TIANA

It had been difficult and tough; days had passed before she finally forgave me. Sadly my mother possessed an incredible ability to hold grudges.

Now I see where I got that system from.

Needless to say she was still ignoring my calls. I probably deserved it given my behaviour. Granted, I hadn't meant to snap particularly at her. Another part of me- a small, minuscule part of me felt bad for the outburst that chose him as its target.

However, I was protective over Tim. It felt wrong to let my mother's claim that they held some similarities be accepted as a fact. It irritated me. In my eyes, no one would ever come close to Tim- especially him.

In my eyes I had intentionally deemed him a minor feature that would eventually fade and burn out. Only to have him keep appearing, deepening his place in our lives and I wasn't too happy about it especially when he carried himself in a way that frustrated me. I was torn. When I stormed out after blatantly pointing out how much I detested his presence, he gave me his scarf?

And now standing here, the feel of the cold metal doorknob in my hand that ironically juxtaposed the searing anger boiling internally as he casually slipped past me, purposefully ignoring the heated glare directed at him.

I knew that eventually, karma would catch up to me, but having him appear at my workplace like this was taking it too far.

The original plan had been simple: work, takeout, more work and then home, where I'd do my best to sleep despite being haunted by that nightmare. Now seeing the way he looked around my office casually, I could tell this would not end in my favour at all.

"I . . .uh," he muttered clearing his throat awkwardly as he looked up in my direction," thought you would be hungry. Working late can really strike up an appetite," he stated lifting the takeout bag, taking tentative steps to decrease the distance between us much to my dismay. My eyes swept over him as the smell of the food he had bought wafted into my nostrils engraving itself in my head. He turned swiftly on his feet and carefully placed the food on my desk.

"You honestly think bringing food is going to make me reconsider your ridiculous offer. Besides I'm not hungry," I replied coolly crossing my arms across my chest gratified at my voice's indifference to the aroma that spread into the room. It came out firm and assertive.

However, my stomach failed to cooperate as it growled ferociously, exposing my blatant lie. His eyes dropped to it as it continued singing a song, evoking a smirk appear on his lips. Pushing him to confidently take a seat without my permission and began taking out the contents from the bag making my mouth salivate.

Just breathe.

"I said-"

"I heard you the first time," he replied calmly sparing a glance in my direction," sadly when it comes to nourishing the body, your stomach not only holds the final verdict, it has more power over anything regardless of your words. Now would you like the chicken or beef?" he asked holding up the two containers.

I bit my lip, it was the only suitable action to block my tongue from poking out to lick my lips and show just how interested I was in the food. I wouldn't give in; I was too stubborn for that," So first the scarf and now this," I gestured to the food," I see you've taken it upon yourself to make me some kind of charity case?"

His firm jaw clenching was the sufficient sign I needed to draw the conclusion he was somewhere between annoyed or upset.

That makes the two of us.

"I just wanted to do something nice. There's no need to make it come across as me claiming you don't have the money to take care of yourself. I know you're more than capable of it. Now what are you having?" he muttered slowly, deliberately as if addressing a child whilst his eyes bore into mine. In those grey eyes, I could see the determination burning behind them. Saw that past the neutral expression, in those orbs laid a determination to stay seated in my office no matter how much I attempted to annoy him by refusing.

There were a lot of things in my life I had no problem fighting over. At the drop of a hat, entering into an argument was not a problem for me. Unfortunately, this was not one of those moments where I'd blow a gasket and yell. So I whispered lowly to myself- a short, blunt statement in his direction. . .

To hell with this.

Opening the door, without uttering another word, I left. Phone in hand I mentally mulled over the possible options available to sate my needs as I made my way in the direction of the kitchen. Just because he made an appearance- invading my space didn't mean I had to subject myself to his presence.

Scrolling through the menu, eyes plastered on the device in hand, it's not long before I feel it being ripped from my hands. Shocked and perplexed at the loss of my second limb. My rage-filled eyes landed on the culprit whose smile of victory had me balling my hands into fists.

"I already bought us some food, and don't you think it's a little rude to just leave your guests like that?" he lightly inquired ignoring my obvious anger as he crossed his arms, moving away when he saw me advancing towards him. Scenarios building in my head at the possible ways I could hurt him.

"I never invited you here! So stop acting like a complete ass! And give me back my phone!" I snapped reaching out only to have my hands smacked away as he lifted the phone away from his body smiling down at me. To everyone else, it would have seemed comical, with the way my 5'5 frame kept attempting to overpower his body that easily towered over mine.

Exasperated, I resorted to smacking him, landing blows on any part of him I could reach. He grew displeased in very little time, his frown deepening at my antics that even I could admit were a bit childish.

But when someone else takes your phone, what would you honestly do?

The only other person who ever irritated me this much was Tim. And back then just the mere mention of threatening to tell our mother what he was doing when we were young would make him stop. Obviously, in this situation, I couldn't do that.

"Stop being so difficult!" he snapped wrapping his arm around my body halting my hands' eager pursuit to land another blow on him. The abrupt action had me tumbling ungracefully into his chest.

Only a few inches remained between both our faces. He stared down at me, his pink lips pulled into a scowl to rival the glare sitting proudly on my face.

His arm tightened around me considerably the longer he held me, I grew frantic moving my arms to push him away and even attempted to bend my knee hoping to make contact with his crotch. However, the ass anticipated it releasing me before I had the chance to complete the goal.

Panting, I clench my jaw ignoring the slight flutters choosing instead to focus only on my rage. I stomped away ready to call the security.

"Wait- look I'll give you back your phone. I-"

"Hand it over," I grumbled turning to stretch my hand out as I tapped my foot impatiently on the floor; he ran his hand through his hair the panic evident as he moved tentatively towards me. By the time he closed the distance between us to stand in front of me making me tilt my head back my frown refusing to waver, a small smile was splayed on his lips.

"Break bread with me first," he mumbled innocently biting his bottom lip.

"What the hell is your problem? Do you really have nothing else to do in your life? For god sake man, just-" I paused closing my eyes momentarily when I felt a slight twinge of pain in my head.

Reopening my eyes, his gaze softened significantly when he saw me rub my forehead- desperate to relieve the incoming pain." It wasn't my intention to annoy you. . . I swear. My honest aim was for us to be on better terms with each other- that's all," he raised his hands in surrender.

"Why? Why is it so important to you if we get on good terms with one another? You're free to get all cosy with my mother without so much as caring whether I exist or not."

He looked away, shuffling on his feet, indeed he was slowly turning into an odd character whose change in demeanour was confusing as much as it was unusual. One minute he holds a certain edge of confidence that suddenly diminishes turning him into a nervous individual incapable of staying still.

"I-I know that. Your mom has been nothing but nice to me. If you only knew. . ." he mumbled incoherent words under his breath as he stared at the floor.

He really was strange.

"Can we just go back to your office? We don't even have to talk, we can just sit whilst we drift off on separate paths in our heads," he proposed stepping cautiously towards me placing the phone back into my hand. "I apologize for taking it in the first place, it was wrong and immature. So I'll try a different approach."

"Which is?" I snapped tightening my grip on the device to refrain from reaching out to choke him.

"I'm going back to your office," he began slowly, and wait. My brows raised in confusion the more I listened to him seem to choose his words carefully." It was wrong of me to push you like that. It really is up to you what you decide but avoiding me is futile because I'll still be there waiting- you can call the security, throw a tantrum if you like but I'll still keep trying," he said with assertion burning in his eyes.

Without waiting for my response, he turned on his heel, leaving me behind to stare at his retreating profile.

I cursed under my breath, burning a hole into his back as he walked away with not one ounce of care in the world.

But why in the world was he wasting his time on me?

In every attempt I made to fall into some routine similar to that of normalcy- he kept showing up. If he had acted the way I assumed many of his kind would, maybe the small voice in my head wouldn't be telling me to follow him.

To take a chance and actually crack the mystery of this man

He had way too much persistence for someone simply attempting to. . . 'be my friend'

There was more to it.

A lot more.

I took a step forward, close to following him- until the images of Tim entered my mind. The pain he went through when he was innocent, yet the pavement soaked up his blood to sate its perpetual hunger for more men like him.

That's when I felt the voice fade.

Fade away into oblivion.

I hardened my stance forcing my body to turn the opposite direction determined to never look back. Unwilling to look back as I moved towards where I knew the security guard would be.