They gazed at each other, singing a melancholic love song to mourn their past regrets.
After they finished, their eyes still locked, the affection palpable.
Others suddenly remembered my presence, looking at me with either pity or ridicule.
I chuckled, saying, "Since the mood has been built up, why not seal it with a kiss?"
The mood chilled.
Ariana's expression shifted from slight embarrassment to anger. "Robert, must you spoil the fun?"
"I wouldn't mind your duet; why get upset over my little joke?" I retorted with a smile.
"I..." Ariana was speechless.
I didn't bother saying more, opening my phone to review client data.
They all glared at me with hostility, as if blaming me for ruining the mood.
Eventually, they all left in their cars, leaving only Matt's behind.
But Ariana and Matt were nowhere to be found.
I sighed, pulling out my phone and calling her. I asked, "Did you forget about your boyfriend?"
"Sorry, Robert, Matt suddenly felt unwell, so I took him to the hospital. You can catch a ride back with someone else," Ariana explained.
"No cars left," I replied.
Ariana's voice rose sharply. "You're an adult; can't you call a cab to get home?
"Robert, stop making things difficult for me over Matt. We really have nothing going on, and this is just so disappointing!"
With that, she hung up the phone.
I shook my head with a wry smile, not particularly fazed. This was how every argument over Matt ended.
Ariana always knew she was hurting me and stepping on my dignity, but she never changed her ways. Instead, she'd turn things around and accuse me of being the problem.
Every time, she'd go cold, only thawing out when I made the first move—calling her, buying her gifts to smooth things over.
It was a pattern I was used to, and she seemed to be as well.
But this time, I felt an unexpected calm. I was surprisingly at ease, not stirred by her usual games.
We lived in a world with plenty of good people, after all. I remembered my colleague Rebecca Amore offering rides in her car after work, so I gave her a call.
She picked me up and drove me home, asking me questions about the company's business along the way.
Rebecca was actually a very interesting girl, beautiful, with a great personality, and coming from a well-off family. Despite all this, she wanted to be a truly independent woman, so she worked hard.