ABOVE & BEYOND : IF WE ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 31

DUAA

We were at the dinner table. I was sitting beside one of our clients. The food is yet to arrive considering we just ordered. Eryx was sitting right in front of me. I didn't look at him once. But I could feel him staring at me from time to time.

I scoffed in my mind. The audacity he has. Acting like a total jackass for the last two days and now he's just staring at me like he....I am not sure what exactly but that's not the point! If he thinks we can be friendly and all again, he got me all wrong then.

"So Eryx, how far are you liking the work?" Stella, one of our female clients asked. She was fake smiling too much. And since the moment we came, her whole attention was on him. It was pissing me off more. Like back off lady. It's a business dinner.

ERYX

Can't she just shut her damn mouth? I don't want any kind of attention right now. Also another thing pissing me off is Duaa. She's looking so beautiful that it's quite impossible to take my eyes off of her and she hasn't looked my way a single time. Not even a single time.

I decided to answer the woman who seemed she's in her late 30's as the surroundings started to get awkward. "Well to be honest, at first, I really did think it wasn't for me but as time passed it grew in me." and something else too. more like someone.

She was staring at me like I'm the most exquisite piece of art on this planet. "So Duaa isn't giving you a hard time then." she said and looked at Duaa, giving her a smile which Duaa returned with a smile that didn't even reach her eyes. oh...all Duaa is giving me is hard times lately but I don't say that.

Duaa's eyes met mine for the first time this evening. My blood ran fast in my veins. She took a sip of her water and stood up. "Excuse me for a moment." she said and left.

Six minutes and 23 seconds passed. Well, 24 now and Duaa is still not back. Our orders started coming. I was searching for her every second but no sight of hers. I am growing impatient now.

"Excuse me, I'll go and check on Duaa." I said and got up, not caring if they had anything to say. "Let me join you too, Eryx." the annoying lady from before said and got up. What was her name again? Ella? "No, it's fine, I'll go and search for her and also your food has arrived."

"Oh it's no big deal. I like my food cold anyway." I sighed and started moving forward. It took everything in me not to tell her to back off.

I asked one of the waiters where the washrooms were and headed toward that direction not caring about the person behind me. As I moved closer I saw Duaa but she wasn't alone. There was a man standing in front of her. Slightly taller than her.

My jaw clenched as I looked at the guy who had a smirk over his face while Duaa had the resting face but she was clutching her purse.

I walked as fast as I could toward them. Duaa tilted her head and looked at me. The guy also looked at me.

"Oh Duaa, here you are. We have been worried about you. Are you feeling well?" Ella or whatever her name is asked Duaa before I could say anything.

Duaa looked at me. I looked at her and then at the guy who was also staring at me. "I'm... I'm fine, Stella. Thank you." She smiled but again, it didn't reach her eyes.

"And who is this handsome man you're talking to?" Stella asked in a flirtatious way. "He's..umm..." before she could finish her sentence the guy spoke up.

"Oh we go way back. Duaa is one of my closest friends, right?" He turned to Duaa who didn't say anything. She was looking uncomfortable. Okay, something is definitely wrong here.

"Closet friend, huh? Duaa never mentioned you before." I said. Duaa looked at me with slightly widened eyes. "Well, Duaa isn't the one to brag." he grinned which made me want to punch his damn face. Maybe I will.

"Noah, by the way." he offered me his hand and every muscle in my body went tight.

"Yes, the famous ex and the answer to your second question is Noah." Our conversation from other night reflected in my mind.

Noah.

It's him. That son of a bitch. Blood ran hot in my veins. I'm going to kill him.

He shoved his hand back in his pocket as I didn't accept it. There was a moment of silence before the jackass opened his mouth again.

"Well, it was great meeting you, Duaa. pick up the next time I call, hmm?" The next time? Has he been calling her?

He vanished from our side followed by Stella who excused herself. So, it was just me and her.

"Was that your...?" I knew the answer but still wanted her to confirm it because the thought of her being with another man made me angry but now that I got to see them together, I don't even know what I was feeling anymore.

It was madness. I wanted to break his hands for touching her, rip his tongue off for even talking to her. I wanted to punch him until he bleeded out of his nose.

Duaa simply nodded without answering. "Has he been calling you?" I asked, trying to sound as calm as possible.

"I don't wanna talk about it." She said and walked away from me.

DUAA

After using my phone for exactly three minutes I decided to go back. I just needed one moment alone from everyone around me. Especially Eryx.

As I was about to make my way back to my seat, I saw him. My worst nightmare.

Noah.

I tried to sneak out of there as fast as I could. This is the first time I have seen him after the break up. He didn't change at all. Every inch of my skin was getting hot. My heart was slamming against my ribcage.

One of the workers bumped into me and he looked my way. Our gaze met. He was taken aback for a second and made his way toward mine. We were inches apart.

"Oh...what a great way to end the day." he grinned. Rage filled my body. My fists clenched. I'm not going to let him ruin my night. I don't wanna exchange a single word with this person.

I moved forward but he was quicker. He stood in front of me. "What? No sassy replies?" His hand moved forward as if he wanted to touch me. I moved away quickly.

"Don't you dare touch me." he put his hands up in the air and smiled. "Nothing I haven't touched before." Before I could say anything I was him, coming towards me.

Eryx. Behind him was Stella.

A sudden wave of relief hit me as his gaze met mine. I wanted to run to him but I couldn't.