I leave Angelo's apartment abruptly and contrary to what i said to him, without even a plan on how to get to work this morning, so i end up being late, but luckily, since the day the principal saw me with him, he has been overly nice to me and so he didn't make abig deal out of it, like he would normally do.

All through the morning i feel like a grouch. I am trying my best not to be sulky, but i think i am failing miserably and everyone can see it.

Every once in a while, my mind zones out, even my students have noticed it, because i ended up messing up my class work, twice, and i am usually very efficent.

Honestly, i just want a moment to myself, but the day is really so busy, i can't catch a break. Today is just not my day.

And to make matters worse, i forgot my phone back at Angelo's place, which is making me even more anxious because i don't know who's been trying to get in touch with me.

More specifically, if Angelo has tried to contact me.

Or maybe he is too busy making up with Claire.

I think back at how beautiful she looked and look down at my own outfit. I had to cover up more today to hide the many hickeys Angelo deliberately left all over my body last night.

"I want you to think of me everytime you sit down tomorrow. And everytime someone sees these, i want them to know you belong to someone" he had said.

But now i imagine him with her now, back at the apartment, making up. Perhaps, he has even decided to take a day off from work, so they can catch up on the time they spent apart.

"Hello!!!! earth to Mary" someone snorts at me.

I look up to find Rachel and two other colleagues at the door, who i am supposed to go and have lunch with as per usual.

"I called your name, like a thousand times, what are you thinking about?"she exagerates,, placing her hand on her hip in an annoyed manner.

"Nothing, sorry, lets go" i say and we start heading to our usual eating place down the street.

"Hey, it's about a guy right? That guy that you have been seeing but I haven't met yet?" she asks quietly so that the others don't hear us.

In as much as i would love to talk to someone right now, Rachel is the last person i want to pour my heart out to.

Luke would be the ideal person, we share everything and he has confided in me about sarah many times, but he doesn't like Angelo one bit because he feels we are moving too fast and he may just end up not being objective and making me feel worse.

"Yes, but i don't really want to talk about it yet" i answer honestly.

No point in denying it to her. Rachel is an expert in this kind of stuff, and i imagine she will know if i lie, i just don't know if i can trust her, if it was any other guy but Angelo, i would have.

"Well, if you change your mind, i am here" she offers politely and i smile at her offer.

She has been really coming through for me as a friend, especially since that party incident where i met Angelo.

*

I sit through another meeting spacing in and out of the discussion.

I replay for the millionth time the events of this morning.

Maybe i should have been a little bit more attentive to her after Claire and Alexis showed up, or maybe a little bit affectionate towards her, or insisted on taking her to work myself.

I shift in my sit uncomfortably.

But i was really taken aback by Claire's sudden appearance, and i didn't really know how to act or feel.

Surely, i deserve some slack for that.

But one thing is for sure, seeing her again made me realise that i have really put our past behind me and even though i care for her and always will, I don't want to pursue a relationship with her.

It also reminded me just how important Marianne is to me.

She is the only one i want.

I hate the idea that she must be thinking i am back with Claire right now, And now that i think about it, she looked sad when she left this morning, avoided eye contact with me.

I didn't even walk her to the door, despite the bags she was carrying.

Wait! Did she pack up all her stuff?

I sigh, fighting the urge to run my fingers through my hair.

I really need to talk to her, to let her know we are ok.

If only she would pick up my calls.

My day is so packed, i can't go across town to see her. I have engagements all up until tonight when i have a business dinner, so the only chance i will get to see her is later tonight after the meeting is over, and i don't even know how long that will take.

I grab my phone off the conference room table and place it on my thigh under the table, out of sight of the everyone around me and quickly type a message to Kyan.

There is something i need for him to do for me.

*

Finally, i get to have the peace and quiet i have been longing for all day, i think to myself, as i go up to my apartment floor after the longest day ever.

Now i can go and mope in peace.

I walk into the hall and see someone leaning against the wall next to my door.

"Mom??" i say slowly, as i recognise her silhouette.

I move closer, now that i am sure it's not Eric or something.

"Hello Arie" she smiles warmly at me as i move closer.

"What are you doing here? i mean, uhhm, i am surprised to see you here" i blubber with embarrassment.

"I have been trying to call you all day, i am in town for a seminar and it finished early and i thought, well, perhaps i could pay you a visit"

"Ohh, am so sorry, i forgot my phone at Angelo's place and so i haven't really been reachable today" i mumble nervously.

"That's alright..Who's Angelo" she asks and i grow red faced realising my blunder.

"Huh, a friend. Did you wait long?" i ask, quickly changing the subject.

"Do you think we can sit down, my feet are killing me" she smiles tiredly.

"Ohh, am so sorry, where are my manners, i am sorry. Come in please" i mumble and search for my keys in my bag and open the door to let her in.

"Did you travel?" she motions to my bags and i blush, looking at the other bag apart from my purse and my school backpack where i carry some class material.

"No, no, it's a long story. Make yourself comfortable" i say, closing the door.

'Actually, it's not really a long story, i let some clothes collect at my boyfriends house,where recently, i started to spend more time than at my own apartment, and by the way, i use the term 'boyfriend' very loosely here because he doesn't really do labels, except for words of endearment which he uses alot, especially during intimate moments between us, but anyway, now his ex is back and there is a high possibility that they will get back together, infact, they are probably back together even as we speak, despite how much our relationship has blossomed, so anyway, i finally decided to pack up my little collection of things from his place and save face before he kicks me out himself.

There!'

Ok, maybe it's a little bit of a long story, but i summarized it well, although, i can't really tell her any of it.

I know it's crazy, but i really want to make the best impression to her.

In the past i was always closer to dad than her, not that she was a bad mother, but i desperately longed for more of her affection and approval especially after he passed, but her being so conservative and somewhat old fashioned in nature, i fear she might not understand how things played out with Angelo.

"So, how was the Seminar? What was it about?" i ask.

We spend the next hour or so making polite conversation, as she tells me about work and home and i do the same.

"Why don't you spend the night here?" i offer hopefully.

She just informed me that she will only be getting back to my home town tomorrow and so she wants to book herself into a hotel room before it's too late.

She has visited my flat once before, but having her here today, has been really nice and i would like it if she stayed longer.

"It's no hotel, but i think you will be comfortable, and you will have good company" i grin, throwing the fact that the air conditioning in here is not to par at the back of my mind.

She smiles widely in return.

"Thank you honey, but i don't really want to impose"she says.

"It's not really a problem, I would really like it if you stayed, but you don't have to though. No pressure" i respond, looking down, it usually worked on her in the past.

"Well ok, in that case, I would really love to stay" She replies and i look up, a smile forming on my face.

"Ok.....Uhhmm, i can make something to eat, or we can go out to eat" i offer cheerfully.

"We can go out, i would love to see abit more of the town too"

"Ok, great" i reply, as i immediately think of a good place.

*

We arrive at the restaurant Angelo had taken me to lunch to a few days ago, we have to wait a while for a table to be available, but when we finally get sitted, Mom gushes about the place and says the wait was worth it as she immediately likes it.

I like it here too, and more so because Angelo and i have a history here. Being here makes me feel abit closer to him.

I feel really disappointed i haven't heard from him all day, despite the fact that i don't have my phone with me. Is he really that busy? He is very resourceful, if he really wanted he could have found a way to contact me, and the fact that he hasn't only makes me believe that perhaps he really has gotten back together with Claire.

I sigh and look down unconsciously, feeling the heaviness in my chest weigh me down again.

"Are you ok?" Mom asks and i look up and offer her a smile.

"Yes"

She doesn't say anything until the waiter leaves, after having taking our orders.

"I am a good listener you know" she offers, placing her hand over mine briefly on the table.

That she is. I just don't know what she will think about the whole thing.

She notices my hesitation.

"You don't have to tell me anything, but i am here for you if you want, please remember that. Anyway, tell me about the sports tournament you are planning" She says, changing the subject and not pushing the issue to spare me the discomfort.

I feel bad that she had to come today of all days when my mind is in such a funk but i will do my best to have a good time with her.

So we talk about that and make comments about the people in the restaurant, until she makes a comment about a couple sitting at the table Angelo and i had sat at.

I must have changed in demeanor because she put her hands on the table with a thump.

"Ok, enough, Spit it out, i will not have you wear that face all evening" She says seriously.

I smile sheepishly, trying to throw her off but she gives me a scowl in return.

"It's just, it's not really...." i say.

"It's about a man isn't it? Is it Luke? Did you two break up?" she questions me.

"Mom! No, its not about Luke. He and i and not a couple, i told you that already. Plus, he has a girlfriend" i say with a chuckle.

She met Luke the last time she visted me and instantly liked him, not that i was surprised, he can be quite the charmer when he wants to be and they hit it off really well.

Mum often asks about him during our conversations on the phone and when he is around, he would sometimes talk to her.

"Ok....well?" she persists and i sigh in resignation.

"It's just this guy i have been seeing, it is kind of new but it feels really serious at the same time. I think my feelings have moved really really fast,

and it kind of scares me" i confess.

She smiles encouragingly.

"Tell me about him. Is he a good man?" Of course she would ask that, typical mom mode.

"He is, he cares for his family alot and is really really great with his niece and nephew. He works alot, but he takes really good care of me. When we are together, he makes me feel really really special" i admit.

I realise now that despite the many things i find annoying about him, i can think of many more things i like.

"Aww, honey, then what's the problem?" she asks just as the waiter arrives with our starters.

"Its just that, i am scared of getting hurt. I know he cares for me, but there is someone in his past that might get in the way. What if he doesn't quite feel the same way as me. Maybe he is kind of still in love with someone else, i don't want to embarrass myself. I think it's better to just walk away while i still have some dignity left" i say and hope i am making sense.

"Oh, well, i have quite alot of questions there, but, you should tell him how you feel, honey. Find out how he feels too. You don't want to have any regrets when it comes to matters of the heart"

"He just is so strong and composed emotionally, while i am busy falling apart, he will probably think i am weak." i sigh.

"Well, if he is any bit as nice as you mentioned earlier, then you should have a little faith. Besides, love is about taking chances, you have to open yourself up. Sometimes it works out and it's worth it, other times it doesn't, but that is the chance you take, so that when you walk away, you don't have any regrets.

There is nothing worse than living with regret, you know that" she says, squeezing my hand.

"I...." i start to say but notice her looking absentminded.

"What is it?" i ask with abit of concern.

"They appear to be looking this way alot, i am trying to see if i recognise anyone" she says, slightly looking over my shoulder to my left.

"Who?" i ask, turning around to see what she is talking about.

I see a group of about 5 men, all dressed formally in suits. They seem to have just arrived and are talking to the restaurant manager.

At first i don't recognize anyone, until i realise two of them are looking this way, at us.

I immediately recognize Nick, in a chacoal grey suit, hand in pocket, he smiles at me briefly before looking away.

The other is Angelo, and he is looking directly at me.

I swallow hard and turn back, feeling my neck hurt from the bad angle it was placed.

"I think one of them is really coming this way honey " She says, sudennly trying to look busy and i feel my heart beating out of my chest.

The nerves at the back of my neck tingle and the hair stands up. I feel his presence before i see him.

I don't know what to expect from him.

Mom smiles and says something looking up. I think he just spoke to her, but i didn't hear anything.

I finally look up, Angelo's deep voice bringing me to attention.

"Marianne"

"Angelo" i return, standing up. His expression is unreadable as i stare into his golden brown eyes under the illuminating lights.

"Enjoying your dinner?" he asks, a small smile now playing on his lips as he extends his hand to my mom.

"Uhhmm, this is my Mother, Natalie Wright.....Mom, Angelo Morreli " i say, feeling like dejavu from this Morning's introduction.

Her face lights up, probably remembering the name from earlier.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs Wright. For a minute there, i thought you were sisters" he smiles a bit more at her.

"Aww...The pleasure is all mine. And yes, we are having a good time" she laughs lightly.

He nods and turns to me.

"I called...." he says to me but we speak at the same time.

"Business meeting?" i ask, looking over at his table where his companions are now sitted on the other side at a more elegant looking area.

"Yeah." he says, following my line of sight.

"Well, don't let us keep you" i say, trying to be considerate, but it comes off rude and standoffish instead, and the expression on his usually composed face makes me regret it immediately.

I open my mouth to say something, but he beats me too it.

"I will leave you to it then.

Mrs Wright, it was a pleasure to meet you" he extends his hand to her again and leaves.

I watch him walk away, in his perfectly tailored blue suit, blue shirt, and tie in place. His muscular legs and thighs stretch the material of his suit pants as he walks.

He looks good.

He has some loose hair falling over his forehead in a sexy kind of way. But he looks serious. Especially now surrounded by the other me in a similar attire.

Their table is radiating money and power, their confidence evident in their demeanor.

I look away quickly before i get caught staring.

"It's him, isn't it?" Mom asks rhetorically and i nod, taking a sip of my drink.

I steal a glance at him and see him take a sip of his wine. I am not much of a drinker, but i like the taste of liquor on his tongue. I told him about it and i wonder if he is thinking about it now that i am sitting across the room from him, just like i am doing too.

Wait? Did he say he called me?

But my phone has been at his house this whole time.

Does he think i have been ignoring him?

I turn to look at him and our gaze lock this time.

My heart starts to pump fast again.

"Excuse me for moment, i need to use the restroom" i smile at mom and she nods, delving into our meal which just arrived.

"I rush there, not really needing to use it, but just needing to get away for a second.

Luckily, the room seems empty when i enter it.

I stand in front of the wash hand basins and mirrors until i feel my heart beat calm down.

Then i wash my hands and turn back.

I walk out and literally bump in Angelo, who is waiting outside in the corridor.

"Is there anyone else in there?" he asks immediately before i can say anything.

"Huh, no, i don't think so, why" i ask.

His response is to grab my hand and pull me back into the restroom.

A/N. Thanks for reading and Voting and Commenting.....Please Don't forget to continue posting your thoughts and comments about the story..i love to hear from you..