Infuriating

For hours on end, Alana looked through the vast network of the internet, immersing herself in an infinite number of articles detailing the Killian establishment. With an immediate click, she closed her phone and set it down beside her.

The man in question displays an air of danger and aloofness that is impossible to ignore. His wealth and magnetic pull towards women only add to his mystique, leaving her to feel a sense of pity for any woman who may become entangled with him.

The social pressures surrounding such a relationship are undoubtedly daunting. Her body trembles as she rubs her arms, a clear indication of her fear towards him.

The sudden ringing of her phone jolted her from her thoughts, and her eyes were met with the name "Dad" flashing on the caller ID. With a rush, she grasped the phone, eager to finally speak with him after missing the opportunity earlier.

"Hello dad, i missed you".

With a chuckle, he remarked,

"Ah, there's my favorite daughter."

"Dad, I am your only daughter."

A chuckle escaped her lips, fully aware that her father had also mentioned Jake as his favorite son. Her mind drifted back to the time when her father had expressed deep concern over her altered mental state, following the unfortunate events that transpired during the wedding. With unwavering determination, she devoted herself to the challenging task of self-healing. Her efforts were not solely for her own benefit but also for the sake of Jake and Aunty Mei, whom she held dear. Perhaps Karina too.

"Dad, avoid overworking yourself."

"Consider retiring and leaving everything to Jake," she gently suggested, mindful of his advancing years.

She observed that he was constantly concerned about her well-being.

"It is my responsibility to worry for you.You are all alone in the city, and I cannot bear the thought of you facing any challenges alone. Let Aunty Mei come to help you; she is extremely worried for your well-being and has been shedding tears daily when she thinks of you living alone."

"Dad," she said with a firm voice,

"I am now a grownup."

"I am fully capable of looking after myself."

The crackling sound of the phone reverberated through the line. Lana's eyes remained fixed on her phone, wary of any potential loss of service. However, the moment she brought the device back to her ear, she was met with the soothing sound of Aunty Mei's voice.

"Lana, i miss you, I will pay you a visit soon! do not refuse me!" she implored.

With a pout, she uttered, "Aunty Mei, I'm not a baby anymore,"

even though deep down she longed for her presence to whip up some delicious meals. Should she convey a sense of desperation, her father would undoubtedly veto her return to Beaufort City.

"You, my child, are the apple of my eye, my precious little one."

"I will return the following week, for my leave has already been approved".

The piercing sound of three voices in unison echoed through the phone as they screamed, "Nooooooooooo," at her.

"Next week it won't be necessary for you to return," Jake stated firmly through the phone. "We'll come to you instead."

The query arose in Alana's mind as she pondered the collective behavior of those around her.

With a perplexed expression, she bid farewell to the person on the other end of the line.

"No need to worry; I will return next week." she uttered before ending the call. Her mind was consumed with thoughts about the peculiar situation.

After indulging in a refreshing shower, she elegantly fashioned her hair into a sleek ponytail. Clad in a comfortable ensemble of shorts and a blouse, she deftly slid her feet into a pair of stylish wedge sandals before retrieving the car key for the workshop. With a three-hour drive to visit her family looming ahead, she knew it was time to have her car checked and serviced. As soon as she started her shift, she realized that accomplishing any of her household tasks would be an unattainable feat.

Simultaneously, Xavier left his unit and departed alongside Alana, both exiting through the entryway in unison. Their eyes met briefly, and Alana offered a subtle nod of acknowledgement before making her way towards the elevator. He trailed behind her, silently falling into step. As she strode along, a realization dawned upon her: no matter what, she and he were destined to cross paths time and time again. One must make peace with the situation and continue forward.

"Are you headed to work?" she asked, as they both stood waiting for the elevator to ascend to their designated floor.

He responded to her with a frigid demeanor in a simple "Yea." She bit her tongue and let out a whistle, shattering the uncomfortable silence. She suddenly realized that she had completely forgotten about having devoured his food earlier.

"Today's not a workday for you," he said at last.

"I am off for three days, during which I plan to send my car to the workshop."

As she reflects on her tendency to chatter incessantly in his presence, she can't help but wonder if his imposing demeanor has rendered her a jittery conversationalist.

"What seems to be the issue with your vehicle?"

As the elevator doors parted, she gracefully stepped inside, with him chivalrously holding the door open for her. He trailed behind her as she walked, until the door closed behind them. They both reached for the button to descend to the basement level, but Alana hesitated and withdrew her finger after he had already pressed it.

"The unforeseen event happened when my vehicle collided with the rear end of a Bentley." "I was exhausted and starving; I found myself unfocused last night."

He maintained his silence, seemingly disregarding her presence. Despite Xavier's silence, Alana persisted in her nervous chatter.

"The man's mannerisms were far from friendly." "Regardless of my offer to pay, he suggested different methods of payment in the event that I lacked the money."

With a sudden jolt of surprise, his eyes widened as he repeated the question,

"He said what?"

"Don't worry, I managed to strike him quite good!" With quick movement, I dabbed him on his chin and delivered a forceful kick to his groin. I reached for my checkbook to provide compensation to him when I realized my pen was nowhere to be found. Instead, I retrieved the card you had given me and, with a stern warning, threatened to involve the authorities if necessary.

With a chuckle, she surmised that the man's fear stopped him from accepting a refund, perhaps even provoking him to consider involving law enforcement.

As soon as the elevator arrived in the basement, he poked her forehead and uttered,

"You are stupid, you know that?"

"OUCH!!"    With a swift motion, Alana reached up and delicately placed her hand over her forehead.

"The reason for the fear did not stem from your wanting to call the cops, but instead came from the card that I had handed over to you."

With a statement that left her bewildered, he walked away.

"You don't need to poke me." "That is an act of assault."

With a swift motion, she raised her hand and extended her middle finger in a defiant gesture, directed at his retreating figure.

He abruptly halted and pivoted to confront her; she deftly concealed her hand behind her back and averted her gaze, feigning innocence.

"You, my dear, are absolutely infuriating!  You have a tendency to be a chatterbox. "It's amazing your patient can't understand you."

With a derisive sound, she expressed her disbelief.

Unbelievable!    

"I'm a veterinarian because I am smart!" She murmured to herself, already adding to her dislike of him.