221 Heaven to Hell

Although the familiar and large office building of Jessen’s & Hill’s loomed over me, it was still hard for me to believe and accept that I was back here when I was supposed to be enjoying my long-awaited holiday with Ace. Ace had already disappeared from sight, and I was utterly alone. I stared up at the tall building that loomed over me and for some reason I recalled the first day when I came here.

It all felt like so long ago...

I should head home. There’s nothing for me to do here so I might as well head back to my apartment to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a Monday and that meant that a bunch of grilling work was waiting for me. Resting up and preparing myself mentally and physically for that might not be a bad idea. I took in a deep breath before letting it out slowly to renew my determination.

I thought of Ace’s words when we watched the sunset together. I’ll definitely get through this and then we’ll go on many more trips together and I’ll makes sure that we get to see beautiful sunsets together in so many different places.

With my mind made up, I turned around to leave. Now if only I can get a cab, life would be perfect. I had no idea that there was an unfortunate surprise waiting for me almost the moment that I turned around.

I saw a taxi approaching and I immediately lifted my hand to flag it down. The car came to a stop right in front of me and just when I was reaching for the door, the door opened to my surprise. My surprise turned into shock when I came face to face with the man who had just stepped out of the taxi.

“Kyle?!” I called his name so loudly as I jumped back in shock.

My hand flew to cover my open mouth as I gasped. I couldn’t believe that of all the people that I had to run into, I had to run into him. A very familiar stared at me with an equally surprised look.

“Rina...” he murmured my name.

.....

How many times have I told him not to call me that anymore?

“Kyle...” I murmured as we stood staring at each other.

A moment must have passed by because the taxi driver honked his horn at me as if to ask if I still needed his services.

“She doesn’t need a ride anymore. Please leave...” Kyle yelled loud enough for the driver to hear.

All the while, he kept his eyes glued to mine. My heart raced in my chest at this unexpected development.

Kyle is here. Why?

What is he doing here at Jessen’s and Hill’s and on a Sunday of all days?

“Why are you here?” I snapped as I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him.

He’s not here to steal any more corporate secrets, is he?

“Rina...perfect. Come with me,” he said while completely ignoring my question.

His hand reached out so quickly that I couldn’t dodge it and grabbed my elbow and began pulling me after him.

“Wait!” I called out loudly.

What is he doing? Where is he taking me?

“Stop! Stop right now or I’m going to scream and call the security guards...” I threatened seriously.

I shook my arm and finally succeeded in yanking my arm away from his firm grip. I had no idea why he was here, but I wouldn’t let him just randomly drag me off to an unknown place with him.

“Stop making a fuss and come with me, Rina,” Kyle hissed as his eyes narrowed at me.

“Stop calling me that!” I snapped in pure annoyance.

Kyle just rolled his eyes as me, but he refused to back away. What on earth does he want from me?

My arrival at this place today was unplanned so there was no way that Kyle would know about it in advance because even I didn’t know that I would be here. That can only mean one thing and that was that Kyle wasn’t here to see me.

So why is he here?

Don’t tell me...

“Why are you here, Kyle? You’re not here to see me because this is a Sunday. There’s no way that I would be here normally. Why are you really here?” I asked.

“Elizabeth is probably on her way here if she hasn’t arrived already...” Kyle revealed with a lopsided grin.

“Elizabeth is here?!” I exclaimed loudly.

It was like the heavenly trip that I had planned all failed just to deliver me down to the deepest depths of hell. What Kyle probably didn’t foresee was that I would be here.

“Shhh...” Kyle urged me to lower my voice as he glanced around nervously.

I had no idea why we had to be acting like two ashamed people engaged in an illicit love affair when we had done nothing wrong. Everything about the situation pissed me off and I hated to think that Ace and I had to returned back here in the middle of our trip just so that he could meet up with her.

Someone please tell me that this isn’t really happening.

“Are you sure that she’s here?” I asked while harboring some hope that this fool of a man could be wrong.

“Come here. Don’t just stand there...” Kyle hissed as he yanked on my arm.

Instead of entering the building through the front entrance, Kyle took me through a path commonly used by employees that looped back to the backside of the building where the adjoining parking building was.

“Won’t she just park right out front?” I asked with pure irritation.

I yanked my arm away from Kyle’s grip again because I could follow him just fine without him holding onto it.

“Not if she wants to keep their little meeting a secret...” he replied softly.

I hated how he made it sound like they were undoubtedly involved in an affair. I just hated it! How can he say something like that so casually?

–To be continued...