Found You

Chapter Six: The Unexpected Visit

The rest of the week had been a blur. She couldn’t concentrate at work, and her productivity plummeted. She had ignored all of Mark’s calls and pretended to be consumed by her workload. The guilt gnawed at her, yet she couldn’t bring herself to speak to him. Furthermore, she hadn’t seen Tom since their last conversation, nor had she received any messages from him. She mentally berated herself for possibly being too harsh. Maybe she should have listened to him. Her mind raced with a myriad of thoughts.

As Friday finally arrived, she felt a sense of relief wash over her. The weekend was almost here, and all she wanted was to lie in bed with Poodle by her side. At work, she had no time to entertain her emotions. Her manager constantly handed out last-minute assignments with unrealistic deadlines, while Tina incessantly pestered her, eager to know every detail of her personal life.

Ever since Tina had seen her with Mark at an event he had invited her to, she wouldn’t stop prattling on about how perfect he was for her. Now, with the weekend looming, she looked forward to solitude—just she, Poodle, and her thoughts. She didn’t have much work to do today, so she planned to leave early.

Mark had called several times, but she had ignored his calls again. As she was contemplating her plans for the evening, a quiet knock on her office door interrupted her thoughts. "Come in," she responded.

A tall, slender woman with short, curly hair and an immaculate navy-blue suit entered. Her brown eyes, framed by delicate glasses, exuded a professional yet friendly demeanor. "There's a man downstairs who says he's here to see you. Were you expecting anyone?" she inquired politely.

"No," she replied, puzzled. She followed the woman downstairs, curiosity piqued. As they reached the lobby, the woman pointed in a direction. She looked over and saw Mark standing near the reception area, holding a bouquet of flowers and looking slightly anxious.

"Mark!" she blurted out, surprised.

She began to whisper while walking towards him, also thanking the woman. "What are you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming," she retorted, her tone a mix of surprise and irritation.

Mark looked a bit taken aback by her reaction. "I tried calling you all week, but you didn’t answer. I was worried," he explained, his eyes searching her face for a clue to her sudden distance. He handed her the flowers, a hopeful look in his eyes.

"I’ve been busy," she said, crossing her arms defensively. "You shouldn't have come to my office without telling me."

Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, and I’m sorry if I overstepped. I just wanted to see you and make sure you were okay. Can we talk?"

She glanced around, noticing a few curious glances from her colleagues. "This isn’t the place for a conversation," she said, trying to keep her voice low.

"Let me drive you home then. We can talk there," Mark suggested gently.

She hesitated, wanting to refuse. But the guilt of ignoring him all week weighed on her. "Fine," she finally agreed, seeing no other option.

The drive home was quiet, punctuated only by the occasional small talk that felt forced and awkward. Mark seemed genuinely concerned, but she couldn’t shake off her irritation. When they arrived, he insisted on walking her to her door, carrying her bag and a few work files.

As they reached her doorstep, she turned to him, trying to muster a smile. "Thanks for the ride, Mark. But I really need some time alone."

Just as she was about to bid him farewell, she saw Tom approaching them from the parking lot. Panic surged through her. Would Tom say something about their kiss? She didn’t want to hurt Mark.

Tom slowed his pace as he neared them, his eyes flicking between her and Mark. "Hey," he greeted, his voice cautious.

"Tom," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

Mark looked between them, sensing the tension but unaware of its cause. "Hey, Tom. What brings you here?" he asked, trying to sound cheerful but failing to mask the underlying curiosity.

Tom cleared his throat, nodding. "Just heading home. Thought I’d say hi." His eyes lingered on her, a silent question hanging in the air.

She forced a smile, her heart pounding. "Yes, Tom is a neighbor."

Mark, still holding the flowers, smiled awkwardly. "Small world. Well, I should get going. Take care," he added, leaning to kiss her head. "And please, call me?"

She nodded, feeling the weight of his request. "I will. Goodnight Mark."

He bids Tom goodbye too as he walked away, his face etched with concern.

As Mark walked away, Tom approached her, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

She sighed, unlocking her door and motioning for him to come inside. Poodle greeted them enthusiastically, sensing her unease. She crouched down to pet him, trying to calm herself.

“I’m fine.” She states looking up at him.

Tom nodded, leaning against the kitchen counter. "I figured. You’ve been avoiding him?"

She stood up, crossing her arms. "It’s complicated. I just... needed some space."

Tom nodded, understanding. "Did you tell him about us?"

Her eyes widened. "No, and I don’t plan to. It was just a kiss, Tom. I don’t want to hurt him or complicate my new life."

Tom sighed, running a hand through his neatly cut hair. "I get it. I don’t want to complicate things for you. But shouldn’t you hear me out at least."

She nodded, feeling the weight of the situation. "I know. I just need some time to think."

Tom stepped closer, his expression softening. "Take all the time you need. I’m here if you want to talk."

She appreciated his patience but couldn’t shake off the turmoil inside her. "Thanks, Tom. I’ll let you know."

He gave her a reassuring smile before leaving. She closed the door behind him, leaning against it and taking a deep breath. The weekend lay ahead, but her thoughts were far from at ease.

She walked into her bedroom, Poodle following her closely. She flopped onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the week replayed in her mind, the kiss with Tom, the ignored calls from Mark, and now the unexpected visit. She felt like she was being pulled in different directions, and she didn’t know which way to go.

As she lay there, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Mark: "I’m sorry if I upset you today. I just miss you. Please call me when you can."

She stared at the screen, her emotions a tangled mess. She cared for him and knew that he loved her, but things had become so complicated. She knew she couldn’t avoid him forever, but she needed to sort out her feelings first.

Poodle jumped onto the bed, curling up beside her. She stroked his fur, finding some comfort in his presence. "What am I going to do, Poodle?" she whispered, feeling tears prick at her eyes.

The weekend stretched ahead, a chance to find some clarity. She hoped that some time alone would help her sort through her emotions and figure out what she wanted. The burden of the past still weighed on her, but for now all she could do was take it one day at a time.