“Excuse me? Am I hearing you correctly?” Leah asked as she stared at her boyfriend Mark. “This ain't funny Mark. Don’t joke around.”
Mark's hands were folded underneath the table on his lap as he continued.
“I’m not joking Leah. You and I just don’t work,”
Leah couldn't believe her ears. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared into his eyes, searching for a better explanation.
“We grew up together and dated for six years, six years, and now you are telling me we just don’t work! You better give me a better explanation than that!”
Mark lowered his eyes to avoid her intense stare.
Their surroundings were filled with chatter of the people occupying the tables surrounding them in the restaurant. The waitress came and placed their drinks in front of them. As if sensing the awkwardness between the couple she glanced at Leah sympathizingly before walking away.
Leah looked at the glass before her, not in the least interested in taking a sip. Her stomach felt as though it was twisted in a bunch of knots. Leah looked up from the glass and stared deep into Marks's eyes.
“Who is she?” she finally mastered to ask the question that was screaming in her mind.
Mark’s quickly averted his eyes. “Why do you think there is someone else? Leah, I’m sorry- I’m sorry for hurting you like this, but I can’t continue in this relationship.”
“Mark! Who is she? If I find out you are lying to me, I will not let you go!” Leah was furious as she stared daggers at him.
Mark hesitates for a second, before answering. “Anna,”
Leah jumped to her feet almost knocking the table over with her.
“Anna- My friend Anna? You are kidding right?” Leah almost burst into laughter. Laughing at herself for being fooled by the both of them. Even though she asked the question she already knew the answer to it. She held his gaze as she continued. “You're telling me, you and Anna, my so-called friend had been banging each other behind my back?!”
Mark looked frantically around and saw the other customers staring at them. “Shhh Leah! There is no need to make a scene, please sit down and keep your voice down.”
Leah scoffed at his words. She folded her arms and remained standing.
“Why should I care? Let them watch and witness what an asshole you are!” Leah paused and looked away from him. She felt sick to continue looking at the pig in front of her,
“You know Mark. I first thought I was the reason for our breakup but clearly not. I am so stupid! I kept blaming myself for spending more time on my work and neglecting you! But you never complained! You even encourage me to work overtime.”
Mark’s previous anxious expression vanished and turned hideous. Clearly angered by her words.
“What did you expect? Yes, we dated for six years, but what did I get out of it? We barely held hands. I am a man, Leah. Anna obviously loves me more, since she is willing to give me what I want.”
Leah's hands started shaking. She gritted her teeth to contain the anger that burst through her. She looked down at her drink picked it up and without a second thought screamed out, “Screw you both.” and threw the drink towards him.
Mark's eyes widened. He dodged to the side avoiding it just in time, causing it to splash on the man behind him.
Leah’s eyes widened. Without taking a look at the guy she quickly grabbed her purse and made a run for it, leaving Mark behind to clean up the mess.
“Sir, are you okay?” Philip, Tristan Lane, personal assistant and bodyguard asked.
He quickly handed Tristan a handkerchief. Tristan looked at the girl who ran away and then looked at Mark with a cold expression as he took it from Philip.
Mark stood up threw a few dollars on the table, looked at Tristan, snorted, then walked off unaware that he had just offended a big tycoon.
Philip looked stunned at the back of the retrieving figures. No one has ever dared to offend his boss and walked away a free man. This man and woman were surely courting death.
“Get me their information,” Tristan said coldly. He threw the handkerchief on the table and left.
The next morning Leah rushed towards Lane Corporation. She had promised her best friend, Beatrice, to do the interview with Mr. Lane, the President of Lane Corporation, on her behalf. Beatrice caught a cold and was currently lying in bed unable to do the interview. Sitting in the waiting area Leah nervously bounced her leg waiting to be called upon. She looked at her watch again. Two hours had passed, and she was still waiting to be called on.
In the President's office, Tristan listened to Philip’s report.
Tristan nodded, “Good. Everything is going as planned. Set up a meeting with the CEO. If there is nothing else, you may leave.”
Phillip nodded and then turned to leave but stopped, he wavered for a second,
Tristan looked up from his laptop with a frown.
“Anything else?” he asked.
“Yes, uhm. Sir. Miss Campbell is still waiting in the reception area.”
“Remind me again why I agreed to this interview?” Tristan asked.
“You didn't sir. It was arranged by your father. Her father and Mr. Campbell are old friends…”
“Okay - okay, you do not need to continue” Tristan’s voice was laced with irritation, “Send her in. Let's get this over with.”
Leah straightened her clothes and then walked toward the office. She silently cursed herself for agreeing to this. She tightened her grip on her purse.
“You can go straight in miss,” Philip said as he motioned to the door, he was a little amused by the woman’s nervous reaction. ‘Weren’t reporters supposed to have a lot of confidence? She clearly did not act or look like one.’ He thought to himself.
Leah thanked Phillip with a stiff smile as she nervously reached for the door and opened it.
Tristan looked at his watch. ‘What is taking them so long? Do they think I have all day?’ Just as these thoughts occurred his office door was pushed open.
Leah and Tristan made eye contact. Tristan frowned when he saw her.
‘What's the meaning of this? This is not Beatrice. Isn’t this the girl from the restaurant? Why was it her?’ He thought to himself.
Tristan remembered her face from the information Philip gave him, after the incident. Tristan kept silent as he kept his eyes on the girl standing nervously at the door.
Leah was taken aback by Tristan's handsome appearance. Saying this man was handsome was an understatement. His eyes, hair, and posture were the same as that actor, Henry Cavill, every girl had a crush on.’ She thought to herself.
“Miss Campbell please take a seat or are you going to keep staring at me from the door?”
Leah's cheeks blushed from his words. She lightly shook her head to get her thoughts in order and made a beeline to the chair opposite his desk.
