Emily

Chapter FIVE

"He did what?" Sarah sat up straight, her eyes wide in disbelief. "Emily, what's going on here? It looks to me like you two have left me behind. Make me understand, please."

Emily burst out laughing as her eyes sparkled with mirth, they both turned to Ariana, who was too exhausted to talk. Ariana reached for her glass of wine and took a long sip, hoping they would let it go.

Hello? You're not going to say anything?" Sarah pressed, curious.

"What else do you want me to say?" Ariana sighed, already exhausted by the retelling of her day.

"And what did you tell us?" Emily teased. "I think I missed that part. Come again?"

"Are you being serious right now?" Ariana raised a brow, eyeing her friend skeptically.

"I want to hear it again too, please." Sarah chimed in, her laughter bubbling out.

Ariana shook her head in disbelief. "You girls!" She couldn't help but burst into a smile. "All right, all right. He came to my office as soon as you left, Emily. I swear, I was so muddled in the brain, I barely could utter a word. And then he apologized for what happened…"

"And?" Emily leaned in, hanging onto every word.

"And… then he asked me who Ryan was." Ariana's voice softened as her thoughts flew back.

Ryan? He knows about Ryan?" Sarah asked, with unmistakable surprise.

"Well, not exactly," Ariana said. "I mentioned it, I think, when we went to the pub. I must have spilled so much when I was drunk, and now he knows things he shouldn't."

"Well, that's the past," Sarah said, continuing to prod for more information.

"Nothing, really. He said that he was glad he could find a friend in me. And that's it." Ariana tried to veer the topic away fast, well before her friends dug further.

Emily laughed. "A friend in him, huh? Sounds like there is more to it."

"You like him, Ariana. You do," Sarah asked with a knowing grin.

"Oh, come on. Stop being silly," protested Ariana.

"You do like him! Admit it," Sarah insisted, laughter infectious. "You're totally blushing."

Ariana knew her friends were right: she had been thinking about Greg constantly since the night they'd spent together. That charming smile, the way he carried himself. it was hard not to be drawn to him. But her heart still held onto the hurt. She wasn't ready to admit it, even if her feelings were growing.

"Well… he is handsome and kind of sweet, but I don't know. I don't want to make the same mistake as I did with Ryan," Ariana confessed.

"But he's not Ryan," Emily countered, dramatically sighing. "Why do you overthink things so much?"

"Well …" Ariana began hesitantly.

"There is no 'well,'" Emily rolled her eyes. "If you like him, and he likes you, just go for it. Stop messing around."

"Alright, Ms. Personal Adviser," Ariana laughed, clutching her purse. "Anyway, I really have to go now. Don't forget we have the meeting with Bluezone tomorrow, Emily. Goodnight, babes."

"Yeah, true. I'll leave soon too. Goodnight, Riana."

-END

Ariana drove to work with her foot heavy on the gas pedal, cursing under her breath for having woken up late. She had stayed up late finishing some work tasks and now was regretting it. It really was not like her to oversleep, she blamed it on the wine from last night. Just two glasses, she thought, but apparently enough to completely disrupt her morning routine.

Ariana burst into the office and nearly ran Emily over in the hall. "Is Greg here yet?" Ariana huffed, still breathing hard.

"Not yet. But there's someone waiting in your office-one of the guys from Bluezone," Emily said. "Why are you late?"

"I overslept. You should've seen me racing here," Ariana said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Well, he's been waiting for over 30 minutes. Just get in there, we'll catch up later." Emily said, ushering her forward.

Ariana flung open the door to her office in a rush. "Good morning! I'm so sorry for the wait—" she began, but her feet stopped working and her words froze in her throat as she took in who was facing her.

"Ryan?" It was little more than a whisper.

"Ariana." Ryan looked equally dumbfounded.

What are you doing here? How did you even find me? Who gave you this address?" She asked one question after another, her mind racing.

"Nobody gave me your address. I work with Bluezone now, and I'm here to discuss the project. I had no idea you worked here," Ryan said with caution.

Ariana's stomach did a somersal of disgust. "You don't get to ask me anything. Let's just go over the budget analysis and proposals, quickly."

"Of course," Ryan agreed, pulling out a stack of documents from his briefcase. Ariana took them, not bothering to look up. She was feeling too much everywhere-her rage, betrayal, and pain wanted him gone.

Ryan could feel the tension in the room-the wall Ariana had put up. He knew he had to say something. "Look, Ariana. I'm sorry. I know I messed up, and I wish I could take it all back. Rachel… she lied to me. Said all sorts of things about you while I was away. I should have trusted you. I should have known better. Please, forgive me.

"Forgive you?" Ariana's voice rose. "Do you know what you put me through? The pain you made me feel?" Anger seemed to flash within her eyes. "Three years, Ryan! I gave you three years of my life, and you left me for my best friend. Do you know how that felt for me?"

"I know, I-

"Don't!" She cut him off, welling up with tears. "You don't get to explain. You don't get to apologize like it's that simple."

At that moment, the door to her office opened.

"Is everything okay in here?" Greg's voice cut through the strained silence as he stepped inside, his eyes moving from Ariana to Ryan, his face unreadable.

Ariana quick wiped away her tears, trying to compose herself. "Yes, everything's first-class," she said, her voice shaking.

Greg's eyes narrowed, . "Are you sure?"

Ryan stood up, his face light. "I think I should go away."

"No, please live," Ariana said, her voice firm. "We have a assembly to discuss."

Greg's gaze lingered on Ariana earlier than nodding. "I'll be a part of you then."

The three of them sat down, the atmosphere strained. Ariana tried to recognition at the documents, however her thoughts stored drifting back to Ryan's apology.

As they mentioned the assignment, Ariana's emotions simmered under the floor. She could not trust Ryan notion a simple apology would erase the pain he'd brought about.

After the meeting, Ryan left, leaving Ariana and Greg by myself.

"Are you okay?" Greg requested, his voice smooth.

Ariana nodded, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, I'm excellent."

Greg's eyes searched hers. "You don't look excellent."