Ariana sat at her desk, feeling extremely tense, as if waiting for her college exam results. The wait was heavy, and her anxiety grew with each passing minute. While lost in her thoughts, her colleague Liam, a young and ambitious man in his late twenties with a great sense of humor, approached her.
With a reassuring smile, Liam said, "I know you're stressed. How about we head down to the cafeteria and grab something while we wait?"
Ariana gave him a slight smile despite her nervousness. Liam was a good guy, well-educated, and always seemed to care for her. She knew he was kind and considerate.
But as they sat in the cafeteria, Ariana's phone rang, informing her that the test results would be delayed and wouldn't be available until later in the evening. Her anxiety heightened, and she decided to stay at the office until the results were announced.
Soon, her friend Darine walked up to her, sensing the tension. "You know Liam has a thing for you, right?" she teased.
Ariana quickly responded, "No way!"
But Darine insisted, "No, really. Look how often he looks at you, talks to you, and how interested he is in you. I heard you told him you're married, but you're about to separate, right?"
Ariana replied hesitantly, "Yeah, I told him I'm married, but I'm about to get a divorce."
As they continued their conversation, a man entered the cafeteria with a woman, and Ariana froze. She immediately recognized the man – it was Leonardo, and the woman with him was Hannah, his ex-girlfriend.
Ariana's heart skipped a beat, and she was speechless. Her mind was racing with mixed emotions. After a moment, she managed to say, "It's nothing. I should head home."
Her face had visibly changed, and she insisted on leaving the place without further discussion.
Ariana went to her room after a long day, feeling exhausted and frustrated. Several hours passed, and though she had a light dinner, she couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment and hunger that lingered inside her. She couldn't stop thinking about what had happened earlier, how her life seemed to be unraveling.
Sitting at her table, she tried to distract herself, but the emptiness was too overwhelming. She felt trapped in her own thoughts. She had always been strong, but tonight, something inside her seemed to break.
The sound of a phone ringing downstairs startled her, and she quickly rushed down to answer it. It was Mr. Adrian, her supervisor, calling to inform her that both she and her friend Darine had passed the training exam. She was excited but still shaken by the events of the day. He told her that she would start work tomorrow.
Although she tried to feel relieved, her heart was still heavy. But this news was a small comfort, a moment of hope in the midst of all the uncertainty.
Ariana thanked Adrian for the call, feeling a mix of emotions. She stayed up late, reflecting on everything. She couldn't help but feel regret, but she also felt a sense of accomplishment. She had worked hard for this opportunity and knew she deserved it. The job was hers, and she was determined to make the most of it.
Ariana had been on the phone with Adrian, talking about the results, not realizing that Leonardo was standing behind her. She was too absorbed in the conversation to notice his presence. She had been speaking freely, thanking Adrian and reflecting on the opportunity ahead.
Suddenly, she heard a movement, and when she turned around, her heart skipped a beat. Leonardo was standing there, watching her intently. She gasped in shock, her voice faltering as she recoiled in surprise.
Leonardo standing in the doorway. His presence sent a chill down her spine. She hadn't heard him enter, and she felt a wave of nervousness.
"When did you come in?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"How long have you been standing there?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and confusion.
Leonardo's voice was cold as he stood there, watching her in silence. Ariana could feel her heart racing as he spoke, his words cutting through the tension in the room.
"Why didn't you hear me when I entered?" he asked, his eyes sharp. "Were you too busy talking to someone on the phone?"
Ariana stood still, her hands gripping the edge of the table. She wore a sheer nightgown, and the darkness of the room only intensified the awkwardness of the situation. She wished the ground would swallow her up to avoid the shame of the moment.
"Who were you talking to?" he pressed, his tone icy. "I don't know him… Who is this person? Is he someone important to you? Someone you've been speaking to all night?"
She hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Her mind raced as she tried to find the right words to explain, but Leonardo's piercing gaze made it hard to think.
"Is he your lover?" he asked, his voice colder now. "How long have you been seeing him?"
Ariana felt the heat rise to her face. This wasn't how she wanted this conversation to go, and now, standing there in front of Leonardo, she had to decide how much to reveal—and how to deal with his sharp judgment.
As Ariana stood there, her anger simmering beneath a calm exterior, she spoke with measured grace. "You judge people through your own lens, sir. But it pleases me that I do not let my desires control my actions unlike some people ," she said, her voice steady. "Especially someone who considers me a dear part of their life."
Her words hung in the air, and Leonardo's face turned pale with frustration. Blood rushed to his face, his hands clenching as he fought to control his emotions.
Ariana met his gaze, feeling a quiet victory within herself. She turned on her heel, her back straight, and began to walk away. She climbed the stairs to her room, her thoughts set on her future. She would rise in her career and when the time was right, she would throw her wedding ring in his face.
The promise of independence, of a new beginning, filled her with purpose.