Beauty stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat as she felt Bruno's presence towering behind her. Bruno was supposed to be long gone! She hadn't expected him to catch up to her, especially after the way she stormed out of the car.
"Why is he here? What a day. This is so humiliating," she muttered beneath her breath.
She didn't know how to feel.
Relieved, embarrassed, or even more frustrated.
Bruno didn't answer Tim's question right away, his intense gaze fixed on him, sizing him up. He slid his hands into his pockets, clearly ignoring Tim's presence then turned to Beauty.
"Beauty, you left something in the car," Bruno said finally, his voice soft, acting as if Tim and his girlfriend weren't even there.
That bruised Tim's ego a little, he smiled to himself and wiped his mouth trying to control his embarrassment.
Beauty blinked, confused.
Left something? She didn't recall leaving anything. But then she caught the hint in Bruno's tone and understood he was trying to get her back to the car. How nice of him trying to act nice so she can win her back. She had learnt her lessons not falling for his Mr right moves anymore.
Tim's smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing slightly after Bruno ignored him, but he managed to compose himself.
"I see... so you two are... together?" he asked again, his voice filled with sarcasm.
Beauty said nothing, this time she felt her jaw clenched, and her fists curled tightly.
Bruno remained quiet too. He didn't want to annoy her any further. One thing he was sure of was that she hadn't forgiven him.
Tim's girlfriend shifted uncomfortably, sensing the tension between the three.
She tugged on Tim's arm as if urging him to drop it and move on, but Tim wasn't going to let it go that easily.
"Right," he scoffed after getting no reply from anyone. "You're telling me a guy like him is into you?"
He asked Beauty before Bruno could say a word...Beauty spoke first.
"He is...just a co-worker... and the boss's son," she mumbled under her breath, almost to herself.
Saying he was the CEO and main boss would raise eyebrows. She had to keep it low.
Bruno doesn't look happy at that reply, he rolled his tongue. Waiting impatiently for this meeting to end.
"He looks familiar, though," Tim's new girlfriend, Stacy, commented, staring at Bruno with an intense interest that made Beauty uncomfortable.
"Hi."
Stacy waved at Bruno.
Bruno gave her a calm nod but didn't engage in conversation with her. His eyes went back to Beauty, wondering why she didn't want to leave yet. Who is this guy? Why is an interaction with him important to her?
Meanwhile, Tim's eyes kept studying Beauty and Bruno, trying to figure something out. Their body language felt weird for just colleagues.
He, however, extended his hand toward Bruno with a fake broad smile.
"Hi, I'm Tim. Her ex-boyfriend."
"Ex boyfriend? You literally dumped me after taking away my innocence".
Beauty cursed internally. She felt her legs heavy on the ground, like she was stuck in place, unable to move.
Bruno took Tim's hand with a little hesitation.
"Ex-boyfriend? That's your loss," he said so calmly it sounded like a compliment rather than a taunt.
That statement didn't impress Beauty as it should. He defended her but to her. They are the same after all.
Tim snatched his hand back roughly with a scoff, his face twisting with anger, obviously triggered by the comment.
"Loss? I doubt it. No one would be thrilled about skipping out on a hippo every night. I'm done with that heavy lifting," he sneered, laughing coldly.
Stacy giggled, a little awkward to support her man, though her gaze kept darting back to Bruno.
Beauty felt her eyes growing wet. She hadn't been able to even look up.
"Seriously... could this get any worse? Why am I still here? Why can't I move...?"
Bruno smirked back at Tim, putting his hands back into his pockets.
"Heavy lifting? Trust me. You never knew how to handle it."
Tim didn't back down.
"A guy like you must love the challenge. Good luck dealing with her insecurities, man. I've been there, and trust me, it's a lot to handle. I did her a favor. No one in their right mind would want to-"
Bruno cut him off.
"A favor? For someone better than your current woman? No offense, but that's why she's not with you anymore. Unlike you, I'm not afraid of real weight."