Nora trudged back to her office later that night. She didn't have the heart to go to her apartment, and she didn't want to go back to her husband's house.
She would spend another night in the office. How bad would it be? Though a part of her longed to see that stranger again, the only one who made her feel so comfortable, and loved.
With her Employee's ID, she opened her office. Before entering, she whipped her head in the CEO's office's direction but this time, the lights were not on.
She sighed in disappointment, "Guess I am not seeing him ever again then," she bit her lips, and entered her office.
She looked around, and found her bag still on her desk, "Oh, there you are," she said weakly, and dragged herself to her desk.
"I couldn't buy any bottles of booze," she patted her head, "Poor me. I have to go through this night alone then."
She sat on her chair, and rested her head on her desk, trying to fall asleep, but she couldn't.
She raised her head, and looked at the ceiling, "Why is he not at the office today?" She asked no one in particular, her voice breaking. She sniffed, and wiped her right eye.
She stood up, "I should go check," she started for the door but stopped, "What am I even doing? He is not there, why am I so worked up?" She proceeded to sit down but she couldn't shake the bugging feeling in her heart.
She headed to the door, and opened it.
"Let me just go have a look. Only then can I satisfy myself," she told herself.
She advanced slowly to the door, and turned the door knob. It wasn't locked, her heart leaped with excitement.
"He might actually be inside," she muttered feeling excited.
She opened the door, and entered the office, but the the lights were switched off. She scuffled her hands on the wall in search of the switch.
She eventually found it and turned the lights on. She quickly turned on her heels hoping to see him in the same posture as she had seen him that night, but to her utmost disappointment, he wasn't there.
Tears stung her eyes, "He.. didn't come today?" Her voice broke.
She couldn't believe she was about to cry over a stranger she knew nothing about.
She tried to force the tears back in but they chose to disobey her again. They rolled down freely down her cheeks, "Why? He.. was the one who actually understood how I felt. Now he has left me too," she fell on her knees and began to sob.
"How unlucky am I? He must have sensed it, and decided to leave me because of that," she inhaled sharply and began to sob again.
She hit the floor with her hands, "Why am I cursed? What is this?" She kept hitting the floor trying to vent all her frustration and anger on it.
"Nora?" She felt a hand wrap around her shoulders.
She stopped abruptly, and raised her head to meet his face. It was him!
Without thinking, she threw her hands around his neck, "I thought I lost you too!" She cried.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, "Oh, why are you crying? Is it him again? What did he do to you this time?"
She shook her head feeling embarrassed when she realised the reason behind her sudden outburst.
"It is not him," she shook her head.
He used his thumb and wiped away her tears, "Then, why are you crying?"
She looked away, "Oh, it's stupid.." her cheeks reddened.
"Hello? I want to know," He patted her cheeks.
"I.. thought you.. left me," she quickly looked away avoiding his eyes.
"Leave you? Why would you think that?"
"I don't know," she hung her head.
He chuckled, his eyes gleaming, "Don't be so silly, I came here because of you," he said softly.
Her eyes brightened, and she raised her head to look at him, "Do you mean that?"
He took her hands, and squeezed them lightly, "I do. I.." his face reddened too, "I missed you, and I missed what happened between us. I would love it to happen again," he laughed nervously.
She hugged him, "I would want that too. You are the only person who makes me feel this way," she sniffed.
He patted her back, disengaged from the hug, and made her stand up.
"So you were crying because of me?" He teased, a sly look in his eyes.
She hit his chest playfully, "Oh, now you are using it against me," she pouted.
He swept her off her feet, carrying her in bridal style to the office desk. He made her sit on it.
"Well, it is a good thing though. We like each other already," he smiled, caressing her face.
The smile on her face disappeared, and was replaced by a disappointed look.
"What is it?" He asked, concern laced in his voice.
"You like me?" She looked at him.
He nodded, "Yes, I do. What is wrong?"
Her heart fell, "My husband.. he won't divorce me. He says if I try doing so, he'll kill me."
The look in his eyes turned furious, "How dare he threaten you like that? Who the fuck is the husband of yours?!"
She swallowed, "You shouldn't get all worked up because of this."
"Why can you not divorce him? Why can you not get the court on you side? Are you really going to stay in that hell of a house?"
She looked away, "You don't know the gravity of this matter. He killed my best friend right in front of me, all because I went to vent my sorrows at his house," her voice broke again, "What do you think he'll do to me?"
"Oh Nora, just tell me who he is, and I swear I'll take care of him. Who is he? Huh?"
She shook her head, "I can't tell you his name, I do not want to put your life at risk."