A Step Closer to Love

“You are late” Aurora said as soon as she came into the office.

“I have no excuse,” Arabella said immediately. There was no need for her to begin to beg for forgiveness and understanding, all she needed to do was accept her fault so that Aurora could get off her back.

Aurora was thrown off for a second because she had expected her to make excuses. “Don’t be late next time” she said before walking away as quickly as she could.

Chole waved over to her and Arabella skipped to her. “You are usually early? What happened today?” Chole asked as she sat in her seat.

“The weirdest thing happened to me, I overslept even past my alarm,” she said and Chole gasped.

Arabella had never been one who found it difficult to wake up in the morning except she had had a hard time going down to bed.

“I am shocked you were able to tame her, She had been waiting for you all morning just to give you an earful. I wonder what generation she thinks we are. how can one still be so hung up on bullying the juniors” Chole tsked and then looked up.

“Kieran is just getting to work”

Arabella looked up and then diverted her eyes when they made eye contact. They would have gotten in the same time but she had closed the elevator door without waiting for him so he had to wait for the next one.

Kieran walked toward the table and stopped putting his bag on the table and clapping his hands in the air loudly. She gulped as she slowly looked up at him.

“Shall we talk?” Kieran asked and Arabella shook her head.

“If it’s not urgent then can we have it over lunch break?” she asked trying to avoid him. “The thing is that I came into work pretty late today so I want to catch up on my work” she said with pleading eyes.

She did not want to stand up and go with him to discuss anything. She wanted to be left alone so she could catch her breath and begin her work for the week.

“Should we talk here then?” he asked.

Everyone’s eyes in the office fell on them. Arabella cleared her throat and stood to her feet. “Let’s talk there then,” she said walking to the meeting room.

“I don’t know what you want to talk about but you should make it quick” she said as he entered and closed the door behind him.

“I just randomly remembered but are you seeing that guy from that night again?”

“Who? Mark?” Arabella asked.

“Yeah, him” Kieran replied.

Arabella took a step back to look him in the face. “Did you just call me away from work to ask about Mark?” she asked crossing her hand.

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“What’s your deal with him anyway?” She asked wondering why he was so invested in what concerned him.

“I don’t have a deal with him” he replied with pursed lips.

“Then I guess it should not be your business”

“I don’t like him” he said stopping her from leaving the room.

“That has nothing to do with me,” she said walking out.

“I have a bad feeling about him”

“Aren’t you going for lunch?” Chole asked standing up and stretching so loudly.

“I wish I could but I have a lot to catch up on with work” Arabella said looking up from the papers in her hand.

“I think she is just giving you extra work on purpose” Chole whispered bending to her level.

“It’s obvious isn’t it?” Arabella sighed as she clicked her pen multiple times.

“Stay safe with the papers, I will bring you back a sandwich or something,” Chole said taking her jacket off her chair and walking to the entrance where the rest of the team was waiting for her.

Arabella sighed as she turned in her chair. She could at least get a cup of coffee to keep her awake since she was the only one left in the office.

She stood by the counter waiting for the water to boil. She tried to stretch herself as she was there.

“It’s lunchtime what are you doing here?” Kieran asked as he pushed the door to the kitchen open.

“Oh my god” Arabella exclaimed as she turned to see him standing there. “You need to know that it’s wrong to sneak up on people like that, make some noise when you walk” She held her hands to her chest as her eyes widened.

“Why are you so startled?” he asked going to the water dispenser to take a cup of water.

“I thought I was left alone at the office since it was lunchtime and everyone had gone for lunch” she explained and he shook his head leaning against the wall.

“If everyone went for lunch why are you here?” he asked sipping his water like it was some kind of fancy tea.

“I have some work to do, I am being punished for coming to work late” she said turning to pour the boiled water into her cup.

“So you aren’t going to have lunch?”

“What about you?” she asked. He was not having lunch either seeing that he was still at the office.

“I planned on having a late lunch because I have a meeting with the investors” he explained and she nodded before shrugging.

“It’s no big, Chole would bring back a sandwich for me,” she told him.

“But you did not have breakfast,” he said in a concerning voice.

“I know right” she said taking up the cup to her nose so the scent filled her nose.

“I will buy you lunch” he said and her eyes that had fallen shut when she was inhaling the coffee shot open immediately.

“There is no need for that, I would be fine after having the sandwiches,” she said walking toward the door. “And I can’t leave my work unattended, I am supposed to submit it immediately after the lunch break,” she said before pushing the door open and walking out.

Kieran dropped his cup to the table and walked out of the room to catch up with her. He held her hands and spun her to himself so she was almost touching his chest.

“I insist on buying lunch” he whispered his hand firmly gripping hers. She gulped as her nose caught his scent. “Let’s go”