Next morning
*Kat’s POV
Because of exhaustion I didn’t wake up in the middle of the night and only woke up at the morning, and because I got a good sleep, I was in a good mood. I got out of my bed stretching and looked at my clock it was only 7 in the morning meaning I have got 2 hours before I have to go to the office. Since I need only 1 hour to get dressed, I decided to just walk around or sit simply and chat with Mandy for 1 hour and then get ready to go to office.
When I came out of my bedroom, I looked at the living room and for some weird reason I felt something off I don’t know what but I have a feeling that something bad it going to happen and my instincts have never gone wrong. It might be because Mandy is still sleeping usually, she is the one who ties up the curtains to let the sunrays in and then goes to kitchen to make coffee. Since I am the first one to get out of the house, she is the one cooking in the morning and I cook dinner as I reach earlier than her.
But for a change, I got up first. Weird, not that it hasn’t happened before but like I said there is this weird feeling nagging me and I can’t help but question everything, like why is not Mandy up yet? Duh!! She slept late. And I thought I was in a good mood. Way to go, Kat!!
I went to kitchen to make coffee. As I was pouring coffee into the cup, I heard a yawn from behind me. As I know it was Mandy I didn’t turn around and handed her cup of coffee.
“What happened you woke up late today?” I asked to Mandy leaning on the counter watching her stop drinking her coffee and setting it down.
“You are asking as if it is the first time it is happening what happened?” she asked. Though what she asked me nonchalantly, I didn’t miss the hesitation or was it fear? flicker through her eyes. Before I could confirm what it was, it was replaced with a calm, confused look for my weird question. I may be making things up, as I felt weird from the moment I entered the living room it felt almost like I was going crazy.
“I don’t know Mandy I feel weird today, as if something terrible is going to happen.” I replied to her while drinking my coffee to make my thoughts straight. Coffee has always been my favourite drink, more like it has been my companion during my hard times like now.
When I said that I could clearly see a scared expression on her face okay now I can confirm it is not me, but it is the feeling I have when Mandy hides something from me. Don’t ask me how, it has always been our thing, we will come to know if the other person is hiding, before anyone else even finds it out or before the other person says it out.
“Why Mandy is something wrong? What are you hiding from me? You know you can’t hide anything from me. What is it? And before you can even deny that, let me tell you we have been through this conversation more than once and we both very well know that we can’t hide anything from each other. What is it, Mandy?”
“Kat, really there’s nothing I am hiding. Even if there was something, you would be the first person to know that. If you are talking about my face, then it might be because I am exhausted from all the stress.” I could see she was saying half-truth and half-lie. Anyway, I will come to know of it when the time is right if she doesn’t want me to know then it might be very personal, though I don’t understand her need to hide it from me. Anyway, I am going with what she says, because I know she is strong enough to handle her problems on her own.
“Okay.” I say and go to her to hug her and said, “Please tell me if you need my help. No matter what it is, I will help you. You know that by, now, right?” I ask, holding her shoulders and looking straight into her eyes to let her know I am serious. But that emotion in her eyes was what took me off. Guilt. Why does she need to be guilty? Is it that bad?
She hugs me back and mumbles I know I let her go and looks at her one more time to let her know I will be there for her no matter what. With her nod I left the kitchen thinking if she will be okay and started to get ready.
With a look on the long mirror in front of my cupboard, I once more looked over my outfit: dark blue blouse and black-and-white striped pencil skirt. I wore a long chain on my neck and stud on my earring. And with a light makeup I was ready. After having pancakes, obviously made by Mandy, I wished her to have a great day and left the apartment. I got to the parking lot and took my car and drove to the company.
As I entered the company did, I remember that I will have to go to Waynst at 10 meaning I got less than 1 hour to settle my things in my office grab some things and head to chief to inform her my leaving and keep things in the car.
As I got to my cubicle and started to organize my things, I heard knocks on my door and saw it was Cassy and Richard standing with a sad expression.
“Hey donkeys, I am not leaving forever you guys are stuck with.” I said walking to them and hugging them both. After our group hug, we pulled back.
“Yea, I know that is the saddest part. You not leaving for good,” she said with tears in her eyes, which made me laugh.
“I know you love me.”
“Yea believe what you want to.”
I turned to look at Richard, who was silent. It’s not that he was talkative, but he is not that quiet.
“What is it, Richard? You know, I will come in between to get ideas from you guys. You very well know the fact that without your suggestions I won’t be able to complete it.”
“We are only supporting and agreeing to all the ideas going through your head. We have done nothing, it is all you. You have no idea what you head holds.” That made me giggle.
“Well, I don’t deny that, but I need support to complete it you know how difficult it gets when we are in the middle. We get stuck and not know what to do next forgetting out original plan and it was you guys reminding me what I originally planned and without that support we ay not even be having this conversation right now.” He nodded to what I said. It was not just the fact I am leaving it is something else that makes him quiet or should I say worried.
I walk closer to Richard and hold his arms. He is 5’8 shorter than Ryder who is 5’10 but taller than me (5’6).
“What is it, Richard?”
“You will get back together with him, right?” he asked.
“Who?” I knew he was talking about Ryder, but still I asked that question acting dumb.
“You are smarter than that.”
“The truth is, Richard, I don’t know. For some reason he looks at me as if we didn’t even share any bond at all.” I stopped talking as I felt my traitorous tears threatening to fall.
“Okay then, why don’t you get into a relationship with me. You and I both know we have a great chemistry together.” He said looking at me hopefully. It hurts for me to shatter his hopes. Besides me Cassy stands there uncomfortably I gave her a do-what-you-want-to-do look and left the room leaving Richard and me.
“Ric, we already had this conversation. If its anyone its only Ryder whom I am going to be in a relationship with or else no one. I sorry to use you, but we did everything only after me telling you this will be our end.”
His eyes held so much anger that he began to leave, but I tightened my hold on his arm and didn’t let him leave.
“Kat, please I need to be alone.”
“You can choose to be alone, Ric. I will leave anyway, but till then let us have the talk.”
He sighed, meaning that he gave in and we both sat on the two chairs in front of my desk and had the talk. I made him realise how much I still love Ryder and what I did was just out of my anger and jealousy. Even though I know that he won’t know what I am doing I wanted to make him jealous I know it sounds stupid but that was what I felt. Moreover, I wanted to forget about Ryder, at least for a few hours, and that is also the reason why I did what I did.
After having a friendly conversation with Richard, he helped me to carry the things to my car, and we ended the things off with a pleasant note but will still try to be friends if that is even possible. Trying won’t hurt, right?
After taking my needed stuffs to my car I went to my chief and after her best wishes and taking the letter that has the permission to enter Waynst, big security I know at least some things haven’t changed, he has always been very strict about safety. Now it will take at least 8 months or max. 1 year to complete the project, meaning only after that will I be coming back to the company. Am I sad? Little cause I won’t be seeing my colleagues and friends much as I used to. Why little? Because of two things. A. I am going to Ryder, which means patching things with him if possible, or at least seeking help to retrieve the laptop from police to get to the original one I am searching for. B. from the money from this deal, I will be a step closer to my goal of getting Marshal Co. back. With a last look at the company I worked for a while, I left.
As I was driving, only one thought was there in my head. Ryder. Will he continue his ways even in my presence? What more surprising elements am I going to experience? Only time will tell.