Chapter: 73
He jingled his car keys confidently, undeterred by the fact that his modest vehicle was no match for Alan's luxury car.
"It's getting late, Kaitlin, we should head out," Quintin urged.
Kaitlin nodded and climbed into Quintin's car, sealing her decision.
“Thanks for stepping in," she said.
“No problem, just returning the favor for all the help you've given me," Quintin replied as he buckled up and gave Alan a defiant honk, not once but twice.
Alan, his hope extinguished, watched as the bouquet wilted in his hand. He stood frozen, witnessing his ex-wife drive away with another man.
Alan refused to give up on fetching Kaitlin from work. This time, he swapped the red roses for lilies.
With Quintin away on business, Alan seized the opportunity.
As soon as Kaitlin emerged, Alan was there to greet her.
“Kaitlin, I've reserved a table at a nearby restaurant. Would you like to join me for dinner?" he proposed.
“No," Kaitlin answered curtly, trying to sidestep him.
“It's your favorite-local cuisine," Alan added, matching her pace.
“I'm not hungry," she declared.
Kaitlin's studio was flourishing, and although she often stayed late, she maintained a healthy, vibrant glow.
Her polished presence only deepened Alan's fascination.
"Then allow me to drive you home. I came here specifically to pick you up," Alan insisted, obstructing her path.
Kaitlin grew increasingly irritated with his constant interruptions.
“Alan, what are you aiming for? Being nice to me now changes nothing. To be clear, we have no future," Kaitlin asserted, visibly agitated yet maintaining her poise even in her anger.
Alan smirked instead of feeling hurt.
“Go ahead, unleash your anger on me. Then, we can grab dinner. Sound good?" he suggested.
Kaitlin rolled her eyes, murmured, "You're insane." With that, she walked away without a backward glance.
A few days later, they encountered each other at a banquet.
Oasis Studio had received an invitation, prompting Kaitlin and Phoebe to attend. Upon their arrival, several attendees swarmed around them, eager for conversation.
The two navigated the crowd with ease, striking up conversations that hinted at future collaborations.