“Of course not.”
My face falls in disappointment. “Angel is an ass and I don’t think he deserves you but I can tell he loves you and you love him way too much to actually forgive him after everything he has done to you Thea.” He says, slapping the truth to my face. I got all emotional but then considering my life, I was a terrible person as well. I had wronged people and didn’t even care about how the hurt. Deep down, I believed that everything that had happened to me was me reaping the fruits of my deeds. Karma was playing it’s role even though it didn’t come in the likeness of the things I had done.
I didn’t want to judge Angel harshly and would rather focus on the future than dwell on the past.
“I fought Carl, but my feelings for him are too strong.”
“No Thea, you’re just weak but It’s the first time you’ve ever loved someone like that so I guess it’s overwhelming. Feels like you don’t have control over your own heart and you just want to be happy after everything.” He tried to reason with me but I knew he still stood firm on his opinion about Angel. I didn’t expect him to understand me completely. He was right in his own perspective but then it was my decision to make and I had already made it.
“It’s hard talking to you about Angel.”
“Because I can only be brutally honest with you? I’ve told you before, the others don’t care about you. They care about Angel.”
“You don’t know them, don’t say that.”
“You’re an adult Thea.” He paused and looks at me softly. “I can’t tell you what to do but know that you deserve better and it will take a long way for Angel to earn that spot.” I bite down on my lip as my eyes water.
“If he ever does something so cruel don’t hesitate to put him in his place. Like I said before, he’ll do things and you’ll keep on forgiving him because when you should have walked out you didn’t.”
“Okay….” I mutter through a teary voice. Carl had called me weak and stupid in different ways but if he had never felt the kind of love I felt, or desire to just heal as bad as I wanted then it was cruel of him to judge me so harshly.
My silence gets to him and his eyes looks like he has regrets for going too hard on me.
“Thea….” He calls and pulls me into his arms for a hug. He sighs deeply and strokes my hair while I hug him back. I knew Carl cared. He was just on about tough love. “Just be happy Thea.”
“I am happy now.” I whisper back and we slowly pull away from the hug.
“Hope he gets you home to your mum soon so that I can leave here.” He says forcing a smile. Thought I love it here.”
I laugh through my tears hearing his last words and he smiles genuinely at me.
“Then you can get more useful. No one is stopping you from joining activities.” I speak softly hoping he’d consider the idea. “Really?” He seems surprised and I guess he just realized that no one had told him how free he was in this mansion and that was why he restricted himself to his room and pleasure. My bad…. I needed to make up for this.
“You know what?” You’re invited to this week’s tennis game. They usually host games every Saturday. I’m certain you’ll love it.” I said, already excited to have him step out of his closet and he seemed to like the idea.
“If you say so…. And you’ll be there?”
“All the ladies of course.”
“Including Florentine?” I pause not expecting that question. It seemed out of the blue and I knew there was no relation whatsoever between those two. Carl only ever spoke to me and the maids.
“I’m surprised you asked about her. That’s a first.”
“Well she’s the older one amongst you. Didn’t think she would want to come.”
I look at him wondering if he was age shaming. Florentine might be 42 but she surely looked so damn gorgeous and like she aged backwards. Another thought got into my head and my eyes bulged. I got really suspicious knowing that Carl was a fan of older women. I bite my lips and smiled at him suggestively.
“What?”
“Did something happen while we were away?” I ask trying to find out the truth behind his question.
“Did you hear anything out of the ordinary?” He said not giving any hints even in his expression. Got me doubting.
“Nope…. Not yet.” I tried to play smart with my words. Suggesting that I’d investigate further.
“Well then….”
“Hmm.” I still look at him suspiciously and he scoffs at my insistence.
“What? Stop looking at me like that Thea.”
“Carl? I won’t judge.” I said but then his expression changed and it looked like he just understood what I had been insinuating.
“What! Hell no!”
“She’s pretty.” I teased.
“Yes but still no.”
“We both know you like older women.”
“Well obviously not Florentine….” He trails off as we suddenly heard someone clear her throat behind us. We snap our heads in the direction and to our horror it was Florentine. What in the world of coincidence was that?
Silence envelops the place as we stare at each other, Carl seems uncomfortable while I feel guilty for dragging it out.
“I was told I’d find you here.” Florentine said breaking the silence.
“I-I thought you had gone to the clinic.” I said stuttering. Shit! I shouldn’t have said that. That was exactly what a guilty person would say. She forces a smile at me which makes me feel worse.
“There was nothing much to do there so I decided to head back home.” She answered and I nodded. “The girls are in my room. Was hoping you’d join us but….”
“No, she’s free right now. I was just heading inside.” Carl says cutting her off before she could suggest it. He doesn’t wait for a response and leaves me alone with Florentine.
I force myself to smile at Florentine and she twitches her lips instead. There was no need to pretend so I tried to explain what just happened.
“He didn’t….”
“I don’t care Thea. I don’t like him and he is way younger than me. It really doesn’t matter if I heard him or not.” She said in one breath and I finally released my own breath once she was done.
“Okay.” I force out and nod. I decided to play pretend but the hurt in her face was too visible and fuck me. It got me wondering what really happened while we were away.