HIDDEN PASSION

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

   Lillian got off her car in the company's parking lot and was about to close the car door when she sighted Dorcas coming out of a Corolla Sport some feet away from where she was. Dorcas did not own a car, so someone may have dropped her.

She watched as she began smiling and a man emerged from the driver's seat who Lillian could recognize anywhere and anytime of the day.

Nathaniel.

She realized Dorcas had not been telling her about her relationship anymore and that was so unlike her. Not that she wanted to pry into their business, but the best friend she knew would never cease to update her as things were going for her in her relationships and ask for her opinions. She did not want to conclude that she changed, but it was obvious that Dorcas was no longer her usual self. Perhaps, she was just too in love to pay attention to her now.

She locked her car with the remote on her car key and started walking toward the entrance with one intention in mind.

Ignore them.

But it seemed some things were not going to work the way she wanted them to that day. She figured Dorcas had seen her and had called her over. Now, she had no choice. With a little bit of ire, she forced a smile and sashayed toward them,her eyes locking with Nath's all the way.

She finally looked at her friend when she got there and gave her the best smile she could offer at that moment. "Hey, Sugar. What's up?" She acknowledged her friend,not again sparing another glance beside her. She could still feel his gaze on her, but that didn't matter. One would think they would consider being friends after she went to his office, but that was not the case.

The trip was scheduled to be the following week and she had been preparing for it. The truth being that she was elated to be going on the trip with him. She knew she should not be too giddy, of course, since her friend had warned her to be careful with her man. Nevertheless, she decided to make most of the time she would spend with him and hold the memories as the last one she had of him.

But that, she would never tell a soul. She had better remain cold and mean and keep making everyone believe that she did not want to go on the trip.

"Hi, Lilly," Nath greeted, not realizing his use of her shortened name. It tend to come out of his mouth as it wills and there was nothing he could do about it.

Lillian wanted to ignore him totally and act like he was not present, but she could not. She liked the way her name rolled out of his mouth, but she had to object. She faced him with a smile. "I will love it if you call me Lillian," she corrected and before she could swallow the rest of the sentence that had formed in her mouth, it rolled out in the next second. "Only my special man is allowed to call me that." She looked back at her friend in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry," he apologized so sincerely that Lillian could not help but wonder how he could be so serious about an apology.

"Really, Lillian? I'm jealous," Dorcas commented amidst laughter.

She smiled. "You don't need to. Your man is right here beside you," she said, forcing back a scowl.

"About that —" Nath started, wanting to clear the misunderstanding of her relationship with Dorcas, but Dorcas beat him to it.

Dorcas linked hands with him and said, "Yeah, you are right."

Nath disentangled their hands.

"Can you go ahead first? I want to discuss —"

Before she could finish her sentence, Lillian had turned around and started waving her hand as she walked her way into the company. A tear escaped as she entered her office. When was she going to get over the man?