REINER - TORN

“I could ask you the same thing. Knight, why are you here?” Charles replied casually.

However, the way his hand tightened a little around my wrist made me aware that he too was on edge.

He was shielding me behind him to keep me away from Reiner as if he was a threat to me. That was

the only part that Charles got wrong. Reiner would never do me harm.

“I’m here to pick Natalia up and take her back home,” Reiner stated coldly.

His eyes searched for mine and I had to admit that I felt very torn in that situation. No matter how hard I

thought, I didn’t know what was the right thing to do. I also didn’t know why Reiner turned up so

suddenly to pick me up. He had not told me anything at all.

“That won’t be necessary. We’re actually on our way back. I’ll drive her back,” Charles replied casually.

A very awkward silence settled in again as the atmosphere tensed even further. I could tell that Reiner

didn’t like what he was hearing or seeing. Reiner, turning up here and offering to drive me home was

truly unexpected. I wondered what was bothering him and why he decided to turn up to the bar. Then I

recalled that he had asked me earlier at work if I would be working at the bar tonight.

Did he intend to pick me up since then?

“Knight, it’s ok. Charles will drive me back. I don’t want to bother you,” I replied, trying to keep the mood

light.

“No, I’ll drive you,” he said resolutely.

Reiner approached us and the grip that Charles had on my wrist tightened. For a moment, I was scared

that a fight would break out between the two men, and I wasn’t sure what I should do.

“Is something the matter?” I asked Reiner in a soft voice.

“You should come back with me,” he stated sternly.

His blue eyes held amid mine, and I could tell that he was dead serious. I had no idea what he was

thinking or why he wanted to drive me back, but something made me feel that if I didn’t go back with

him. A fight might break out. I hesitated, not knowing what to do.

“Sory…” I whispered as I spoke to Charles from behind his back.

He turned his head slightly and glanced over at me.

“I’m so sorry about this, but for today, can I get Knight to drive me back?” I asked in a soft voice.

Charles’ eyes met mine and he seemed to understand my concern. After a moment of hesitation, he

smiled at me and patted my head.

“If that’s what you’ve decided,” he said warmly.

“Thank you, Charles…and I’m so sorry,” I said apologetically.

I could feel Reiner’s eyes burning into my skin as he watched the interaction between Charles and me.

Without waiting for us to share our farewells, Reiner’s hand grabbed the top of my arm and yanked me

away from Charles. I let out a small cry of surprise, although it didn’t really hurt.

In the next moment, I was already standing by Reiner’s side. Charles looked at us with a calm look on

his face, as if he had anticipated something like this. I wasn’t sure why, but I felt so ashamed to be

caught up in this type of situation. I knew I had caused a lot of harm and hurt to Charles.

“I’m so sorry,” Charles I whispered as I felt tears sitting in the back of my eyes.

That was all that I could say to him. I was so ashamed that the situation had gotten so out of hand. I

had no idea what Reiner was thinking because usually he would never act like this. Charles nodded at

me, as if he understood, and that only made me feel even worse about myself. Reiner didn’t say a word

to me before he started dragging me behind him and as he walked away.

I glanced over at Charles, and he offered me a sad smile. I made a promise to myself that I would This material belongs to .

apologize to him and make it up to him. I’ll do it the first chance that I get. I knew that Reiner was angry

without him having to say anything. We continued walking in silence as he dragged me away behind

him. By the time we reach his car, I realize that I have forgotten all my belongings with Charles. It

wasn’t like that was important at that moment.

Reiner yanked the door of the passenger seat of his car opened and shoved me inside before

slamming the door closed. My sense of guilt and shame had transferred into anger towards Reiner and

what he was doing. His anger and violence outbursts made me more angry than scared.

Reiner got into the driver’s seat and started driving the car without saying a word to me and I didn’t

remember telling him where I lived, and he didn’t ask. After a while of driving down a very dark road, I

wondered where we were going.

“Where are we going?” I asked Reiner; however, he didn’t reply to my question, and I wasn’t surprised

I knew that he wanted to talk to me, and I wondered what we needed to discuss. I was just waiting for

him to start our discussion. I knew that something had been bothering him since the day that he ran

into Charles at the office and found out that Charles and I knew each other. Things between us weren’t

the same since that day. And perhaps Reiner has been holding in something that I didn’t realize up until

now.

I knew that it would probably be better if I explained everything to Reiner. However, a part of me felt like

I didn’t owe him any type of explanation. He wasn’t my boyfriend or anything, so why did I have to

explain to him that another guy was interested in me? He’s supposed to be just my boss now, right?

Suddenly the car came to a stop on the side of a very dark road. Peering outside, I could see nothing

but the woods and a distant streetlamp located a few meters away.

--To be continued…