Kobby kept calm but relaxed after hearing that.
'Why do you ask?' Ad-Din asked suspiciously and added 'Is it because you think I might have ill intentions towards Miss Lee? Because I am her ex-boyfriend?'
'No, not at all. I know you are not that kind of person and I didn't ask because of Portia'. Kobby assured him.
'That being said, can you not tell her about my accident? And why I am going through rehab with you? I don't want to worry her?'
'I have the right to remain confidential. I won't tell her anything but if you still care about her which I want to believe you do, then, I suggest you tell her.
Maria can be very sensitive about accidents because of what she went through but during the years that you two were apart, there is one thing I know. She has never stopped thinking about you'.
'Did something happen to her 8 years ago? She suddenly disappeared after breaking up with me and I don't also remember anything after my accident'.
'So that's what happened? Portia never really talked about it but I guess it was hard for her. I am also her doctor and I can't tell you everything because of confidentiality but if there is anything you want to know; why don't you ask her yourself? I'm sure she would tell you if only you just ask her. She is not the type to beat around the bush and that's what I love about her. She has influenced that habit on me. If there is any misunderstanding between you two, I suggest you solve it fast.
Sometimes, keeping things away from the people you care about for the fear that they will get hurt doesn't solve the problem. It only creates distance'.
'I know. I lost her once. I am not going to lose her again'. Ad-Din said.
'And, I know this is none of my business but can you go easy on her? She is my sister after all. Is that too much to ask for?' Kobby said and laughed.
'Don't worry, Maria is the last person I will bully or be hard on. I don't have the heart to do that. I have something else to do'.
'Sure, let's talk again when you come for the next appointment. I have something to pick at the family, I will walk you to the OPD'.
'Sure'.
The two men walked out. One was in a doctor's coat and the other was in black suit and they both looked eye candy.
Kobby goodbye Ad-Din and turned to go towards the pharmacy and saw a figure hiding behind a pillar. He frowned and walked towards the figure and asked as he stood in front of her.
'What are you doing? Are you a thief?'
Calia frowned and handed the bag in her hands to him saying 'I brought this back to give you'
'My blazer? I almost forgot about it'. Kobby said and took the bag 'thank you'
'I should be thanking you. Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?' Calia asked and noticed the intense gaze on her 'no, I'm not asking you out. I just want to thank you for the blazer and what you did for me that day. You don't have to come if you don't want to' Calia added and bit her lips nervously.
'Do you always…forget it' Kobby meant to ask her if she always bit her lips like that in front of other men but decided against it. He didn't want her to misunderstand him.
'Do I always what?' Calia asked.
'Nothing, thank you for bringing this to me. About that dinner, you can arrange it and let me know. I still have something to do, so I will leave first' Kobby said and walked away.
Calia leaned against the wall happily and touched her beating heart and murmured 'why does he have to be so perfect. Wait, he just said I can arrange it and let him know, right? Does that mean I can start chasing him? Does it mean he doesn't find me annoying? Oh my god, why is my face so hot?'
Calia smiled foolishly and turned and saw Marvel glaring at her and she straightened her posture asking 'why are you looking at me like that?'
'Miss, I understand this is your first love but we are going to be late if you keep behaving this way?' Marvel said.
They were on their way to a meeting and Calia forced her to stop at the hospital. She said she want going to keep long but 30 minutes had past already.
'The meeting, let's go' Calia spoke in a business like tone and held Marvel's hand and they walked away.
At a corner, Kobby walked out watching her leave and he looked at the bag in his hands and smiled before going away.
....
Maria placed her food across Monroe at the table and sat down to eat. Monroe noticed her listlessness and asked.
'What's wrong with you?'
'Monroe, listen to something. This is about a friend's friend'.
'A friend's friend? Are you sure it isn't about you? Usually people always say is about a friend when is actually about them'.
'Stop messing around and listen to me'. Maria glared at him.
'Okay, go ahead'
'So, this is about a friend's friend. She went out to drink as a substitute for her boss. Apparently, her boss couldn't consume a lot of alcohol. It so also happened that this friend of a friend is the ex-girlfriend of her boss?'
'Stop, let me get this clear. Your friend's friend is working for her ex-boyfriend who is now her boss, right?'
'Right'.
'Okay, go on'.
'So, she went with her boss and drank some couple of drinks on behalf of her boss, but she got drunk in the process and seemed to have made a very big and serious mistake but can't remember what exactly the mistake was'. Maria said.
'Okay, so she made a big and serious mistake but she doesn't remember what it is she did?'
'Yes, and now, her boss, told her that if she doesn't remember about it, he was going to show her what she did. Does that make sense to you? I mean she already can't remember what she did and he wants to show her? Why would he even want to show her that kind of thing? A mistake is a mistake, right?' Maria sighed.
'Right, but not all mistakes can be taken care of by not remembering or pretending not to remember. Who knows what she did to that poor boss? What if she kissed him? That will be like taking advantage of him'
'Ki…kissed. That's not possible. I couldn't have kissed him?' Maria said absentmindedly and Monroe cocked his eyes at her.
'Didn't you say it was about a friend's friend?'
'Yes, whatever, I don't care anymore. But, that is impossible. I couldn't have possibly kissed him, right?'
'So, you admit this is about you and not a friend of a friend?' Monroe asked and chuckled.
'Yes, fine. This is about me, why?' Maria said and glared at him.
'I didn't take you to be the aggressive type? Well, people like you tend to go all out. You know, a drunk man's actions are his honest thoughts? Wait…that is not the issue here. Is your CEO, your ex-boyfriend?'
'Shut up. I'm not in the mood for teasing'.
'Wow'. Monroe looked at her suspiciously.
'What? Why are you looking at me like that?'
'Why do I feel that you still have feelings for him? Your boss and ex-boyfriend?' Monroe asked.
'No, I don't. We are just having a boss and employee relationship and nothing else'.
'Your eyes tell me otherwise. Now, listen to me. The fact that your boss, no, ex-boyfriend asked you if you remember what you did means one thing'.
'What? Tell me already?' Maria leaned closer to the table to listen to him.
'It means you gave him a tough time. You might have even confessed your undying love for him. You definitely went overboard. What if he fires you for taking advantage of him?' Monroe teased her.
'Assh, I told you to stop messing with me' Maria glared at him adding 'I'm going. I don't have the appetite for food anymore'. Maria said and a certain image flashed her mind and a lot more followed.
'Ah, ah, aahhh' Maria screamed and stood up from her seat startling Monroe who was about to put his food into his mouth.
'Maria, what's wrong?' Monroe asked.
'I'm doomed' Maria said and sat back. She just remembered what she did to him and sat back covering her mouth.
'I'm guessing you just remembered what you did and is not so good'. Monroe said amusingly.
'Monroe, will you hire me when I'm fired from my workplace? I think I'm going to get fired for misbehaving and taking advantage of my boss?'
'My firm don't need extra hands right now'. Monroe said and smiled.
'Traitor, you said you would give me a job at your firm?' Maria said to him.
'That was because I wanted to pursue you but you refused. Right now, we are friends. Just Friends and I don't work with friends. Is enough having lunch with you every afternoon'.
'Traitor. I'm going' Maria said and picked her tray and Monroe said to her.
'Fighting, Maria'. Maria turned and glared at him before going.