CHAPTER 42

Book:Grieving Hearts Published:2024-5-1

Onika’s pov……
It’s already two days since I started executing my plan. Everything is fine till now, he is always calm, composed and cheerful, we drive to the office together, go home together, have dinner together.
The only problem is, he is even trying to get close to Alex and I don’t want him any where near him.
What scares me the most is, they get alone very well. I never expected Agustin to be able to handle him this well. I am completely shocked at how he managed to do that. Maybe he is just a good actor, I thought. But I can’t let him play with Alex’s innocent heart, like he played with mine.
I don’t want Alex to get attached to him in any way. I am afraid he will start looking upto him as his father. It will break Alex’s heart when I and Agustin will divorce.
I need to do it fast, I can see Agustin has let his guards down around me, considerably, I need to hit the iron when it’s hot. But he is so cunning that one can never know what is going in his mind, But one thing I am sure about he still doesn’t trust me fully, if he didn’t trust me after three years of our relationship back then, when I did nothing but to love him with all my heart, then what makes me think that he will trust me now.
He is too insecure to even trust his own Shadow, and people don’t change in a span of two days. So the only thing I can do is distract him and take his signature on the papers in the heat of the moment, because if I wait to gain his trust completely, whole of my life time may not be enough.
As soon as I take his signature, I will be out of his life with Alex, in a flash, and there won’t be a thing he can do about it. Good. Take that Agustin De Luca, you blackmailing bastard.
Till then, I need to do something to keep Alex away from him as much as I can. But I will have to do that carefully, not to make it too obvious, or else he will get suspicious.
To my relief Agustin is not suspecting anything yet but somehow that is not sufficient to put me at ease because I know any wrong step and every thing will be over in just a blink of an eye, and Agustin being the smart ass he is, is not helping either.
I always have to be in hyper-alert mode, be very cautious in every step I take. It’s like walking on a ground full of hidden blast mines, one wrong step and.. boom.
Then there is Jacob, like the only shining star in my dark sky, apart from Alex. Like a guardian angel.
He talks to me four times a day to check that everything is fine or not. I couldn’t believe I have someone who cares about me so much, when I have caused him nothing but pain. What are you Jacob.
Thinking about him brought a smile on my face and I decided to call him this time. So I took out my phone and dialed his number.
He received the call immediately.
“ONIKA?! Is everything alright? Do you suspect something…”he started, in a panicked voice but I cut him off in between.
“Jacob relax, I am fine. You think I can only call you when I am in some trouble? Can’t I call you just to have a talk?” I asked, feigning hurt.
“Of course, you can… don’t be dramatic.”he said and I can literally imagine a mocking smile forming on his lips.
“Anyways I was about to call you, I have to tell you something….” He said in a stressed voice.
“Go on, what is it?” I encouraged.
“I won’t be here tomorrow so I want you to be very careful and promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”he asked in a strict and serious voice.
I sighed in relief, I thought it was something serious or bad.
Then I furrowed my brows in confusion” where are you going?”
“My cousin sister’s marriage.” He said in a low voice.
“That’s great! What’s the problem then? Why don’t you sound happy?” I asked, confused.
He sighed heavily and said.” I don’t know I just don’t want to leave you alone here…”
“Don’t be stupid Jacob I will be fine. Just go and enjoy!”
“I don’t know…”he started again.
I huffed in irritation “oh come on Jacob, it’s not like I a military officer in a war, I will do just fine.”
“Well it’s pretty close to that.”he said, with all seriousness. I laughed at that and rolled my eyes, as if he can see me.
” And what’s more, I haven’t bought any gift for her yet and believe me I am a sucker at buying gifts.” He said with sadness in his voice.
I laughed at that.” I can help you with it.” I offered.
“Really?” He said excitedly
” Sure, why not? Just tell me when do you want to go?” I asked.
“Today in the evening is the only option we have as I have to catch my flight tonight itself.”he explained.
Shit, today I had this important business dinner with Agustin’s client. Fuck what shall I do now? Wait a minute how come he not know that? After all it’s a very important meeting for the company. I cringed at the implication, such is the communication gap between him and Agustin, they are not talking to each other even at a professional level. A lump rose in my throat, I am the sole reason for it, I thought, as unbearable guilt gripped my heart from all sides.
“Onika, you there? You still in, right?”he asked, expectedly.
“Ye… yes.” That’s the least I can do after everything you have done for me.
“Wow girl, you are a life saver.”he said
No you are , I wanted to say.
.
.
.
I as pacing outside Agustin’s room from the past half hour, mustering my courage. I sighed heavily and finally knocked.
“Who is it.” Came his intimidating voice. I gulped and said “Umm.. it’s me, Onika.” As soon as I said, I heard some ruffling noises from his room and the next thing I know he was already at the door, opening it himself, his eyes wide as saucer.
“You here? Everything is alright?” He asked incredulously.
“Yeah I.. I just… umm… am not feeling well.” I said, timidly.
I can see panic rise on his face.
“WHAT! you are NOT well?” He immediately touched my forehead with the back of his hand. “You don’t have fever..’ he concluded “I am calling the doctor immediately, please come in.”
“NO!” I semi shouted ” I mean it’s nothing major, I just have a mild headache and I just wanted to say.. umm.. will it be okay if I don’t accompany you for today’s meeting.” I said everything in one go.
He looked at me in disbelief “what meeting, I am cancelling the meeting, right away. I am not leaving you here alone! None of us are going” He said with finality.
“NO!” Oh fuck, no, please go! “Look Agustin it’s just a mild headache.. please don’t cancel the meeting.. I know it’s really important.” I tried to convince him.
But he didn’t look convinced, at all. I took his hand in my hand, startling him. “Please Agustin, pleaseee… or else I will feel really bad, do you want that?” I tried emotional blackmail.
He sighed heavily and said ” okay fine, but you will call me immediately if it gets worse, I won’t switch off my phone.” He informed.
“I promise.” I said, I couldn’t keep the happiness away from my tone.
He still looked a bit unsure and reluctant but still gave me a tight lipped smile in return.
.
.
.
“I am hungry as hell, wanna eat something?” Jacob asked. We are already done with the shopping.
I looked at the time. Agustin won’t be home anytime soon, I thought.
“Yeah, I am hungry too.” I replied.
“There is a small French Restaurant nearby.”he said casually.
“Wow.. that’s my favourite! You are the best! Let’s go!” I said excitedly, he just gave me a knowing smile.
As we were about to place our orders, I saw nearly 20 men in black uniform walking toward our table and surrounding it from all sides.
I and Jacob both stood up, abruptly, completely startled, at what is happening all of a sudden, out of nowhere?
“Excuse me? What…”Jacob started but before he can complete he was quietened by a punch aimed at his jaw.
I gasped and clutched my chest in shock. “What are you…” Before I can complete the sentence all the air in my lungs got knocked out as I saw the person standing in front of me….. Agustin.
………………………..