Zara walked into the street as Devon chased after her. She was pissed with the way he spoke to her in the ballroom.
"Zara slow down, I said I'm sorry," Devon apologized as he ran after her.
But Zara didn't say anything to him. Finally he caught up with her and grabbed her by the hand, stopping her in her tracks. She tried to free her hand but Devon's grip was too strong.
"Let me go Devon," she said.
"I said I'm sorry, Zara. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to tell at you," Devon said.
"You don't have to apologize. I was serving as your secretary in there and not your girlfriend and you spoke to me in there like you'd speak to your secretary so you have nothing to be sorry for," Zara said and pulled her hands out of Devon's grip finally.
Devon stood there, out of breath and confused, as she resumed her rapid stride down the quiet street. A heart-stopping moment later, a driver who had lost control of his vehicle suddenly came careening around the corner, his tires screeching as his vehicle headed straight for Zara. Apparently the driver was having brake failure.
Devon, who saw the vehicle on time, yelled out Zara's name as he ran towards her in an attempt to push her out of the way before the vehicle impact with her. Zara stood there in shock as her life flashed before her. As the car was just about to hit her, a hand pulled her out of the road into safety. It wasn't until her body hit the rock hard chest of Devon that she realized what had just happened.
"Are…are you okay, Zara?" Devon asked.
He was breathing heavily and shaking as though he was the one almost hit with a vehicle. With her heart racing like a wild stallion, Zara balanced herself against Devon's chest while panting for air. She clutched to him like he was her lifeline as she accepted the idea that he had saved her just in time.
As though trying to protect her from any lingering threat, Devon surrounded her in his arms and held her close. He was still shivering from the adrenaline rush and was breathing quickly, but his main concern was for her safety.
Zara stared up into his eyes, her heart a jumble of feelings. In that heart-stopping moment, a spark of something more was kindled, along with gratitude for saving her life, perplexity over their complex relationship, and thanks for saving her life.
Devon finally broke the ice with a quiet, sincere expression of worry.
"Zara, are you sure everything is fine? I'm shocked by how near that was."
Zara was able to speak, but with a slight trembling.
"I'm alright, Devon. I appreciate you."
Her deep-set eyes pierced into his, a complex jumble of emotions visible.
"Let me drop you home," Devon offered and Zara nodded her head in agreement.
Devon wrapped his arm around her as he lead her back in the way they had come as that was where his car was parked. The ride home was very quiet. Devon kept stealing glances at her to see if she was okay while Zara sat still thinking of how she had almost died a few seconds ago.
Finally, Devon stopped right in front of Zara's house. They sat still in the car before Devin finally spoke up.
"Are you okay?" he asked for the last time.
"I will be," she answered him.
"Okay. I know this is probably not the right time for this but I wanted to apologize once again for my outburst at the event. I shouldn't have spoken to you in that manner, secretary or not. Asides being my Secretary, you're my girlfriend, I should treat you with the respect and love you deserve," Devon said.
Zara turned to face him as his words caused her heart to swell. His honesty was apparent to her, and it moved a significant part of her.
"Devon, thank you," she murmured.
"Thank you for your apology; I recognize that sometimes our emotions can run amok. Let's simply get past that and work on improving our communication."
Devon shook his head and smiled slightly.
"Zara, I swear I'll do better."
Zara places her hand on his and stroked his hand for a while before saying,
"Thank you."
They enjoyed a fleeting moment of mutual comprehension as their eyes fixed on each other in solitary agreement. Devon smiled at her and she smiled back.
"Come here," he said to her and she leaned towards him.
Devon placed a kiss on her forehead and said,
"I love you baby."
"I love you too," Zara replied.
"I don't want to let you go but I have too cause we have work tomorrow. Or will you come over and spend the night at mine," Devon asked.
"We both know that if I spend the night t your place, we won't get to work early. Besides I'm really exhausted. I just want to lie in my own bed," Zara replied.
Devon pouted his lips like a puppy, drawing some giggles from Zara.
"Oh please you're a grown man. Stop acting like a baby Devon," she said.
"But I'm your baby," Devin teased causing Zara to fall into a full-blown laughing for.
"Oh please Devon, I've got to go. See you at work tomorrow," Zara said.
She leaned into kiss Devon's cheek but Devon turned his face on purpose and she ended up kissing his lips. The kiss lasted for a few seconds before they broke free.
"Bye baby," Devon said waving at her.
"Bye love," Zara said as she opened the door and got out of the car.
Devon didn't drive off until he saw Zara get into her house and lock the door behind her. With a smile on his face and a feeling of happiness in his heart, he started the car and zoomed out of Zara's neighborhood.