ARLAN’S POV:
The silence between us was deafening as we both stared into each other’s eyes or perhaps soul.
I leaned back in my chair and cleared my throat, deciding to cut through the awkwardness. “Look, I know this is… weird,” I began. “For both of us. And yeah, I’ll admit I can be a bit of a jerk sometimes.”
Her gaze shot to mine, her brow arched slightly. “A bit?”
I raised my hands in mock surrender. “Okay, maybe more than a bit. But hear me out. I’m sorry about yesterday but trust me, I’m not here to make things harder for you. I just need a few minutes, and then I’ll get out of your hair.”
Saraya studied me for a moment, her expression indifferent, before finally sighing. “Fine,” she said. “But since you’re here, tell me what you know?”
“I believe your dad has explained everything to you.”
“You know that’s not true from your end.” She retorted.
I sighed and decided to give in. “Well, the moment Alex called and told me Isla was pushing the weight of her shares around, I already had a premonition that she is aware of everything that has transpired between us.”
” Exactly my point, you could guess that much so why did you do it?” She asked, the tone of her voice went an inch higher.
I frowned, pretending not to know what she was talking about. “Do what?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t play coy, Arlan. You know what I mean. Why did you step in like that? You knew my grandmother could’ve exposed everything in front of the board, putting us on the spot.”
I allowed a small smirk to tug at the corner of my lips. “I stepped in because I knew she wouldn’t.”
Saraya blinked, clearly not expecting my confidence. “What makes you so sure?”
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Because Isla Newman wouldn’t make reckless moves,” I explained. “Not when she owns 30% of the company’s shares. She thrives on control, Saraya, and causing a scandal like that would’ve made her look desperate. Weak. And your grandmother doesn’t like to lose face, especially not in front of the board.”
“And my father?” She questioned running her hand through her silky hair. “Don’t you think she could’ve said something to him at the spur of the moment.”
“Isla is too calculated for that,” I told her. “Even if she had revealed our affair, power won’t have gone back to her.”
Her lips parted as if to argue, but no words came out. Instead, she leaned back in her chair. “So, you’re saying she bluffed?” She murmured, more to herself than to me.
“Exactly,” I said. “You don’t have to worry about a thing, I will clean the mess and make sure you’re not under any threat like this.”
Saraya looked away, her jaw tightening. “That’s a big gamble, Arlan. What if you’d been wrong?”
I shrugged. “Then I’d have dealt with it.”
“Anyways, going forward, you don’t have to step out for me like that again. I don’t need you to handle things either since we have decided to end our little sneaky affair.” She got up and left, leaving me to myself.
*
I got back home and freshened up, Bridget had set the table for dinner.
As I stepped into the dining area, the aroma of boiled rice and chicken sauce, my favourite filled the room but tonight it did little to whet my appetite.
I lowered myself into the chair and stared at the plate in front of me, absently twirling the fork in my hand.
The soft creak of the door made me glance up, and there she was… Matilda.
“Matilda?” I said, rising to my feet. “I… didn’t expect you.”
She smiled, that dimpled grin she makes when she giggles. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d check on you. You’ve not been replying to my messages.” She accused me.
“Uh, I’m sorry about that.” I scratched the back of my neck, unsure what else to say. “It’s.. thoughtful of you to come check on me. Come in.”
Matilda stepped inside, her gaze briefly sweeping the room before settling back on me.
I called for Bridget, asking her to bring Matilda a plate. She complied, and soon the two of us were seated across from each other at the table.
I picked at my food, pushing the chicken meat around my plate. Every bite felt like a struggle, and it didn’t take long for Matilda to notice.
“What’s going on, Arlan?” she asked. “You’re barely eating. Is something wrong?”
I shook my head quickly, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. Really.”
She didn’t look convinced. “Come on, Arlan. I’ve known you for six years. I can tell when something’s bothering you.”
“It’s nothing,” I said, a bit too firmly. “I just don’t have much of an appetite tonight.”
Matilda tilted her head, studying me. Then her lips curved into a knowing smirk. “It’s a woman, isn’t it?”
My fork froze mid-air, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. My entire demeanor must have shifted because Matilda’s grin widened.
“I knew it,” she said, leaning back in her chair with a triumphant look. “So, who is she?”
I forced out a laugh, but it sounded hollow even to me. “No one. You’re imagining things.”
“Sure I am,” she said, resting her chin on her hand. “Arlan, you’re many things, but a good liar isn’t one of them. Spill.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I didn’t want to talk about Saraya, not to Matilda, not to anyone. But the way she looked at me, with eyes filled with curiosity and concern, made it hard to brush her off.
“It’s complicated,” I admitted finally.
Matilda nodded, her expression softening. “Aren’t all the good stories? Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her patience disarmed me, and for a moment, I considered telling her everything. About Saraya, about Isla, about the tangled mess I’d created. But I stopped myself. Matilda didn’t need to know about my chaos not when I can sense the dynamics of our friendship was changing from her end.
Instead, I shook my head and forced another smile. “Thanks, Matilda. Really. I’ll handle it.”
She didn’t push further, “Remember, I’m here if you ever need someone to talk.” She added with a smile.
“Thank you.” I muttered as I forced a piece of chicken into my mouth.