A Step Closer to Love

The test of breakfast was quiet. Kieran and Arabella left as Everly pushed them out to get going. Everly could never understand Gen Z start-ups. They went drinking and then everyone had to resume by noon the next day.

She knew that most of them would probably still be hung over. Her son had a high tolerance for alcohol and yet he was still so hung over. She wondered how it would be for those of them with extremely low tolerance.

“Get in the car. I forgot something and I need to get it” Kieran said opening the car with the remote in his hands.

Arabella watched as Kieran walked back into the house. She stood beside the door waiting for him. A few moments later he was striding back out looking good. She was not interested in him but it would be a lie if she did not admit his beauty.

“I told you to get in the car,” he said when he saw him standing outside.

“I have something to tell you,” she said before he could step into the car.

“And you would tell me while I drive. We are running late” Kieran said entering the car from the driver seat and closing the door.

Arabella contemplated for a split second before she enters the car. She sits and pits on her seat belt. He starts the car and begins to drive.

Was it because he was older? Arabella knew that if it was her age range who had this great property and opportunity he would have been proud and spoke nonstop about it whole trying all he could do to make the other party feel miserable.

Kieran gave off a comfortable familiar and mature vibe and Arabella could feel it. He was not petty or inconsiderate. He had helped her the previous day to avert a crisis of her embarrassing herself by drinking.

“You wanted to say something?” Kieran asked as the car skidded to the main road.

“Umm….. yeah” Arabella started uncomfortably. She had been so confident about telling him that she would not be going with him and that they should avoid each other at work. Right now her confidence dropped to zero as she could not know the way she would say it.

“I am all ears,” Kieran said decreasing the volume of the radio which served as a background noise.

“Well, ermmm…”

“Do you want to ask me for a favor?” he asked confused at her attitude.

“I thought it would be easier to say” Arabella confessed with a small laugh. The laugh was to put her at ease. She did not want to seem delusional in his eyes. He may tell her that it was all in her head.

“I think Aurora is picking on me because I know you” Arabella finally said.

“Why would you think that?”

“Because it’s obvious she likes you and also Chole clearly said she was picking on me” Arabella answered.

“Okay then, but why are you telling me this?” Kieran asked. If she was getting picked on was she expecting him to defend her?

“Well I think I might need to go to work myself and if you could act as if you do not know me at work I am sure she would stop sooner or later.

Kieran had expected that she would ask for help or support but instead, she was going to face it herself.

‘She is differentPublished by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

It feels cliche to say a woman was different but Kieran knew she was different. Right from when she was younger. She always did things differently.

While other girls fought at school to be popular and get into relationships she always had her nose stuck in a book while she walked down the hallway. Whenever he needed to be a part of the dinners he always watched as she was scolded for staying glued to books.

It only made sense to him for her to ask for help. After all, he was her superior and could help get if she was indeed getting bullied for being acquainted with him.

All she needed from him was his distance. Did she not know about work politics? Was she uninterested in climbing the wings of someone high up that she knew to get to better places? He could barely wrap his mind around the situation.

“So you want me to avoid picking you up in my car and also avoid talking to you at the office?” he asked to clarify. It was possible he heard wrong and was holding her up high in esteem.

“Yes,” she said not stuttering in her words and without a second thought.

“Are you sure of what you are asking of me?” he asked her. He was confused as to why that was her request.

He was right in front of her but she would refuse to use him and climb up herself instead.

“Would you not like to save the few extra bucks instead of using it on cabs? The buses do not run to the part of town we live” he asked.

To be honest, going with him to save a few extra bucks would be a great addition for her. She could send the money to her mom or add it to her savings for her apartment. She knew it would be quite impossible for her to move to her apartment but she was going to fight tooth and nail for it.

“I could use the few extra bucks but I would pass” she replied. She had to stick to her decision to the end. “So could you tell your mom that I have to go earlier so that she can let me go and not wait for you” she added.

She had planned an escape but Everly had caught her and kept her home until Kieran was ready to go.

“I can not tell her that,” Kieran said.

Arabella did not want to give in to his pressure. There was no way she was going to tell Everly the reason she did not want a ride from his son. She would only worry about it and she would not be able to do anything about it.

“She would worry when I tell her the reason” Kieran added.

“Must you tell her the reason?” Arabella asked shocked she had to explain such to him.

“What then do you expect me to say when she asks me?” he asked.