"Want a ride back home?"

"Ian?" I scowled, "What are you doing here?"

Okay, that was a stupid question, and I've given him a perfect chance to nag me, I'm an idiot!

"That's one of the stupidest questions one has ever asked me, because as far as I remember this is a public place and where normal people walk, drive, travel, and do much more." He narrowed his eyes with a sly smirk playing on his lips. "Maybe you aren't one of them,"

I sent him a glare, but it only increased his smugness. I scanned my surrounding, and I know for a fact that this rain isn't gonna stop and walking all the way would be a disaster as I will fall sick and if that happens, I will have to spend my money on visiting the doctor, which I obviously wouldn't want to. Not tagging my phone along, doesn't help as well. So right now, he is my only chance to reach home safely.

I was brought back from my realm of thought when I heard him honking continuously. "I don't have all the time in this world." he hissed in exasperation.

'He's still the same jerk.'

I walk towards the passenger door, as he unlocks it for me.

Once I settled inside comfortably, I looked around and couldn't help myself from admiring his Tesla, it is one hot beast.

"If your done admiring, then wear your seatbelt."

I buckled up and looked outside, as droplets of rainwater covering the transparent glass with fog that adorned the surrounding. It was so surreal bringing peace into my soul.

His car stops abruptly, making me jerk forward, but all thanks to the seatbelt that saved me.

I snap my head towards him, as he was trying hard to restart the car, but it wouldn't budge. Hitting the steering wheel in frustration, he Picks up his phone and starts typing furiously.

"What's going on?"

"Can't you see, there some problem with the car, and it wouldn't start." He almost snapped, making me flinch a bit.

Seeing me flinch he adds, "Don't worry, you'll reach your home safely."

If it was any other time, I would have given him a nice comeback, but I am helpless right now and he is vexed, I don't wanna push his buttons that he might end up throwing me out.

Deciding to keep my mouth shut, I look around, and luckily, I found a nice cafe, an expensive one if I may add, where I can get a cup of hot steaming coffee, for which I am craving.

"There's a cafe over there," I point my finger towards the cafe before continuing, "I'm gonna get myself a cup of coffee, do you want to join me?"

"Are you asking me out?" He asks with a wicket glint on his face.

Seriously, is this man bipolar or what, minutes ago he snapped, and now he's being all cocky.

"The weather is nice and cold, a cup of hot coffee wouldn't do you any harm now, would it?" I counter.

"Eager now, are we?"

I huffed in frustration, "Fine, suit yourself, I'm going." I unlock the door and was about to step out when he spoke.

"I never rejected your offer," He looked at his watch before continuing, "I'll allot you ten minutes." He says, like is he's one big bad boss.

"Your acting like your one of the busiest person in the world."

"You never know." He replied and I decided to ignore him.

Stepping out, I run across as it's still raining, and was out of breath by the time I reach the entrance.

I whipped around only to find him walking casually towards me with a fucking brolly in his hand, and here I was running like a lunatic.

"You could have told me you had an umbrella." I grit out, controlling the urge to yell at him.

"You could have asked me if I had one." He counters monotonously with a smirk plastered on his face, as he walked past me.

I'm sure he did this on purpose.

A sigh escaped my lips, as I walk inside where he was already seated next to a huge glass window that gives a magnificent view, I took a seat opposite to him and we waited for the waiter to arrive.

Flumping back comfortably, I relaxed for some time. The waitress, maybe in her early twenties, walked towards us to take our order. I took this opportunity to notice him.

A Patek Philippe Nautilus white gold watch adorned his hand, with a fitted white shirt that perfectly complemented his personality.

Something about him is not fitting into place. I was completely lost in my own world but jolted up when I heard him.

"If your done checking me out, then have your coffee." He comments with his lips twitched upwards as he caught me checking him out. I avert my gaze away and play with the spoon stirring my cappuccino, with a tint of embarrassment.

I cringe in disgust when he sipped his coffee, and I couldn't shut my mouth from asking him.

"Do you always drink that cat shit coffee, huh?"

The moment those words left my mouth, he choked on his coffee coughing hard.

"Whoa, easy there," I say and pass him the tissue paper. He snatched it from me wiping his lips while glaring at me. I tried my best not to laugh but failed miserably.

Unknowingly, this man made me smile after a long time.

"It's called Civet Coffee, in other words, Kopi Luwak." He hissed bitterly.

'Yeah, like I didn't know.'

"Now now, no matter how fancy you term it, a cat shit remains a cat shit!" I argue.

"Shut up."

I roll my eyes.

"Your insulting one of the worlds best coffee made out of berries fed to palm ci-"

"Okay," I raised my hand surrendering. "You win, you can sip your cat shi- umm. I mean Civet coffee peacefully. I wouldn't dare to disturb you."

As creative as always, my brain starts flashing all types of disgusting images of how the cat shit is processed into coffee powder, and he sipping it in front of me didn't help it either, I shiver in distaste.

"Good." He says, with a satisfied look on his face.

Not wanting to discuss it anymore, I picked up my cup, slurped, and moan in satisfaction with my eyes closed, only to be greeted by a pair of electric blue orbs staring at me intently.

Then it hit me, I was slurping and guzzling, making weird noises not bothering to look around me.

Embarrassment hit me like a huge wave, with heat spreading through my face, and I'm sure I was red as a tomato. Smacking my forehead, I mumbled a timid sorry.

"Your weird." He comments.

"Why thank you," I say burying my face with my palm.

In desperate want to divert his attention, I ask him. "What is your surname? I don't like your first name."

I could see hesitancy flash through his face before he decided to answer, "Ocean."

"Mr. Ocean?" What kind of name is that?

"It's my middle name, so you can call me Ocean."

"Okay," I say, nodding my head.

"Why don't you like my name?" He asks me.

I lean forward towards him, "Do you know who Ian Longwood is?" I whisper in a deep and secretive voice.

"He's the reason I don't like your name. You know he's a cunning, selfish bastard. He threatened my friend and broke her heart after giving her hope, he's a heartless beast."

He was silently taking in everything I was saying, but his jaw was set firm.

"To say I hate him would be an understatement, I loathe him," I say as anger bubbles inside me, "He's a fucking bastard."

"Have you ever tried to read about him or at least made an effort to see his picture?" He asks me with his jaw clenched and shoulder tensed.

"Nah," I wave him off lamely, "I'm not interested, but Lilly did try to show me his picture once which I refused to see." 

"Don't say something which you might regret later, he's not as bad as you claim." He defends him.

I shook my head vehemently in disagreement, "How do you know?" I ask him suspiciously.

He cleared his before answering me "He, may or may not be my friend."

'What the fuck.'

"You see that Bugatti Veyron standing outside, it belongs to him. He sent it on my request so that we can reach home. You see, he isn't that bad."

"But, it's unusual for two friends to share the same name." I was confused.

"Well, that's a story for another day." He replied.

"Yeah, whatever. Can I borrow your phone? I wanna call my friend so that she can come pick me up."

"No," His answer was instant.

'Rude'

"Didn't I say that I'll drop you?" He grits out.

"Well, I don't wanna travel in his car." Saying this, I try to walk away but he caught my wrist tightly, a little too tight, I must say, and starts dragging me out.

"What are you doing, I'm not coming with you." I try to release my hand from his iron grip.

"You don't have a choice." He opens the door and ushers me inside the exquisite car, secured the seatbelt before slamming the door shut.

I huffed in frustration crossing my arms across my chest. "Why are you being so bossy, when you aren't one." 

"Not for now," He mutters under his breath.

"What do you mean, not for now?"

"You will know, soon."

Okay, this is confusing, What did he mean by that, but having no other option I let it pass.

"What about your car? " I ask him.

No reply.

"What do you do for living?"

Again no reply.

"Should I remind you that, you owe me an apology letter?"

'Nothing!'

"I'll refund the money you paid for my coffee."

"Shut up, will you?" He growled menacingly. The rest of the ride was spent in silence.

He pulled over the car, a frown itched my face when I got a glimpse of Lilly's Bentley parked outside. What is she doing here?

"Are planning to get out or do you intend to spend more time with me." He taunts.

"Thanks for the ride, and the coffee. Have a night filled with a nightmare, Ocean eyes." I didn't wait for his reply, as I bolted outside.

I was engulfed in a bear hug, the moment I stepped in. "I..c-can't breath."

I was wheezing for air the moment Lilly released me.

"Where did you disappear, I was so damn worried. You could have at least left me a message, and you didn't even tag your phone with you. What if some-"

"I'm fine, I paid nana a visit."

"Don't ever repeat this, I heart was lurching in fear!" It was Emily's turn now.

"I'm fine guys, I'm not dead," I say to both of them.

"Shut up." Both yell simultaneously while glaring at me.

I chuckled at their protectiveness. "I'm going to change, let's have a girls' night. What say?"

"That sounds good."

I took a warm, relaxing shower, soothing my sore muscles, and walked out after changing into my PJ, only to find Lilly holding my phone.

"Give it to me." I try to snatch it, but she hides it behind her.

"From when did you start concealing things from me." She hissed.

"That's because I didn't want you to know." I made a mental note to change my password.

"Why would you want to lose such a big opportunity, bri. You do know it could turn the table for you."

"Well, one I got the job only because of Blaze's recommendation, and not because of my hard work, hell I didn't even attend the interview. And two, I don't wanna work for the Longwood's."

"This is the first time Blaze has recommended someone, and you just bringing his name down, as well as losing an amazing opportunity." It was Emily's turn to lecture me.

"Well, I didn't ask your boyfriend to recommend me." I glowered.

"Be glad that he did." She countered in a voice laced with irritation.

"Why thank you, I'm forever grateful," I reply sarcastically.

"Stop it you two! and bri, they selected you based on the interview which you gave months ago before the Ian encounter, they've clearly mentioned it in the mail. Blaze was just extra support." She argued.

"You really want me to work for the Longwood's, huh? Don't forget what he did." I snap.

"What happened was between him and me, not you. I don't want you to sacrifice your career for me."

After hours of lecture from both of them, I finally decided to take up the job, I decided to work for the Longwood's, to work for 'Ian Longwood.'