Chapter 19 What Are You Doing?

When Mark Pattinson came out from his office and went into the Department of Design, what he saw was a scene straight out of a picture. In the large, otherwise empty working space, she sat alone. A shade of pink, engrossed in her work. Her lowered head was truly titillating. ‘It’s so late, why is there someone still working?’ He got closer and discovered it was just Lyla Lowe. He walked until he was in front of her and said, “I’d never thought that Miss Lowe was one to be a hardworking employee.” His tone brought a hint of a playful tease. “Well that’s just a blessing from Missus Pattinson!” Lyla said, disgruntledly. “Missus Pattinson?” he said, arching an eyebrow. He got closer before he continued to ask, “Who are you talking about?” He knew who Lyla was talking about. He knew she was talking about Kathleen Turner but he played dumb intentionally. “Mr. Pattinson, you couldn’t be more obvious,” said Lyla before she lowered her head and continued to work. “I have work to do here. I don’t have the time to see you off.” Mark Pattinson somewhat understood something but he chose to remain quiet. When she finished her work, Lyla let out a sigh of relief. It was already very late. She stood by the curb, trying her best to hail a cab but it was, as addressed, very late. Thus, it was hard to hail a cab. Anxious, Lyla turned to her watch to check the time. What could she do? Her two darlings at home must be waiting for her anxiously! Out of nowhere, a black Rolls Royce pulled up beside her. She had no idea what car it was as she had only heard her darling Hansel mentioning something about the car’s insignia. The side window rolled down and presented a face that was the epitome of pride and arrogance. “Get in. I’ll drive you home,” the lips that were on that arrogant face, spat. “Mr. Pattinson? You’re still here?!” “Maybe I am. Maybe I left earlier and just only returned now?” That face of his, temperamental, was someone she knew she could not afford to offend. “Thank you, President Pattinson, But I can hail a cab home, on my own,” she said, coldy, like she was talking to a stranger. That person, President Pattinson was someone she would not want and not dare to offend. Else, the aftermath will be extremely unpredictable. “Very well then, if you insist on not going back,” he said, with a disgruntled look on his face. ‘I really want to go back!’ thought Lyla begrudgingly. If she could, she wanted to be at home that very instant. ‘Fuck it.’ Lyla was done. She put on a thick face and opened the car door. Unbeknownst to Lyla since she did not see it, Mark Pattinson's lower lips curved slightly. When Lyla got into the car, the small space immediately sent her into a nervous fit. She could not help it. Everytime she saw that face of his, it would remind her about her little ones at home. Lyla sat at the co-driver’s seat. Her gaze strongly fixed ahead of her as she dared not look around. All of the sudden, Mark Pattinson threw his body at her. His warm breath assaulted her very being and at that moment, Lyla’s heart beat erratically. Lyla quickly pushed herself further back into her seat and nervously said, “What are you doing?!” Mark Pattinson, on the other hand, reached out and pulled her seatbelt before fastening it, with such familiarity. “What did you think I was doing?” He thought it was funny. Her cheek flushed red. Yes, she did mistake his action for something else. “Why are you always so nervous whenever you are around me. I’m not going to eat you, you know?” said Mark, with a light scoff. “I’m not nervous,” she said. She would never admit she was nervous. Never in a million years! “I see. So I was wrong?” Mark said. “Yes. You were wrong!” Lyla said, pouting her lips. For a split second, Mark Pattinson lost his focus. The way she talked seemed like she was actually flirting with him. “President Pattinson, why are you only going back this late?” Lyla asked curiously. “Come now. How can I, as an employer, go back early when my employee is still working so hard?” Mark said. “I was not working hard. I was just scared of being fired,” she replied coldly. What she really wanted to say was she was afraid of losing the job since she still had to raise her kids. She wanted to provide the best of education for her darlings. Naturally, that thought would never come out verbally. She was scared. She was scared that Mark Pattinson was really the man from that one night. If he was truly the man, she had no idea what she could do next. At that moment, the atmosphere in the car became heavy. Mark Pattinson asked about her house address and sped off. The silence in the air was quickly broken by the sound of the clear blaring of a ringtone. Mark Pattinson looked at the phone before picking it up. The sound of a clear, flirtatious voice came through. “Mark, where are you? I missed you!” Mark Pattinson frowned. “Out.” “May I visit you then?” said Kathleen, feeling disgruntled. “I’m busy!” said Mark before he ended the call promptly. On the other side, Kathleen put away her phone. Her eyes filled with envy and hatred. She saw Mark in his car, driving, before she made the call. Naturally, she also saw Lyla Lowe in the same car. As for Lyla Lowe, she had unfortunately plucked a nerve and crossed the line of no return. When they were approaching Lyla’s apartment, Lyla quickly asked Mark to stop the car. She could not allow this dangerous man to discover her darlings, even if he was not the father of her two children. “Thank you, President Pattinson. If you would be so kind, please drop me here,” said Lyla politely. “Can’t I send you to your home directly? What’s the harm in having a nightcap?” Mark said, testing the waters. “I’m sorry, President Pattinson. My home has nothing to drink,” said the woman, declining every possible move the man would make. Mark was quiet. He stopped the car by the side of the road and when Lyla got out, he sped off. Lyla could not bring herself to say anything. It seemed she had inevitably angered the president of her company, again. Lo and behold, everything that happened was witnessed by Hansel as he was just out for a quick shopping.