It was around 5 o'clock and my team started to leave the office. As usual, I am still at my desk doing my work. Sometimes I kinda regret that I accepted the position I have now. I needed time for myself to live, but I love my job as well. Helping authors inspire many people with their stories is worthy of my time. I love reading, it is one of my favorite things to do.
Knock...knock...
"Come in". I answered at the door.
"Bett, I'm going now, do you need anything before I left? Carol asked.
"I'm good Carol, you can go ahead and be safe on your way home".
"Okay, you too, don't stay up late again". Carol reminded.
"Okay, see you tomorrow.
When Carol left I get back to my work. Time passed by and around 8 o'clock rain started to pour. I space out and stared at the rain outside my window. It's relaxing to watch the rain with a hot coffee in my hands. And that's what I'm doing now relaxing a bit after such a busy day.
"Oh shoot, I forgot my car is still in maintenance. What a wrong timing and the rain still pouring heavily outside. Okay, I need to go home now or else it will become more difficult for me to get a taxi again.
Waiting for the elevator, I browse my phone to book a UBER but unfortunately, they are not available due to the heavy rain outside. I'm starting to get frustrated and the elevator dings. When the door opened I saw Isaac standing alone.
"Mr. Jones". I greeted him and went inside.
"Ms. Wright, it's late why are you still here?
"I just finished some of my work," I answered while I pushed the button on the ground.
"Did you park your car on the ground floor? he confusedly questions.
"Oh, No I don't have a car I just sent it to maintenance this afternoon."
"So, you don't have service today? How you will get home then?
"Umm, yes I forgot to ask Carol to arrange it". I shyly answered.
"Ride with me then, It's still raining outside. It will be difficult for you to get a taxi this time". he offered
"Ahm, it's okay, I'm planning to call my friend to drop me at home". I reason out.
"No need, don't bother, you will still wait for your friend to come and it will take time from the situation outside. Come with me we are going to one place anyway. Why hesitate?
"Okay, if you insist.", I agree in the end.
When the elevator opened he led the way to his car. His driver already waiting outside of the car. When the driver act to open the door at the back Isaac stopped him.
"It's okay, I can handle it you can go inside," he told the driver and he opened the door and looked at me.
"Bettany" he called while holding the door of the car.
"Oh, thank you". I hopped inside and he followed. I think it's okay for me to call him by his name now we're already outside of work.
"Let's go". he told the driver.
After a few minutes of silence, were already on the road and heading to our place. Rain is still pouring heavily outside.
"Isaac, why I didn't see Jeff today? I started a conversation.
"He has worked outside this late afternoon and I told him not to come back to the office". he explained.
"Oh, I see."
"Why, do you need anything from him? his face slightly irritated.
"No, I'm just wondering because you are alone today, that's all".
"Did you have your dinner?
"Ahm, No I will when I go back home, do you?
"No". he answered shortly.
"Do you want to join me? I'm planning to cook at home so if you want you can come and join me." I offer hesitantly, I'm not sure if he will join me or if he will like my cooking.
"Sure, I would love to". he answered with a smile.
After half an hour of travel, we finally arrived. It took time because of traffic due to heavy rain. I'm lucky that Isaac offer a ride if not maybe I'm still stuck in the traffic.
"Bettany, can I come after 30 mins? Is that okay? he's staring while waiting for my confirmation.
"Sure, take your time you can just ring the bell. See you later then.
"Okay, see you then.
---
At Home
I cooked pasta and steak. I hope Isaac will like it. It will be my thank you treat for offering me a ride today. I'm arranging the food on the table when I heard the bell on my door.
"Coming". I answered the door and it was Isaac holding a wine.
"You just in time, come in the food is ready."
"Here, I brought wine I think it will be good for our meal". he offered me the wine.
"Thanks, you don't need to I have some here as well". accepting the wine and leading him to the dining area.
"It's okay I don't want to come empty-handed, anyway," he answered smiling.
"Okay, Okay, come and have a sit so we could start, I'm famished actually". I smiled at him.
"I only cooked these simple dishes I hope it suits to your liking."
"Don't worry I'm not a picky eater. Hmm, it smells delicious, by the way."
We start to dig in. I'm really starving so I focused on my food.
"Bettany, you know how to cook." Isaac complimented.
"Not really, I just know some of the dishes."
"So where did you learn?
"My mom taught me before I left and be independent and sometimes I learn it online."
"Oh, that's good. Are you born and raised here in town?
"Yeah, my parents are both from here. Which country are you from?
"I'm from New York City-born and raised, but my mother is from the UK and my father is from France".
"Oh, so they choose to live in New York?
"Yeah, they both agree to settle down in New York, me and my sister born and raised there.
"That's nice, you have only one sibling?
"Yeah, how about you?
"Unfortunately, I don't have. I'm an only child I'm looking forward to having one but my mom had a miscarriage so yeah I'm the one and only."
"Sorry to hear that, but why did you decide to work here in town, I'm sure you have many opportunities outside this town".
"I don't know, maybe I fell in love here. Having a peaceful environment and loving people. Our town is not that bad so I'm contented and happy here."
"I guess you are right, people here are really sweet and kind. I'm starting to like it here. Far away from the city make me breathe peacefully.
"So how long are you planning to stay here?
"I'm not sure about that, maybe most of the time I will travel forth and back from New York to here.
"Isn't that tiring? Traveling is stressful."
"No, I adjusted to it already. Even when I'm in New York I mostly travel a lot also."
"Oh, Isn't that lonely? Traveling alone?
"No, I didn't travel alone. Jeff is with me always."
"I mean you alone in a different country doing work only, I bet you don't have much time for yourself. Enjoying the scenery, relaxing, and not thinking about work."
"Yeah, that's the perk of having a multi-company and thousands of people depending on you. I don't have spare time to do what normal people do I guess."
"I see, that seems lonely for me."
We finished our dinner and we kinda know each other now at different levels I must say. I see him as a lonely person inside. Being a CEO of a multi-company is not easy. Like he said thousands of people are depending on him. But I think sometimes enjoying yourself is not that bad. He needs to balance his time. Having a good time and being a responsible CEO.
---
"It's getting late, Thank you for the dinner Bettany". Isaac said.
"You're welcome, actually it's my thank you treat for you for offering me a ride."
"No need for that, but I enjoy our dinner".
"That's great, I'm not confident in my cooking skills so I'm glad you enjoyed it.
"It's delicious you should be proud of it".
"Okay, enough on the compliment", I said my face starting to blush at his compliment. I walked him to the door.
"Thank you once again. Good night Isaac."
"Your welcome, Goodnight Bettany." I will be going to close the door when Isaac called me again.
"Bettany wait, hmm how you will go to work tomorrow?
"I will ask Carol to arrange service for me tomorrow".
"Don't bother, Let's go to work together we can go around 7 am. I will bell on your door tomorrow. Take a good rest". he just turn around without giving me time to reject or agree with him.
Wow, what just happened? How on earth I will be riding again with Isaac tomorrow? Never mind, let's leave it to that. I went back inside, straight to my bedroom to have some rest. I do my evening routine before retiring for the day. I set up my alarm for tomorrow and in no time I fell asleep.
“Waaaang, Waaaang”. I wake up to the sounds of my alarm. It’s only 6 a.m. and I’m still lazy to get up on my bed. I turned it off and in no time I doze off again in my sleep. “Ring...Ring..” “Who’s calling me this early morning”. I answer my phone with my sleepy voice. “Hello”. “Good morning sweetheart, why are you still in bed? You don’t have work today? my mom questioned. “Morning Mom, I have but it’s still early. You woke me up with your call”, I complained to her. “What early, it’s already 6:45 a.m., and mostly this time you are preparing to go to work already”. “What? Oh, shoot I’m late mom, I forgot I don’t have my car with me today. I call you back later”. Bye, Love you." I realized I will be riding with Isaac again today and I have only 15 mins to prepare. Really what a timing. Why did I doze off again in my sleep? I took a bath as fast as I can. I don’t even have time to have breakfast now. Forget it I will have it in my office. I was putting my shoes on when my doorb
Isaac POV When the elevator opened to my floor my assistant already there waiting for me. “Good morning Jeff”. I greeted him. “Good morning Isaac”. What on earth happened to him? Why he is smiling like an idiot? “Why are you looking at me like that? I questioned Jeff. “What? “Like am a human with a horn on my head”. “Oh, do I give you a look like that?“. while scratching his head. “Jeff, why you are being weird today? Never mind, what’s my schedule for today? “You are the one who is being weird today, with a smile plaster all over your face gives me a creep”. I mumbled to myself. “What are you murmuring about? I can’t understand any single of it.” my assistant is giving me weird vibes today. “Nothing, you have one important video conference today”. I started to brief Isaac on his schedule for the whole day. I needed to know what happened to him yesterday after I left. I feel he is different today. “Jeff call Gary and tell him he can come here around lunchtime”. “Gary didn’
Bettany POV I’m sitting again in the meeting room for the 4th time this morning. I have a meeting with one of our authors and editor. We started around 10 o’clock and now it’s around 2 p.m. already and we’re still in discussion. I should expect that it will last this long. This author is really difficult to deal with. Every time I’m having a meeting with her I’m getting a headache. Unfortunately, I forgot my phone at my office so I couldn't request Carol to order me food in advance. After another long hour, I dismissed our meeting, I’m famished now and all I can see and think of is food. I came back to my office with a gloomy face. When I entered my office I saw a package on my table. “Hi, Carol can you come to my office for a second?, I called my assistant. Knock...knock... “Bett, you need anything from me? “Carol, what’s this package, and who came it from? “Oh, Mr. Han stopped by and handed it. He called earlier looking for you but I told him you are still in the meeting. He s
I went back home early as I planned. I wanted to try my new dessert, apple cinnamon custard cake, and share it with Isaac later. I stopped by at supermarket to buy the ingredients that I will be needed. Cooking is one of my relaxing methods. It took me a while to finish my dessert. I let it cool down and decided to ask Isaac if he is already in his place. Me: Hey, did you come back to your place? I got an instant reply. Isaac: Yup, I went back earlier today. Y? I didn’t hit a reply instead I went to my bathroom and took a shower before sharing the dessert with Isaac. I am sweaty doing all this cooking, I smell cinnamon and the starch is all over me. After a few minutes, I was already at the front door of Isaac holding the dessert. I rang the bell and waited for Isaac to open the door. “Coming, who is it? I heard Isaac’s voice and his steps coming near. The doors opened and I couldn't believe what my eyes saw. He is topless like he just finished his shower. He has a towel on his
I’m all awake before my alarm went on. My body is full of adrenaline today thinking that I will be seeing Ryle again. I message Isaac to greet him with a good morning. It’s not bad right, we’re friends anyway. Me: Good morning Isaac. I prepared myself to go to the office. I took my shower and had breakfast before heading to my work. -- At the Office. “Good morning everyone”. I greeted my team. “Bett, good morning”, Carol greeted me with my coffee in her hands and offered it to me. “Thanks, Carol you are the best, can you walk with me to my office I need to tell you something”. “Sure, what is it? Inside my office, I settled down and Carol followed me. “Carol, can you file my vacation for one week, starting tomorrow”. I instructed my assistant. “You’re going on a vacation? Is there something wrong? My assistant question, she knows me well that I’m only going on vacation when I have an emergency outside of my work. “No, not this time, it’s a personal reason”. “Oh, okay. I wil
“Munchkin, this restaurant is still the same as when I left the country”. Ryle was amused when we entered the restaurant. Our favorite restaurant didn’t change at all. The interior they had long ago are still the same. It’s still looking elegant and beautiful even aged passed. They maintained it very well. It feels really relaxing and homey at the same time. “Yes, it is very the same. You might be shocked as well when you taste their food again. They changed their chef’s but their specialty is tasted the same.” “Okay, I couldn't wait to taste it again. Let’s take our order.” the waiter took our order and we waited for a few minutes. “How long are you on vacation? while we are waiting for our food we continue to chat. “One month, but I need to fly back again after spending two weeks here. “Oh, you going somewhere after here? “Yes, Hannah and I are planning to have a trip to the Maldives”. “Really? Why didn’t you ask Hannah to come with you here? I miss her also”. “That’s our ori
“Munchkin, why don’t you send an invitation to Isaac your neighbor/boss/friend to join us for dinner tonight”, Ryle asked with his teasing voice. “Why should I? I sarcastically replied. “Coz you’re best friend wants to meet him, don’t tell me you are being unfair and going to hide him while I'm around”. “Me? being unfair? and why is that? why I would do that? “Coz Tamara, meet him already and I didn’t know him at all. I just want to satisfy my curiosity”. “Well for the record Mister, Tamara only meets him accidentally. I just bumped into him before and I didn’t intend to introduce him to her”. “Okay, fair enough but she still knows him and I don't”. So invite him over, what’s the harm in that? Tell him that Tamara is here and if he wanted to join dinner” “Fine, I will try”. --- I get my phone and thought about what should I send to Isaac. I hope he will not misunderstand my invitation to him. Me: Hey, do you have any plans later at dinner? He replied instantly Isaac: Nothin
Isaac POV I started my day at the office with a smile on my face. I felt like I’m floating in the clouds. Bettany occupied my mind after she sent me a good morning message. I imagine her beautiful face, her green eyes staring at me, her sweet smile. I didn’t expect that she will send me a good morning greeting today. I couldn't wait for a lunch break. I want to invite her again to have a meal with me outside. I distracted myself from thinking of Bettany with my work. I still don’t want to admit that something is going on with me from how I feel about Bettany. It’s just only a few days passed. Hours passed, and the lunch break I’d been waiting for finally arrived. I decided to send a message to Bettany to confirm if she had already taken her lunch break. Me: Did you have your lunch? After a few minutes, I received her reply. Bettany: Yes, done. I got disappointed with what I read. I’ve been waiting and looking forward to having a meal with her again but I think it’s not my lucky