They looked at each other for a long time. Nora didn't know what she was going to do but she didn't want Kelvin to think she was that fragile girl he knew her to be besides he could be the reason for her misfortunes. She cleared her throat and walked up to him. "Hi, Kel..." She paused. She turned to look at Diego waiting for a signal if it was ok to call him by his name. Diego shook his head.
"It's okay to call me that," Kelvin assured her with a smile.
"Ok um...I just really want to say thanks for this."
Kelvin smiled. "Don't thank me, thank Diego." Although I was the one who wanted to bring you here Diego beat me to it. Nevertheless, I am glad you are here.
She turned to look at Diego whispering a thank you to him.
"It's late now so I will advise that we move the shoot to the following morning."
Diego and Nora nodded in agreement. "I will take you home." Diego offered. Nora tried to refuse his offer but he held her hand and pulled her out of the office.
Kelvin turned to face the window while he gaze down at them. He watched Diego open the door of his car for her.
How on earth did Diego meet Nora? All these were happening right under his nose and he had no idea? He thought. I will ask him about it tonight.
~~~
Diego drove Nora to her house and when they arrived there, Sara was waiting for her outside the house. When she saw the car, she knew it was her best friend. She waited for Diego to park the car before running to meet her friend. She was this close to hugging her when she stopped. She looked at her and her white fitted gown hugging her body so tightly like the gown was meant for her body. "Wow! I nearly didn't recognize you."
"Nearly?" Nora asked pulling her friend closer.
"Well, almost," admitted Sara with a sarcastic smile.
"I am right here you know." Diego waved his hand just in case they thought he was invincible.
Sara smiled. "Sorry, I nearly didn't see you."
"Really? I was standing close to her when you tried to hug her."
"You were? I didn't know."
Nora tapped her a little on her shoulder. "Stop teasing him."
"Fine." She moved closer to him. "Thanks for everything you've done for my friend."
"If you are thankful..." he cleared his throat. "...you don't mind if her steal her away from you?" He held Nora's hand pulling her closer to his side.
"Of course, I mind, that's my best friend." Sara pulled Nora to her side.
"But I have a lot of questions to ask her." Diego pulled her back.
Nora jerked her hands away from the both of them. She turned to face Diego, "I will answer all your questions tomorrow but now, I want to spend the night with my best friend."
"You are choosing her over me?" Diego asked pouting.
Nora gave him a weird look. She intertwined her arms around her best friend's arms leading them to her house. "See you tomorrow." She waved at Diego without looking at him.
Diego scoffed. He had no idea why he was even trying to get closer to her. "Maybe it's just work-related". He admonished himself. "See you tomorrow." He yelled before driving out of the compound.
"You wanna explain to me what's going on between you and Mr. handsome?" asked Sara with a weird look on her face.
Nora dropped the bag she brought with all the clothes in on the bed. "What do you mean?"
"You don't know what I mean?" Sara sat on the bed looking at her.
Nora shook her head. "He bought all the clothes for you and you don't think something is up?"
"It's work-related Sara. Work on your mind girl, you are overthinking things."
"I am not stupid. It's either he likes you or you like him."
Nora sighed. She sat next to Sara pinching her cheeks. "Nothing is going on between us." She assured with a smile. "But guess what?"
"You know I suck at that. Just spare me the torment and tell me."
"Guess who I saw at the office." Nora stood up to take off her clothes while she got a towel to tie around her body.
"Just tell me already. you are killing me with suspense. This is one reason why I hate suspense movies and stories."
"Those are the best genres. I prefer them to those erotic genres you love so much."
"At least, it makes me an expert when it comes to love."
"Of course, that's why you were able to have nine break-ups."
"I..."
Nora raised an eyebrow waiting for her excuse.
"Just tell me about this guy you met."
"I met Kevin and he turns out to be my boss," Nora said as Sara looked at her, shocked.
"First it was Michael and now Kelvin?" asked Sara. Nora nodded. "Wait! Did you just say Kelvin is the boss?"
Nora nodded again. "And what did you do?"
"I didn't let him see how I was feeling. I hid all my surprise, hurt with a broad smile. You know how I can pretend a lot."
Sara smiled. "I thought you would scurry out."
"To be very honest, that was exactly what I had in mind to do but I just couldn't keep looking like a fragile girl whom anyone can just trample on like I am nothing." Sara hugged her unexpectedly.
"I am glad you are handling this pretty well."
"I am glad too."
"So what are you going to do?"
"I don't understand."
Sara pulled away from the hug and stared at Nora. "You are going to be working with someone you feel is a suspect in the sexual scandal stuff, how are you going to deal with it?"
Nora didn't think about that. "Talking about that, I don't know." She sighed. "But what I do know is, I am not going to let anyone into my heart, ever."
"Nora."
"I will be bold, tough, and just concentrate on work and nothing else."
"promise you will take care of yourself."
Nora hugged her. "I promise."
"You won't let anyone hurt you."
"I won't let anyone hurt me." They both smiled at each other.
"Did we see Andrew when we came in?" Sara asked.
"Let me freshen up and we will look for him in his room."
"Ok."
Sara waited while Nora went into the bathroom to freshen up.