A Step Closer to Love

“I did not know you all were coming here for lunch we could have tagged along,” Ryder said standing in front of them.

They had entered a Chinese restaurant and Arabella was glad because it was something she was at least familiar with.

“You can just pick up the bill,” Noah said taking a sip of his water.

“We are having dinner tonight and I already know I’m picking up the bill so everyone pays okay?” Ryder said tapping the table twice.

“Boo you old man” the whole group except Arabella shouted at him.

Arabella did not know if it was okay to feel so comfortable with the CEO. Was it because it was a small company?

“Relax,” Ryder said his hand going to her shoulder when he saw the tense expression on her face.

“I’m relaxed,” Arabella said jerking at his touch.

“Have fun, we would be over there” Ryder said pointing to his table.

Aurora and Kieran were standing behind Ryder. Kieran was engrossed with his phone while Aurora had her hand linked to his. As they walked by to follow Ryder, Kieran raised his eyes and locked eyes with Arabella. She looked down and around uncomfortably. She was already in a big issue because she knew him. Who knows what Aurora can do if she saw them having eye contact?

For the rest of the lunch they only chatted about things common in Crescent Bay. Arabella hardly had any input as she focused on her Biang Biang Noodles.

They spilled the bill and then had their way out of the restaurant leaving the executives there.

“Do you know Kieran?” Olivia asked knowing catching her speed with Arabella.

“I would not say I know him but we were neighbors fourteen years ago when before I moved to Japan. His mom is accommodating me before I find a place of my own” Arabella said.

She did not want to associate with Kieran just in case but she did not want to lie just in case too.

“Don’t you think Kieran is so cool and dreamy?” Mia said dreamily.

Arabella did not get what they saw in him. Yes, he was fine but since she knew him when he was younger, everything they could find hot about him was now a mystery to her.

“I guess,” she said.

“You guess?” Mia said as If she had just committed a grave offense.

“Well, he is okay. I have not thought about his looks” Arabella confessed.

She was in Crescent Bay to work and not look at the men at her work.

“I noticed Kieran staring at you the whole time” Noah added.

“I don’t think so,” Arabella said.

She so desperately wished some person amongst them will change the topic. She felt uncomfortable enough about being in the same space with him how could they so thoughtlessly bring it up?

“Can’t you see she is uncomfortable talking about it?” Henry asked when he glanced at her face.

“Are you uncomfortable?” Noah asked her.

“Yes,” she answered honestly.

“Wow you’re so honest,” Aaron said for the first time.

“It’s better than lies isn’t it?” she asked back.

Soon they were at the base of their office.

“Back to the rest of the day,” Mia said wearily

The rest of the work day everyone silently went through their work with occasional bathroom breaks and gossip at the lunch break and coffee room.

Kieran came out in a bid to run off before he is forced to attend the dinner that would serve as a welcome for Arabella. He was used to avoiding these work dinners as much as he could.

“Where do you think you are going?” Ryder asked standing at the frame of his door as he saw Kieran try to slip away quietly.

All eyes on the office floor turn to face Ryder’s door and all gazes follow his eyes until it lands on Kieran who was just about to leave.

“I said everybody must attend and you dare to think to run away? Do you think I can not cut your pay?” Ryder asked walking towards his friend.

Ryder had been married and divorced and he had told his friend that the reason he was yet to find love was because of his cold-hearted nature.

“I was just going to drop this bag in my car” Kieran lied.

He knew that if Ryder caught him trying to escape then he would make a big fuss out of it but he took his chance anyways.

“Yeah lies,” Ryder said rolling his eyes at him.

“Now everyone had ten minutes to round up. Let’s take our cars and give anyone who doesn’t have a car a lift to the place.” Ryder said and turned to go back.

He turned back to Kieran and said. “Don’t you dare try to escape”

“No one threw me a welcome party,” Chole said which made Arabella startled.

Kieran walked towards Arabella and stood in front of her.

“Do you want a ride?” he asked.

He had promised his mother he was going to be good to her and there was no reason for him not to be. She was a decent girl and barely made any trouble.

He remembered her from her young years and all he could remember was a young girl with big glasses plastered on her face and a book in hand always.

It made perfect sense that she wanted to be an editor. What was he doing there? This was the third business he invested in. He decided to settle down in this one and take an executive role.

“Uhmm” Arabella responded confused.

Her eyes caught Aurora’s door and saw her standing there staring at her.

“I would take Aurora’s car. I have a lot of questions for her” Arabella said quickly saving herself.

She was not going to kill herself all in the name of going with someone she was at least familiar with. Her brain began to rack for questions because she had none. She has read the manuscript and had help from Chole in reviewing it.

She thanked God she had a knack for reading multiple pages of a book within a short time. She was almost done with the book and she would be giving a report the next day.

“Who else would be going with me?” Aurora asked.

” I would,” Chole said.

“Anyone else?” Aurora asked.

Aurora was not a bully but she had a habit of making things difficult for those she thought stood in her way so almost everyone avoided her. If there was no reason to meet they would not create one.

“Okay, then shall we?” Aurora said moving to the door.