MARIANNA

By the time Lucas and I are done talkiing and having a time pass, it is already evening.

"I think I should get going." I state, looking into my wristwatch. Shit, I have plans with Marvin tonight.

"Alright. I'll drop you off." He stretches his hand for me to take and I simply choose to ignore it instead.

"Ouch. That hurt." He sighs and picks up a piece of serviette to clean his hand before placing them in his pockets. Nice back up.

"Next time, keep them where they belong." I reprimand, walking to make payment.

"The bill has already been paid for, ma'am." I turn, glare at Lucas and match to the car, annoyed. I just TRY to keep my emotions in check because one, he's helping out. Two, he's my ride home.

Meanwhile, the object of my annoyance walks to the car, very calm with just one hand now in his pocket.

He walks pass me and gets into the car, turning on the ignition. Tilting his head towards the window by my side, he knocks on it before winding down.

"Are you coming in or what?" He asks. With an eye roll sent his way, I attempt to open the door and it is locked.

"Open the door, you goddamn idiot!" A hiss leaves my mouth as a result of this.

Instead, this man winds up and laughs at my expense. I stalk towards his seat and open the door with so much force, trying to reach out for my door, not paying attention to the effect of my action.

"Come here." Is all I hear and in a jiffy I'm sitting on his laps. While he uses one hand to hold me in place, he uses the other to unlock the door.

"Let me go, you idiot." I constantly hiss at his action and the fact that I don't want my body to betray me any time soon.

"Shhh.." He says, placing his finger on my lips. Next thing, he tucks my hair behind my ears and starts to stare at me.

"You need to calm down, Marianna. And we'll start by this." He dips his hand into my hair, takes off my scrunchy and begins to assault my senses with a hand by giving me a head massage.

Soon enough, I begin to feel my body relax on its own and I don't know when a satisfactory sigh escapes my lips.

"You see, I told you. You just needed to calm down." After a while, he places me back on my feet and stands up.

"My scrunchy." I ask him, stretching out my hand and opening my palm.

"I'll keep it. You look better with your hair down, anyway." I roll my eyes at his somewhat compliment.

"Yeah but that is not professional." I point out.

"Screw professionalism." He chuckles and lifts me off the floor, into his arms. I wanted to protest but decide against it. I might as well enjoy a human elevator. The people i2j the parking lot begin giving us fond smiles. This man is well known. I am scared of a scandal. Shit!

Wait. Why am I being paranoid?

He rounds the edges of the car and opens up the door leading to the front seat, drops me in the seat, helps with tucking in the seat belt and walks back to his.

While we head to mine, he tries to bring up small talk by asking some questions. I respond to some but to others, I completely shun him.

At long last, we arrive and I let out a breath of air that I never knew I was holding in.

"Thank you." I smile at him, my hand already at the door.

"You are welcome. Hope to see you tomorrow." He nods before smiling.

Tomorrow. Urghhh. I need to alert the HR team. Stepping out of his car, I shut the door and wave goodbye at him. Things seem to be softening between the both of us as the earlier tension has reduced. For starters, he is nicer now. Keyword, nicer. He is still mean, no doubt.

I wait for his car to leave the driveway before I head to my building complex. Taking the elevator to my floor, I hum a soft tune to myself.

It's just 7pm and my date with Marvin is by 8pm. So, I have just an hour to do everything. Great! Note my sarcasm.

Anyways, that shouldn't be something to spoil my mood. I really look forward to my date. It is a welcome distraction from the whole stress these past days.

Stepping out of the elevator, I head to my apartment. Immediately my door opens, I am speechless. My hand goes to my mouth in total shock.

How did this happen? The apartment is completely upside down. Like it was trashed. There was a break in, leaving nothing good to my imagination. Fear grips me and I know I can't enter this place by myself.

What's happening to my whole day?

Fumbling, I decide to call Marvin but halfway through the call, I abruptly stop dialling him. If my instincts are right, this is definitely linked to the office saga and I remember Lucas telling me not to let anyone in on the mess. Shit!

I dial his number instead.

"Lucas." I say over the phone in a cold voice.

"Missing me already?" He teases.

"Lucas. My house. Break in." That's all I can say before my phone slips off my hand and I go along with it. I'm not unconscious, I'm just weak and tired of this hell of a day.

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LUCAS

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" I curse, when I hear nothing after that. Immediately, I reverse and turn back to her place.

I have been doing alot of U-turns lately, all because of this one woman. The moment my car stops, I walk as fast as I could to the building, scared of a possible danger. I call her phone again. It rings but she doesn't pick it up, making me immediately alert.

I check the building directory and immediately spot her name and apartment complex and dial André.

"André, Marianna is in danger."

"Woah, hold on. Marianna, as in your Marianna?" This fool!

"Yes, dammit. Turning in my tracker now. Alert the others. Please come here now." Immediately, I end the call and step into the elevator. Right now, I am very impatient and time seems to be running slow on my end.

Shit! I should have gone up with her. I wanted to, but I shrugged off the thought as fast as it came. Now, she's unsafe.

"Marianna!" I scream once I step out.

"Lucas?" She asks. I follow the vou2ce and see her sprawled on the floor, her phone beside her.

"You... you came." She says, not believing her eyes.

"Of course, I would. Why won't I?" I could see how hollow her eyes are. The fear; she scared. Very scared. I take her in my arms and begin cooing at her, in a bid to keep her calm.

"Let's wait for the boys, please." She just nods her head in agreement, leaning into my embrace. And that's when I hear it, a sob. It escapes her lips and I hold on tight to her.

"It's alright. Everything will be okay. I promise." She nods quietly, still crying. I honestly hate seeing her cry, so I don't look at her. Instead, I keep consoling her.

"Shit. What happened here?" It's Nick speaking.

"Marianna." Fabian calls out, looking at her before stepping into the apartment.

After all three of them scan through the apartment and see that it's safe to go in, they inform us.

"She can't stay here tonight." André says.

"Definitely." I nod in agreement.

"Let me call Marvin. I'll stay at his." She says in a quiet voice.

"No. Don't call him." Nick immediately gives me a knowing glare before smirking.

"But I need a place to stay." She pulls out, looking at me with glossy eyes.

"Oh, don't be rudiculous. How can I have a home and that you need a place to stay and can't help you. You're coming to mine and that's final." The Marianna I have come to know would have argued it but she just nods, allowing me to lift her frame.

Meanwhile the boys exchange glances amongst themselves and smirk. I'm grateful for their presence, though. Especially Nick; he's hoing through a rough patch, even if he thinks he hides it perfectly. Still, he showed up.

All through the ride to my house, I keep stealing glances at her, making a slient reaffirmation to myself.

I must get to the root of this.