Chapter 5 The Office
Brielle's POV
The ride was silent and awkward as I held my breath most of the time because of Daylan. Yet, I had this gnawing feeling about Rick. I don't know why I was getting it so much today and I hope that everything is okay with him. Part of me feels pushed to the side while he enjoys work more than what we have.
"Can you take me to the Riptide Industries, please?" I blurted out. I wasn't sure if it was my gut or just me being silly.
"Okay," Daylan replied, he continued to look straight ahead at the road, his jaw clenched because he knew that I was going there for Rick.
"There is just some dinner that I want to surprise him with," I said as I moved my gaze to the road in front of me.
"Well, I hope that the dinner surprise works out for you. Once someone is buried in work, it's difficult to even make time for someone. You don't deserve that, Brie," he said, and as much as I hoped not to hear it, his voice laced with disappointment.
"I hope it works out too," I replied softly.
We stopped in front of the Riptide Industries building. It was a tall building. "You can always let me know if you need some guidance on your story," he said as he held out a business card towards me.
I took it from him, "Thank you," I smiled politely. He just stared at me until I got out of the car, and then he drove away into the traffic. It was dark, early evening, the cool breeze blew against my skin, closing my eyes, as I inhaled the aroma of coffee and food at the restaurant next door.
His favorite is steak and egg, with some salad. So if he cannot have dinner, then I will bring dinner for him. He must be deprived of food too. I went to the restaurant and ordered our meals. I just can't shake the nagging feeling that I have in the pit of my stomach. I honestly hope that everything is okay.
I got the takeaway and went to the company. As I approached the entrance, the security officer, Daniel, was standing there, smiling at me. "Good evening, Brielle, I hope that you aren't working as hard as Rick,"' he winked at me. He was an older man but very charming with his personality. If some men can just be as nice as him, I thought back to my horrible stepfather.
"I make sure to balance my life," I smiled in return, and he opened the door for me before I entered. "Thanks, Daniel," I said over my shoulder.
The building was empty, it was weird for me to be here this time. I never just showed up, I always call him first. I made my way to the elevator. Once inside, I waited patiently as the elevator ascended all the way to the thirtieth floor. I don't know when last I was here, probably two months ago.
The elevator came to a stop, and then it pinged before the doors slid open. I stepped out and walked all the way towards his office. Everyone else wasn't here. There was one office door that was open. I just hope that I'm not disturbing Rick if he is in a late meeting or working with someone on this floor.
"Brielle?" I stopped in my tracks, turned around to see Rick's mother, Tabitha, standing at the other end of a hallway that I had past. "It's lovely to see you here," she smiled at me as she came closer.
"Yeah, I just thought I would surprise Rick with dinner," I held up the takeaway bag.
"That's lovely," she continued to smile. "He is working a bit late with Sydney, one of the managers, for a project that we took on. It is fairly new. We just started with it today."
"I see." I looked at the ground. There goes my surprise.
"Go ahead and surprise him. He needs to eat," she encouraged. "Also, take him home thereafter. He needs to live a little bit more. No matter how much I tell him to spend time with you, he never listens. I have to get going. I hope to see you more often here," she smiled.
"Of course," I returned the smile, nodding in agreement, and then she walked to the elevator.
I turned around and walked slowly towards Rick's office at the other end. Was I even wasting my time? I approached his office, the door was closed, all the offices had transparent glass walls, so it was clear to see inside. As I walked further, my heart stopped at the scene before me. That woman sat on his desk, he was standing between her legs, his arms wrapped around her waist as they kissed passionately. I stood rooted in place. My heart broke into a million pieces. Anger overtook that heartache, and I moved to the door, opening it.
"So, this is your late night work?!" I hissed, and he pulled away from her, his eyes were huge. That blonde b^tch remained on the desk, buttoning up her cleavage. She seemed unbothered.
"It's-I'm sorry," he stammered.
"That emergency in the storm and every other time... Earlier you left me with your father, and you came here for her?" I was beyond pissed.
"I didn't expect you to be here," he replied.
"I have to go home," the blonde got off the desk.
"Not so fast blondie." I hissed at her. She stopped, looking at me as if I was crazy.
"I hope that you know what you are getting yourself into with him. I hope your fling with him was great. Never be with someone who is dating someone else. So I hope you're happy," I told her.
"Well, he loves me and I believe he never really loved you," she replied before walking away, now that hurt ten times more. I glared at Rick, who was rooted to his spot.
"Five years, Rick. We had dreams together, and you threw it all away. Why did you resort to this?" I asked.
"I was growing out of love and I don't think that anything would make me want to go back to that apartment with you and take this further. I hurt you by you catching me in this act and I guess it's better to be caught than to lie, finding the courage to tell you that I grew out of love you," that was a double blow.
"I think that it would've been better if you told me to my face instead of lying to me and keeping up with this charade. Why did you grow out of love for me?" I asked.
"I'm sorry, Brielle. I don't know what more you want me to say." he shrugged, as he seemed nervous.
"You are so unbelievable. You wasted my time." I scoffed through my heartache.
"You can keep the apartment. I will get my things in the morning. I will... I will see you around... I'm truly sorry," he was feeling guilty. I could see it in his eyes.
"Whatever," I replied, turned around with the takeaway bag and hurried out of there, my anger pushing me to walk at my fastest.
As I got into the elevator, I looked at myself in the elevator. Reminding me moments before all of this that I was looking at Daylan in the reflection of an elevator. What made Rick fall out of love? Why was Daylan the one to pursue me? What happened between Daylan and Tabitha? She was beautiful and not even aging. Her heart was broken because Daylan had left them years ago. Was it because of work opportunities that he chose?
A lone tear ran down my cheek, this was not the time to break down and cry. I'm all alone now with just my writing and my job at the cafeteria, which at a hospital. Perhaps the bar would be more applicable for me now and drown my sorrows in alcohol and my books. The elevator doors opened. I was in a trance as I walked out of the elevator. I discarded the takeaway in the trashcan as I walked past it towards the exit.
As I got closer to the door, Daniel opened it for me. "Enjoy your evening," he said, with a polite smile.
"You too," I forced a smile.
I decided that I would rather walk to the bar than take a cab. Not that I have a book, but I can still drown my sorrows in booze. I was not going to let Rick make me feel as if I wasn't good enough in our relationship. I'm going to have fun before I have to get myself out of this pit of hell. I don't care who watched me walk alone down the street this evening. I was hurting and yet felt so hollow. Does anyone get over this quickly? I don't think I can.