My Mystery Man

Talking To An Enigma

Rina found herself drawn to Landon, no matter how hard she tried, his rough personality resonated with her.

"I know how it sounds." Landon said, eyes still fixed on the ground in front of him. "It's just that I know Ryan, and if Ryan thinks Lance needs the rest. Then who are we to question it?"

It was Rina's turn to laugh, it seemed too odd for her that a simple driver would actually give a damn about the melodramatic lives of the rich and the famous. "Probably."

Landon diverted his intense gaze towards Rina. "What do you mean 'probably'?"

"I mean we don't really know what's going on behind closed doors." Rina replied. "For all we know, Lydia might've left him because he was abusive."

Landon shrugged, his face starting to turn red. "Or she got bored with him."

Rina put her hand on his. "Look, I'm sorry I even opened that topic. It's clear you care for your boss and his friend."

Landon looked at Rina with a blank expression at first, then as if realizing something, he smiled and laughed. "I got a bit carried away. It's from watching all those rom-coms just to get a girlfriend."

Rina laughed. "Well watching rom-coms isn't bad. It makes the world less evil sometimes."

"It does, doesn't it?" Landon smiled, shaking his head. "I never thought about it that way."

"Well I used to think they're just pandering, but you know... after a while, it got me thinking. Rina paused. "No one's looking for a perfect lover... just one that'll fit their personality more."

"I guess you're right." Landon said. "We should never judge anything or anyone right away."

"Amen to that." Rina lifted her hand, as if to raise an imaginary glass. "To people and not being shallow asses."

Landon nodded and lightly raised his hand before lazily slamming his palm on his lap. "By the way, I'm sorry for being rude a while back. I just can't stand it when people talk behind other people's backs."

"It's okay, I mean I didn't really realize it until you pointed it out. I guess I'm a bit hypocritical on that part." Rina said, and she meant it. Having Landon point it out to her made her realize that her disdain for women going after guys with money at the same time condoning what Mary's doing is stupid.

Landon enclosed Rina's hand with his. "Thank you lovely lady."

Rina felt her heart race, staring deep into Landon's eyes, trying to figure out why his mere presence makes her heart flutter. "Yeah, well, I try to be reasonable."

Landon finally let her hand go. "I want to ask you something, I hope you don't offended."

Rina tilted her head in response, letting him know she's open to whatever it is he wanted to ask.

"Why are you really here?" Landon began. "It doesn't look like you're here to score, unless I'm wrong. Either way, it's nice to meet someone nice for once."

"I..." Rina paused. "A friend wanted to check the place out, we've heard about it from work and we got curious."

"And you're not at all looking for a rich boyfriend?" Landon pursed his lips as Rina nodded, he looked as if he wanted to tell her he doesn't believe her at all. "So, this friend of yours."

"She's just a curious woman." Rina said, suddenly interested in what's in between her fingernails. "That, and she's trying to get over someone."

"By going to a club filled with rich people?" Landon said in disbelief. "Don't get me wrong, Rina. But there are lots of clubs out there, ones with a lot more single people in them."

"She's not looking for a rebound, Landon. She wants to forget him." Rina huffed. "Getting over someone doesn't equate to her jumping the next available male."

Landon smiled. "I'm. Just. Curious."

Rina frowned, she's not liking the tone of the conversation. Even though Landon did have a point, she doesn't like the idea of someone looking at Mary like she's that shallow. "I know it may seem like it, but she's really a nice person."

"Relax, like I said, I was wondering why you're here." Landon played with the end of his shirt. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"And I didn't mean to sound defensive." Rina nodded. "Why's Ryan Silver here?"

"He's wants to have fun." Landon said. "He's a bit stressed."

"I can only imagine." Rina rolled her eyes. "It must be hard to be him 'oh how will I spend my money?' yup, super stressful to be him."

Landon snickered. "There's more to life than just spending hard-earned money."

It was Rina's turn to smile, daring herself to look into his dark brown eyes without blushing. "I was just curious."

Landon's smile faded as he looked deep into her eyes, as if trying to see her soul. "Acting's still hard work, you know."

"Mhm." Rina hummed. "Must be."

"It is." Landon whispered, leaning forward.

Rina could feel his breath on her face, she tried to maintain eye contact, all while trying to calm her racing heart.

Their lips were almost touching when he stopped, smiled and said. "Well that's my boss. I better open the door or he's gonna be pissed. It's nice to meet you..."

"Rina." Was all she managed to say, feeling a bit disappointed as he withdrew and nodded.

Ryan reached the car with Mary in his arms.

"What did I tell you, you fat f**k? I said keep the stupid AC open! You expect me to go home in a hot ass car?" Ryan started to yell.

"I'm sorry, he must've forgotten since I talked to him." Rina interjected, she wasn't about to have this innocent man in trouble just because she talked to him and made him forget about the time.

Ryan looked at her, first eyes filled with anger but it quickly got replaced with amusement in almost an instant. "Oh my, I'm sorry dearie. I didn't mean for you to see me in such an angry state."

Rina was taken aback, how could someone be so mean? "Like I said, I'm really sorry he didn't turn the AC on."

"Of course it's okay." Ryan smiled. "Mary here has told me all about you." Ryan looked down on a very drunk Mary.

"She's usually not that clingy." Rina said, trying to save her friend's dignity. In truth, she's not really into drinking. Mary just wanted to forget Maynard.

"Don't worry about it, I'm used to people having fun around me." Ryan looked deep into Rina's eyes. "Need a lift?"

"No worries, I brought my car with me." Rina diverted her gaze to the street lamp. "That's actually the reason why I'm here, I'm Mary's sober friend for the night."

"Boo." Ryan said dryly. Then he turned his attention towards the scrambling Landon. "Get my business card and give it to these lovely ladies. I'd love to hang out with them as soon as they're available."

Rina couldn't believe what she heard him say, 'THE NERVE ON THIS ASS!' she thought. All Rina could do was smile and take both the card and her drunk friend.

She watched Landon hurriedly enter the car, taking it as a sign that they were leaving, she started to walk towards her own car. Being mindful to walk slowly so Mary could walk without tripping. She heard a car door slam behind her.

"Rina, wait!" Landon smiled as he jogged towards her, leaning in a bit, he whispered. "If it's not too straight forward, is it okay if I got your number?"

Rina's cheeks flushed, all she could think about was how close Landon was to her. She could smell his cologne from where he's standing. "Of course, I liked talking to you." She quickly took the pen and paper, scribbling her number."

Landon gave his number written in a tissue. Whispering, "I'll text you later."

"Fatty, what is taking you too long? I wanna go home." Ryan yelled out.

"I'll text you later." Rina whispered, stopping the urge to give Landon a peck on the cheek.

All Landon did was smile back, hurrying back into the BMW and driving away.

Rina watched the shiny car drive away, her heart still racing from Landon leaning in close as he gave Mary back to her. All the things she thought about Landon earlier on were blown away, up close, he's much more attractive than she thought.

"I'm so sorry, Rina." Mary said in a slurred manner.

"It's okay." Rina sighed. "You're going to have to go home with me so I can monitor you."

"You're the best." Mary started to cry, then puked, narrowly missing Rina's shoes. "I'll never drink like this again!"

"That's what you told me last year, when you tried to drown Maynard's cheating out with alcohol. And look at where we are now?" Rina couldn't help but smile at her crying friend.

"But..." Mary looked like she wanted to say something more, but she just pouted and leaned her head against Rina's shoulder. She was silent for a while, as they walked, it didn't take long until Rina heard Mary's sobs.

"I'm sorry, Mary. I didn't mean it that way." Rina felt her heart ache, she really didn't mean to say it that way.

"I know." Mary said in between sobs. "It's just..."

Rina braced her free hand on the top of her car as she leaned Mary against herself, using the hand she was using to hold Mary to unlock the passenger seat and carefully opening it, so she could help her drunk friend enter without banging her head on the roof. "I shouldn't have said it the way I did." Rina knelt beside Mary, leaning inside a bit to put Mary's seatbelt for her.

Mary gave a weak smile and nodded, before pulling her legs close to her chest.

Rina stood up, and walked to the driver's seat. Stopping when she heard her phone, she smiled as she was it was Landon. Not wanting to seem needy, she just stuffed her phone in her pocket before going inside the car.

"It's just... I hate myself right now, you know?" Mary suddenly whispered, almost as if she's talking to herself. "It's hard for me... I wish I could just tell me heart to stop loving him."

Rina gripped the steering wheel harder, trying hard to concentrate on the road. "I know."

Mary snickered, before extending her slim finger towards Rina to poke her cheek. "I'm drunk, not stupid. I saw you and mister driver man."

"Whu- what?" Rina knew she was blushing but acted like she wasn't. "We were just passing the time by."

"Sure." Mary covered her mouth, trying not to laugh out loud. "You were totally checking him out. I have to say, Rina, I didn't think you were a chubby chaser."

"DUDE!" Rina exclaimed. "What the hell? Look, we're talking about you... not me and my love life, or lack thereof."

Mary was about to respond when Rina's phone started ringing. "Uh, lady... your phone's ringing."

"I'm not deaf, I know. It's not a good habit to drive while on the phone." Rina frowned. "My phone's in the pocket of my jacket. Tell me who it is, but don't pick it up."

Mary beamed as she put her hand inside Rina's pocket, fishing out the device before answering the call. "Heyo!"

"Damn it woman, I told you not to answer the call." Rina looked at Mary who stuck her tongue out.

"Eyes on the road." Mary wiggled her eyebrows. "Oh hello there, good sir." Mary slurred her words. "No, Rina can't talk on the phone right now since she's driving and she's a bit of a grandma."

"I am not." Rina grumbled as she tried to focus on actually driving, stopping the urge to speed to her house. "We're almost there."

"Mhm, so... do you like Rina or what? Don't waste her time." Mary said before laughing uncontrollably. "Ooooohhhh~"

"What? What did he say?" Rina said, finally arriving at her apartment, she parked her car. The moment the vehicle stopped, she reached her hand out to Mary. "I'll take that now."

"Oh boo." Mary deadpanned but still complied. "Don't mind me, I'll just slowly get out of the car to puke outside.

"I'm sorry, Mary can be an ass sometimes." Rina said and smiled as she heard him laughing. "Don't take her question seriously, I doubt she'll remember she asked you that the moment she sobers up."

"It's okay. I just called to check up on you, you know, to see if you made it home in one piece."

"That's sweet of you, Landon." Rina pt her palm on her cheek, feeling her face heat up. "Thank you for your concern."

Landon snickered. "So we're going formal now?"

"What the hell piggy, where's my scotch?" someone yelled followed by what sounded like glass breaking.

"Oh, I have to go, I forgot, Ryan's maid called in sick, so I'm sort of the temp for the time being." Landon suddenly whispered. "It was nice talking to you."

"How long do I have to f*****g wait for my drink, you fat f**k?!" followed by more glass breaking.

"Go! Good old Mister Silver might pop a vein yelling at you." Rina said. "It was nice talking to you, Landon."

Rina didn't wait for him to answer, she ended the call, not wanting Landon to be in more trouble for for taking too long. She stared at the blank screen of her phone, smiling at the thought of Landon.

"So..." Mary paused. "You two..."

Rina diverted her gaze from her phone to her smiling best friend. "Let's just go inside, we're looking kinda weird standing outside at 7 in the morning, looking like zombies."

Mary looked at her and shrugged. "I'm not the one with the house keys."

Rina hit her forehead with her palm. "I know."