"I need to leave now , but can I pick you up after work" his asked.
Andriana wanted to say no, but with how the situation had progressed, she nodded, and a gentle smile broke on his face.
He gave one last look at the now quiet manager then turned and left.
Andriana moved to her cubicle , her colleagues rushed to her asking how she knew Mr. Lockhart .
"Stop gossiping and go back to work all of you " yelled the assistant manager.
He glared at Andriana and walked away to his office.
She kept busy the whole day, ignoring the gossiping and questions of the others on how she was connected to Mr Lockhart.
She had to miss lunch just so she could avoid them, staying in her seat she kept at work so lost in it that she didn't notice it was time to leave.
"Andriana, Andriana ", hearing someone call, she looked up from her computer.
"Mmm", she frowned, finally feeling the ache in her already strained eyes.
"Ahh Mr. Lockhart is here "
She sprang up to see him walk in, their eyes met, and she found herself smiling.
She moved to meet him.
"You're done ?" he asked.
"No, but I am almost. Can I have thirty minutes ?" She muttered.
He nodded, "Take your time "
She turned, rushing back to her seat, grabbing another seat from the next empty cubicle, and gesturing to him to come to her.
He was beside her in seconds.
"You can wait here " she pointed at the seat.
Andriana could feel the gazes from her other colleagues but didn't care anymore. All she cared about was the piercing gaze she could feel on her back from Karlye.
His eyes didnt linger on anything else but her, observing how she typed away on her keyboard.
Before the thirty minutes were done Andriana had finished.
Grabbing her bag, coat and phone she turned to him, "Done, let's go "
He nodded getting up. He could see how she was rushing to leave and followed not saying a word.
His car was parked outside, and noticing the increasing stares, she grabbed his hand and raced to his car.
"Let's go ", she ordered, getting inside.
Karlye had a slight smile on his face as he got inside the car.
It drove off, and she breathed.
"How was your day ?" he glanced back at her.
"Can't say I spent most of the time on the computer " she moved her fingers.
He frowned, watching her pale face; had she only worked all day?
"Then I guess you must be hungry ", he commented.
She nodded.
He received a call and Andriana decided to gaze out the window not to listen to his conversation.
She didn't know when she dozed off, but when she did open her eyes, the car had stopped and something was over her.
She moved to see his coat over her; he was still seated beside her, doing something on his tablet.
"You're awake ", he let out.
"Mmm, am sorry I don't know when I dozed off ". She sat up.
"I understand you worked all day, a little rest is needed ".he placed his tablet aside.
She could see they were parked beside the park. His driver was standing outside.
"Why did we stop , was it because of me ?"
"Not really , but since your awake let's step outside " he said.
Still holding to his coat, they stepped out, the cold, chilly air of the night hugged her, and she breathed, feeling a shiver down her spine.
He walked to her taking his coat from her hands and dropping it over her shoulders.
"It's cold, keep it on ", he said.
She didn't protest, and slowly they started walking up the path through the now-lit park.
It was quiet, and a few people were walking. Shewas quite enjoying the sound of the different insects buzzing in the night.
Karlye didn't say anything and kept walking beside her, stealing glances at her from time to time.
"Ria ...is that you ?"
She suddenly stopped when the person walking towards them stopped.
She frowned, the peaceful look she had a while ago disappearing completely.
Karlye scowled noticing her eyes stuck on the couple up front.
"Oh my god, it's really you, the man laughed, getting closer.
She didn't say anything but subconsciously got closer to Karlye.
"And who might this be, a new catch. Did you already break it off with that doctor " he laughed
"It's none of your business, so move along ", she breathed.
"Huh, look at you acting all high and might but we both know you're nothing but a slut ",, he let out, laughing with the woman he was with.
Karlye moved, but she grabbed his hand; he stopped. She was trembling.
"We already broke up whatever I do with my life doesn't concern you. So please leave " she avoided his gaze.
He laughed then glanced at Karlye.
"A word of advice from her ex-boyfriend. She is nothing but a slut and wants nothing but your money, so I suggest running away before that ".
He walked off, her head was down, and her hold on his hand was tight, not letting go. The moment her so-called ex-boyfriend was further away Andriana collapsed, her legs giving way.
"I am sorry ...I didn't know we would bump into him here. Please ignore whatever he said ...am sorry I " she was crying ,her voice getting lost in her sobs to make sense of what she was saying anymore.
Karlye bent down and picked her up right into his arms.
She gasped, meeting his gaze, "What are you doing?" she cried.
"Don't mind me, just keep on crying, let it out " he said.
She burst into tears, holding on to his neck, her face buried deep into it.
He moved to the bench and sat down holding her, his left hand tapping her back while the other held her close.
Andriana sniffed.
"I keep showing you nothing but my bad side, I'm sorry "
He scoffed.
"Why are you apologising, you didn't do anything wrong "
She pulled away, exposing her tear-stained face and now swollen, red eyes.
"Just to be clear, I am not a slut, he was lying, and I never cheated. It was he who did with...." She burst into tears again.
He nodded, "I know you're not, I would never believe words from a fool like him ".
"You're right, his a fool ", she cried.
His had raised to her face and his fingers wiped her falling tears .
"Of course I am, you're too good for him", he added.
Andriana sniffed, "I am ?"
He nodded.
"Yes you are ...so don't feel bad about a worthless person like him ..alright " he pulled her close, her forehead touching his.
"Okay ", she breathed but then her stomach growled.
He chuckled as she pulled away hiding her face in his neck again.
"Let's go get something to eat ", he smiled.