A Love Rekindled (Nancy and Bruce) novel Chapter 8

I quickly turned the phone away after returning to my senses.

Disbelief was clear in Kate's tone as she muttered, "Oh dear, I shouldn't have gone on and on like that. Sorry, Nance. We'll talk again soon."

Before I could reply, Kate had hung up the call.

I looked awkwardly at Douglas. "I'm sorry, Bruce's mother might've misund—"

"It's pretty tough, huh?" Douglas asked out of the blue, his tone laced with concern.

I looked up at him, unsure of what he meant: work or having to deal with my ex's mother.

He gave me another blueberry when I stayed silent. "Have some more. It'll help with your exhaustion."

I didn't feel very happy, so I changed the topic. "It's almost time for dinner. Let's go."

Douglas was smart enough not to push the topic further.

After some time in the seafood restaurant where we were having dinner, I stared at the pile of oyster shells in front of me.

I said in an embarrassed tone, "Please have more to eat, Douglas. I'm buying dinner tonight, after all."

I then pushed a salmon platter toward him.

Douglas looked at me and said, "You're too skinny, Nance. Your health determines whether you can make it big, so you must ensure your body is strong if you want to continue doing good in your career."

He then pushed the platter back to me.

I couldn't out-argue him, so I said instead, "Then let's both eat more."

It was a nice dinner. But when I was about to pay the bill, the server politely informed me that Douglas had already paid.

"Why don't you treat me next time, hm?" Douglas said gently.

I disagreed and suggested we go Dutch instead. However, Douglas quickly retorted, "We'd still be going Dutch if you and I both treated the other to a meal each."

I had nothing to say to that.

…

It was 9:00 pm when our night out reached an end. Douglas insisted on driving me home.

The streetlights outside the car cast long shadows on his body, but he still didn't seem ready to leave yet.

A moment later, he nudged his glasses and said, "See? There are other fun things to do besides coding, right?"

Douglas was talking about how we'd gone to play some arcade games earlier after dinner.

I didn't want to spoil his fun, so I tagged along. I could tell he really enjoyed himself.

I wasn't used to this kind of gesture, so I said politely, "Thank you for tonight. Drive home safely."

Douglas always had impeccable manners, so he drove off right after bidding me goodnight, not saying another word.

I quietly went back to my apartment. It was a rare opportunity for me to turn in early; but for some reason, I couldn't sleep no matter how tightly I closed my eyes.

I kept on recalling Kate's words. If my guess was right, tonight was the night Bruce would have brought Cindy over to meet his family.

Meanwhile, I didn't even know where the Harold family household was located. There was a clear contrast between Cindy and I.

Still, Bruce and I had walked our separate ways two years ago.

There was something else more important right now, anyway.

A knocking sound interrupted my thoughts.

"Who is it?" I called, confused.

"It's me," a low voice rang from behind the front door, leaving me standing in shock.

It was Bruce.

Wasn't he with Cindy at his family dinner tonight? Why was he here outside my apartment right now?

"Open the door," Bruce called again amidst my wondering. His tone was persistent.

Why should I open the door?

Even an investor had no right to come knocking on my door this late at night, right?

I stood where I was for a moment, only to hear Bruce's frantic knocking the next second, growing louder and louder still.

I didn't want to disturb my neighbors, so I carefully opened the door, peeking through the narrow opening. "Can I help you, Mr. Harold?"

I saw the dazed look in Bruce's eyes right away. The sharp scent of alcohol flooded my nose.