*Andrea*
I felt my heart shatter as I watched her, Alejandro’s ex-wife, walk into the restroom. And then I heard her speak on her phone, and if my heart had not been broken by what I had seen earlier, then it probably sank right now.
I wanted to believe that this was a lie. That Alejandro has been mine and mine alone. But then, he had never officially asked me out. He never officially asked me to date him or anything.
His ex-wife is back, so what happens to me? I banged the door as I left. There was no use listening anymore. I never expected this from him.
My intentions at the beginning were to make him fall in love with me to get back at Lucas for cheating on me, but now I’m the one falling deeply in love with him.
I walked out and sat behind my table. I stared at the computer screen in front of me. It was blank, and I hit the keypad hysterically, trying to channel my frustration into the laptop.
I was trying hard not to lose it. I stood; maybe I should ask him. Why was she suddenly back?
Deciding to ask him, I walked towards the door, my heart heavy with fright of what his answer would be when I asked him. What if he tells me he has no reason to explain?
I shook my head, no.
Alejandro was seated behind his screen in his office, his brows slightly arched in concentration. He raised his head when he saw me, “Anna.” He said.
I walked towards him, my resolve to ask him already shaken. “Are you back with her?” I asked without bothering to beat around the bush.
He locked eyes with me and then stood slowly. “Where did you hear that fr…” the door behind me pushed open before he could complete his words.
“Alejandro.” The lady called, her lips glistening with the gloss she just applied. She held out her phone, “Lucas wants to speak to you.” She said, walking past me but not without brushing me roughly with her shoulders.
Alejandro’s eyes soften at her words. She handed the phone over to him, and he immediately turned his back to me and walked to the glass window. One hand stuck in his pocket.
“He will call you when we are done.” She said to me. That was my clue to leave the room. I sent her a stiff smile and stepped out. My chest tightened.
I felt like an outsider. They were a family. I am an outsider: Alejandro, Lucas, and his ex-wife, who is suddenly back into his life.
They spent a lot of time in the office together. My eyes kept flickering to the door as I sat on my desk, trying to sort some files out.
What were they still discussing? Was what I heard from her in the restroom true? Am I just a play toy to Alejandro? Several questions ran through my head as I emailed the legal department concerning an investment we just secured.
I felt dizzy. I checked the time; it was three hours now. Three hours, and they are both locked away in his office. A message popped up on my screen, “Miss Wilson, your presence is required now.” I sighed and stood up as I absentmindedly walked to the legal department, wondering what more they needed other than the file I sent them.
“There was a mistake in the documents. Is this from them or you?” The head of the legal department asked, sending me a piercing gaze from under her glasses.
I had read the documents repeatedly before sending it to her, and I didn’t spot any mistakes. “I’ll quickly go through it again,” I said. “You should be more careful; mistakes like this can cause a lot, even my job. But you won’t understand, would you?” She said, her voice menacing.
I didn’t quite understand why she used such a tone with me. I decided to let it slide; aside from her being in a higher position than myself, I had a lot of things to think about.
“I’m sorry.” I apologize.
“Not everything can be fixed by sorry Miss Wilson. I believe you know that so well. Don’t think you have any reason to slack on your job because you work for the boss off and on the company.” She said.
I could tell she had an underlying meaning, but I pretended not to notice as I stepped out. She would have just sent me an email. I inhaled sharply, then exhaled tiredly.
Alejandro’s ex-wife was leaving the office when I got there. Her hair danced from side to side as she swayed her hips. She sent me a small, knowing smile as she walked past me.
I felt my heart shattered. She was beautiful, no, gorgeous, and I could only feel inferior when she walked by my side.
When I got to my seat, I quickly rectified the error and sent the file back to the head of the legal department. I tried to work on other things but could no longer concentrate. My heart ached; I thought we had something. No, not just thought, we had something.
Alejandro treated me like his woman. Aside from the sex, he took me out on dates, bought me flowers, made sure I was fine and did everything a man would do when he likes a woman, so even if he had not verbally asked me out, I was his woman as much as he was my man.
I had a spare key to his house. We’ve had dinner there several times, and not once have I ever come across his ex-wife, Nora’s picture.
I know about her. Lucas spoke about her from time to time when we were together. I was also aware of the fact that Alejandro was not in a good relationship with her after the divorce, so what’s happening now?
Why didn’t he tell me about her being in his house? We spent the entire afternoon together yesterday, and he didn’t say anything. I refuse to believe that I have been played.
Alejandro was not like Lucas. I’ll ask him, and he will give me an answer. Deciding to confront him now that Nora has finally left, I stood and walked towards the door. When I opened it, he was by the door, “I was coming to you.” He said.
I nodded; he widened the door and allowed me to step in.
I stood facing him. He locked the door behind him. He walked towards the sofa on the side. I crossed my hands over my chest. I would give him a chance to explain; the reason was simple: I had doubted him once, and he came back with solid proof that he was not in the wrong.
“I deserve an explanation.”
“I know. Seat, let’s talk.” He said.
No, I wasn’t going to sit. I feared that I might break down in front of him if he was not able to offer a reasonable explanation. “Are you using me?” The question flew out of my mouth before I could put it in the right way.
It was raw, and it caught him completely off guard.
“No. Why would you think that?” He asked, raising a brow.
“How can you ask me why I think that? Isn’t it obvious? Your ex-wife suddenly appears here, and she talks on and on about how she now lives with you, her ex-husband.” I said, trying to sound like I was unaffected by all this, but my voice gave me away.
Alejandro stood and stepped close to me, “did you speak to Nora?” He shook his head as if that was the wrong way to put it, “What did Nora say to you?” He asked.
What a good way to phrase it. Was it afraid that Nora may have said something she shouldn’t?
“What does that matter? Answer my fucking question, Alejandro.” I said. My words escaped my mouth like a dagger, ready to pierce him if he didn’t give me the reply I needed.
He ran his hands through his hair, something he did when he was frustrated, “I don’t know what Nora said to you, but believe me, it’s not true.” He said. And I wondered what was true. The fact that he was using me? Lying to me?
I held myself so I didn’t break down. I feared he might not give me the answer I wanted. If not, why did he keep avoiding it?
“I knew she had ulterior motives for coming here. I just didn’t expect she’d confront you.” He said.
“She didn’t confront me,” I said. “But I’m not blind, neither am I deaf or stupid. Why would your ex-wife come here to your company and say she lives with you?” I asked, “Why else if you aren’t using me?”
“Fine, I agree that Nora stays in my mansion. She lives with me, and I didn’t tell you, but believe me when I say I didn’t invite her here today, nor did I invite her to stay at the mansion.” He paused and ran his hand through his hair again.
“I don’t know what she said or what you heard, but whatever it is, it’s not true. I got a call when we were in France that Nora was at the mansion. That was why we had to leave early. Lucas brought her, and I couldn’t just throw her out; I tried, but he would not allow me,” it finally began to make sense now.
He held my hand, “why would I ever use you?” He asked. I felt a wave of calmness wash over me. I didn’t think I was getting so infuriated until he finished explaining.
I understood why we had to leave early and why his mood changed when he returned from the call he made at the restaurant.
“Nora is just staying with me for some time, and she will soon be leaving. She came to give me some documents I had left at home earlier. She will stay with me until she gets better, and though I hate to admit it, her stay has been making my relationship with Lucas better.” He said, and a small smile broke from his lips. His eyes lightened when he mentioned Lucas now.
The hollow look and the lines in his eyes when he always talked about him were no longer there.
And this surprisingly brought me peace. So, I resolved not to tell him what I heard from Nora in the restroom. He pulled me into a tight hug. “You are my woman, Anna. You are the one I’m with; though she may be staying in my house, I promise she will never come back into my life. It’s not happening. trust me.”
When I recounted to Alison what happened later that night, she would tell me that Nora may be trying to drive a ridge between Alejandro and me, and I shouldn’t let her bother me.
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Alejandro is helplessly in love with you. That for a fact I know, and it won’t change.” She said.
I believe her. I trust in Alejandro’s feelings for me.
Alejandro was invited to a business dinner hosted by one of his friends. It was a business dinner cum the couple’s wedding anniversary, and I was to accompany him.
He sent me a dress, heels, and a bag, which had Alison gushing about how sweet he was and how beautiful the dress he bought was. “Alejandro not only has a good taste in women but also in clothes.” She said when she saw his handwritten note where he stated he had personally picked the dress.
He also sent his driver to come to pick me up.
Soft music resounded from the speaker. People mined around. I stepped inside, trying to find Alejandro amongst the crowd.
When my eyes finally found him, I smiled and started towards him but soon stopped in my tracks when I saw Nora on one side and Lucas on the other.