Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

Both of them looked at each other before bursting into laughter.

"Get ready, I'll take you out for dinner." He then got up and walked towards his wardrobe.

"Aren't we going to see grandma?" She asked while getting down from the bed. "Is it too late? Should we go tomorrow?" She thought it would be inconvenient to disturb grandma so late.

"Whatever you say, it's up to you." Andrew picked up his phone which had been vibrating for quite some time now. "Before I forget, tomorrow we have to drop by the office. The company is holding a small conference for Mr.Stephen, he will be officially retiring tomorrow."

"Oh—okay." Rachael pursed her lips. If Mr.Stephen was officially retiring that meant she had to join office soon. Though she had worked before, she had taken a long break so the thought of rejoining the office made her feel very nervous.

When he sensed the hesitation and nervousness in her voice, he approached her. "What happened?"

"Nothing, it's just—" she sighed. "It has been a while since I worked so I feel a little weird."

"You don't have to join right away. The ceremony is tomorrow and you will be introduced as the new Vice President. If you want, you can resume work after a week when I do or whenever you want, it's really up to you." He didn't want her to feel any kind of work pressure. He wanted her to know that things were very flexible for her.

"A week? You are taking a break?" When he nodded, she asked, "Will that not be inconvenient? I mean, you just joined."

"Ben will handle everything. If there is anything important, he will contact me." Crossing his arms in the front, he raised his brows. "You want me to join work the very next day after our marriage? Are you trying to make me look like a bad husband?"

She vigorously shook her head. "Of course not, I didn't mean it that way." She tried to defend herself. "I just thought since you joined, there will be a lot to do in the office so—"

"I can always catch up with work later, that's not so important right now." Glancing at the caller ID, he said, "You get ready, I have to take this."

After he left, Rachael picked up her phone which was lying in the side table. It was almost 6:00 PM. Her short nap was four hours long.

She sighed and helplessly shook her head, she had to do something about her afternoon naps. She didn't want to doze off at the office when she started working.

She was about to keep her phone away when she started receiving messages in the private friends group.

[Emma: Guess who is back in town?]

[Tina: Who?]

[Emma: Guess -_-]

[Tina: Yeah, I don't want to]

[Emma: So annoying….]

[Emma: Jessica Hurley]

[Tina: WHAT? NO WAY O_O]

[Emma: I bumped into her at the mall today. She couldn't stop flaunting her engagement ring and how rich her fiance is]

[Tina: You told her about Rach right?]

[Emma: Of course!]

[Tina: That's my girl]

After reading the conversation, Rachael couldn't help but smile. When they were still in high school, Jessica Hurley was her rival who always kept looking for ways to drag her down. But no matter what happened, Rachael always ignored her but Emma and Tina were different. They always kept pulling Jessica's leg

[Tina: Where is Rach?]

[Emma: I don't know….maybe she is busy canoodling her husband :p]

[Rachael: I just woke up from a long nap. Andrew is taking me out for dinner, I have to get ready]

[Tina: Ohh….second date after marriage, not bad]

[Rachael: It's just dinner]

[Emma: It's a date]

Helplessly shaking her head, Rachael chuckled. She then tossed her phone on the bed. Wondering if it really was a date, she slowly made her way towards the washroom.

…..

[Downstairs]

When Rachael came down after getting dressed, Andrew was already ready. He was sitting on the couch, scrolling through his laptop.

When he saw her, he smiled and closed his laptop. "Ready?"

She nodded. "Yes." She didn't know where they were going for dinner so she decided to wear something casual. She was wearing a floral print A-line off-shoulder ankle length dress. The dress hugged her body perfectly, flaunting her slick body. She had paired it with a pair of diamond studs and pendant.

She was wearing very little makeup and her mid back length hair was left open, which made her look more elegant.

"Y-You look great," Andrew complimented her, trying very hard to keep his cool. There were many women who tried to climb their way to his life, some were even shameless enough to throw themselves at him. Though those women were considered to be 'Beautiful', he never felt anything but disgust and pity.

He did not resent women. In fact, he had dated for short intervals when he was in high school and college. But he never felt a connection with any of them. He dated for the sake of dating. And during his senior year of college, he stopped dating and interacting with women. In fact till date, he barely interacted with a woman.

But there was something about Rachael that was different. She made him feel different. Her elegance and beauty couldn't be compared with anyone.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Rachael smiled, "Thanks."

"Let's go."

…..

[Inside the car]

Turning the engine on, Andrew asked her, "What do you want to eat?"

"Anything is okay." She wasn't a very picky eater. "Your call."

Without saying anything, he drove out of the mansion.

"You haven't eaten anything since morning, aren't you hungry?" When she shook her head, he frowned. "Why not?"

"I ate cookies in the morning."

Her answer made him frown deeper. "If you continue this way, you will vanish some day."

"Well, now it's three of you," she chuckled.

"Huh?"

"Dad and George tell me the same thing," she remarked. "I am not that skinny you know."

"Yeah, I can see that," he scoffed. Andrew not only thought she was very skinny but also weak. From what he had heard, she had a suppressed immune system and would fall sick quite often.

…..