LOVING EZEKIEL

CHAPTER THREE

Rumors are born from the truth that the people want to believe.

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With the lack of repetitive words from Georgia’s one and only pet, Finn the parrot, the day went on as dull as a typical Saturday lazy day, even when it is only Tuesday—the day where clients will visit the most due to their pets stirring up trouble during the weekends.

Sitting on her swivel chair, she boredly stared at the clock situated beside her photo of her that’s holding her graduation hat, posing with a V sign and a genuine, wide smile. I only have 20 minutes left. Seeing that’s it’s only a few minutes before the said time of meet-up, Georgia is stuck between going, or just show up hours later, thinking that the man named Ezekiel will leave Finn in the restaurant if ever she won’t show up on time.

I want to play safe. I don’t want to meet that man because he is… “Why do I have to bump with a surfer?” Maybe he will get tired of waiting and will just leave Finn there, right?

“He is a person from the high society. Of course, he will not like noisy animals like my Finn who keeps on repeating the word he hears even just at least twice.” Muttering that to herself, she turned her head and completely rested her forehead on her crossed arms on the table.

“I am pretty sure Finn already got kicked out of the room.” She sighed. But as she enclosed herself in darkness, the sound of her clock ticking became louder and much more clearer for her, especially now that she has closed her eyes, and her other senses became more sensitive.

Tick. Tock. Tick Tock.

In every move of the second hand, her mind became more and more clouded by her doubts about that man who claims to be accompanying Finn, her worries that he might be lying and he’s just playing tricks on her, and her concerns about Finn who haven’t returned to her yet.

While lost in her thoughts, the sound of her wind chime made her lift her head up—the chime only make sounds when her clinic’s double glass doors are being moved. There, she saw Drake, approaching her with a polite smile while dressed in a formal white polo and black pants.

“I believe I placed the ‘close’ sign clearly outside, Drake.” She said with slight dislike to him despite her showing a smile of respect. Hearing those remarks, he turns around and glanced at the sign before he looked back at her, a small smile of teasing evident in his lips. “I believe doctors like you shouldn’t show hostility if a person who needs help will barge in even when it’s closed.”

That statement made Georgia lose the remaining strand of her patience. Totally showing her unfavorable frown at him, she stood up, removed her coat, and crossed her arms in front of him. Lord must be giving this as a sign to run to the restaurant. She thought, totally against the thought of entertaining the man in front of her.

“That excuse is only good for clients who have valid reasons.” She spat, then, she pointed at the man who is carrying nothing and has his right hand inside his pocket. “You have no pet for me to treat and you also have no wounds for me to give first aid to.” She said, raising her brow at him.

“But you told me that I can find you here.” Replying like a lost puppy who is just wanting to prove his point, Georgia blinked. Ah. I gave him my clinic’s name. “Yes, I did. But I never mentioned anything about you being allowed to look for me if my clinic is closed.” She said, silencing the man who, even if he wanted to ignore it, have his pride slightly stepped on.

I came here because Sir Ezekiel said he won’t eat in his room. I doubt that he will eat outdoors because he rarely does it. Somehow, I think the only plausible reason that he will eat out instead of enjoying an active night sport is because of her. “I’m sorry. It was rude of me. But I came here because I was wondering if I can take you out for a meal?”

Confused with the sudden offer, her brows furrowed as she stared at the man who averted his gaze. “Well, I rudely stared at you, rudely approached you, and I have not apologized properly. You gave me your clinic’s name, so I assume that it is okay for me to use it as a chance to pay you a visit and invite you out for dinner as a formal token of my apologies.” If you will not say yes because you have other plans, then I assume that you’re meeting up with Sir Ezekiel.

“Meal? As in dinner tonight?” she asked, earning her a shy nod from the man who can’t meet her gaze at the moment. There, she glanced at her clock. 10 minutes left. Observing her silence, he looked at her and saw her staring intently at her clock. “I was thinking of inviting you at Walter’s Steakhouse.” When he added that, her eyes widened.

She reacted. Drake’s curiosity about the woman who seemed to be connected with his boss who’s behaving oddly today continued to grow and grow. His intention isn’t ill nor wrong, his purpose of wanting to know her identity is to simple assess whether she’s a threat, a distraction, or a worthy companion for his boss who never let any woman wear his clothes and never kept an animal by his side.

“Why?” I have a feeling that something’s not right. Instead of lingering with her questions that she cannot answer on herself, she decided to shift the tide and use his answer as a lead to clear out her foggy mind.

“I told you. I want to properly apologize for-”

“No.” abruptly, she cut him off, causing him to look at her with slightly furrowed brows, feeling slightly dejected because this is the first time that someone, aside from the Hendrix father and son, cut him off midsentence. She’s gutsy. Is that why sir took interest to her? With that impression in mind, his feelings mixed in between curiosity, amusement, and a hint of stepped on pride.

“I’m asking you why, of all places, do you want to dine in Walter’s Steakhouse.” She said, clarifying her question which caused for the man in front of her to blink twice, stare at her for a few seconds, and show her a big, polite, yet Casanova-like, smile.

“Well, it’s because I heard from my friends that the food there is great. It is a five-star restaurant and it is located by the sea, so the view is already a given.” He smiled. “And,” when he paused, his blue orbs shined. “I heard they are pet-friendly. That’s why I am hoping to see different pets there since it’s not every day that I can encounter a fine dining that entertains pets.”

Upon the mention of pets. Georgia subtly glanced at the clock once again. 6: 59. Due to Drake’s words somehow triggering her remaining will to comply on the message she received earlier, she looked back at him who is looking at him expectantly, but not to the extend wherein she feels the pressure of agreeing with the offer that he is waiting for her to respond of.

“Walter’s Steakhouse sure is…entertaining for rich people.” Realizing that her statement sounded a little biased, her eyes widened as she covered her mouth, causing Drake to chuckle due to her innocence that seemed to be mixing in with her bold characteristic. “S-sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you in any way, Drake.”

Understanding that she is just talking about how famous the steakhouse is for tourists, he just waved his hand in a dismissive manner. “I don’t mind, miss.” He said, smiling at her which made her lower her hand, heave a small sigh of relief, and smile brightly at her unexpected visitor.

“But I do mind your answer about my offer of treating you a meal.” When he talked about it, her smile dropped, then she looked at the clock again. 7:00 pm. “I would love to accept your offer since it’s not always that I’m receiving one, but for today,” hesitantly, she averted her gaze and hid her hands behind her back—now fiddling with her own fingers.

“I have a plan with a friend.” She reasoned, her voice is so small, but still audible for the only person she’s with. Friend? She mentally snorted. I don’t even know his whole name. Internally sighing due to the lie she just made up for the sake of declining the offer as formal and as reasonable as she can, she waited for his response despite her insides churning with anxiety—both for her and for her pet, Finn.

“That’s too bad. But it’s alright, there are still other times that we can meet.” Once she heard him speak again, she looked at him with a brightened expression. With that, she quickly walked to her coat rack and picked out her gray cardigan, swiftly putting it on her and fixed her hair with her hands.

Is it too early to say that I’ve confirmed what I want to see? As he stared at her who is now facing the mirror that she picked up from her desk as she finger-combed her hair, he thought of his boss, then his mind went back on the girl in front of him. They are polar opposites character-wise. But who knows, right?

“Your excitement in meeting up with your friend hurts my pride as your new friend, miss Georgia.” Saying that, she flinched, her expression turned stiff but after a few moments, she put on a smile and lowered the mirror down before replying to his remarks.

“I believe that you shouldn’t call me ‘miss’ if you really are my new friend, Drake.” She said, now feeling more comfortable with him since things are, according to her, finally going to her way. “I can’t promise you that the meal you’ll offer the next time we’ll meet will be accepted, but as long as I have no prior events that day, I will gladly join you with one.”

Georgia then walked towards her table’s drawer to pull out her perfume. Spraying some on her, she fanned her face and neck for a while before she walked towards Drake. “I will head out now. If you don’t mind, come out of my clinic with me.” She offered, both as a compensation, and as a way to ensure that he won’t pull something odd in her clinic while she’s away.

“Green tea smells nice.” He beamed, causing her to slightly got taken aback. Sensing that, Drake chuckled. “I have a pretty keen sense of smell, you see. My sister loved perfumes too so I somehow learned quite a few about them too.” Explaining himself, Georgia found his flustered state cute—since he’s hands are doing gestures she can’t figure out as he spoke about it.

Clearing his throat, he went back to business and changed the topic. “A-anyways, I heard some rumors from the hotel I am staying in.” when he said that, Georgia stopped smiling and felt chills run down her spine. Drake just came up with that lie, but before he concludes her relationship with her boss, he needs to ask her one more thing.

“The staffs were surprised when their VIP who only comes out at night, came out of his room early in the morning.” As he talked about it, Georgia felt cold sweat trickling down her back. He’s not talking about me yet, but why am I so nervous?! “And along with that odd change,”

“R-rumors are just rumors. You don’t have to be curious with-”

“They said that they saw a woman with black hair, clothes too big for her, tired eyes, and is hand carrying her own clothes without even bagging them, exit that VIP’s room.” Drake continued despite Georgia’s attempt of stopping him from doing so.

Crap. It’s about us! “Oh? That VIP must be so important that even that change is noticed by many.” She said, followed by a small, awkward, laugh. “Yes, that’s true. I won’t be paying attention to that rumor if I haven’t accidentally heard about a certain description of a woman who fits the woman I just met.”

There, Drake smirked. “That woman, is you, isn’t it?” dropping that question like it’s nothing, Georgia took a step back, glanced at her clock that she can’t even tell the time because its back is facing her, and then looked back at Drake. I’m late. Is that Ezekiel person strict about time? Damn. Of all times that I can get stuck with a gossiper, it has to be now.

But, now’s not the time to get flustered over a man who probably just want to confirm that rumor and don’t particularly care about it at all. Taking a deep breath, she bit her inner cheek before deciding to speak. “I did came out of a hotel room, but I don’t know if the room I came from was from a VIP.” Lie. Of course, I know! His room is entirely different because it’s so sparkly and shiny!

“I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, or if I am really that person they described since I am not well aware of who is that VIP you are speaking of.” Lie. There’s no way that such a coincidence exist! A woman who left a room the same way I did? What a perfect coincidence if that happened. “So I don’t want you to jump into conclusions, since rumors are…as what I’ve been told, just born from the truth that the people want to believe.”

“If you want to confirm this matter to me again, then find that VIP, make me see that person, then I will tell you the truth of whether is that the person I’m with or not.” She finished, finally having her mental sigh of relief after delivering her ‘final blow’. I hope it’s enough to not complicate things further.

Quick-witted, composed, and speaks rationally. She’s good at lying. “Okay. You have a point.” Drake smiled. “If I were to meet the VIP and he thinks I’m not meddling too much, I’ll be more than happy to set a meal with the three of us so I can confirm it.”

WHAT?! Of course, he’ll think you’re meddling too much because you don’t know each other yet! Drake, you gossip psycho!

“Whatever you want, Drake. But if that person doesn’t want to, it’s okay.” Straight-up lying since her heart and mind screams of her absolutely saying no, she put on a smile and walked past him. “Since I answered your question, let us leave now.” She said, but deep within her, she is hoping for him to just go back to where he came from.