It Was A Misunderstanding

Nolan's sleek car glided into the venue, its tires humming on the pavement. Unbeknownst to him, a message from Kiara lingered in the digital realm. As he stepped out, the ambient chatter of the restaurant embraced him.

The glass façade granted him a glimpse, and there she was—Kiara, seated in solitude, an air of anticipation around her.

His entrance was met with a wave, an attempt to signal his arrival. Yet, as his hand descended, a disheartening tableau unfolded – a man, back turned, approached her and took a seat.

Nolan strained to discern the man's features, but a veil of uncertainty shrouded the encounter.

Disappointment etched across Nolan's face, a narrative of unspoken expectations lingered in the air as he navigated through the entrance.

—

"Apologies, I needed a swift restroom break. Quickly, jot down those points; we must swiftly return to our duties," Darren urged, a sense of urgency in his tone.

"Understood, sir," Kiara acknowledged with a nod, deftly securing the points on paper. The atmosphere was charged with a palpable sense of haste, a fleeting pause in the midst of their workday hustle.

As they exited the venue, Darren's voice cut through the ambient sounds. "Are you joining me, or do you prefer a cab to work?" Pride laced his words, emphasizing his offer.

"Thank you, I'll manage from here," Kiara replied, her response carrying a subtle effort to maintain her dignity.

"Quit the act. Drop the pride and hop in," Darren asserted, challenging the facade of indifference Kiara attempted to uphold.

After a moment of contemplation, realizing the scarcity of cabs, Kiara reluctantly acquiesced. "Fine, I'll join you. I'll compensate you for the ride," she conceded, acknowledging the practicality of the situation.

"You can donate that money to the needy. As you can see, I don't need it; I already have enough," Darren boasted, his tone exuding a hint of arrogance as he kick-started the car, the engine's roar punctuating the air with an audacious declaration.

Glancing out of the window, Kiara's anticipation for returning to work heightened. The prospect of spending more time in the car with Darren stirred a sense of discomfort, pushing her eagerness to reach her workplace.

—-

As they stepped into the bustling office, the hum of activity momentarily hushed. All eyes turned toward Kiara and Darren, casting a ripple of curiosity through the air.

The workers exchanged glances, their usual chatter fading into a low murmur as the duo made their way through the office.

Kiara, with an air of purpose, navigated toward her office space, while Darren veered toward his, strategically distancing himself from the watchful gazes of his colleagues.

The silent buzz of speculation filled the room as side conversations sprouted like whispered vines, weaving a network of intrigue.

Amidst the curious glances and exchanged whispers, a voice cut through the subdued atmosphere, breaking the tension:

"How did it go?" Kayla inquired, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Pff, how annoying," Kiara muttered dismissively as she nonchalantly dropped her bag onto her desk. The weight of her frustration lingered in the air.

"What's the matter?" Kayla pressed further, concerned, knitting her brows. "How bad did it go?

"Well… I and Darren seem to have met even before," Kiara began, her tone tinged with reluctance as she recounted the tale.

"And we are not really on good terms, to be precise."

"How is that possible?" Kayla questioned, her disbelief evident in her expression.

"Well, there was a misunderstanding, and we haven't been on good terms since then," Kiara explained, her gaze lingering somewhere between nostalgia and frustration.

"Am I the only one he proves audacious to?" Kiara asked, her words laden with a mix of confusion and irritation.

"He doesn't look bad to me," Kayla replied, her attempt to offer a different perspective.

"Why does he have to be so weird when it comes to me?" Kiara pondered, her voice carrying the weight of perplexity.

"You just have to figure out a way; besides, you two are working on something very important," Kayla advised, her eyes reflecting a blend of concern and encouragement.

"Go ahead and try to make this stop,"

"You can't continue like this for long," she urged, emphasizing the need for resolution in the lingering tension

—---

As the day neared its end, the golden hues of the setting sun painted the sky, casting a warm glow on the bustling streets.

Kiara and Kayla strolled along the pavement, the subtle hum of evening activities surrounding them. Unbeknownst to them, Nolan emerged from the shadows, his figure appearing behind them like a specter.

With a wry smile, Nolan remarked, "Guess you had another appointment today, but I wasn't informed early," his voice carrying a hint of playful accusation. "I wouldn't have taken my time to meet you there again," he added, closing the distance between them.

Kayla, intrigued by Nolan's cryptic comment, questioned, "Hey, Nolan, what's up with the statement?"

Nolan, however, seemed to disregard Kayla's inquiry, his focus squarely on Kiara.

As he approached her, a mix of emotions and disappointment painted his features.

"You just would have told me you had to be with someone else, then I would have understood," he expressed with a touch of vulnerability.

"Only for me to come over to the restaurant and see you with another person," he continued, his words laced with a complex array of feelings.

Caught off guard, Kiara sensed Nolan's unrest. "I'm sorry, Nolan, but I sent you a message, saying I wouldn't be able to see you by 2 pm," she explained calmly, her words cutting through the evening air.

Nolan, now visibly confused, asserted, "I didn't get any message."

"I had an appointment with Mr. Darren today. We had some things to work on," Kiara clarified, her tone maintaining a composed demeanor. "It came impromptu, so I just had to relay it via a text to you."

"Then It could be a glitch in the network, guess it was a misunderstanding," Kiara offered, extending an olive branch to soothe the tension.

"It's fine. For a moment, I thought you didn't take me seriously," Nolan chuckled, a faint smile returning to his face as the shadows of misunderstanding began to dissipate in the fading daylight.

"Another time it is then," Nolan responded, a genuine smile softening his features, the earlier tension evaporating.

"I owe you a date," Kiara chuckled, a lightness returning to the conversation as they continued their journey.