*Andrea*
“You told him?” Alison yelled and wrapped a pillow around her legs as she adjusted on the chair. I placed my hand in front of me. “I said I almost told him.” I gulped the glass of water I held.
She placed the pillow beside her and leaned forward, “What happened? Give me the full gist; why are you breaking it in half.” She said.
I placed the glass between us on top of the table. I had a long day today. I just returned a few minutes ago. I closed my eyes and opened them, memories of what happened two hours ago flooding me.
Two hours ago…
“I have something I want to say,” I said before I could stop myself.
“What is it you want to say?” He asked.
“Well, the thing is I…” I began and paused. I swallowed. This was so hard. No, I can’t do this, “Is something wrong?” He asked.
“What do you want to say?” He asked, moving closer to me. My heart plummeted faster inside my rib cage.
“Well, I have a…” the words were in my throat. ‘I dated Lucas before.’ I shook my head. That was such a lame way to say it. ‘I approached you on purpose.’ That sounded dumb.
He would think it was because of his money.
I felt a drop of sweat tickle down my back. “Are you alright?” Alejandro asked. Cricket sounds filled the air, and I took a deep breath. “You are sweating.” He whipped the sweat off my forehead with his handkerchief.
“If it’s too hard to say, drop it. You don’t have to say it now.” He said, and I wanted to kiss him. He was such a sweet man. He deserved better. He deserves someone who would not deceive him.
He began to lead me to the car. My hands reached for his, and I stopped him. I inhaled uneasily. It may be hard, but I had to tell him. “The thing is…” I paused again, allowing a moment of silence to pass between us.
His phone beeped before I could continue my statement. He ignored it and focused his eyes on me again. I felt my heart torn at the thought of the soft look in his eyes replaced with a fierce one.
“I think you have a message,” I said, trying to distract him and myself. I promised myself to tell him once he had seen his message.
“Don’t worry about it, speak.” It seems he noticed I was finding it extremely difficult to speak, so he placed his hand on my back and slowly moved it down to snake it around my waist. Then he pulled me towards him.
My hands were on his chest.
I felt his heartbeat. He looked down on me, and I couldn’t keep my head up for some time. I couldn’t look him in the eye while I broke his heart.
No. I can’t.
“So now, we…” I paused again and slowly raised my head, “We are officially together, right? You are my man, and I’m your woman, right?” I asked and felt my cheeks heat up.
“Is that what you’ve been meaning to say?” He asked in his deep baritone voice. “Well…” I smiled and dropped my head before using my finger to make circles on his chest.
He moved me away from him and stared into my eyes. He then leaned in and kissed me.
My hair danced in the wind. He pulled away and brushed some hair strands off my face, but they were there within a second.
“You have always been my woman. But if it makes you feel better. We are officially together.” He said, and I beamed. I could officially call him my man. “I am your man.” He said.
We kissed again. This time, it was long and passionate. Then we walked to the car. Alejandro opened the door for me and walked around to the driver’s seats when I entered.
He ignited the car.
“What was the call about? Is it business?” I asked, holding his eye for a brief moment.
A truck drove full speed ahead of us, blaring his horn as it passed us.
“No. Nora is in the hospital. Lucas wants me to be there. I’m sorry I had to cut our day short. You know I am trying to mend my relationship with him, so if he wants to spend time there with me, I have to be there.” He said.
I felt a pang of pain and guilt in my heart. No doubt Alejandro loved his son. Maybe Lucas has a place that I would never fill. And though I was relieved Lucas had not told him about me, I still felt sad. He would do anything for his son. Maybe I was more jealous of his love for Lucas. But I knew Alejandro loved me, but in a different way.
Thinking about it, I realized that there was no way Lucas would have told his dad about me. I had been worried for nothing.
He doesn’t know I am the girl his Dad was seeing, nor does he know I am his Dad’s P. A.
I released a breath. There was nothing to worry about. For now.
All I had to do was steer clear of him. He didn’t visit the company and that was good. I hope things keep going smoothly until I get the courage to tell Alejandro about myself and how I met him.
“Anna…” Alejandro’s voice called. “Is something bothering you?” He asked.
I adjusted on the chair. Has he been calling me for some time? I didn’t know when I drifted into my head. “Nothing. I am fine.” I said. I looked out the window quickly, then asked him, “Did you say something?” I asked.
“I am going to the hospital to see Nora. I was thinking we could go together. Since Lucas is there, I think this is a good opportunity to introduce you to each other.” My eyes almost bulged out.
What?
No, no, no, no. This can’t be happening. I fidgeted as I wrapped my sweaty hands around my purse to hide its trembling.
I can’t meet Lucas. Moments ago, I had been excited that I wouldn’t have to see Lucas, and now he wants to introduce us.
I quickly regained my composure and asked, “You mean right now?” I asked, and he nodded. ‘Think, think, think.’ I hurried my brain. I have to think of something-an excuse or whatever to get myself out of this.
I shifted in my seat.
The car stopped in front of another. Alejandro turned to me as we waited for the red light to turn green.
My eyes quickly moved to the car in front of us. I couldn’t hold eye contact with him. “Well, I would love to. That would be great.” I said and laughed half-heartedly.
“I know, right? Lucas would love to meet you.” He said.
Trust me, I am the last person he wants to set his eyes on. I said inside my head.
I took a deep breath to calm myself down. It seems Alejandro has already made up his mind, but I have to convince him otherwise.
“That would not be so great. His mom is in the hospital. I don’t think he would want to see his Dad’s girlfriend.” I said a bit to change his mind, and I was right. No matter how I thought of it, he wouldn’t be pleased if I was in his shoes; I wouldn’t be pleased either.
“How about we arrange for some other day? You should spend time with him today.” He started driving again.
I held my breath as I awaited his response. I silently said a prayer, hoping he would agree. I knew it would sound suspicious if I kept trying to change his mind.
“You do have a point.” He said, and I released my breath.
“But I’ll have to see him at the hospital before taking you home.” He said, and I nodded. I could stay in the car. I do not need to go with him.
The car soon stopped in front of the hospital, and he gave me a quick peck before stepping out.
I sat inside the car, looking around as people streamed in and out. The weather was nice. If it was some other days when I knew Lucas was nowhere close, I’d have stepped down and taken a walk around.
After some time, Alejandro walked back. “I won’t be able to take you back home. But I called Sam, my driver.” He looked around, “he should be here somewhere.” He said.
Just then, Sam walked towards us. He bowed in respect, “Sorry for the delay.” he apologized.
“I’ll text you when I get home,” I said, and he gave me a quick kiss before I stepped back into the car.
The car zoomed off.
My hands remained on my chest until I got home.
PRESENT**
“Nothing happened, Alison,” I said, standing up. “Come back here. We aren’t done talking,” Alison said as I walked with my purse in one hand and the glass in the other.
Alison walked beside me. She grabbed my hands and linked our hands together. “You aren’t going to keep me outright? How could you do this to me.” She whined.
“Fine, I’ll tell you. Let me go first.” I said, shaking off her hands, but she held onto me tightly. “Fine.’ she said and reluctantly let me go.
We walked to my bed, and we both sat at the edge of the bed, as I recounted the day’s experience to her.
“You mean you are officially dating?” She asked, and when I nodded, she jumped down and danced around. That got me wondering if she had not listened to the entire story and how Alejandro had almost found out about everything.
“Did you even listen to me?” I asked, touching my neck, which was low and empty. I had removed all the accessories I wore.
“I did.” She replied, sat back down, and placed one hand on her head. She must be feeling dizzy after the little dance.
“So why are you bothered?” She asked.
“Lucas. I met Lucas in the same hall Alejandro was in.” I said, emphasizing the last part of the sentence so she would get the message.
“Do you think I made a mistake by not telling him?” I asked her.
“It’s not as if you can change it now,” she said. “But it would not have made much sense to tell him immediately after he confessed that he is in love with you.” She said, and I nodded. Just what I was thinking.
“But now the chances of him finding out has increased.”
“That is why you should tell him soon.” She said.
“I know. I just couldn’t find the right words. Should I have said, ”Hey, I dated your son?’ or ‘I approached you on purpose just to get back at your son for cheating on me?'” I passed a hand over my hair and blew the hair on my face with my lips. “I don’t even know what to say. I don’t know how to begin.”
I raised my head to Alison, “what should I say.” I asked.
“I’m thinking about it too. You know the perfect way to begin.” She said, one of her hands held the other. I rolled my eyes. She wasn’t helping.
“How about you enjoy the new relationship now and set the date you want to tell him, then we can carefully come up with something for you to say on that day,” Alison said.
That night, as I lay on my bed, I thought about a million ways Alejandro would react.
Would he yell at me and tell me never to see him again?
Would he be angry for a while but forgive me after some time?
My phone beeped, breaking into my thoughts.
It was a message from Alejandro, “Love, did you miss me?” He asked.
I rolled to the other end of the bed, temporarily forgetting what bothered me.