RETAKE

Part 21

While waiting for the elevator, Anne can't help but think of how Gary knows that she didn't come to work in her car.

Has he seen her in the morning going down in a different car? No one was in the lobby except the receptionists. She was also late by two minutes when she scanned her fingerprint, and no one was there as most came earlier by five minutes. Anyway, as long as he had not seen the car driver, she was still safe.

The ringing of her phone stopped her from musing. As expected, Brent was on the other line. Anne looked around to be sure no one near her.

Before she can pick up his call, the elevator opens. Inside are two of her colleagues, and so she put her phone in silence.

Once she came out of the elevator, Anne slowed her step to keep her distance from the two while walking towards their attendance machine. She then picks up Brent's call.

"Babe, why have you taken time in answering my call?"

"Where are you parked?" She asked instead of answering his question.

"Changing the topic?"

Brent's amused voice made her face contorts more of frustration at his merriments on her predicament than angry. Still, she retorted, "Tell me now or, I will not go there."

"Hey, my baby is getting bossy."

"Brent!"

Anne looked at her colleagues as soon as she shouted Brent's name. To find them looking at her made her embarrassed. She smiled shyly towards them.

"My brother," She explained, even not asked. Then it dawned on her that she sounds like a guilty person, caught in an affair. Why will they care if she is talking to anyone? She is paranoid, even to think that they will know who is in the other line.

"Are there someone besides you?" She heard Brent's inquiry. Still, she didn't answer but asked. "Where are you?"

Then she heard him sigh before answering. "Okay, Babe, I am where you wanted me to wait. In the next building."

"Good boy!"

"Don't call me...."

Before Brent can finish his sentence, she turned off the phone and walked towards the vacant machine.

As Brent's said, Anne immediately saw his car on the next building parking space. She walked towards the passenger's side, but it is empty when she looked on the driver's side.

She looked around, but he was nowhere.

"Where did he go? Was he pissed off with her behavior earlier and tried to cool down?"

A bit worried that he might be angry with her for real, she sighs. She would fish out her phone in her bag when she looked around and saw him walking out of the building. He is carrying a paper bag from Shake Shack on his right arm and that of the drinks on the other hand.

Upon seeing what he was carrying, Anne forgets everything and felt her hunger. She was not able to eat her lunch earlier as alterations on her sketches occupied her time. Thanks to Susan's food, she was able to munch while working. It was only a tiny portion as five of them shares it.

Brent's smiling face and the one he is carrying made her respond with a look full of happiness; she could almost run and hugged him. Only the knowledge that they were in a public place stopped her.

"Babe, can you please remove the key of the car in my pocket." She heard Brent asked her while looking at his hands full of what he is carrying.

"Why does he has to shout it out? What if anyone hears?" She hissed.