I get off the phone with Kyan and look at Nick who was just giving instructions to our driver on where to go next.

"There is a small change in the location of the meeting. Let's meet at 'Sarovar Premiere' instead." i say and he frowns.

"Why? we already have a reservation at Neelkanth Tower"

"Just cancel it, I will do it myself if you want" i offer.

"But why the change at the last minute, now we have to...."

"Nick relax. It's not a big deal. It's just a location change. Roan will reserve a table for us, and we are picking up the guys anyway" i pat him on the shoulder and enter the limousine before he asks me anymore questions.

We sit in the car in silence, i can tell he is annoyed but he doesn't say anything and i am glad for it. I don't feel like talking. I just want to get this day over with already.

We arrive at the restaurant after picking up our associates and Roan, the restaurant manager meets with us as soon as enter the building.

As we exchange greetings and discuss the sitting arrangement, my eyes scan the place. Kyan assured me she was here.

Finally, i think i spot her silhouette, she has her back to me but i am sure it's her, immediately i feel annoyed with her.

She honestly had the guts to make casual dinner plans while i have been going batshit crazy all day.

How could she be so inconsiderate?

Nick follows my line of sight.

"Don't" i say under my breathe and he smirks, shaking his head a little in realization.

I look at her table again, her companion, an older woman i haven't seen her with before is looking back at us after having noticed us staring.

She says something, and Marianne turns her head. She glances over at us until our eyes meet.

There you are! My uncertainty cleared.

But she turns away quickly with not so much of a smile or nod in acknowledgement.

Her action makes me feel like a stranger, if i didn't know better, i would swear it wasn't her.

My thumb on my right hand turns over the ring on the middle finger on the same hand, an action i do when i am anxious.

This is not where or how i wanted our encouter to be today, but this is what i have to work with, i guess.

"Your table is this way"

"Excuse me for a moment gentlemen, i will join you shortly" I say.

I don't want to offer too much of an explaination because Thomas Meraki, one of the men here is a shady businessman and the last person i want knowing my personal business.

But Nick gets it, and i know he will keep them occupied to cover my brief absence.

I will just say hai to her real quick and let her know, i will see her later. Perhaps i can even have my guy take them home after their dinner, he can drop off her companion where she needs to go and her at my apartment.

I walk towards the pair and notice the woman's resemblance to her.

Same hair color, jawline, eyes too.

As i draw near, the woman looks away, arranging her napkin on her lap as if we were not having a stare down just moments ago.

It's her mother, it has to be.

She is meeting her mom? That's a big deal. I can't believe she didn't tell me about it, especially after i introduced her to my family.

I reach them and offer my greetings as Marianne continues to look away.

She gets up, and introduces us, but her attitude is salty, earger for me to leave them alone and it hurts me, especially since i am really making an effort to straighten things out with her.

Then she more or less, asks me to leave and i get the message.

I sit down at our table feeling even worse than i did before. I don't know what i expected from her but it's definitely not that. Especially with her mother around.

Surely do i really derserve her coldness all day. Is that how much our relationship is worth to her?

Honestly, the last thing i want is another problematic relationship. Claire and I had poor communication, which was one of the reasons we had so many issues.

I told Marianne all about it last night, and i let her know how important that one element is to me.

And yet she spends the whole day ignoring me. Without even hearing my explanation first, she has decided to shut me off.

I don't know if this is a lover's quarrel, or something more serious, but I am not going to play this childish game, not this time. I thought she was different, that what we have was different, better, but i guess i was wrong.

Shaking of my thoughts, i try to engage myself in the dinner meeting.

I know i have been really ineffectual today and i look at Nick briefly in appreciation for having my back all day, even as he now directs most of the conversation to our associates to cover my silence.

I feel annoyed with myself now, This is why i don't get emotionally invested in women, i was foolish to abandon my rules for her, they are there for a reason and now this whole thing is biting me in the ass and messing with my mind.

A few minutes later, i let my eyes wonder and i look at her. Almost as if i willed it, she turns, her gaze meeting mine.

She quickly looks away again and then leaves the table shortly after.

I excuse myself again, and based on the look on Nick's face, i swear if he could punch me right now, he would.

I will appologies to him later and let him know i owe him one.

I am not good at taking the high road, or surpressing my thoughts or emotions, i don't like how she is acting and i want her to know it.

I follow her to the restroom and impatiently wait outside.

She comes out shortly after and stumbles into me, literally.

"Is there anyone else in there?" i ask.

"Huh, no, i don't think so. why?" she mumbles in surprise.

I grab her hand and take her back in the restroom for some privacy.

This whole place, including the corridor we are in right now is laced with surveylance cameras.

"What are you doing? You will get us in trouble" she mumbles as she stumbles into the room with me.

I quickly scan the place for other people before coming to stand infront of her, causing her back to rest against the edge of the vanity.

She leans back further as i bend down towards her, her eyes going wide with uncertainty and her arms folding over her chest in a defensive manner.

I sigh, running my fingers through my hair.

"Why do you exasperate me so much" i growl.

"Me? you are the one who...."

"Stop talking!" her mouth opens slightly in shock.

"I called you, all day, trying to explain what is going on, but you chose to ignore me? And then you act like that, infront of your mother no less!" i hiss, trying to maintain some calmness.

"I was just trying to be considerate to your associates, and i forgot my phone back at your place this morning, i haven't had it all day" she says calmly, but looking at me like i am about to pounce on her.

"Your phone is at my apartment?" i ask, starting to feel a sense of relief.

"Yes" She nods.

"Were you going to pick up if you had it?" i ask thoughtfully.

"Yes" she answers immediately.

My heart relaxes, immensely.

"You could have called me using a different number." i utter, feeling annoyed again for stressing all day for nothing.

"I don't know your number by memory" she retorts, still in her defensive stance, the cute little thing.

"You know my seven digit security code by heart and not know my phone number?" i frown.

I know hers.

"Do you know mine?" she counters.

"I know everything about you Marianne" i drawl, as i hold the side of her face, and run my fingers through her hair, pushing it back from her neck to check the fading love bites i know i will find there.

I feel alot more relaxed for the first time today.

"What are you doing? Look, is this why you dragged me in here, you are going to get us kicked out of the restaurant" she frowns and tries to push at my chest for me to move.

But i stand still, my hands moving to hold her around her rib cage, my thumbs barely just touching the sides of her breasts over her shirt.

"Angelo!" she whines, trying to push me away again.

"I missed you" I whisper against her hair.

So damn much.

She stops fidgeting, but stays quiet and i guess what she must be thinking.

"Listen, about Claire..." i start to explain.

"I don't want to talk about her right now, mom is waiting for me" she pouts.

I lean back and stare at her.

"You don't?"

I feel great right now, now that i know she wasn't deliberately trying to avoid me and i want her to share the same peace knowing she's my only girl.

"Don't you have a meeting to get to anyway"

"I'll go, i just needed a moment alone with my girlfriend" i look down at her, putting my hands in my pockets and freeing her.

Her eyes widen a little bit, her lips parting slightly.

"Girlfriend? But, what about Claire?" she asks swiftly.

"I thought you didn't want to talk about her" i shrug, trying to tease her a little.

Did I mention i am feeling very very good right now.

She frowns and starts walking.

I grab her waist and stand behind her.

"What about her? I was glad to see her again, but i already have a girl now, and i told her that. One that i am absolutely crazy about" i say and turn her around.

She tries to hide it, but there is a small smile trying to form on her face.

There, now we can both have some peace after this hellish day.

"We should go before someone finds us." she looks at me me with those wide eyes.

"I will come over later, after the meeting is over" i say, my voice low as i rub my hands against the sides of her waist.

"You can't. Mom is spending the night over"

"Why" i frown.

"Because i invited her" she murmurs.

"Why?" Now i am just teasing her.

"Angelo, i am going" i jerk her forward by the waist and she snorts, and does whatever the adult equivalent of stamping your feet like a child is then turns around.

She just about reaches the door when i grab her and turn her around. Holding face in hands, i kiss.

It's a short but passionate kiss, my tongue teasing hers briefly.

Her hand rests on my chest, then the back of my head as she kisses me back eargerly.

As i pull away, i bite and pull at her bottom lip a little too hard.

"I will drop your phone off in the morning" i say huskily.

She nods, reaching to touch her bottom lip to find it slightly swollen.

"You are so annoying, mom will see this" she glares at me playfully.

"I know" I smirk, as we walk out.

Immediately we enter the hall, i see the Restaurant manager and two security guys approaching us.

"Angelo" he mumbles, a little taken aback to see me.

"What is it Roan?" I ask rhetorically.

Marianne shifts uncomfortably besides me, and i place my hand at the small of her back comfortingly.

"Well, security informed me a man was seen entering the ladies restroom and well, we thought..we assumed that..you know...Anyway, i didn't know it was you" He says, stumbling on his words.

"Sorry, for the trouble, we just needed to have a private conversation" i say casually, looking at Marianne briefly.

"Ok, well, uuhhmm. Next time, why don't you use my office, no need to inconvenience the other guests" he says.

"Got it." i pat him on the shoulder, ending the conversation.

I usher Marianne forward and she looks up at me a few steps later, griping my arm.

"Why did we just get away with that so easily?"she stops walking to wait for my response.

"Because i co-own the restaurant. Later" I wink at her, walking ahead of her to my table.

*

As i approach mom i feel guilty for leaving her alone for God knows how long.

"Sorry i took so long" i say sitting down.

She looks up at me from her plate and smiles, to my surprise.

"Well, did you fix things?" she asks.

"What do you mean?"

"Ohh c'mon. He went after you immediately you left the table and he has only just shown up now too."

I blush and look at my food. I have lost my appetite, but not in a bad way, my stomach is now floating with butterflies.

I look up and Mom is staring at me, waiting.

"Yes, we did, we are ok" i smile and fight off the urge to touch my lips, the tingles from our kiss still alive.

"Well, that's obvious from your face....but way to go dear, and i must say, he is quite an eyeful. Oh my, they didn't make them like that in my day" She utters and i burst out laughing.

I can't believe i am talking about guys with her, we have really come a long way and i appreciate how accommodating she is being.

*

When we arrive back at my apartment, i am surprised to find the building manager on my floor at this time.

I let mom in and go over to talk to him.

"Mary, i tried to contact you a couple of times this evening. I hope you don't mind, but i was in your apartment earlier to fix the air-conditioning. It's all good now" he says.

"Really? That's great, but why now, and at this hour?" i ask.

"Honestly, the landlord just sudenly insisted to do it tonight and well, he is the boss. He sent over some new guys and they were very serious about the job, efficient too, better than the other guys. Anyway, i will catch you later, goodnight, Mary!" he says over his shoulder.

Stunned, i walk into the apartment. That is strange, but it's great timing with mom here i guess.

After helping her settle in, i go straight to take a shower, while she watches TV.

I take a long long one and feel even more relaxed as i go over what happened today and more especially, at the restaurant, we didn't get to say goodbye directly, but we smiled at each other occasionally during the rest our dinner.

I smile at the thought of him, and then it hits me, now that my mind is more relaxed.

Oh my goodness!

The morning after pill.

I forgot all about it. Crap!

I literally feel my heart drop and feel heat rush all over my body.

I stubble out of the bathroom immediately. Quickly, i dress up in whatever i can grab and rush out.

It's past 10pm.

"Mom, i will be back in a bit, i need to do something real quick" i say to her and not wait for her response.

I get to Luke's door and knock urgently.

"Hey, what's up?" he asks upon seeing me, looking like he just got out of bed.

"I need your help, can you drive me to the shops, it's really really urgent" i put my hands together in a pleading manner.

"What do you need at this time, maybe i have it, i can give it to you" he mumbles sleepily.

"You don't, now please let us go now, please " I beg.

"Mary..."

"It's urgent, please lets just go"

He frowns but responds to my emmergency.

*

"What are we looking for exactly" he asks again as we walk to the shops from the carpark at a shoping complex closer to our apartments.

He has been asking me that question all the way here. I ignore him again and walk ahead of him.

"Your hair is wet. What is so important that you are moving around in the dead of the night, with wet hair for uhhmm? you are going to catch a cold." he scolds.

I would rather catch a cold than get pregnant.

Most of the shops are closed at this hour and so is the pharmacy.

I stand staring at the closed doors.

No no no, this can't be happening, how can i surely forget. I want to pull all my hair out.

"A pharmacy? What do you want from a pharmacy at this hour? Are you sick?" He offers his constant commentary that is beginning to really annoy me.

I turn and look at him. He stares back.

"No! No! Mary? oh c'mon! really? No..tell me it's not what i am thinking!" he shouts.

"Ok, it's not what you think" i say sarcastically.

"Are you kidding me?" he shouts again.

"Why are you shouting, you will wake up the whole neighborhood" i mumble, turning back towards the car.

"You are unbelievable, an emmergency pill? i can't believe this. You let him fuck you without a condom?" he sneers crudely.

"Don't talk to me like that, or be so judgemental, it's not like you and Sarah haven't had a pregnancy scare in the past, i remember more than one time." i speak through my embarrassment.

"That is different!"

"How is it different?

"It just is....it just is." he says getting into the car.

"How could you be so reckless?" He says under his breathe, when i enter the car causing me to glare at him.

He sighs.

"I know another place we can check" he concedes.

We drive to some other shops and find everything closed too.

I raise my feet on my seat and bury my head on my folded knees.

I can't get pregnant, i am a school teacher, after all that sex education we teach, how can i show up one day with a big belly when i am unmarried, my reputation will be tainted, my family will be definitely get disappointed and the PTA will probably get me fired.

I can't believe i forgot.

Angelo!!

I need you right now, you said you would fix this. I swear i will never have sex again.

"We can drive into town, maybe we can find something" he offers.

I think about mom and the fact that i have just left her alone, again.

"Ok" i say, i can make it up to her for going MIA, but the pregnancy bit she may not understand.

So we drive into the main town area where we actually find several shops open and plenty of night life, including some pharmacies, but none have what i am looking for.

This is unbelievable. Maybe i am being punished.

We drive home in silence while i think about all the ways my life will fall apart now.

"Thanks for your help" i say as we reach the doors to our apartment.

"Let me say hi to your mom, if she is still up" he offers and we go in together and find her still watching TV on the sofa, luckily, she does ask alot of questions about my disappearance.

Feeling somewhat cold, i go to the bedroom to look for something warmer to wear.

On the bed, i find a small package in a brown envelope that wasn't there before. I pick it up and walk to the living room door.

"Mom, is this yours?" i ask, raising it up for her to see.

"Ohh, i found that on the table when we arrived from dinner, i meant to give it to you after your shower but you left in a rush, so i put it there incase i forgot" she answers absentmindedly.

"What are you watching?" i ask the two noticing their Seriousness.

"The news" Mom responds.

I am not surprised considering Luke's obsession with current affairs, which is understandable i guess, him being a journalist.

But Angelo is like that too.

I turn the package over and see my name on it. How did it get in my house?

I open it cautiously.

Inside, is a note,wrapped around a blister pack, with a single tablet in the middle.

An emmergency contraceptive pill.

My heart warms.

I open the note and it reads.

Trust me.

A.

He remembered, i grin.

And it was him who had the aircons fixed.

Oh, my Angelo.

"Aahh, Arie, isn't that the restaurant we went to earlier" mom asks, her eyes planted on the TV screen.