Agustin’s pov…..
I was stealing glances at her throughout our ride back home. Her eyes were fixed on the road in front, looking ahead. She was lost in deep thoughts, I think I know what she is thinking, the look of pure agony on her face give it away, she is reminded of the time when she came to me crying and devastated, pleading me to believe her…. but I didn’t.
My throat constricted painfully thinking about that day, like I have just swallowed thousands of sharp blades down my throat, making my insides bleed.
How I would give away anything to just hold her in my arms and make here believe that it won’t happen again.
No harm shall ever come to her, never again, I vowed.
As soon as I parked the car she immediately got out with the speed of light, heading towards her room, avoiding me. I know she is afraid that she will breakdown infront of me, if she don’t get away.
I chased behind her and before she can shut the door on my face, I stumped my foot in between the door and the wall.
“Agustin, not now, please go away” she said, her voice barely a whisper, shaking at the end, making my insides churn at the sheer helplessness in her voice.
“No.” I said sternly. “I am not going anywhere before I make sure you are alright.” I said and forcefully entered in, making her fragile frame to stumble backwards, but before she can fall I caught her in between my arms, making her gasp in shock.
“I am alright.” She said in a cold voice, trying to wriggle out of my hold, but failed miserably.
“No, you are not.” I said, my eyes locked to hers.
“I. Am. Fine. Agustin, what part of it don’t you understand?” she seethed at me in anger, pushing me away with all the power she can muster.
“I have seen worse, I have gone through worse, I have made out alive before, I can do the same again….. without you.” She added, her eyes never leaving mine, her voice never wavering for ones, making it clear, she ment every word, and I know she does, the strength she had developed had left me completely astonished, two years back I would never have imagined I could ever see this form of her.
She used to be so carefree and smiling, could cheer you up just with her one smile, and now I could die for just to see her smile for once, the same smile I once took for granted.
I have done this to her, and I know the more she tries to appear stronger on the outside, the more she is breaking from inside.
I don’t know how to shatter this impenetrable wall she has created around her, a part of me knows she won’t ever let that happen, but how I want to have my old Onika back.
How I just want to get down on my knees and to beg her just to give me one chance to make it upto her, but I know that, that is the last thing she needs right now, it’s not the time to think about myself and make things harder for her than it already is.
I took in a deep breath and said, “It’s okay not to be fine sometimes, you know. All you need to do is admit it to yourself… you will still be the strongest woman I have known.” I said.
She took a step back, as if she had been burned by my touch. Looking at me as if she had seen me for the first time.
“I am tired Agustin, I want to go to bed, please leave” she said, her voice sounding so foreign to my ears.
“I can stay with you… for tonight… I..” she cut me off harshly.
“No, I told you I can handle this alone, and anyway what do you want me to do? Cuddle with you to comfort myself-” she said in a taunting voice, making a deep knife plunge through my heart “-things have changed, I don’t seek refuge in you anymore.”
Saying that she turned away mumbling a “good night.” In a dismissing way.
I caught her wrist making her turn towards me,
“okay, if my going away is what gives you peace… then I will do that, but before I go, I just have one thing to say, I want you to know, every time I see you upset, it tug at my heart strings, blowing away my sanity, but that is not the worst part, knowing that maybe I am the reason behind it, is what makes me bleed with every single breath I take.
I know, no matter what I do, you won’t let me in, not that I blame you for it… it’s just that I can’t take it anymore, it’s killing me bit by bit, please Onika I beg, stop hurting both of us like this, it is just going to make things worse for both of us… if not me then at least you deserves to be happy, if you won’t let go of the past you won’t be able to move forward.”
Saying that, I pressed a soft kiss on her forehead and left.
The moment I stepped out of her room, the sound of a ‘thud’ reverberated through my ears, indicative of her falling on the floor followed by her blood cuddling sobs, sobs that cut through my heart. It took everything in me to walk away from there, when I wanted nothing more than to just fall on my knees, my legs refusing to support my weight anymore.
When I got into my room, my phone buzzed, displaying a message from Jacob.
Everything is taken care of, that motherfucker is behind the bars.
I took a deep breath, to calm myself, how I want to kill that bastard.
Thank you.
I replied.
How is Onika?
Jacob asked. I looked at the screen for too long, not knowing how to reply to this one.
I know Jacob genuinely cares about her and deserves an answer.
She will be fine.
I answered.
I desperately hope so, I wanted to add.
~~
I woke up by the beeping of my phone. I looked at the time and cursed, it’s 10 in the morning. I couldn’t recall when I fell asleep. The last thing I remember is Onika’s pain filled expression occupying my senses.
I picked up the call and growled, “speak”
“Boss, Jacob sir is here, he is not going away even after our warnings, he is adamant on meeting Mrs. Onika, he says he won’t go away till he makes sure she is okay. What do you want us to do, Boss?” Kane asked.
I cursed under my breath and said, “I am coming.”
……………………….
Jacob’s Pov…….
I saw Agustin walking towards me with a hooded expression.
He stood infront of me with his hands folded infront of him, his guards standing between the two of us.
He asked in an irritated voice, “why are you here, Jacob?”
I raised a brow at him,” what has happened to your common senses, can’t you guess, I am here to meet Onika.” I said in a cold voice.
“I can take care of her is all you need to know.”
I can’t help but let out a humorless laugh at that, “both of us very well know how well you have taken care of her in the past.”
He clenched his teeth so hard, that I was afraid in another minute it will be powered.
“I want you to stay away from my wife, got that?” He seethed with an edge of anger in his voice.
“I only take business related orders from you,”I stated
“It is business related, my wife is my business and no one else’s, so stay the fuck away from her.” He said through gritted teeth.
“Mind telling that to Onika’s face, I dare you.” I said mockingly.
He fisted his hands to his sides and I knew I am getting at him. Good.
“Enough of this,” he snapped, his negligible patience waining off rapidly.
“I can fire you don’t tempt me, Jacob. You are playing with fire. When I say stay away from her, that is what you do.” He warned me in his boss like tone.
“And you don’t forget Agustin I am no begger who is desperate for this job that I will lick your feet, I have shit ton of money rotting in my bank account, so stop the fuck with that useless threatening and moreover I handle half of your work, I know everything about this company, you need me to run your business, and not to forget… I can ruin you in a matter of minutes.”
He narrowed his eyes at me and asked, “are you threatening me?” But his tone was not that of someone who feels threatened, it was rather a mocking one, his eyes shinning in amusement.
Bastard. I know he can see right through my act, he very well knows that I will never betray the company, no matter what.
I took in a deep breath, if playing dirty is what he wants that is what he will get in turn ” if you don’t let me walk in this instance, I will tell Onika that you are reading her entries behind her back.”
His eyes widened in shock. ” Ho.. how.. do..” it seems he can’t form any coherent words anymore.
He immidiatly composed himself. “Are you spying on me?” He demanded.
“Two can play in a game Agustin, never mistake my silence for my stupidity.”
“Why haven’t you told her already, I wonder?” he asked with genuine confusion in his voice.
“Because you deserve every bit of the hell you are going through…. you can die in your own guilt for all I care.” I said.
I expected him to be angry or maybe… hurt, but his expresion wasn’t giving away anything.
I walked forth and Agustin signalled his guards to let me in, and so I did
………………….