Rachel's PoV

Rachel slept with Marc. He confessed to her about his feelings, the truth. Somewhere along the way, even she fell for him. Although she doesn't know what would happen next, she was willing to see what happens between them.

Although there was Ethan who kept telling her about their future marriage status, he never told her the reason for his travel. She couldn't lead a life waiting for things to happen and not make them happen.

Yesterday, when Marc opening his heart, she felt his pain. Betrayed by his ex, he still kept everything to himself. He never told another living soul about it. He trusted her enough to confess his feelings; what he felt when Miley left him and when Rachel came along.

She too would never regret her confession to him. Although her feelings for the present Ethan are messed up because of the future one, Marc was someone who shared her interests and likes.

And she liked him a lot.

Watching him sleep peacefully made her happy. Leaning back onto his chest, she slept again, blissfully.

****

Next morning

Marc stayed with Rachel yesterday. He only went home to change and then back again. She liked staying with him as he gelled well with her personality. The calm to her storm.

After the birthday fiasco, this would be the first time he'd be meeting Anna and Finn. Rachel thought Ethan didn't know and so they were good on that front. Little did she knew about that.

Getting in the office, she take the elevator to the deserted floor only to see Marc sitting in his usual place. He turned around in his chair, smiling upon noticing Rachel's entry.

"Hey there" she was blushing at his sight.

"Hey there! Is that how we are greeting each other now?"

She giggled, "Yes.. I can also do what's up.."

Waving his hands across, he gave a crooked smile. "Nooo. Hey there is just fine baby"

Her jaws hurt with the continous smiling and she talked to him in a soft, low tone.

"Marc! People.." she looked around the deserted place. So did Marc before coming close to her.

"Ohh sorry. Did not see all the eyes that are pinned on us."

She pushed him slightly and he pulled her towards him, kissing her nose.

'Awww. He is so darn cute. My god I will die.'

It was Anna's voice that separated them.

"You FUCKING PIG!!"

It took a while for both of them to understand her reaction by which it was too late to protect Marc from the hand assault she inflicted.

"Anna Anna wait wait.." Rachel intervened.

Anna was furiously fuming. "Don't stop me Rach. He is gonna die today."

"Good god woman... nails Awwwww Awwww" Marc deflected, crying out.

She still kept hitting him.

"He isn't at fault" Rachel pulled Anna back onto her chair as she panted with the world war attack she accomplished.

Arms crosses, she asked Rachel. "Tell me how is he not at fault?"

"I will tell you, but you need to calm down and promise me, you won't hit me again." Marc proposed his condition. She scoffs.

"Depends"

"Promise me Anna" he sternly asked.

She looks at Rachel for assurance who nodded. "Okay fine."

Marc took a chair and told her everything. Right till the moment about the kiss and him chasing after them. By the end of it as expected, Anna spoke again.

"That bitch!"

Rachel and Marc simply smiled. It was Anna's turn to reel in the information which Rachel did yesterday.

"How could.. You.. She never.." She was having the exact reaction like Rachel when Marc told the truth. After a battle with stutter, she spoke.

"I am so sorry Marc." She grabbed his arm and hugged him as Marc looked at Rachel in confusion.

She mouthed to him 'Enjoy.'

It's when Finn walked and the entire story had to be re-narrated, that everyone was up to speed on the whole Miley situation. By midday, they all headed for their weekly meeting with Ethan.

Ethan sat across from all of them, discussing.

"So who can initiate the project.." He looked at Anna.

"I have too much to handle Ethan.." she replied

"Finn ?"

"I Can't.. I have a client who want me to travel. Can't take new project now.."

Marc intervened. "I can do it.."

Ignoring him, Ethan spoke. "So it's decided.. Rachel will do it.."

'Had he not heard it clearly. It's Marc who wants to do it.. not me' Rachel thought to herself.

She raised her hand. Ethan nodded for her to state her concern. "Marc wants to do it.." she pointed towards him. But Ethan had made up his mind.

"He has a lot on his place."

"I can handle it Ethan" Marc intervened.

"I know you can. But I want Rachel to do it.." Ethan didn't even bother looking up while speaking.

Before Rachel could show her displeasure, Anna held her hand asking her not to intervene. This was a power struggle. When Ethan walked out they all stood dumb-fold before Anna asked a logical question.

"Did Ethan saw.."

Her fear was valid. Ethan was one of the most understanding and caring bosses. He was never one to keep a grudge. Yet, a fear lingered inside Rachel as she spoke.

"No. I don't think so"

They all turn to her for a confirmation. After all, she was the last of them to be with him before he up and vanished. She narrated the same thing which she told Ethan that all she witnessed was was Miley kissing a guy. The identity of the guy was never revealed.

'Wait.. did he travel back to see. It's a very high probability.'

"Guys I will come in a minute.."

With that she trotted and barging into Ethan's office, fuming. Although he doesn't know her knowledge of his power, she won't let him treat others bad without knowing their side of story.

"What.. If this is about the project.." he was starting to talk but she cut him off.

"It isn't.. It's about Marc"

"I said.." Rachel was on fire today for she never allowed him to finish.

"You said nothing Ethan. You just decide on behalf of me without asking.."

But Ethan too was not going down without a fight.

"And you think you are incapable!"

Her voice trembled, "I am more than capable, but Marc knows this project in and out"

He scoffed, "Marc knows a lot of things in and out.. the problem is.."

But she was already loaded with the reply.

"The problem is you.. You don't know the whole truth..."

By now, it was a cross firing match between them. He didn't want to divulge what he saw and she didn't want to imply her knowledge.

Anger seeped through him, part hurt and part sadness. "The truth that Miley kissed Marc?" he questioned

And there is was, out in the open. He didn't care if Rachel would ask him the veracity of the information or of his disappearing act from her washroom. He was prepared to face it all. But what she said was more surprising.

"The truth that Miley was Marc's girlfriend before she was yours"

Although she felt stupid blurting our the information which was Marc's to divulge, she felt better telling him. He too should know the whole truth before treating someone badly for no reason.

"What do you mean.."

Ethan stood up from the chair and walked towards her. Although the anger in her subsided after telling the truth, she still trembled.

"You don't know half the truth Ethan.. And it's not my secret to tell..." moving close to him, she spoke. "All I request from you is that you please talk to Marc before spoiling your relationship with him."

Saying that she walked out the door almost crashing into Anna who stood outside the door. Seeing her emerge, Anna assaulted with a crushing hug and an apology.

Rachel seemed confused at the utterance of an apology. Anna won't bother apologising on a good day come what may. But today she was. Undderstanding Rachel's confusion, she clarified.

"When I first met you, I thought you were all hoity.." Rachel nodded. "And now seeing you fight for Marc makes me realize that you really are a good friend to all of us, especially Marc."

Although she would like to think that he is more than a friend to her; someone whom she slept with and is falling for, she won't say it out loud for now. Still confused with her feelings for two men, atleast she knew of one thing. Marc was leading the match.

Ethan emerged out of his office and walked towards Marc. They talked for a while before the two of them left together for someplace. It was only towards the evening that the guys were finally back. Though none of them tell the anything, it's seemed like the issue between them was resolved.

Ethan smiled at Rachel while saying his words. "Rach.. Marc can take over the project."

'Yes. Mission accomplished.'

She nodded in agreement.

By late evening, all were packed and ready to leave. Marc, who always followed her home told her his unavailability due to some personal work. And although it was quite understandable, she feel sad that he wouldn't be accompanying her on the way back. She got used to his company. Not having it felt weird.

**

Marc's PoV

Marc told Rachel his busy schedule to be the reason for not walking back with her and as much as he wanted to, it wasn't the time or the place to divulge the truth. He hoped one day he'd be able to tell her the whole truth without making her mad.

Walking towards his dad's place, he thought of the time when he first met Rachel. She might not even remember it, but for him, it was etched in his memory. He even remembered what she wore on that rainy day.

**Flashback**

An year ago

Under a bus bench near the corner of the street, a man sat, contemplating whether he should do what he came to do.

That man was Marc. And although he was drenched in rain, his thoughts weren't towards the warmth he needs but the decision he would make, that might change his life forever.

A girl got off the bus running and evading the rain and pulling her rain shield over her head. She made her way to the bus bench to shield herself from the rain. After taking off her coat and taking out the umbrella for further walk, she looked besides her to the man who sat with his head held in between his hands.

That woman was Rachel. She doesn't know Marc yet and won't even for a whole year. What she knew was kindness.

"Hello sir" she moved closer to the man. "Sir.. are you okay?"

Marc didn't respond. Although frightened, Rachel still moved a bit closer towards the shadow of the man sitting on the bench and touching his shoulder before retracting back.

Marc looked up. "Yes"

He saw Rachel for the first time and it was a sight to the sore eyes. Rachel might not be the most beautiful of woman but there there was something about her whih stood out. The way she carried her or maybe the way her wet hair blew onto her face, that made Marc feel alive again.

"Is there somewhere you need to be?" she politely asked. "Are you lost?"

"No I am not lost.. Not really.. not actually.. lost in thought though.."

Marc was moved by the kindness she showed. The place where he was sitting for hours together, many people came and went but it was only her who bothered to ask about his well-being.

A touch of humanity he asked for and the universe gave him an epitome of it.

"It's raining really bad.. and the weather predictions say it will be worse in a few hours.." she checked her umbrella's functioning, before talking further. "Do you have a place to be?"

He nodded at the fact that there are still good people in the world.

"Yes I have.. I was contemplating whether to go there or not.."

She smiled and picked her shoulders lightly. She spoke what the universe wanted her to say.

"Well if you are sitting here instead of the warmth of your home, then it means you are supposed to goto the place, for which you headed out.."

And just like that Marc's contemplation to meet his father after all these years had been answered. He was looking for an answer, a clue. but instead, he found a reason to live.

The universe bestowed upon him the answer in the form of a woman who will become an integral part of his life.

****

Present day

It's been an year since Marc saw Rachel at the bus stop. Although he saw her after that a lot more times; she never saw him again until they met again in office.

She was the reason he made up with his dad. Although the man abandoned him and his mother and he contemplated going back to him some million times; it was Rachel's words which encouraged him.

Knocking at the door, Marc wait for his father to open it. Tonight was family dinner night. Just him and his father.

The door opened. Dr. Philip Kert answered.

"Hello son."

//// ////

Author's note

Hello all you beautiful people

Did you like this chapter?

What do you think the reason for Ethan's travel is? And how will he marry Rachel, who seems to be falling for Marc?

Happy reading

Love

S