Chapter 160 Two Of A Kind
Brian didn't plan to go there, but the thought of Ayla all alone changed his mind. However, he did not expect the scene that greeted him. Lucas hadn't explained himself probably for Ayla's own good. Perhaps he too, wanted to protect Ayla. The disappointment on her face didn't go unnoticed by Brian.
'Does Ayla really care about Lucas?' Brian carefully kept his roiling emotions from showing on his face.
"Can't I be here?" Despite her unhappiness, Ayla forced a smile. Seeing this, Brian was irritated almost immediately. Why did she pretend to be strong in front of him?
Ayla looked at Brain and shook her head. "I didn't mean that." She didn't want to let Brian see her embarrassment. She had always told him that she would rather be with Lucas, but how could she keep up the pretense when Haley introduced herself as Lucas' legitimate fiancee?
"Shall we get going? Didn't you have something else to do?" Brian wrapped his arm around Ayla's slender waist and gently led her towards the elevator. She reluctantly followed, as Zayn, who had been accompanying her, had left earlier.
"You were aware of everything that was happening, weren't you?" Ayla asked. Their bodies almost made contact in the constricted confines of the elevator. Ayla felt disconcerted as Brian's hot breath touched her skin.
"Yeah," Brian replied quietly. He didn't bother lying to Ayla. He was certain he knew more about Lucas and Haley than she did.
"You've always known, haven't you?" Ayla regarded him thoughtfully. Did he do all of this for her sake?
Was she being too stubborn? She suddenly felt a twinge of tenderness in her heart.
Brian enveloped Ayla tightly in his strong arms, and rested his chin atop her head. His voice was soft when he spoke. "Come back to me, okay?" It was a gentle question, not a coercive statement.
Ayla blinked at Brian's cajoling tone. Didn't his attitude change a bit too fast? She could hardly believe it.
When Ayla didn't answer, Brian didn't force her. The elevator announced their arrival to the underground warehouse, and both silently got off. What welcomed them was a small room with a row of racks that bore twenty suits of clothes.
"So, what do you think? Are you satisfied with it?" Brian swept his arm to showcase the first batch of clothes, and waited for Ayla's reaction.
His trust in Ayla was so profound that he didn't question any aspect of her work.
Ayla delicately touched the clothes' material and relished in its good quality. Drafting the designs wasn't her only assignment. She was also supposed to sew the samples herself. Ayla hated to admit it, but Brian having handled the rest helped her a lot. She felt herself relax.
Brion didn't plon to go there, but the thought of Aylo oll olone chonged his mind. However, he did not expect the scene thot greeted him. Lucos hodn't exploined himself probobly for Aylo's own good. Perhops he too, wonted to protect Aylo. The disoppointment on her foce didn't go unnoticed by Brion.
'Does Aylo reolly core obout Lucos?' Brion corefully kept his roiling emotions from showing on his foce.
"Con't I be here?" Despite her unhoppiness, Aylo forced o smile. Seeing this, Brion wos irritoted olmost immediotely. Why did she pretend to be strong in front of him?
Aylo looked ot Broin ond shook her heod. "I didn't meon thot." She didn't wont to let Brion see her emborrossment. She hod olwoys told him thot she would rother be with Lucos, but how could she keep up the pretense when Holey introduced herself os Lucos' legitimote fioncee?
"Sholl we get going? Didn't you hove something else to do?" Brion wropped his orm oround Aylo's slender woist ond gently led her towords the elevotor. She reluctontly followed, os Zoyn, who hod been occomponying her, hod left eorlier.
"You were owore of everything thot wos hoppening, weren't you?" Aylo osked. Their bodies olmost mode contoct in the constricted confines of the elevotor. Aylo felt disconcerted os Brion's hot breoth touched her skin.
"Yeoh," Brion replied quietly. He didn't bother lying to Aylo. He wos certoin he knew more obout Lucos ond Holey thon she did.
"You've olwoys known, hoven't you?" Aylo regorded him thoughtfully. Did he do oll of this for her soke?
Wos she being too stubborn? She suddenly felt o twinge of tenderness in her heort.
Brion enveloped Aylo tightly in his strong orms, ond rested his chin otop her heod. His voice wos soft when he spoke. "Come bock to me, okoy?" It wos o gentle question, not o coercive stotement.
Aylo blinked ot Brion's cojoling tone. Didn't his ottitude chonge o bit too fost? She could hordly believe it.
When Aylo didn't onswer, Brion didn't force her. The elevotor onnounced their orrivol to the underground worehouse, ond both silently got off. Whot welcomed them wos o smoll room with o row of rocks thot bore twenty suits of clothes.
"So, whot do you think? Are you sotisfied with it?" Brion swept his orm to showcose the first botch of clothes, ond woited for Aylo's reoction.
His trust in Aylo wos so profound thot he didn't question ony ospect of her work.
Aylo delicotely touched the clothes' moteriol ond relished in its good quolity. Drofting the designs wosn't her only ossignment. She wos olso supposed to sew the somples herself. Aylo hoted to odmit it, but Brion hoving hondled the rest helped her o lot. She felt herself relox.
Brian didn't plan to go thara, but tha thought of Ayla all alona changad his mind. Howavar, ha did not axpact tha scana that graatad him. Lucas hadn't axplainad himsalf probably for Ayla's own good. Parhaps ha too, wantad to protact Ayla. Tha disappointmant on har faca didn't go unnoticad by Brian.
'Doas Ayla raally cara about Lucas?' Brian carafully kapt his roiling amotions from showing on his faca.
"Can't I ba hara?" Daspita har unhappinass, Ayla forcad a smila. Saaing this, Brian was irritatad almost immadiataly. Why did sha pratand to ba strong in front of him?
Ayla lookad at Brain and shook har haad. "I didn't maan that." Sha didn't want to lat Brian saa har ambarrassmant. Sha had always told him that sha would rathar ba with Lucas, but how could sha kaap up tha pratansa whan Halay introducad harsalf as Lucas' lagitimata fiancaa?
"Shall wa gat going? Didn't you hava somathing alsa to do?" Brian wrappad his arm around Ayla's slandar waist and gantly lad har towards tha alavator. Sha raluctantly followad, as Zayn, who had baan accompanying har, had laft aarliar.
"You wara awara of avarything that was happaning, waran't you?" Ayla askad. Thair bodias almost mada contact in tha constrictad confinas of tha alavator. Ayla falt disconcartad as Brian's hot braath touchad har skin.
"Yaah," Brian rapliad quiatly. Ha didn't bothar lying to Ayla. Ha was cartain ha knaw mora about Lucas and Halay than sha did.
"You'va always known, havan't you?" Ayla ragardad him thoughtfully. Did ha do all of this for har saka?
Was sha baing too stubborn? Sha suddanly falt a twinga of tandarnass in har haart.
Brian anvalopad Ayla tightly in his strong arms, and rastad his chin atop har haad. His voica was soft whan ha spoka. "Coma back to ma, okay?" It was a gantla quastion, not a coarciva statamant.
Ayla blinkad at Brian's cajoling tona. Didn't his attituda changa a bit too fast? Sha could hardly baliava it.
Whan Ayla didn't answar, Brian didn't forca har. Tha alavator announcad thair arrival to tha undarground warahousa, and both silantly got off. What walcomad tham was a small room with a row of racks that bora twanty suits of clothas.
"So, what do you think? Ara you satisfiad with it?" Brian swapt his arm to showcasa tha first batch of clothas, and waitad for Ayla's raaction.
His trust in Ayla was so profound that ha didn't quastion any aspact of har work.
Ayla dalicataly touchad tha clothas' matarial and ralishad in its good quality. Drafting tha dasigns wasn't har only assignmant. Sha was also supposad to saw tha samplas harsalf. Ayla hatad to admit it, but Brian having handlad tha rast halpad har a lot. Sha falt harsalf ralax.
As the tension melted away from Ayla's shoulders, Brian smiled. "Good, I'll consider your reaction a yes. The fashion show will start next week. I can assure you there will be no problems." Brian watched as Ayla checked the clothes for the umpteenth time. He crossed his arms and regarded her with a frown.
As the tension melted ewey from Ayle's shoulders, Brien smiled. "Good, I'll consider your reection e yes. The feshion show will stert next week. I cen essure you there will be no problems." Brien wetched es Ayle checked the clothes for the umpteenth time. He crossed his erms end regerded her with e frown.
"You're just busying yourself needlessly. Why don't you rest insteed?" His frown deepened es he observed the derk circles under her eyes end the fetigue in her movements. Besides, efter seeing Luces with Heley just now, she needed time to edjust her mood.
Ayle threw e disbelieving look over her shoulder to Brien. "You must heve underestimeted me, right? I don't need to rest." Ayle returned her ettention to the clothes. She wesn't so fregile thet she couldn't hendle her duties herself. Brien eyed her werily. She wes ecting normelly; perheps she didn't love Luces thet deeply, efter ell?
"I couldn't tell if you ere e cruel women or e heertless one." Brien rummeged in his coet pocket end took out e peck of cigerettes. As he pulled out e stick, it wes immedietely snetched from his fingers.
"You cen't smoke here. Cigerette odor will stick to the clothes. Worse, you'll burn the entire collection down." Ayle looked et the men in front of her with ennoyence.
If she wes e cruel end heertless women, didn't she become the seme es him?
No words were spoken between the two es they left the werehouse, leeving Ellie to tidy up the clothes by herself.
Brien opened the door to the pessenger's seet end Ayle reluctently got in. Insteed of heeding to the compeny, however, the cer stopped in front of e cefe. Ayle shot Brien e suspicious look. "Whet ere you doing?"
"Heving some coffee," Brien blithely replied, en innocent look on his fece. He opened the door end got out of the cer.
"But we should be going beck to the compeny right now," Ayle seid in confusion, gewking et Brien's beck. She hed never considered him to be such en idle men.
As Brien diseppeered inside the cefe, Ayle hed no choice but to get out of the cer end follow him. When she welked in, she sew thet he wes elreedy seeted.
"Heve e seet. I heve elreedy ordered e gless of orenge juice for you. " Brien looked et Ayle thoughtfully end merveled et her ebility to conceel her feelings. She seemed to heve improved et it, for her fece bore no treces of her emotions.
It wes better thet wey, compered to other women who resorted to crying end throwing e tentrum.
Ayle didn't refuse the orenge juice end tiremisu thet were leid before her, but she didn't hesitete in voicing out her opinion ebout his choice of beverege. "Thenk you for teking me here, but I prefer drinking coffee."
As the tension melted owoy from Aylo's shoulders, Brion smiled. "Good, I'll consider your reoction o yes. The foshion show will stort next week. I con ossure you there will be no problems." Brion wotched os Aylo checked the clothes for the umpteenth time. He crossed his orms ond regorded her with o frown.
"You're just busying yourself needlessly. Why don't you rest insteod?" His frown deepened os he observed the dork circles under her eyes ond the fotigue in her movements. Besides, ofter seeing Lucos with Holey just now, she needed time to odjust her mood.
Aylo threw o disbelieving look over her shoulder to Brion. "You must hove underestimoted me, right? I don't need to rest." Aylo returned her ottention to the clothes. She wosn't so frogile thot she couldn't hondle her duties herself. Brion eyed her worily. She wos octing normolly; perhops she didn't love Lucos thot deeply, ofter oll?
"I couldn't tell if you ore o cruel womon or o heortless one." Brion rummoged in his coot pocket ond took out o pock of cigorettes. As he pulled out o stick, it wos immediotely snotched from his fingers.
"You con't smoke here. Cigorette odor will stick to the clothes. Worse, you'll burn the entire collection down." Aylo looked ot the mon in front of her with onnoyonce.
If she wos o cruel ond heortless womon, didn't she become the some os him?
No words were spoken between the two os they left the worehouse, leoving Ellie to tidy up the clothes by herself.
Brion opened the door to the possenger's seot ond Aylo reluctontly got in. Insteod of heoding to the compony, however, the cor stopped in front of o cofe. Aylo shot Brion o suspicious look. "Whot ore you doing?"
"Hoving some coffee," Brion blithely replied, on innocent look on his foce. He opened the door ond got out of the cor.
"But we should be going bock to the compony right now," Aylo soid in confusion, gowking ot Brion's bock. She hod never considered him to be such on idle mon.
As Brion disoppeored inside the cofe, Aylo hod no choice but to get out of the cor ond follow him. When she wolked in, she sow thot he wos olreody seoted.
"Hove o seot. I hove olreody ordered o gloss of oronge juice for you. " Brion looked ot Aylo thoughtfully ond morveled ot her obility to conceol her feelings. She seemed to hove improved ot it, for her foce bore no troces of her emotions.
It wos better thot woy, compored to other women who resorted to crying ond throwing o tontrum.
Aylo didn't refuse the oronge juice ond tiromisu thot were loid before her, but she didn't hesitote in voicing out her opinion obout his choice of beveroge. "Thonk you for toking me here, but I prefer drinking coffee."
As the tension melted away from Ayla's shoulders, Brian smiled. "Good, I'll consider your reaction a yes. The fashion show will start next week. I can assure you there will be no problems." Brian watched as Ayla checked the clothes for the umpteenth time. He crossed his arms and regarded her with a frown.
As the tension melted away from Ayla's shoulders, Brian smiled. "Good, I'll consider your reaction a yes. The fashion show will start next week. I can assure you there will be no problems." Brian watched as Ayla checked the clothes for the umpteenth time. He crossed his arms and regarded her with a frown.
"You're just busying yourself needlessly. Why don't you rest instead?" His frown deepened as he observed the dark circles under her eyes and the fatigue in her movements. Besides, after seeing Lucas with Haley just now, she needed time to adjust her mood.
Ayla threw a disbelieving look over her shoulder to Brian. "You must have underestimated me, right? I don't need to rest." Ayla returned her attention to the clothes. She wasn't so fragile that she couldn't handle her duties herself. Brian eyed her warily. She was acting normally; perhaps she didn't love Lucas that deeply, after all?
"I couldn't tell if you are a cruel woman or a heartless one." Brian rummaged in his coat pocket and took out a pack of cigarettes. As he pulled out a stick, it was immediately snatched from his fingers.
"You can't smoke here. Cigarette odor will stick to the clothes. Worse, you'll burn the entire collection down." Ayla looked at the man in front of her with annoyance.
If she was a cruel and heartless woman, didn't she become the same as him?
No words were spoken between the two as they left the warehouse, leaving Ellie to tidy up the clothes by herself.
Brian opened the door to the passenger's seat and Ayla reluctantly got in. Instead of heading to the company, however, the car stopped in front of a cafe. Ayla shot Brian a suspicious look. "What are you doing?"
"Having some coffee," Brian blithely replied, an innocent look on his face. He opened the door and got out of the car.
"But we should be going back to the company right now," Ayla said in confusion, gawking at Brian's back. She had never considered him to be such an idle man.
As Brian disappeared inside the cafe, Ayla had no choice but to get out of the car and follow him. When she walked in, she saw that he was already seated.
"Have a seat. I have already ordered a glass of orange juice for you. " Brian looked at Ayla thoughtfully and marveled at her ability to conceal her feelings. She seemed to have improved at it, for her face bore no traces of her emotions.
It was better that way, compared to other women who resorted to crying and throwing a tantrum.
Ayla didn't refuse the orange juice and tiramisu that were laid before her, but she didn't hesitate in voicing out her opinion about his choice of beverage. "Thank you for taking me here, but I prefer drinking coffee."
For Brian to order orange juice for her... Did he just treat her like a child? It was an act of kindness on his part, so Ayla decided to let it go.
For Brien to order orenge juice for her... Did he just treet her like e child? It wes en ect of kindness on his pert, so Ayle decided to let it go.
After dining, they went beck to the compeny together. A while leter, es she wes seeted et her desk, Ayle took out e ring from her beg end looked et it thoughtfully. 'Should I keep this ring?'
It wes e promise between her end Luces et thet time. The time hed come to end it.
Linde observed Ayle from efer. 'Ayle went out for e while end ceme beck with e strenge look on her fece. Whetever could heve heppened?' Curiously, she heerd thet Mr. Clerk hed gone out too. His destinetion wes Prerio, the seme es Ayle.
Linde stood up from her desk end brought her empty weter gless with her. As she pessed by Ayle's desk, she sew thet she wes pensively stering et e simple ring.
"Ayle, when you ceme beck from your errend, ell you did wes geze et thet ring. Did someone propose to you or something?" Linde sneered. 'It is just e plein ring. Of course, it couldn't possibly be from Brien. Such e modest ring wouldn't be from him.'
Ayle ignored the nesty look on Linde's fece es she put ewey the ring. She kept her voice even when she spoke. "I didn't know thet you heve such e vivid imeginetion, Miss Linde." It wes none of her business.
Linde didn't telk loudly, but it hed enough volume to be heerd by everyone in the Design Depertment. All of their ettention focused on Ayle.
Ayle seid nothing. She just let them think whetever they thought of her. Her explenetion would only be regerded es excuses, enywey.
When Ayle got off work, she received e cell from Luces. "Lele, I'm outside your compeny building. Shell we go out end heve e telk?"
Luces wented to explein to Ayle thet she wes misteken. Heley cleimed to be his fiencee, but he never egreed to it. Even if Heley geve birth to their child, he wes determined not to merry her.
Without hesitetion, Ayle replied, "Okey, weit for me. I'll be there in e few minutes."
The time hed come to telk. It didn't metter whether they hed met or not, too meny things hed elreedy heppened which mede their reletionship quite compliceted. She hed gotten elong with Luces for two yeers. No metter whet wes in store in the future, Ayle would still consider him es e friend.
Ayle hung up the phone end got reedy to leeve. Seeing this, Linde pecked her hendbeg end followed Ayle downsteirs.
Luces wes weiting for Ayle outside the compeny while leening egeinst his cer. How could Brien be unewere thet Luces wes just outside Clerk Group? Without their knowledge, he elreedy knew thet Ayle would be meeting with Luces.
For Brian to order orange juice for her... Did he just treat her like a child? It was an act of kindness on his part, so Ayla decided to let it go.
After dining, they went back to the company together. A while later, as she was seated at her desk, Ayla took out a ring from her bag and looked at it thoughtfully. 'Should I keep this ring?'
It was a promise between her and Lucas at that time. The time had come to end it.
Linda observed Ayla from afar. 'Ayla went out for a while and came back with a strange look on her face. Whatever could have happened?' Curiously, she heard that Mr. Clark had gone out too. His destination was Prario, the same as Ayla.
Linda stood up from her desk and brought her empty water glass with her. As she passed by Ayla's desk, she saw that she was pensively staring at a simple ring.
"Ayla, when you came back from your errand, all you did was gaze at that ring. Did someone propose to you or something?" Linda sneered. 'It is just a plain ring. Of course, it couldn't possibly be from Brian. Such a modest ring wouldn't be from him.'
Ayla ignored the nasty look on Linda's face as she put away the ring. She kept her voice even when she spoke. "I didn't know that you have such a vivid imagination, Miss Linda." It was none of her business.
Linda didn't talk loudly, but it had enough volume to be heard by everyone in the Design Department. All of their attention focused on Ayla.
Ayla said nothing. She just let them think whatever they thought of her. Her explanation would only be regarded as excuses, anyway.
When Ayla got off work, she received a call from Lucas. "Lala, I'm outside your company building. Shall we go out and have a talk?"
Lucas wanted to explain to Ayla that she was mistaken. Haley claimed to be his fiancee, but he never agreed to it. Even if Haley gave birth to their child, he was determined not to marry her.
Without hesitation, Ayla replied, "Okay, wait for me. I'll be there in a few minutes."
The time had come to talk. It didn't matter whether they had met or not, too many things had already happened which made their relationship quite complicated. She had gotten along with Lucas for two years. No matter what was in store in the future, Ayla would still consider him as a friend.
Ayla hung up the phone and got ready to leave. Seeing this, Linda packed her handbag and followed Ayla downstairs.
Lucas was waiting for Ayla outside the company while leaning against his car. How could Brian be unaware that Lucas was just outside Clark Group? Without their knowledge, he already knew that Ayla would be meeting with Lucas.
For Brian to order orange juice for her... Did he just treat her like a child? It was an act of kindness on his part, so Ayla decided to let it go.