Chapter 14 MARY ANN WAS STUNNED!

Adrian just smiled, "Why don't you just tell me if you want to invite her for lunch?" he said to John.

John chuckled, "Well, I hope that would just be okay?" He asked his friend.

"Well, of course. It should be okay." Adrian answered as they were both looking at the woman who was busy organizing the files in front of her.

"Adrian," John called his friend.

"Yes?"

"Can you help me, please?" John said in a very low voice that Adrian couldn't hear it.

"What?"

"I said, can you help me take her out for lunch?"

Adrian laughed at his friend.

"What's funny?" John's eyebrow narrowed.

"Nothing, bro." He was still laughing.

"Adrian, please?"

Adrian is a bit surprised. He didn't think that John is shy when it comes to women.

When they were still studying, women chased them.

They received letters from different women during valentine's day or even flowers.

He shook his head, he couldn't imagine that his friend, John, is like a cat in front of her personal assistant.

He couldn't even invite her out for lunch.

"Alright, I will help you okay." He said, smiling at John. "I just can't believe you are acting like that."

"Like what?"

"Like a teenager who is very shy to her crush."

John picked up the crumpled paper and threw it to Adrian this time.

"Oh, bro. Relax." Adrian said, still teasing his friend.

"Mary Ann…" Adrian called his personal assistant. " Stop whatever you are doing, let's go and have lunch out first."

Mary Ann stopped what she was doing when she heard her boss calling out her name. She is too busy because there are a lot of files that need to be organized and she needs to finish them today or else her task will pile up.

She looked at her watch. It's already past twelve. She didn't notice the time.

She raised her head to look at her boss but she only didn't see her boss. John is also sitting in front of her boss' desk.

Mary Ann doesn't know whether to smile or say hi to the man in front of her boss. But, why is he here again?

"Oh, maybe they are having a business meeting." She said to herself.

"Mary Ann. Go with us. Join me and John for lunch." She heard her boss speak again. She stands up quickly because he might think that she isn't listening to her.

"Okay, sir. Let me just go and get my bag." She hurriedly went out of her boss's office and went to her table.

They all went out of the office and when they were already downstairs when Adrian spoke again.

"Mary Ann goes with John." He said to her surprise. " I have to go back to the office as I forgot the key to my car. Go and I will just follow you," he said.

Mary couldn't say a word after hearing what her boss just said. What can she do? She doesn't have the right to protest and if she will come back with him upstairs, they might think she is avoiding John.

They might wonder why. She let out a deep sigh.

Why of all the times that her boss could forget his key is when they are with John?"

"Come on, Mary Ann," John called her. "He will follow us," he added and he smiled first. John is aware that Adrian is just making up the excuse. He is just playing jerk or let's say this is his way of helping him with Mary Ann.

Still confused with what's going on and wondering what's happening, Mary Ann just followed John.

They were already far from the building when John spoke and took a glance at her.

"How are you, Mary Ann?" He asked to call her attention. She didn't say a word since they were in the car. It's a bit awkward because her boss isn't around just like the first time they had lunch.

"I am good. Thank you again for what you have done yesterday."

"Don't mention it. So, how do you find your work with Adrian?" He suddenly asked while his attention was still on the road.

"Well, I am enjoying it. It's actually good." She replied looking at the man. Well, that's true. She doesn't need to drag herself every morning to get up for work. She always looks forward to coming into the office.

"What do you want for lunch?" John asked her.

"Anything sir, anything that you prefer to eat will do,'' she replied.

"Can you just call me, John?" He looked at the woman intently." I thought you already considered me as your friend since I already slept in your house last night." John suggested.

Mary Ann shrugged, "Alright, John. If you say so," She answered.

"That sounds better." John smiled at her."Adrian is your boss but I am your friend." Then, he winked at her.

After a couple of minutes of driving, John finally parked the car.

They are in front of a Chinese restaurant. One of those fancy Chinese restaurants. She could see the staff dressed up in a Chinese costume.

They are polite and approach each of their customers.

John pulled a chair for her.

Suddenly, the man's phone rang when they were already checking the menu.

"Excuse me," John said before he answered the call.

Mary Ann saw Adrian's name on the phone screen.

"Bro, can you just bring back Mary Ann here later?" The man on the other line asked.

"Why?"

"I cannot go anymore with you because something important came up and I cannot delay it." His friend said. "Can you just order food for me and give it to Mary Ann?"

John stared at Mary Ann while talking to Adrian. The woman was busy looking at the menu and he didn't know if she could hear them talking.

He is aware that Adrian is just making excuses again.

"Okay bro, no worries" and they end up the call.

"Mary Ann…" he called her attention.

Mary Ann looked up at him.

"Adrian just called in. He said he cannot follow us because something came up in the office."

He's waiting for her reaction.

Mary Ann is surprised. Did her boss didn't follow them on purpose? For all she knew, he didn't have any meeting.

John suddenly spoke again when he didn't hear any answer from the woman, "Adrian said he had something important to do, so he could not come and he said for you to bring him food once you are back."

Mary Ann just nods her head.

John secretly smiled at what his friend had done. He isn't mistaken to ask for his help. He is really smart.

"Mary Ann, how long have you been working at Romano company?" He asked the woman to start a conversation and to remove the awkward moment.

"I am just new. I just got hired three months ago." She replied.

"Oh, I see. You are still a newbie in the company. But, you know what? You are lucky to be my best friend's personal assistant." Then, he smirked.

Mary Ann's eyebrows narrowed. She didn't get what the man just said by her being lucky. "I am sorry but what do you mean, John?" She asked him out of curiosity.

"Oh, what I mean is. My best friend Adrian is such a kind and understandable person. He is soft-hearted so since you are just new, it's good to have a boss like him." He smiled. "I am sure, you have been with him for a couple of months so you should be aware of that."

Mary Ann nodded, "Yes, you're right. He is patient with me and always ready to answer my questions" she replied. Adrian, her boss, never put pressure on her. If there's something that she couldn't get quickly or understand, he will patiently explain it to her and teach her how to do it. He is one of the reasons why she enjoys going to work.

Finally, they have already decided what to order.

"Can we just get my boss food after we eat? So, it will still be hot when I get to the office?" Mary Ann said to John.

"Yes, of course," John said. " Mary Ann, I hope you don't mind if I ask you a personal question?'' He looked at Mary Ann with sincerity in his eyes.

The woman felt a bit nervous but managed to answer him, "Sure, what is it?" Then, she smiled even though she was wondering what his question would be to her.

"Mary Ann, do you have a boyfriend?" John said without beating around the bush. The man looked at him directly in her eyes. He is waiting for her answer to his question.

Her eyes widened because of shock. She didn't expect the question that had been thrown at her. She felt her heart skip a beat on what she just heard.