Picking Her Up

In the darkness of the night, disdain wrapped around the man's handsome features as intermittent stars cast a dim light, flickering now bright, now shadowed. The man's brows were knotted in frustration, deeply inhaling the smoke, yet unable to ease the tension in his forehead.

The driver, sitting upright at the wheel, dared not utter a word. It had been ten minutes since they returned, with Damien Sterling chain-smoking one cigarette after another. 

"Why hasn't she returned yet?" Damien asked, irritation lacing his voice as he tapped the cigarette in his hand, directing his impatience towards the driver in front.

Glancing at his watch, the driver replied cautiously, "Though it's a short drive from where we were, walking would take at least thirty minutes." After speaking, he kept a wary eye on Damien through the rearview mirror, anxious not to upset him further.