In hindsight, Harrison reasoned he shouldn't have acted so brazenly or so rashly with Mandy.
A part of him believed that, had he allowed her to walk away from him this time as well, it would have been all over. Truly and irrevocably over.
He knew better than to anger her. Mandy had once been his shy and timid wife. And whatever he had done wrong – or hadn't done right – had earned him the silent treatment… silent treatment that then led to their divorce.
But then again, she was now a fierce woman who took shit from nobody, as some people would put it. So had he pushed her further, she might have blown up at him.
Admittedly, he would rather be on the receiving end of her glares and her shouts, than have to suffer through her indifference.
Harrison cared about her, in more ways than one… if only he'd be brave enough or audacious enough to say it out loud.
On his way back to the company, Linda was fidgety.
Had he been his usual self, he wouldn't have cared enough to ask, but she was starting to annoy him.
"What's the matter, Linda?" He asked in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Err, sir…" she stumbled on her words, at an obvious loss for words.
"Out with it already," he glared at her profile. "You know I have 0 tolerance for games."
"Mrs. Michaelson seemed rather upset. She even works for David Corp…"
The words she didn't have the courage to say hung in the air, unsaid, unwanted, and yet oh so heavy.
"She and I did get a divorce, you see," he let out on a sigh.
He didn't know what was so wrong with him. He had never once allowed his employees in his private matters. And yet, it did feel liberating to say somehow.
Nevertheless, wishing to end the discussion, he turned his head to the side, and looked out of the window of the black sedan.
Where did he and Mandy go wrong?
He had been her husband – a faithful one in a milieu of debauchery. He had also been the protector, and the provider.
If it wasn't something he did, it must have been something he didn't do, he reasoned.
By the time he arrived to the office, he was bent on finding out where he went wrong.
Call it pride or arrogance, he refused to admit defeat.
Wasn't he after all the undefeated glacier, the ruthless billionaire, whose word always prevailed? Surely, figuring out his and Mandy's problems shouldn't be so difficult!
Soon enough, it was 7 pm. And although Harrison still had many papers to go through – business waits for no one – he decided to call it quits, and to head over Dino's.
He arrived half an hour early, and instead of going in immediately, he waited for Mandy to arrive.
It hadn't rained in a while, so he hadn't thought of bringing along an umbrella. But in that damned wretched city, when it rained, it positively poured.
He stood under the rain, stubbornly refusing to go inside, looking like a desolate man, waiting for someone who had seemingly stood him up.
He stood out, in his suit and tie. And most importantly, he didn't feel in his element, pretty much like a fish out of water.
The moment he looked at his wrist watch and prepared himself to call his driver, a taxi came to a halt in front of him.
The woman who exited said taxi was positively radiant and absolutely ravishing.
He froze, unable to move, and not a word slipped past his lips in welcome or reprimand.
"Sorry I'm late," she apologized, and it sounded like she did it more out of common curtsy than anything else. "The traffic was denser than I had expected."
And it was only upon hearing her excuse that he snapped out of his trance.
He attempted a smile, but sneezed instead.
"How long have you been waiting out here for me?" She asked, and he didn't know whether it was her concern or her curiosity acting up.
"Not that long," he tried to shrug it off.
And then they entered the diner.
The manager of the place – a new one, as Harrison didn't recognize him – eyed them almost suspiciously. No surprise there since, in their attire, they didn't look like they belonged there.
As for the owner, who had known them for quite some time – although they were not regulars, they did used to come once or twice a month back when they were married – rushed to meet them.
"Long time no see, Mr. Michaelson," he said in a welcoming tone that was genuine. "Mrs. Michaelson had come alone on quite a few occasions. I almost thought you two had gone separate ways. I was sad about that but didn't dare to voice out my concerns. I am glad you are here together."
"Thank you," Harrison let out in a humble tone.
And he was surprised that Mandy hadn't bothered to correct the man.
"Let me just bring you a towel to dry off," the man – also known as Dino – then offered. Then, addressing Mandy, he carried on in a teasing manner of sorts, "Do care for your husband, Mrs. Michaelson. He waited under the rain for you to come for nearly twenty minutes."
Harrison tried his best not to scowl. Why must this man be so talkative?
Mandy smiled fondly at the man, and then told him affectionately, "Thank you for your care, Dino."
"My pleasure," the man nodded. "Anytime! What kind of Italian business owner would I be if I didn't care for my patrons?"
She giggled at that and Harrison had to hold back a sigh of regret.
There was once a time when she acted this way with him too – in a carefree manner, and without her guard up.
He wasn't sure if they could ever go back the way they were, but a man could hope.
He longed for the tranquility and the comfort only she knew how to give him.
"You're staring," she told him off-handedly.
He had all the trouble in the world to keep his blush at bay… and he was no high school girl with a crush.
"My apologies," he said sheepishly, and then waited for the towels to arrive, even as she settled into the only vacant booth.