The next day Rachel got to office earlier than anyone else. She had an obsession to be early, too early at times. Working till everyone reached, she almost finish the blueprints of her assigned project.

"Good morning Rach" Anna's voice boomed across the floor.

Followed by hers' was Finn's voice which came from behind. "When did you come in?"

Rachel didn't want to look nerdy or workaholic, "Ohh just a while back."

"Seems like an hour ago. With the number of coffee cups in the trash already" Mark pointing at the trash.

She looked down and noticed the trash can containing three exact cups of coffee. She had no recollection chugging them but Mark's words were true. She did come an hour ago. The most impressive part of it all was Mark's observation. He deduced the timing from coffee cups in trash.

Anna laughed softly while pulling Rachel from behind her chair. She ensured that Rachel doesn't work a minute more. "Nerdy" she taunted.

"Okay find guys. I was an hour early..happy?"

She smiled at Anna as her confession floated to everyone's ears. Anna and Rachel had known each for only a day but for Rachel, Anna seemed like those girls, who become close to others with their charismatic personality and charming nature.

Yet defending herself, she pulled her chair back. "I am not nerdy. I just... like to get my work done."

"Before 11 a.m. of a weekday"

Finn's exclaimed. He has a goofy smile on his face and a childlike manner while talking. Something which made her find him trustworthy. Innocence marked Finn well.

She laughed and refuted their claims as everyone rounded her up for a fun round of 'pull Rachel's legs'.

Marc bought back the conversation which steered away. "Did you tell her Anna?"

"Tell me what?"

Rachel was part of a group now. This meant that she would be bestowed with secrets and knowledge, not many would be privy to. She liked being in a group. The protected comfort and the bonding which she craved was always missing in school and college; places where she was a lone sheep, hiding away from the predator bullies.

Anna remembered the important information which she forgot to divulge. Rubbing her hands together, her face brightened up as if she was planning those next few words for quite some time. "Ohh yes.. So Ethan's birthday is coming in a few days. We plan a surprise for him. It will be drinks and casual stuff at his favorite bar."

Rachel's mind immediately drifted to the conversation she had with the future the Ethan at her apartment. It was all falling in place. His birthday, Miley's apparent infidelity; assuming it happened there.

She rejoined the conversation. Reading from Anna's expression it was quite evident, the importance of this day.

"So his 29th birthday party right"

Anna's ears stood up and marked a question across her face when she asked, "How did you know?"

For a girl who joined the company a day back; knowing the exact age of her boss whom she never even knew before, was a strange thing. But as a smart girl, Rachel didn't reveal her true source. Instead, she divulged a believable lie.

"The business times.. Magazine. It had his age.. as 28.. And it was an year back.."

Finn nodded as Rachel uttered the lie. It only required one to take the bait. "Yes makes sense.. Not everyone is creepy stalker like you Anna." he playfully nudged her.

Anna swat his hand but Rachel being her inquisitorial self, wanted to know more. "What do you mean?"

"Anna stalked Ethan for a week before he told her whom he was dating." Finn got another swat by the time he finished the sentence.

Rachel looked at Anna, pressing in a smile and letting her have the time to defend herself against the allegations. Instead, Anna confessed.

"Yes yes. I get obsessed with certain things." She laughed and rolled her eyes while telling a not so casual thing about herself. "I wanted to see whom by college senior was dating."

There was a minute of silence before Marc spoke again. "So as Anna wanted to say, the planning will happen in a nearby bar. And given it's Friday, we all can hang together."

He was responsible, yet again to bring the conversation back to the point. Marc had assumed the responsibility which silently fell on his shoulder of being the steered to conversations as the rest of the two were talking wanderers.

"So what do you say.. Rachel?"

His question brought her to the current reality. The truth of not having many friends; being an introvert has not always played to her advantage. Yet this time, she didn't have to agree with reluctance.

Rachel had finally found people with whom she wanted to hang out. Although she thought it's a process of growing up; deep down she knew that this bunch made her feel comfortable enough to want them as her company.

"Count me in"

Marc smiled and slowly blinked with a nod before taking his place. Of all the people, the only one she couldn't figure out was him. He seemed to be a straight shooter and a very reserved person, just like her. But she had also learnt from her past mistakes. It was too soon to label Marc.

Ethan's voice boomed from his office before any of them could even see him. "Okay guys.. Team meet in 5."

During the entire presentation Rachel's heart kept racing as she knew something about his life and things which may happen later. Keeping it hidden from him seemed difficult.

Imagine sitting next to a person, the highlights of whose major life event's were known to you but you can't say anything to them. That's one tough secret to retain.

She sat next to Ethan knowing that he would be her future husband but had no clue about it. Sadly, he was in love with someone else.

Throughout the presentation, she kept thinking about the conversation she had with the man from the future in her apartment. After her presentation was completed, she waited for everyone else to finish.

"Great job Rachel.. So next meeting we can have some investors for this proposal and see how it goes with them.. Like a mock-up" Ethan suggests as she wrapped up.

"Sure we can do that.." was her reply; her heart was pounding with the thoughts of doing something in close range with Ethan.

The rest of the day went uneventful with all of them occupied with work till the sun set.

As decided earlier, the group walked out of the office floor together and onto the pavement of the busy New York street. Rachel looked at others. They all seemed to be busy on their own phones. Head lowered on the screen and the cold white light hitting their faces, making them look like a different entities altogether.

"Where are we going?" she questioned them trying to get their attention.

Anna was the first one to break the screen contact. "The Sam's bar..It's walkable from here.. its quaint but we all get together there.."

Finn continued the promotion of the place as if he was being paid to do so. "It has seen more promotion parties and farewells than any restaurant or bar combined."

"Guys you don't have to sell it to me.. I love quaint places"

With another questioning face, Anna responded. "Really you do?"

"Yes.. Why is that a surprise to you Anna?"

"Because you are.." Anna stopped at the statement and gestured at Rachel. Yet, not understanding the reference, Rachel asked again.

"What?"

As Finn couldn't tolerate the word and gesture play, he intervened. "She means you are very quiet and reserved, Rachel."

Marc continues. "Anna has this impression that you are reserved because you don't like us."

Lightly punching him in his gut, Anna cringed her face. "Wow Mark.... nice Thank you."

Defending Marc with her own hands, Rachel smiled. "Anna I get that a lot. I take a bit of time to open up but once I am there, you would wish that I never would have."

The fact that Rachel didn't take offence over Marc's statement and she told her side made Anna happy. "Wow..okay.. Then here's to the start of a new friendship waiting for Rachel to open up"

"Aaa aaa.. It's Rach for you, Anna."

"Ohhh I like her already" Anna held onto Rachel's shoulders and beaming like a proud mama hen.

They all entered the bar and Anna being the meticulous and detail-centric person that she was, had ensured everyone knew their part for the birthday. Throwing around cards with instructions on them, she spoke.

"So Finn you have to get the cake." He saluted her with a smile.

"Marco.. you have to get the gift." He nodded.

"What's the gift?" Rachel questions, wanting to know what her future husband was getting for his birthday. Marc replies, showing her the photo on his phone.

"Vintage wine bottle."

"Noicccee"

"Brooklyn 99 fan are we??" Marc looked at Rachel in astonishment; having found a fellow series lover.

"Yaasss" she too squealed in excitement.

"God two nerds in the house" Anna hung her head onto Finn's shoulder who pacify her while giggling himself.

"Rach, you are to get Miley from her office. She works four blocks away." Came another set of instructions.

"Why me?"

"Because we hate her" Finn blurted the truth.

Every one of them was a bit tipsy from drinking but Finn seemed to be more intoxicated than others.

"Why?" Rachel wanted to know more.

Anna rolled her eyes and released a deep sigh before answering. "God.. have you talked to her ever.. She always talks about superficial things. That woman is shallow."

Marc continued, "And because she controls Ethan."

"Ohh ohh I want to show something." with that Anna got on the table and held her nose while speaking to resemble a nasal voice. "Ohhh Ethan that is not healthy. Drink smoothly not that. Eww.. I don't drink thanks guys."

Everyone laughed while the tables adjacent to theirs applauded her zesty performance.

"Well if she doesn't drink then why are we even inviting her to a bar?" Rachel questioned a very logical one even in her tipsy state.

"Because... it's Ethan's birthday and he gets what he wants" Finn finished the statement with a hiccup, making Rachel to laugh more. "Time with his friendssssss."

"I will drink to that." she raised her glass to toast as everyone joined in, yelling a cheer.

After a couple of more drinks, Rachel noticed both Finn and Anna were tripping onto empty glasses on the table. "Okay you two.. Let's get you into a cab.."

They all got out and Rachel balanced both Anna and Finn while Marc hailed a cab.

Once a yellow colored hue stopped, Rachel heard Marc giving instructions to the cabbie. "These are the addresses. Drop the lady first..."

After both of them were taken off Rachel's hands and put inside the cab, Marc turned towards her as the car moved along.

"So you are the mature and responsible one in the group!" she smiled at Marc as they stood in the cold windy pavement with the sunlight leaving pink and orange hues in the sky.

"Seems that way" he bit his lips and shrugged like he was supposed to do that too under his job profile. "Can I walk you till your apartment? It's on my way.."

Rachel thought for a bit about what the future Ethan had told her. He would meet me daily at her apartment. But she also didn't want to be the outsider in the group.

"Please do the honors" she gestured, bowing down as he walked besides her.

"So.." he continued.

"Soo..." she giggled.

"It's windy and cold.." Marc's eyes roamed onto people cowering inside their jackets as they pass by. "Mind grabbing a cup of coffee with me?"

"Cool.. my treat"

"Why?"

She shrugged before answering, "New friends.."

They both grabbed their coffees and walked back slowly towards the apartment. On the way, they decided to take a seat at the park bench while continuing talking.

"Are you liking the city?" Marc questioned while he staring ahead.

"Loving it.."

And you stay alone or...." his pull on the sentence made it quite clear as to what he wants to know. She smiles knowing well, his intention.

"Yes I stay alone.. with my doggie"

"Wow a dog person.." Marc's brows raised.

"What... are you a cat person?"

"No I am an animal person. I love them all. I have a horse.. back at the farm."

And although both of them look ahead onto the swings and slides in the park being enjoyed by the children, their own conversation was about getting to know each other.

"What's your doggo's name?"

Rachel's insides flipped in happiness as she heard the word doggo. Only true animal lovers called their animals like that; he being one among them.

"His name is Butter."

Marc smiled and looks at her this time, "Is it because he melts your heart?"

"Ohh god yes"

Unknowingly, in the rush of happiness over animal bonding, she held his hand while responding but pulled back immediately. She felt happy talking to Marc. Something, which was never experienced before.

"So shall we walk back?" she questioned him.

"God.. did I bore you already.."

"No no. I mean it's getting late."

He stood up and extended his hands for her to take. A small yet beautiful gesture.

"Let's.."

They walk back in complete silence with hands wrapped up in their coats and an occasional smile when one of them realized that the other was watching.

Once they reach near her apartment, she turned to wave at him. He smiled again at her before walking back. His entire demeanor was alluring.

"Hey Marc" she called out noticing he was walking in the opposite direction. "You said your house is on the way.."

He smiled and nodded before waving again and walking away. That smile was different from all the other ones. It was pure. Unadulterated. Selfless.

She wondered if he walked all the way over till her place just to talk to her.

Once she entered the apartment Butter rushed to her side. His wagged, licked and devour her trouser and her hands.

"Hey baby" Ethan's voice came from the kitchen. Rachel almost tripped and screamed as she realized there was an intruder. Someone whom she wasn't expecting.

Ethan immediately realized his mistake.

"Sorry sorry sorry" he held her shoulder as she breathed frantically. "Calm down... Breath.. I thought you would be home.. Normally you get home by this time.. so I came.." he explained.

After composing herself, Rachel spoke. "It's fine it's okay.." She smiled at his concerned and worried look. Heart strings got pulled inside. "So how are you.." she asks while they both placed back onto the couch.

"Better.. now that I am seeing you..."

"Aww. Don't you get to see me in the future?" giggling she asked.

He nodded. "So was there work? Seems you are working late already!"

"No we left on time. And then Sam's bar for drinks and to plan your birthday party." she turned towards Ethan completely. She talked as an excited child. "Guess what you are getting for your birthday?"

He smiled. "Vintage wine"

"Noiceee right" Rachel said with the same enthusiasm which she showed at the bar, referring to her favorite show but Ethan didn't say anything.

She wondered how Ethan didn't know about her Brooklyn 99 references but lets it go.

She reiterated the bar story. "And then I got Anna and Finn in a cab for they were sloshed and Marc walked me till the apartment after grabbing coffee."

"Okay"

Although his words said so, his face fell upon hearing Rachel's words.

She couldn't understand if Ethan had a problem with Marc or it was merely her imagination.

//// ////

Author's note

 Hello all you beautiful people

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Happy reading

 Love 

S