General pov...

After parting from hug, Hayden and Elena sat in her office for lunch when Erica knocked on her door for announcing her arrival, she asked Rainee - their errand runner to place all the food with cutlery on the table. Elena asked Erica to join them out of courtesy. Erica politely refused asking them to enjoy while giving Elena a pointed look that screamed Explanation, for she had never took Hayden to her office. Either they had met outside their offices till date or in Hayden's office that too very discreetly not showing off their friendship or whatever it was to anybody.

They started having dinner, it was awkward at first, for Elena too who cannot shut her mouth even for 5 minutes. This silence was unnerving to her and to top it off, Hayden was intensely staring at her. "What?" She said loudly with her eyes still on the food in the plate. "Nothing" He said with a look which said he was deep in thoughts "just..."

"Just?" She questioned probing further answers. "Don't you think you eat too much?.. my gawd.. you have left so little for me" he said teasingly raising his perfect eyebrow in order to change the subject. She grinned sheepishly "Actually I was starving, you know, After arguing or fighting, I tend to eat a lot" saying she pouted. Hayden's eyes follow her every movement from eating peacefully without giving a damn about the world to pouting her lips. He so wanted to kiss her again but he knew he was messed up, he needed to think properly about his marriage and his friendship or whatever it was with Elena. He was busy staring at nothing in particular thinking about it when she snapped her cute little fingers in front of him. "What? Are you even listening Hayden?" She whined like a child.. "I am soo not going to talk to you?.." she said complaining like she has all the right in the world on him. And the fact that he was liking it, enjoying it was another thing he had to thought about once he was alone - he noted to himself.. "yeah I was"he was trying to say but she cut him off saying "oh really, tell me what was I saying?" She asked somewhat loudly this time. Oh my he was in trouble- he thought to himself. He should not have spoken anything. What to do.. what to do.. "I was thinking about you" he said without thinking further playing the smart card.

"Me?" She asked surprised pointing finger to herself "What about me?" she asked seriously now propping her elbows forward preparing herself to listen attentively. "You always asked about my likes, dislikes etcetera etcetera! What about yours likes, your friends and family?" He asked coming up with a question at a time to cover up for being non attentive and careless at times. "About me? I never thought you were interested in these things. You know what I mean you never asked even when we played 20 questions, but if you wanna know anything, ask away?" She said with a carefree shrug of her shoulder implying there is nothing to hide. "Ok" he said rubbing his hands pretending to prepare tough.

"What do you do when you are angry?" He questioned his first.

"Honest answer?" He nodded "honestly when I am angry at someone, since I can't fight or throw insults" she said sheepishly "so either I tend to distract myself by putting it in the back of my mind or sometimes cry my eyes out'

he nodded in understanding. "Ok, what about when you are happy?" She answered patiently when he asked more questions. "And your family?" He asked "I have a sister and a neice" she said "they are the only family left. "Your parents?" He probed further.. "died in a car accident" she said with a sad smile with a distant look in her eyes. He put his hand on her on the table between them and squeezed it to show his support which brought her back to the present. She gives a small smile and suddenly a question struck in her mind.!

"What about your parents, your family Hayden?" She asked curiously to which his become tense and stiff. She noticed it too. "Nothing important about them." He said rigidly. "Oh" she said in disappointment that he was still not sharing his problems with her wholeheartedly. "Hayden" she started but Hayden cut her off "Don't Elena" he said with clenched jaw not facing her. "Sorry" she said just above a whisper. He knew she was expecting answers but he was not ready to share his family mess with her. It would be putting too much trust in someone which he still feared. He feared that one day when he was no longer usual to loneliness, keeping thoughts to himself she would leave him or betray him although his heart was screaming the entirely different story.

He became so much confused and frustrated. Sensing his uncomfortable state she tried changing the topic which fortunately worked. "What about your brother?" "Ahh, he is only family I guess I have who is in actual a family. He's different from me. Witty, outgoing, extrovert and extremely flirty" he chuckled a the end with small smile playing on his lips. By the time they were done with lunch, it was past the time of lunch break. They both stood up. "Thanks for the lunch by the way" he said sighing loudly. He doesn't want to go, to leave her especially when someone was out there to take his place in her life - he thought. It was an insecure feeling he never had in his life before.

"Pleasure is all mine" she said coming to stand in front of him. "Bye I guess, its time for my meeting" he said reluctantly after a look at his watch. "Bye" she uttered softly with smile on her lips. He turned to go back but a few steps and he again marched towards her hugging the life out of her kissing her hair softly. Elena after the initial shock wrapped her arms around him as tightly as him to support him emotionally for whatever he was thinking. "Bye" he murmured this time turning, finally leaving her office....

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