Chapter eighty; caught?

"How do you know that?" She asked accompanied by a captivating smile.

"What? Face beat?" He inquired curiously.

"I don't know, the internet..." He said making an 'i don't know' expression. 

"If it's not from the internet, then it's just one of those things you just know without knowing how,"

"Okay," Amanda responded still with a smile.

"I love it by the way," Raymond said before proceeding to move towards his office.

"Thank you," she responded.

The day was going great, only that Rebecca had decided to be a little too zealous that day. She was almost as early as herself that day. She had asked that she helped her arrange everything Ray would need, which she did.

Some minutes after he arrived, she took in his coffee. She also gave him the reports he needed.

It was time for her lunch break with Mark, and just exactly 12:30, Ray had called her into his office.

She stepped into his office, she noticed his gaze brightened up a little as a smile escaped the side of his lips.

"What is it today?" He asked.

"You looking extremely dashing today," a full-blown smile had now curled on his lips. 

"Thank you," she said, getting a little shy but snapped right out of it.

"I need a cup of coffee," he said.

"I thought Rebecca got you one," she responded innocently only wanting to clarify that. 

Her attention was now brought to the other end of his table where an untampered cup of coffee sat.

"Isn't it over there?" She asked.

"Yea, but I'd rather not mess with it," he said, resting on his chair and rolling it side by side slowly.

"Oh," she let out, realizing what the issue was. He didn't trust Rebecca with his food. He didn't blame him, Rebecca looked malicious and spiteful, and she saw through all her smile.

"I know it's lunch break already, but you can get it when you're done with your lunch."

"Oh, okay," she said.

" Is there any other thing you'd like me to get for you? She asked 

"No, for now,"

It was 12:45 pm, she was making her way outside and soon got out of the building.

She saw Mark's car packed just adjacent Blazzer HQ.

She got to the car, reached the car handle, opening and stepped in.

Maybe she had previously forgotten, but now being in Mark's car alone reminded her how it looked from other people's view. How could she go from dating Ray, the CEO to dating Mark, his employee? It was disrespectful to Ray, and some people might even think that maybe she and Mark might have been sneaky with it even when she was still with Ray.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

She had been extremely quiet for the few seconds he found herself in that car, so it was justifiable if he wondered if she was okay. 

"Yea," she responded.

He had driven off, they had several chit-chats before they got to their destination. Their destination was a local tacos place.

"I know it doesn't look fancy from here, but I promise you that what their meal taste like is just out of this world." He freed himself from his seat belt and so did she. 

"Fingers crossed," she said with a smile, tilting her eyebrows. 

"I promise," he said.

"Let's go then," she was beginning to get inpatient about sitting and just anticipating from afar.

He got out of the car and so did she. 

The place didn't look bad, it was an outdoor taco place, designed and patterned with little vegetable gardens. She loved it. They moved to a very cozy and private spot before the waiter came with their menu. 

Since she wasn't familiar with the place, she had let Mark place the order.

They had a little chat while they waited for their order. She had discovered Mark was from the french part of Canada which she wasn't very familiar with. He said he had figured she laid claim to Africa because he had seen her wear some very nicely made Antara blouses which were of course made into western Designs.

Their Tacos had been served and while they ate, they got to know each other better. Mark was from an average family, they weren't poor nor were rich either. He had managed to make something out of himself by graduating from one of the engineering colleges in the country. He was doing well, he was also obviously paid well since he was the youngest senior engineer in Blazzer HQ. 

The Tacos reached the expectations Mark had kept it. It was the best she ever had in the country so, yea, this lunch was worth it.

Before Amanda knew it, they had spent over two hours there. She immediately reached her pause to see several missed calls from Raymond and Lang. 

She figured Ray needed her or something else before she remembered he requested she got him a cup of coffee.

"Oh shit!" She let out.

"What is it?" Mark asked.

"We have spent past the expected time," she said.

"I informed my supervisor that I will be needing at least 3 hours. You only came out with the usual 45 minutes break?" He asked and Amanda nodded before she proceeded to call Lang. She figured it was the safest, to know what was going on.

"Hey, you back?" Lang asked just as soon as she answered the call.

"No, about to," 

"Where are you?" She heard Lang's curiosity heighten.

" I went to have lunch," Amanda responded.

"Isn't two hours too much for a usual lunch break?" Lang asked nonchalantly. 

"And it's actually weird because you never go without me, so, what's new? Oh, wait, who did you go out to lunch break with?

Mark?

Shit, no wonder you looked so different today.

And you didn't even think to tell me? 

You are a terrible friend."

Amanda looked over at Mark who happened the be the only reason she did not debunk that conclusion immediately.

"We will talk about this later, did Raymond ask of me?"

"Yea, he did, he said you were not taking your calls, so he wanted to know if you were with me."

"Okay, I will be there soon," Amanda said before ending the call.

"He is really that terrifying, is he?" Mark asked and she knew he was referring to Raymond.

"You are almost shaking. We should get back." 

Amanda didn't know why she felt this tensed, maybe it was because she was with Mark. If she had gone running a personal errand and then experience delay, she would not have felt this tense.

"You can get to the car, I need to make a call," she said.

Mark had left her and went back to the car.

She dialed Ray's number and he answered after a few rings.

"Where are you?" He asked boldly, but not harshly.

"I went for lunch, but I needed to run an errand after," she said. Why did she lie? She wasn't sure, she just knew that she had to. If she had just left it at "I went for lunch," it would warrant more questions like why she was taking so long with just lunch. 

"Okay, please get back as soon as possible," 

"I will be there before you know it," she responded before ending the call and taking a deep breath.

She was now back in the car with Mark, who took a quick glance at her, starting the car and asking if "she was okay."

"Much better now," 

"Good to know," he responded.

They had a few discussions on their way back. She discovered that Mark was an easy-going person, cheerful and funny. He was perfect for most women, but she wasn't sure he was for her.

He would have pulled over for her to get out of the car in Infront of Blazzer, but she didn't want attention, so she decided that she would drop by the company's parking lot, to ease attention.

Mark had pulled over just by the side before the parking lot entrance. 

She noticed him silently taking a deep breath before she heard him speak.

"I had a great time with you today." 

She turned as her eyes now met his, but she looked away almost immediately.

'yea, it wasn't bad, but can I go now?' if her thoughts could be heard, then he would have heard her screen this out.

"Same here,"  she said, reaching the door knob but didn't open it, she wanted to get the idea of her wanting to leave there communicated to him.

"You should get going," he said with a smile that Amanda happened to see, and she had to be honest, Mark didn't seem bad at all. 

Maybe she could think about that later, but for now, she didn't want to be seen there with him.

"Yea, I should," she said as she opened the car.

"Thank you for the wonderful lunch," she said and meaning it before she heard him respond with  "you're welcome." 

She stepped out, but yet to shut the door before her eyes saw what her mind was afraid to understand.

"Was that Ray's car?"