Chapter 63 - Cupids

"I did call you out for dinner, but did I say I would eat with you?" Ximena asked her, forcefully twisting logic to justify what she had done.

Zaria gritted her teeth and hung up. She didn't hate Ryan. The latter had been her friend for much longer than she had known Ximena, after all. However, she didn't know how to face him when Ximena pointed out the things she said not too long ago.

Ryan witnessed her phone call and smiled to mask his hurt. "Don't you want to eat with me?"

She kept her phone in her purse without looking up at him. "Think about it. If you were in my place, would you want to eat with yourself?"

The man realized that there were things that would not be forgotten if he did not explain himself and apologize for it. "Zaria, I'm sorry. I was angry and…"

"You took it out on me?" She was no longer angry, but that didn't mean it was alright. Why did everyone snap at her when they were angry then expect to make things right later? She was tired of hearing the countless apologies. Although she wasn't faultless herself, she would appreciate it more if they didn't explode on her for things that were not her fault.

Ryan didn't know what to say to her anymore. "Nina misses you."

She instantly calmed down as her heart softened. She was just about to say something when he spoke again. "And I miss you."

"I…" Her lips opened, but she didn't know what to say to that. That she missed him too? She would have said that in the past—because it was true. But how could she still say such a thing now? After what Ximena said, she felt as though her words would imply a different meaning to him.

"Can we go back to how we used to be?" He added when she didn't move.

Go back to how they used to be? She was afraid not. They used to be friends. How could they still go back to the time when all they had between them was an innocent friendship when one of them had feelings for the other?

She forced a smile. "Did you say you placed the orders? Let's go. I'm starving."

He paused for two seconds. It was obvious that she was avoiding the topic. Even so, he led her to the table he had booked.

"How is work? Is your boss still being an asshole?" He asked when the food was served.

"He's worse." She tried to ignore the fact that he had ordered steak and wine. Paired with the roses on the table, all that was left was candles to be lit to make this look like a date.

She focused on his expression instead. This just happened to catch the tiny smile that laced his lips when she said that Desmond was worse of an asshole than he used to be. Why would anyone be happy about such a thing? Unless…

Was he happy that Desmond must have lost all his chances to be with her? Was Ximena right? Did Ryan really like her?

Her head hurt when she thought about it and decided to shift her focus. "How is Nina?"

"She's doing great. But I'm not."

Just great. They were back to where they started.

A call from Desmond interrupted their conversation.

"How are you feeling?" The man asked, and she knew he was referring to her bad mood. He had the audacity to ask?

"I was alright until you called." She scoffed.

"Are you insinuating that my call is what made you feel worse?" The man sounded amused and it was driving her insane. Why else would she have a turmoil of emotions she didn't comprehend?

"What else?" She sounded like she wanted to strangle him through the screen of her phone.

He laughed for a moment before he got to serious business. "Could you get to work earlier tomorrow?" I need to go somewhere later and I don't want to leave any work undone."

"Okay." She hung up after giving him a response and was met with Ryan's gaze that looked…jealous.

"Was that your boss?" He asked, confirming her suspicion.

"Yes." She answered it like it was a normal question.

"You seem close." He chuckled, making her wonder how the hell one would be termed as close to someone else because they scolded the other person.

"Zaria, can we have dinner tomorrow?" He plucked the courage to ask.

"Aren't we eating dinner now?" If it was possible, she wouldn't put herself in such an awkward situation anymore.

"I need to tell you something." He pleaded, and she immediately guessed what he was planning to talk about.

'Ximena, I'll kill you.' She thought. How could she put her in such a hard spot? Were they really friends?

After making up an excuse about being busy for the next few days and promising to let him know when she would be ready to have dinner together again, she finally managed to leave the restaurant with her brain still functioning.

However, Ximena's voice was full of disapproval when she heard about her friend's dismissal. "Seriously, Zaria. If you like each other, I don't see why you shouldn't get together."

"I don't like him, okay?" She insisted for the umpteenth time.

"How sure are you when you have not given it any thought? How about you give him a chance and see if you like it?" Ximena suggested.

"Then I might end up sticking with him out of guilt." She didn't want to live in that kind of trap. How would she ask to break up with Ryan if he made her realize that he loved her too much?

When she hung up, she set her phone aside and let out a long, tired sigh.

This was the scene that Theodore witnessed when he came in through the door.

Her face lit up in happiness. "Did you have to work overtime today?"

"There was a lot of work. Why do you look so exhausted?" He asked as he changed into indoor slippers.

"Ximena thinks I should be with Ryan. That we're some good match and whatnot." She blurted not because she wanted his opinion but because she knew he would find it as absurd as she did.

However, the man looked intrigued. "What's wrong with Ryan? He is a nice guy and he loved you for ages. If you like him, you do make a good match."

She stood up with her eyebrows still knitted from the response she had just heard. "I'll just warm up your dinner."

As she headed for the kitchen, her puppy—which didn't want to leave her side for a second—ran in after her.

"Des, do you also think I should be with Ryan? You don't, right?"

The little pup wagged his tail at whatever he was happy about, and she was defeated. "You all are insane."

…

The following day, Zaria was in a better mood compared to the day before.

However, that was only until Desmond walked in through her door.

She didn't want to see him for a second longer than necessary, so she tried to shoo him off with a polite but distant "Good Morning."

"Don't you have anything else to tell me?" The man raised one of his wicked eyebrows, making her realize how handsome he looked today. He was wearing a grey suit sans tie, and as usual, it was one she had never seen before. She doubted he ever wore his clothes a second time.

Ignoring his charm, she looked up at him. "There is indeed something I would like to ask. At what time do you plan to leave, and what's the venue?"

"Are you trying to monitor my movements, sweetie? Not that I mind." He teased with an evil smile, even while knowing that she merely wanted to use the information to adjust his schedule for the day.

"Take it as you wish." She was tired of arguing with this unreasonable man who knew nothing but to twist her words.

"I take it as you want to monitor me." He took pleasure in her glare. "Why don't you come with me?"

"Not interested. Answer the question and save us both the time." She fought the urge to slap him across his handsome face.

"So confident, are we? Sweetie, you seem to constantly forget who the boss is here." A laugh left his lips as he leaned against her desk.

She blinked unflinchingly. "I don't know about that. But I'm not sure there is anyone who would want to remember that the insane scumbag before them is their superior."

"Did you just badmouth me...to me?" He asked threateningly.

"Did I? I was hypothesizing." She countered. "Surely, you don't think of yourself as the scumbag I just mentioned, do you?"

The little fox… she was proving to be smarter and more audacious with each passing day.

"Accompany me. I'm meeting the Sparks at Imperium Royal Hotel, 12 pm." He ordered.

"Okay." No wonder he had outdone himself in dressing up. Something in her heart dimmed.