Mandy hadn't intended to arrive late, and would have never guessed Harrison would be on time, never mind that he would stay under the rain as he waited for her.
He looked haggard, and yet because of the rain, he somehow managed to look alluring still.
What kind of sorcery was that?
When he finally sat down, and Dino left them to make their choice, he didn't utter a word.
He looked at her, almost unseeingly, as if lost in thought, and she wondered whether he secretly wished he had been with Clara or whoever his new plaything was.
When the waiter came over to take their order, and she spoke up, he finally snapped out of the daze he was in, and said simply after she finished, "I'll have the same."
"About today," he began almost hesitantly.
She glowered at him at once, and told him, "You made an unnecessary scene."
"I am aware. And I am sorry," he allowed out in a hushed tone, almost as if ashamed of the foreign words.
"I'm not sure sorry will cut it, Harrison," she scoffed, rolling her eyes at him. "I work there. I have colleagues who respect me there…"
"I don't see why that would change," he said as he tilted his head to the side.
"Because you're going to acquire David Corp," she deadpanned, sounding incredulous even to her own ears. "I don't want to lose the job."
"You won't," he answered seemingly in a sincere tone.
"You and I do not and cannot function, at least not together," she said in a tone that was sarcastic at best. "I stood by you, and endured your indifference for two whole years. Even I know when enough is enough."
*** *** *** *** ***
To say Mandy's words hurt Harrison wouldn't cover the half of it.
He gulped down the reply he wanted to scream at her and an enraged shout, and then asked almost sheepishly, "What are you saying, Mandy?"
"I'm just stating the facts here, Harrison," she shrugged, and carried on speaking even as the waiter came back with their salad. "I once loved you and did everything in my power to make you reciprocate my feelings… I now realize my mistake. We cannot force such things."
"Mandy," he let out pleadingly, wishing he knew the words she needed to hear from him.
"Don't Mandy me," she interjected angrily. "That used to work on me before, but no more."
"This can't be the end of us," he said as he stabbed an innocent piece of tomato.
"But it is, Harrison," she countered immediately, not missing a beat.
"You think so?" He attempted one last time.
"I know so," was her matter-of-factly reply.
After that, seeing as Harrison wanted to sulk the dinner away, he didn't utter a word further. She didn't bother trying to make small talk and allowed him the kind of peace she thought he wanted… only all he needed was her allowing him to see inside her brain and heart.
Harrison, like many men of his standing, had had his fair share of conquests, but none of them had mattered. He had never cared about any of them despite their doing their best to impress and tie him down.
And then, came Mandy, a smaller businessman's daughter, and she turned his life upside down. As cheesy as it might sound of him, she was like a welcomed ray of sunshine in the dead darkness of the night.
She hadn't been the type of woman to want all attention and all stares on her… so unlike the women he usually had the misfortune of dating. And he didn't know how to please her. A more common woman would be elated to receive a jewelry set as an excuse to being late on an occasion – or many for that matter.
Harrison wasn't one to spare expenses. But it seemed like no amount of money was tempting to the sweet Mandy. And to make matters worse, no quantity of roses or chocolates was enough to appease her when upset.
As for jewelry, she rarely ever accepted any, using as an excuse her desire to be invisible, unnoticeable.
A look full of longing and a sigh later, and he dropped his fork on the plate.
Her gaze snapped up and met his.
"Is the penthouse to your liking?"
That had to be the dumbest question ever. She had lived there for quite some time already before the divorce, and had never once complained.
"You can have it back if you'd like," she offered with a raised eyebrow.
He couldn't help but narrow his eyes in suspicion at her.
"No catch, I promise," she giggled. "I just know how fond you were of the place since it was the first you ever bought."
"It doesn't matter," he said, lying through his teeth.
"I cannot help but wonder what can possibly move the glacier into action and make him lose his composure?"
He flashed her an awkward smile and shook his head negatively, dismissing the answer that was on the tip of his tongue.
As he did so – as he shook his head – he felt dizzy all of a sudden. He had to hold onto the table with one hand. He also massaged his pounding left temple.
He had never felt as exhausted or as drained as he did right then.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
He wondered if she was simply curious or genuinely concerned… he opened his mouth to speak up but no word came out.
Instead, his body betrayed him and he fell sideways on the booth as darkness claimed him whole.