothing like what I am used to in Japan" Arabella starts taking one of the seats next to them. Everly takes a seat too. 'Final some conversation since morning'. When her husband used to work she knew he had to go out to work and she also went out to work and sometimes she met up with friends. When her husband retired, she did also and then ended up having to do a surgical operation on her back. Her husband became distant. Or maybe it was because they never truly spent time together. He barely spoke and stayed in his game room all day. Everly had to fight with him to at least get a word out of him. Her eyes sparkle under the night light switched on in the kitchen. While she waited patiently for her son and new daughter her husband played games instead of staying up and
A Step Closer to Love Unit XXX
For the first time in a few years, Everly felt a warm feeling in her chest. Have a daughter they said. Maybe a daughter would truly prove to be better than a son to her. "I would love to," Everly said. She felt like crying but she decided she was not going to do so in front of Arabella. "It's a date then," Arabella said before turning to leave. Everly sat back down and she felt hot tears down her cheeks. Arabella had only been there for up to twenty-four hours plus but she was already making her feel comfortable and warm. Everly sat in silence. She has never envied her friend. She has a nice house and her husband was still alive. Her son got to go to an Ivy League school but for the first time, Everly felt a jealous pang for Ava. Ava may not have had it all but she had such a considerate kind and beautiful daughter. Her son and husband thought that the only thing she would appreciate would be money. She barely got any interaction with people anymore and was slowly slipping into
A Step Closer to Love Unit XXXI
For the first time in years, Ethan's snarky comment did not put Everly off she was still smiling ear to ear. Ethan knew something was wrong. She would usually throw a fit and end up crying in the bathroom for a long time. When Ethan first retired he got into many arguments with his wife which made him almost regret his decision. A friend told him the reason his wife was sensitive was because she was entering menopause. Ethan read up on menopause and his wife's current state was close to most of the symptoms he saw there. She was usually sweet and kind but she turned to someone who was always finding a way to complain about everything. They entered their room after dropping Kieran off in his room. Everly marked Saturday on her phone's calendar. She dropped the phone on the huge vanity table before going to remove her makeup and change into her nightdress. Ethan moved closer to where she dropped her phone. If he was being honest his wife's attitude that night did not make sense. He
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