After a frantic change of clothes and a quick reapplication of makeup, Kirana rushed out of the house and got into Stephan's waiting car. The clock already read 7:50 AM, and she was due at work at 8:00. Her lateness was now inevitable, and she silently cursed Stephan for the watery mishap that had caused this domino effect. ⌚
Stephan drove as fast as he could through the morning traffic, glancing repeatedly at the tense, silent woman beside him. Despite his efforts, the congested roads slowed them down. Finally, at 8:05, he pulled up near her office building.
Kirana immediately tried to open her door, but it was stuck. Frustration and panic boiled over. "This stupid door is jammed! Why won't it open?!" she exclaimed, her voice tight with stress. 😡
"I didn't lock it; it might be stuck from the outside. Let me check," Stephan said calmly. He got out, walked around, and with a firm tug from the outside, freed the door. Kirana spilled out onto the pavement without so much as a backward glance or a thank you, breaking into a run towards the office entrance. Stephan watched her sprint away, a small, amused smile touching his lips before he got back in his car and drove off.
All of this unfolded under the watchful eyes of Yusuf, who had been observing the street from his office window, waiting for Kirana's arrival. He had seen the same car from the other night drop her off, confirming his suspicion. He watched as she was let out and then bolted inside, clearly late and flustered. 😕
A tight knot of unresolved curiosity and something sharper twisted in his chest. Without a second thought, Yusuf left his office and headed downstairs, determined to intercept her and finally get some answers.
The professional boundary he tried to maintain was crumbling, replaced by a driving need to know who the man in the car was and what he meant to Kirana. 😑