Comeback to me, Lorain

"What's wrong, babe?" Ms. Lazaro asks him who is still looking at me, as if he really can’t believe that I’m in front of him. His lips parted like he wanted to say something and keep glancing at me, I wanted to shout at him to stop looking at me!

Good thing I stopped rolling my eyes, argh!

"Jamie, are you sure she's the one you mentioned, the one with the company abroad?" he once again asks, he finally shifts his attention to the person next to him. Finally, at least I can breathe now.

Jamie, even the name is beautiful and sounds so kind.

"Yes, I'm sure! You're not just aware of them because your line of business is different, but she's popular for having the best textiles." Jamie held his hand and caressed it, "come on, what's wrong?"

He turned to me again before shaking his head, "Nothing, maybe because of a hangover." He whispers. He reached for the folder on the table, opened the documents, and read some of them, "the duration of this project is only for this short of time?"

Raziel nodded, "Yes, actually we are not the main supplier but something happened." He looked at Jamie and smiled, "Well maybe, it's meant for us to work with your girlfriend. I’m not being rude, but I can call us lucky to have her as a project partner."

Jamie laughed modestly, "Oh c'mon, Raziel! Don't flatter me too much, let's start the meeting now."

All I do is listen while Jamie and Raziel are busy talking, but even though I don't speak I can feel his eyes staring at me so deeply. I looked at him and smiled as if he was surprised, he sat up straight and adjusted his necktie.

Fortunately, after what I did, his neck was like glue. He only looked at the paper in his hand and sometimes he looked at Raziel, which was good on my end. Hoping he won’t get a stiff neck, though.

"Well then, we will proceed to the second plan. What do you think, Lorain?” Raziel took my arm carefully and stroked it down. I knew he didn't mean it that's why I didn't react.

"Are you guys a couple?" He suddenly asked with a sharp look at his hand holding my arm, or maybe I was just imagining things.

"Oh, not yet." Raziel's tone was joking, I knew he wasn't serious in his answer but not the man in front of us.

"OMG, let's celebrate once she said yes!" I don't know how to react to Jamie, is she not aware that it was just a joke or just too naïve to realize?

"Sure, I will invite you guys. But make sure to invite us to your wedding, hmm?” Raziel on the other hand, laughs off the situation and looks at me. “Right, Lorain?” He even snags me.

I don't know what my face looks like when I smile, how is he able to joke immediately even though this is our first meeting with clients? I wanted to pinch him but I had a lot of self-control, "Hmm, I think we talk about everything we need for now, let’s end the meeting and just schedule once we need again?" I just said and return the documents we used in the envelope.

"Yes, thank you for the time. I didn't think the meeting would be this smooth, I'm so excited about the project." I see her sweet smile plastered on her face again.

"We feel the same, Ms. Lazaro.” I give my best to give back the genuinely of her smile.

“Oh, please just call me Jamie. Wouldn't our work atmosphere be lighter if we removed the formality from the name?" She asked while looking at me.

"I like the idea!" Raziel nodded and extended his hand, "Let's introduce ourselves once again, I'm Raziel."

Jamie was like a child who was given candy and quickly reached out for the hand of the person next to me, "I'm Jamie, it's my pleasure to meet you, Raziel."

After they shook hands, Raziel looked at him and extended his hand to shake his hand as well. There was no doubt that he was hesitant to accept it but took it in the end, "I'm Jake."

Now their attention shifted to me so I quickly extended my hand and smiled, "I'm Lorain, it's my pleasure to meet you, Jamie." Instead of shaking hands, she kissed me on my cheeks.

That was no problem for me since it’s normal, after that, I also extended my hand in front of him. "Same to you, Jake."

He stared at my hand for a moment, and at that moment he seemed too excited to accept it, he couldn't wait for our skin to touch.

I was about to lower my hand when he held it and looked directly into my eyes, "yeah, it's nice to meet you, Lorain."

He squeezed my hand before he let go, there was a feeling that I can't explain when I heard my name from him. I don't remember if he called me by my name even once back then.

I shook my head, there was no point in worrying about that now.

We exited the building together, but we all stopped since heavy rain greeted us. "Damn, there is no announcement that it will rain today." Raziel said disappointed and turned to me. "wait here, Lorain, I'll just get the car." He said and ran so fast, what he’s even thinking? Running fast does not mean he won’t get wet.

Some people arrive and happily see Jamie, so she knows them, "Wait a sec, I will talk to them." She said leaving me and Jake alone on the side.

The two of us were left there looking at the falling rains, while Raziel took a while to return.

"How are you?" He asked without looking at me, "It's been a long time since we saw each other."

Where does he make such a thick face to talk to me as if nothing happened, doesn't he know how to feel that I have no intention of talking to him?

I calmed myself down and smiled, "I'm doing well, thank you for your concern. Should I ask you the same question?” I bit my tongue because I couldn't help sounding sarcastic at the last word I said.

"No need to ask me." He laughed softly.

"I suppose so, after all, you are going to get married soon. Five years have passed, you must be very happy that you can finally be with your true love.” I said casually.

"What that's supposed to be meant, you're the one who left---"

I didn't hear what he said a loud horn grabbed our attention, it's Raziel. Finally!

"He's here, we're leaving," I said and turned to where Jamie was, I waved and she did the same. She even gave me a little shy smile, maybe because she couldn't say goodbye to us properly.

I walked straight to the car and got in, never looking at him again. That's even better since he already knows what distance we should have.

I don't need to pretend that I don't know him, there's no point doing it. But putting a wall and distance between us is enough, what we had five years ago is not even real...

"Are you okay, did I disturb you two?" Raziel asked when he noticed my frowning face.

"Oh no, I just thought of something. Let's hurry, the rain got you wet, you might get sick.” I try to change the conversation as much as I can.

"Aww, Lorain is concerned about me. Are you in love with my handsomeness?" The tone of his voice was teasing.

"C'mon, focus on your driving before we die from your delulu," I answered and looked outside, it seemed that the rain had no intention of stopping.

"Don't you have anything else to go to, should I take you straight to the hotel?" He asked while focusing on driving, the road was slippery and everyone was in a hurry to go home.

I just nodded, I was in no mood to speak. Every time it rains, I always worry about my plants in the past.

I smiled bitterly, five years had passed and surely those plants were gone.

"Don't you like the rain?"

"How about you?" I asked him back.

He just shrugged, "Depends on the situation, but right now... I like it because I'm with you." He winked at me and continued driving.

After we arrived at the hotel, he bid his goodbye immediately for me to take a rest. While I went straight to my room to change. I also have to take care of my business abroad, I have confidence in my staff but I can't neglect my job.

When I came out of the bathroom, I immediately opened my laptop, the time is right if I call them because the time here and China is just the same. Later in the evening, I will call the other branch in Italy, I hope there are no major problems.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Hilton. How are you, is everything alright?” She immediately greets me with those words, she is the head secretary abroad.

I smiled at her, "Everything is going smooth here, Jiang. How are you, did you face any major problem while I’m not there?”

"Everything is the same here, Ms. Hilton. You don't have to worry, we can handle it." She answered enthusiastically and confidently.

"That's good to hear, by the way..." I didn't finish the word I was supposed to say when suddenly someone knocked on the door, maybe Raziel forgot to say something or maybe it was his friend Craig. "uhm, let's talk later, Jiang. Thank you for your hard work!”

"I can say the same to you, Ms. Hilton.” That was all she said before hanging up.

I stood at the door and opened it, "Why?" I asked and looked at the person standing in front of me.

My eyes widened, and I couldn't move my foot or hand to close the door again. It's too late to do it after all, "what are you doing here?"

"Let's talk, please," He said as if desperate.

“We have nothing to talk about, Jake. Where is your fiancé?” I said and looked away from him.

"I drive her home, now, can we talk?" He didn't even deny it about Jamie, whereas back then he seemed embarrassed to be with me.

"I answered you, we have nothing to talk about." I said firmly, "Now if you don't have anything else to say then leave."

I was about to close the door when he stopped me, "Let's go back, Lorain. Since you left me, I feel empty!” He suddenly said entered my room and closed the door.

"Don't f*ck with me, Jake." I laughed softly, "Get lost, I have no intention of returning to the hellish life with you."