Ana checked the premises, all are in place ~ spic-and-span. Just a little morning cleaning up of dusts and it will be ready for the next banking day.  She keyed in the password for the branch security system. This would turn the system from day mode to night mode. Any movement inside the branch would trigger the alarm system for intrusion or robbery. The branch security guard was waiting beside her as she locked it from the outside. This is the usual protocol of an officer and the guard for closing the branch at the end of the day.

Ana placed the branch keys inside her bag and dismissed the guard. "Bye, Oscar."

She was about to head towards the main entrance of Anais Tower when she noticed someone was watching her. She turned and saw Ryan leaning on his car with his arms crossed on his chest. "B-babe! You startled me!"

Ryan walked towards her and pulled her on her waist and kissed her on her forehead. "I have a surprise for you."

"You already did surprise me." She looked up and kissed his cheek. "It's late. How long have you been there?"

Late on a Friday night means going out of the branch at past six o'clock. Everybody seems to be in a hurry to go home or to go out with friends to start the weekend. Ana stayed behind until seven in the evening to finish a report. She doesn't believe in procrastination. Besides, she's killing time since Ryan said he'll be home late.

"I just got here. I was about to get inside and fetch you when I saw you locking up the branch." He held her hand as they walked to his car. "I'm taking you out for dinner."

"Oh... Where's Elias?" Ana looked around for the driver. "And why are we using that?" She pointed to his Porsche 718 Boxster.

"It's part of the surprise, babe. No drivers and close-in bodyguards tonight." He pulled something from his pants. "And... you're driving."

"W-what?! Babe, I can't!" Ana panicked. "I can't drive that expensive car, Ryan!"

"Baby, relax. It's automatic." He opened the door on the driver's side and stepped aside for Ana to get in.

"Babe, if something happens to this car, it's not my fault." She said as they were strapping their seat belts on.

"I trust you, baby."

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

The classy steak house was not that far from Anais. "Good job, baby!" He praised her the way she drove and parked the car.

"I might get used to this, babe." Ana handed the car keys back to him.

"I can get you one." He ushered her inside. His one hand was holding hers while the other one was continuously waving at some personalities in and outside the restaurant. Everything was just as normal as what ordinary couples do except for the stares, the smiles and greetings they get. What do I expect? I'm having a date with one of the country's leading business tycoon.

"No! Don't you ever do that, Ryan! I'm happy with the A6 your parents gave me." They were seated on a table for two on the inner part of the steak house. Ana can't help it but noticed some people who wanted to approach her boyfriend. Some people who just don't know how to respect someone's privacy. She just raised her brows.

Ryan's phone rang just as they were starting with dinner.

"Yes?"
"No, it's either they buy out or I will buy them out. I don't need them in the company."
"I will talk to dad about it."
"I don't care. I don't want any disturbances for the rest of the night."

"Baby, sorry, I have to take it." He apologized to Ana right after he put down the phone.

"Is it about the Everest Builders, babe?" She stopped eating. "I think it's about time we need to talk about it."

Eva has threatened with media hype about the incident, alleging that the tycoon's possessive and insecure girlfriend has some personal issues against her, dragging Ana into the bad light. And for the past week, Ana has dismissed it with her silence. Security was tightened around her. Well, except tonight when Ryan wanted everything to be perfectly normal for them.

"There's nothing to talk about, babe. The merger's been cancelled." He said nonchalantly.

"W-what? Oh my God! Was it because of what I did?" Ana was flustered. Romeo and Eva's dad were close friends, and Ryan and Eva basically grew up together until they both became busy with their careers. Eva wasn't able to finish school when the modelling opportunity came knocking at an early age. "What will Tito Romeo say?"

"Babe, whether you did what you did to Eva or not, I would still give up the project."

"But not the merger, Ryan."

"Still the same, Ana. Amaro has the controlling shares, and I refused to be controlled by a self-entitled, empty-headed spoiled brat Gomez heiress." She gawked at his choice of words. "Don't worry about anything. I had it all under control."

"One more thing, babe. What you did to Eva..." Ryan reached for her hand and smiled. "That was awesome!"

          ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"I don't think we have enough time," Ana walked briskly. "The mall's about to close in 30 minutes! Why didn't you tell me we're going shopping? I could have eaten dinner fast! How could I choose properly what to buy? Can we not do this tomorrow?" She looked back at her boyfriend who was walking behind her with an amused look plastered in his face. "Ryan?! Why are you even walking so slow?! What's so funny about me panicking?" Ryan caught up with her and intertwined their fingers. "Ryan you are slowing me down!"

"I am!" And he laughed.

"I am so not doing this now! I'm coming back next time and I don't care what others will say!" She declared but she walked continuously towards the department store. "Oh my God, I am such in a hurry, I need to pee!" She turned back and saw Donnie. She knew they were being followed from afar by their security detail. "Find me a toilet!" She ordered him then continued walking. "I shouldn't have drowned myself with that iced tea! Babe, hurry up!"

Ryan guffawed at her antics. "Baby, the boutiques are right that way."
He said in between his laugh. He other hand was holding his belly at the fit of his laughter.

Ana began scouring the clothes rack. "I'm not buying anything expensive, babe. You gave that responsibility to Donna. I just want to buy some ordinary clothes I could use at home."

"Hmmmm... home... I like that." Ryan came up to her and hugged her from behind. His chin resting on her shoulder. "Baby, you have a lot of ordinary clothes at home."

"Yeah, yeah, branded and designer clothes are ordinary for you." She rolled her eyes while picking some crop tees and dress shirts. "Babe, let go of me! We're in hurry, remember? I was thinking, I should do the shopping now where there are just a few people around." She chattered endlessly while moving from one clothes rack to another. "With all these kinds of things I'm buying, for sure, you'll be at the front page of the tabloids and entertainment sections of newspapers. Besides, nobody sees the spoiled and lucky woman of Mr. Villareal at home... Just me and Cece.. I wonder if Donnie found a comfort room for me already... what do you think of this, babe?" She held out a cotton night dress in front of Ryan who was staring at her with amazement.

"Baby, you amaze me." He was smiling. "You kept on blabbing while choosing your clothes. How the hell do you do that?"

"I'm picking with my eyes, and talking with my mouth. That's multi-tasking, babe." She shrugged. "Hurry up babe! Push that cart fast, will you? I still need some cotton shorts and leggings."

"Relax, okay. We still have an hour."

"An hour?! Ryan, the mall closes at ten o'clock! We only have fifteen minutes!" She was checking out the shorts in front of her. "Look around you, there are barely a few salesladies left."

Ryan grabbed her and held her head in between his hands. "Baby, listen. I had the mall management extend the store hours just for you, okay?"

"W-what? W-why would you do that?" Ana looked dumbfounded.

He looked straight into her eyes. "I heard you... You said you wanted to shop on your own and without people judging you for what you are buying." He looked around. "So, here we are. Shopping on your own, and nobody's watching you except a few salesladies, of course."

"Oh, babe..." Her eyes welled, no wonder no customers were wandering to the sections she has been to. Then she looked around, "And the cashier, too."

Ryan burst into laughter. "Yes, only the cashier and the salesladies will know what you bought tonight."

"Now I really need to go to the toilet. I've been holding it for so long!" And she left Ryan with the shopping cart.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

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