Chapter 13 WATCH THE TWO OF THEM

She smiled, "Yes, it's one of my favorites. But, my grandma always wanted me to eat rice for breakfast especially if I am going to work. She said that I need a heavy breakfast so if I get caught with my task, I won't get hungry easily."

"Well, she is right, you know. You'll have the energy to work."

Mary Ann just shrugged her shoulders in response.

Silence again in the room.

John started a discussion because too much silence is awkward.

"By the way, your boss's banquets will be tomorrow. Are you attending the party?" He said just to have something to talk about.

Since no one dared to speak they could only hear the sounds of plates and cutlery. Auntie Carla is also just eating and he doesn't know what topic to open up.

"Oh, yes. That will be starting around eight o'clock. For sure, you will be there," she replied as she took a bite of the hotdog.

"Hmmnn… actually, I will try to be there but I might have some commitment by that time. I will try to come. Are you spending the night in the hotel after the party or are you going home?" He asked as he took a sip of his coffee while looking at her.

"I might go home, I think. I just have to ask one of my friends who has a car to pick me up after the party." She said. She doesn't usually sleepover no matter how late the party will end. Her grandmother always tells her that she needs to go home and someone will pick her up. She did what her grandmother wanted because she didn't want her to get worried. The old woman won't sleep until she sees her come home.

"There's no need for you to do that." He said while looking at her, "I will drop you off after the party. You don't have to bother your friend." He suggested it to her while still looking at her.

Mary Ann stiffened as she heard what John said. She frowned.

She looked at him intently and she could see the sincerity in his eyes. She is wondering though why the man suddenly feels like doing that.

"But, I don't want to bother you, sir. You have been stuck here for a night already." She said in a low voice just enough for the man to hear her. "Besides, my friend used to pick me up every time I attended parties. So, there's really no need. I should be able to manage." She said as a way of declining John's offer.

"I insist. I will pick you up tomorrow night after the party. Anyway, I will try to be there so I can drop you off as soon as the party ends so grandma won't need to stay up late waiting for you. How does that sound to you, Auntie Carla?" John said. Mary Ann could hear the determination in the man's voice.

Auntie Carla, who is eating silently at the table, was a bit surprised when John turned to her and asked her about his plan.

She shook her head. He would really get an ally just to make her say yes to his offer. Thankfully, her grandmother isn't there or else she already knows what is going to happen.

Auntie Carla looked at John and nodded," That sounds like a plan. I think your grandmother, Mary Ann, would be happy for John to do that."

Mary Ann is still stunned by what the man said. But she just shrugged her shoulders in response when she heard what Auntie Carla said. "It's up to you, then. " She just said. She is a bit confused why the man is acting a bit strange.

He saw John winked at Auntie Carla. Obviously, he is pleased with what the woman answered agreeing to his plan.

Mary Ann couldn't stop to wonder what was John's reason to do things for her.

Yesterday, out of the blue, she saw him outside the building and offered a ride to her and now, here he goes again.

He insisted on dropping her off after the party. He is acting like a big brother securing his little sister. Well, she doesn't want to think more than that.

They continue eating their breakfast.

Auntie Carla is just listening to their conversation.

The woman is grinning as she watches the two of them. They are like sweethearts who eat and argue in front of the food. The old woman is wondering if they just really met.

If the old woman is just there, she will surely be happy with what she sees. She will have hope for Mary Ann's heart. The old woman loves Mary Ann so much that she only wishes her granddaughter a happy life before she leaves the earth.

Since she started working as their family helper, she never saw Mary Ann having a boyfriend. She never brought a man in the house except for last night.

She hasn't even met the father of her child, Baby Annie.

Mary Ann was two months pregnant when they moved to this place.

She is very kind and used to be at home and school though she is still like that even now that she is already working. She is a loving grandchild to her grandmother.

Auntie Carla isn't aware that Mary Ann is dating anyone even though she often received gifts from those guys who admire her.

Sometimes, there are different bouquets of flowers delivered at their house, chocolates, and many other things that usually admirers send to the woman to impress or so the woman will notice them.

But, Mary Ann never looked at anyone. She doesn't easily get carried away by the words from her admirers or the things that they could offer her.

They finished their breakfast.

Mary Ann excuses herself to get dressed, so she can go to work.

John nodded, "Go ahead, I'll wait for you to take you to your working place before I go home and go to work." He told her while smiling.

"Alright. I will be quick."

John's cell phone suddenly rang when they were almost at Mary Ann's workplace.

"Hello," John answered on the phone.

"Sir, let me just remind you of your meeting at elite enterprises at 8:30." The other line said. It is his staff.

"Okay, Jay. Don't worry. I will come. I'm on my way now. Can you please prepare the clothes that I will wear for the meeting?"

"Yes sir," The other line answered and then the call ended.

Mary Ann was looking at the man beside her whose eyes are currently on the road.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience." She said in a very low voice. It seems that the man will be late for his meeting because he needed to drop her.

"Why do you say that?" John said as he tried to look at her but quickly put back his eyes on the road.

"I heard that you have a meeting at eight-thirty and you are still on the road with me. How can you go home and change into office attire? I guess. You don't have any time and might get late because of me." She explained.

"It's okay. Don't worry. I'll go straight to the office and take a shower there. I got all my stuff there just in case something happens that I am unable to go home. So, you don't really have to worry," John looked at Mary Ann again, hoping that what he said would comfort and make her feel less guilty.

After five minutes, they arrived in front of the building where Mary Ann works, and the woman got out of the car.

"Sir John. Thank you for the ride." Mary Ann smiled at him. The woman turned her back and quickly went inside the building.

The man left as soon as Mary Ann entered the building so he could prepare himself for his meeting.

Just before lunchtime, when John arrives at Adrian's office.

He noticed that Mary Ann was not at her desk.

He knocks on the door before entering Adrian's office.

He saw Mary Ann sitting on the sofa inside Adrian's office. There are a lot of documents piled in front of her.

"Hey, what brought you here?" Adrian said to the man who just entered the room and whose gaze was in his personal assistant who is currently checking the files.

Adrian just shook his head.

He knew that John didn't hear him, so he took a paper and then he crumpled it like a ball.

He threw it to John and the man is back to his senses.

He looks at Adrian "It's almost lunch. Won't your employee be having a break?" His eyes are back with Mary Ann who is still busy.

The woman didn't even bother to raise her head.

Or maybe because she was too focus on what she's doing.

She has no idea what's going on in her surroundings.