Chapter 4 Confrontation

Darley's five star restaurant was a fairly large building coated in a beautiful pale purple color. With it's exquisite dishes and the presence of a variety of drinks and alcohol, it was the perfect hang out spot for dates, business meetings, and company dinners.

Or, in the marketing departments case, extremely awkward company dinners.

"Order whatever you want. I'm paying" Enzo said, paying no attention to the drooped heads and bodies that shuddered from the icy aura he emitted.

A week had passed since Enzo became Director of the marketing and sales department. In order to build stronger teamwork and a closer relationship with his subordinates, he ordered that they leave work early for an evening dinner.

And oh, did they regret it.

"This is my first time frowning at the sight of free food" Howard; a member of team one muttered under his breath and Riele let out an internal sigh.

All four teams sat at conjoined tables, with Enzo seated at the middle of the table; looking like a king addressing his subjects at a royal banquet.

It was especially worse for Team one who shared the same table with Enzo.

Not a single person tried to utter a word. Riele broke into a cold sweat watching her co-workers nervously gulp down on their food, then she glanced over at Enzo.

He held no expression on his face, and he seemed calm; eating without a care in the world.

*Does he not see our uncomfortability, or is he just choosing to ignore it?*

"Well, the food here is just delicious, Director" Nancy from Team four chirped; unable to hide the anxiety in her voice and they all shot her thankful looks.

"This is my first time here. How did you find such an amazing place?"

"I googled it" Enzo replied sternly and they were greeted with deafening silence once more.

*Is he being serious?! Try carrying the conversation a little more!*

Nancy remained frozen on her chair; her nervous smile quickly fading as she once again faced her food with aching regret.

Her little effort was probably planned because not long after she tried and failed, her teammate spoke up in an equally nervous voice.

"You're really handsome, Director! You must get a lot of attention from girls"

"Mmm" Enzo hummed and their mouths dropped open.

"Haha!" The young woman feigned a laugh and continued anyway. "Your skin is so pale and smooth. What skincare products do you use?"

"I don't use any"

"What about your hair, Director? It's so silky, there's no way you don't use hair products"

Enzo raised a brow.

"Shampoo" he replied and the poor woman gave up and retreated to her food.

*At this rate, we'll all get indigestion*

"D-do you have a girlfriend, Director?"

Enzo paused, then shot a blank stare at Lucas from Team one.

"These questions are a bit odd. And why am I on the receiving end?"

"Hahaha!" Lucas let out a nervous laugh and the rest joined soon after; sending their best wishes to Lucas who managed to make Enzo lift his eyes from his plate.

"It's normal at company dinners, sir. To get closer and blow off the steam from work, we ask fun questions. You can say it's entertainment!"

"It's not fun for me, so ask amongst yourselves" He replied and everyone at the table froze up.

*That's it. This is too painful to watch*

Riele sighed internally and let out a deep breath for courage.

"Um, Director" she started, then felt her mouth run dry when his violet eyes met hers.

"A-although you're our superior, you're still the newest member in the department and we're just trying to get to know you better. It's our way of welcoming you"

"If that's the case, then ask whatever you want" Enzo remarked, and Riele let out another silent sigh.

"T-then, my question still stands, Director " Lucas smiled.

"I don't have a girlfriend " Enzo answered.

"That's hard to believe, Director." Astrid gasped, almost in a tease. "With your looks, you should be dating by now "

"But I'm not" He deadpanned, already fed up with the question.

*His replies are simple and short. He's not even trying to carry the conversation at all.*

"I've never dated anyone before, and I'm not interested in dating either"

They froze up for what felt like the thousandth time that night, and Riele's eyes widened.

*This lying son of a bitch*

She glared over at him and clenched her jaw.

*After everything I said last week....he's still denying it.*

"Are you sure you've never dated, Director?" Riele found her lips moving before her brain could register her words, and by the time she realised what she had said, all eyes were on her; including Enzo's.

"What?" Enzo questioned, his brows furrowed at her.

"It's exactly as I said, Director. Are you sure you're being honest with us?"

She felt Natalie knudge her arm in a panic, but ignored her warnings and kept her eyes glued on Enzo.

"What reason do I have to lie, Ms. Brown?"

"That's what I'm most curious about, Director " Riele said; feigning a polite smile and struggling to hide the glare in her eyes.

"I once dated a man who looked *a lot* like you" Riele continued and the look in Enzo's eyes darkened.

"We dated for a year, and one day he just up and left. I saw that man recently, but he pretended not to remember me and went as far as to deny ever knowing me"

"And what has this got to do with me?" He glared.

"I don't know, Director" Riele said and forced a bright smile. "You might be doing the same to some poor girl out there. Who knows? You probably abandoned her the exact same w-"

"Manager Riele!" Natalie blurted, startling everyone at the table. She shot Riele a 'shutyourmouthbeforeyouregretthis' look and quickly turned to face Enzo who had a glare still fixed on Riele.

"I'm sorry, Director. She's a lightweight. She must be drunk already"

Enzo's eyes moved down to Riele's glass, then back at her.

"I'm sure" He breathed; his voice scarily low and calm.

Riele kept her eyes on her plate and her hands balled into tight fists under the table. She wanted to say more to him. She wanted to yell and curse at him out loud.

*You fucking asshole*

Enzo's phone buzzed and he ripped his attention off Riele. The table remained eerily quiet as he glanced at the screen, and they all flinched when he got to his feet.

"It seems this is where I retire for the night "

Relief washed over all of them, and Enzo looked down at Riele with a stern gaze and handed her a black card.

"Pay with this" He said. Ignoring the glare she had in her brown eyes, he looked back at the rest of his subordinates. "Goodnight"

The second Enzo left, all of them let out deep breaths and slumped back on their chairs.

"I'm definitely getting indigestion"

"I already have indigestion"

"I've lost my appetite"

"I can't even take another sip of alcohol"

Riele listened to them grumble, and the look Enzo had in his eyes earlier, flashed by in her head and she gritted her teeth.

His eyes, once again, held that look of unfamiliarity.

☆

"All that food and I don't feel full.." Howard grumbled.

"Well, you're certainly luckier than the most of us who have to take indigestion medicine" Natalie replied and patted his back with a small smile.

They dispersed like ants to their various destinations, grumbling to themselves and hoping to the heavens that they never get to eat with Enzo again.

Riele waved her team off with a small smile, and shuddered at the cold brush of the wind against her bare skin. She looked up and stared at the crescent moon hung high in the sky; outshining the street lamps and building lights, and she let out a sigh.

She turned on her heel and headed off to hail a taxi when she stopped midtrack at the familiar silhouette standing a few feet from her.

"What is your problem?" Enzo queried and emerged from the shadows with a frown on his face.

"What? So you waited outside to confront me?"

Enzo's eyes darkened at her tone and he inched closer to her.

"Watch your tongue, Ms. Brown" He warned and Riele only felt her blood boil hotter.

"What's your deal, Gilbert?-" His eyes widened for a split second and narrowed at her. "Do you seriously plan on acting like I'm nothing to you? Or did you really forget about me?"

"There is nothing to forget" Enzo pronounced, "because I *don't* know you"

*This asshole..!*

"You asshole" she muttered and balled her hands into fists. "You...heartless asshole..."

Her vision blurred as her eyes burned, and she quickly wiped the warm tears that threatened to stain her cheeks. She promised she wouldn't shed another tear over him. She promised she would confront him without feeling like an absolute mess.

But it was impossible.

How could she act like everything was okay when the man she expected answers from, stood before her with a displeased expression on his face, and the determination to act like the time he had spent with her meant nothing.

"*You* came unto me first, remember?" She glared, holding back the sob that threatened to escape her throat. "It was *you* who asked to marry me, and it was *you* who left like none of that ever mattered! Why!? Why on earth did you leave?! Why the hell did you do that?!!"

Enzo stared wide eyed at the young woman who bawled before him; her small body trembling and her full lips quivering with every sob that escaped them.

Her big brown eyes were glassy as they glared up at him, and the head lights from a passing car illuminated their path; casting a bright glow on her caramel colored skin.

For a second, Enzo felt the need to embrace her small body in his, stroking her back gently and whispering words of ease.

Yes, for a second.

But why would he want to do that? Why did such a strange woman appear before him? And why did she stand there crying like a child who had let go of her mother's hand?

It bothered him. Everything about her bothered him.

"Go home, Ms. Brown. I'll call you a driver" He said and reached for his phone in his pocket.

"'From my heart to yours..." Riele breathed and Enzo froze in place. "Remember?" She let out in a low cry and Enzo's eyes widened.

"Fuck" He muttered under his breath.