The first thing I registered when I woke up was that the bed was moving and I looked to see that Ethan had woken up and was hurriedly getting out of bed and putting on his watch and shoes.
“Ethan,” I said and he must have been surprised because his eyes widened.
“I’m sorry, Juliet. I don’t know why I always do this. I’m not doing it intentionally. I just… always find myself here in the morning. I can’t help it. I can’t go to sleep unless I have a drink but then I always end up here. I know you said you like Vince-”
“Ethan, it’s fine. I don’t mind. I want to tell you something.”
“Yes! I know what it is. I’m supposed to keep my distance and I promised you that I was going to like you from afar so I’ll make sure I won’t come knocking on your door drunk again.”
He quickly got up and grabbed the rest of his things before rushing towards the door.
“No, that’s not it. Listen! Wait!”
But he was already out the door.
I groaned into my pillow. I had to tell him. As soon as possible. But before that I had to tell Heather that I wasn’t going to stay away from Ethan anymore. I didn’t know how she was going to react. This was going to be risky for me.
I quickly changed and had breakfast in a hurry. I wanted to talk to Ethan during breakfast but figured that talking to Heather about us would be the best before I made a move.
I arranged for a driver and told him to take me to Heather’s mansion. We soon arrived and I told the maid that I wanted to talk to Heather urgently.
She was thankfully not busy and she ushered me into her room before shutting the door for some privacy.
“So what brings you here so early in the morning?” She asked as she blow dried her hair. Apparently she had just gotten out of shower.
“I need to talk about Ethan. I don’t want to do this anymore.” I yelled over the loud noise of the blow dryer.
She switched it off and set it down on her vanity.
“What did you say?”
I plucked up the courage to repeat my words. “I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to stay away from him. I like him and he likes me and we’re already in too deep. We can’t go back now.”
“I was hoping you would be a lot stronger to endure this.”
“I feel like what you wanted me to do was what made me weak.” I muttered low enough for her to not hear.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. I just want you to know that I’m not a gold digger. I genuinely like him and I can’t stay away from me. I? don’t? want to.”
“Look, I know feelings can’t be controlled but think rationally. What are you two going to do in the future? How is this ever going to work out? Are you going to marry him? Have his kids? What are you going to do when he finds out who you really are? Are you even sure he likes? you? Because in his eyes you are Juliet, the girl he hated when they were kids but now he has grown to like. In reality, he likes a complete stranger. He didn’t even know the name of this stranger. So really he likes a girl who is a combination of you and Juliet but that girl didn’t even exist. It is this image you’ve created in his head. You two are just headed for an inevitable heartbreak, unless he manages to forgive you for deceiving him and playing with his emotions.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know the answers to any of these questions and I don’t know what the future holds for us. All I know is that I’m not playing with his emotions. I may not be real to him but my feelings for him are real. So even if things might go all wrong in the future, I still want to go ahead with this because right now it feels right and I don’t want to be held back by my fear.”
Heather sighed. “I hate to do this but I think I might have to blackmail you if you get together with Ethan.”
“Heather, please. Why are you doing this?”
“I’m sorry, Julie. I’m just trying to protect my family.”
“Ethan is not a child. We all are adults. Getting hurt is a part of life. You can’t keep him from getting hurt all the time. I’m going to try my best to not hurt him.? Just please, let me be with him.”
Heather seemed to think about what I said. “Are you still going to be with him even if I told you that I’ll tell your secret to everyone?”
I gave her a firm nod without hesitation. “Life here is turning out to be hell anyways. What’s a little more? So yes, I’ll still pursue him. But I hope you can allow me to be with him and support us.”
She didn’t reply to me. It seemed like she was looking miles away even when her eyes were on me. Her eyes glazed over and I wouldn’t have believed that I had moved her to near tears if she hadn’t blinked them back furiously before letting out a short humorless chuckle. “You’re so brave. It makes me ashamed of myself.”
“What does that mean?”
She shook her head and forced a smile on her lips. “It’s nothing. I-I… uh…” she seemed at a loss for words, confusing me. “Um… fine. You can be with Ethan-”
“Really?” I was so happy. My solemn expression was suddenly replaced by a humongous smile that made my cheeks hurt.
“But,” she implied. “But you have to tell Ethan the truth. That’s the least you can do to hurt you both less. You owe him your full honesty.”
My face fell at this. I was afraid and unsure about doing it. I wasn’t confident enough to say that he’d still accept me. No, I didn’t want to tell him.
“One month. Please let me be with him for a month and I promise you that I will tell him the truth on this same date but on the next month.”
She looked conflicted. “Julie, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Please,” I took a hold of her hands. “Please give me that much time. I want to prove my true feelings for him and then… and then I’ll slowly ease him into it.”
She seemed hesitant but I could already see her giving up. “Fine. One month is all you get. If you don’t tell him the truth on this date next month, then I’ll be the one to do it and trust me that won’t turn out to be good.”
I nodded. “I understand. I’ll keep my promise and thank you for allowing me to like him and be with him.”
“You’re welcome…?”
There was a long pause where we both stopped to think about the conversation.
“You can go. I have something to do.” Heather finally said and I jumped to my feet.
“Alright then, goodbye.”
I was more than happy to leave the tense atmosphere.
Once outside, I felt a ton lighter and my lips were lifted in a real smile. I was so happy. I just wanted to see him and his pretty face and probably kiss the life out of him.
I didn’t want to interrupt him in his work but I was just so impatient to see him. I could wait till dinner but he’d probably not show up like usual and then come home late and drunk out of his senses. No. I couldn’t allow him to drink so much for one more day.
I looked down at my watch and saw that it was past the usual lunchtime. If I rushed home now I might be able to catch him.
I quickly told the driver to drive me to the mansion and once I reached, I threw the door open even before the car had completely stopped and rushed inside.
I saw Samara cleaning the dining table and asked her about his whereabouts. Luckily, he had gone up to his room to get some files he required for a meeting.
Once I reached in front of his door, I took a moment to calm myself down and slow my racing heart.
Just then the door swung open and I saw him with the files in his hand and dressed in a dapper suit. He was surprised to see me in front of him.
“Hi,” I said.
“What’re you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“About what?”
I opened my mouth to say something but figured that saying it through actions would be more impactful.
So I stepped forward and wrapped my arms tightly around his waist and rested my head on his fast beating heart. I heard him catch his breath and it was silent for a few seconds.
He placed his other hand which wasn’t holding onto his files on my shoulder.
“Juliet, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I didn’t answer and he dropped his files to the floor and gently pushed me away by my shoulders to examine my face. “Are you hurt somewhere?”
I shook my head. “No. But I’m sorry for hurting you all this time. I-I don’t know how to explain this to you without sounding like a total player but I want you to know that what I did was what I thought was the best for the both of us.”
“What’re you trying to say?” He asked, his face riddled with confusion. “Come here, sit.” He led me to his bed and made me take a seat on it before he sat next to me. “Now tell me clearly what you mean by that.”
“What I’m trying to say is… is that I like you. I like you too, Ethan.” I touched his cheek with the palm of my hand. “And I’m apologizing for acting like I didn’t like you. I’m sorry for being so mean to you and dismissing your feelings for me so heartlessly. I’m sorry for being so harsh on you when all you’ve been to me was a sweet gentleman. Will? you forgive me for all the wrong I did? to you?”