*Andrea*
I couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the day. My mind kept going back to the meeting with him. Alejandro. I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
The Iron lady called me into her office and asked about the meeting, and all I could say was that it was fine.
“Are you okay?” Harper asked immediately. I took my seat, and I just nodded. I regretted not taking Dave’s offer to drive me home.
I sat in front of my computer, my hands running across the keyboard, but nothing was working. I couldn’t finish my design or start anything new.
My mind was filled with various thoughts. Was Alejandro thinking about me? Why did he come to meet me then and hold me back? What did he want to say?
When I couldn’t keep it in for long anymore, I decided to leave.
But how was I going to tell the iron lady? She would not agree. Dave came in at that moment and asked me to accompany him.
We went out to have dinner at a very fancy restaurant.
“Ugh! I can’t remember the last time I ate something so nice.” I said, leaving some sauce out of my bottom lips
“Me too,” Dave spoke.
“If there’s one thing you are cut out for is scouting the best eateries, ” I said, and Dave basked in the compliment like he always does.
“I know.” He said arrogantly. He pushed his hair back, but it came back, falling on his face.
I was quite sure that if he had not succeeded in the business world, he would have succeeded in the entertainment world.
“You forgot to add wine. I’m also very good at picking the best wines,” he said. I smiled at him.
“You know that’s not true. I always pick the best wines. It’s a known fact.” I said, and he smirked.
“You want to compete with me now?” He held his hands across his chest and asked me to do the same. I leaned into my chair while crossing one leg over the other.
“There’s no need for a challenge between you and me since we already know I will always win,” I said confidently.
“Alright. I won’t argue with you. I don’t want to make you feel bad.” This chicken.
After having lunch, we sped out and went for a drive.
I placed my hands out of the window as I screamed with all my might. Dave played my favorite song, and I screamed the lyrics at the top of my voice.
We soon came to a stop at a bridge. I got off, and so did he. The sun shines brightly on the earth.
I looked over the bridge to the body of water in front of me which ended up meeting the sky.
“This place is so beautiful. Imagine having to wake up and watch the sunset and sunrise. It will be divine.” He said.
I said nothing in support and just allowed my eyes to wander across the water.
“Should we watch the sunset?” I turned to him, and he shook his head as if he had made a big mistake, “we should watch the sunset.” This time, it was a statement; it wasn’t a request.
I had told him that women hate requests. When a man requests, he gives the woman an opportunity to reject.
I would have agreed to watch the sunset, but I couldn’t because it reminded me of Alejandro.
He had officially confessed his love in a place similar to this, and though it was afternoon, I felt nostalgic.
Maybe it was because I met him. It has to be.
“Don’t you have lots of work to focus on, Dave?” I asked, turning back to look at the sea in front of me.
“I don’t anymore,” he replies, feeling proud of his decision. I wanted to ask him why, but that would be dishonest because I already knew why.
He did so because of me.
I wished I could fall for Dave. I want to love him; I know he’ll treat me well, and most of all, he loves Austin as though he is his son.
“So, what do you plan to do?” I asked him. I had no plans to go to the office, either, so we could both stay here for as long as we wanted.
I want someone to distract me from my thoughts.
“Anything you want to do.” He said.
“No. You canceled your work for today so you can enjoy your day, so do what you want.” I advised him.
“You know I’m here to make you feel better.” He said, startling me. I didn’t think he would be so honest.
I tried to laugh it off as a joke.
“Why would you want to make me feel better?” He didn’t say anything.
He allowed his gaze to get lost in the sea, and so did I.
“Are you okay? Really?” He asked after a moment of silence.
“Of course I’m fine.”
“But you didn’t seem fine earlier.” He said.
“I told you I was just surprised. I’m okay now.” I paused, thinking of what more to say to make this lie believable.
“You told me it was normal for anyone to be like that in that situation. Don’t tell me you’re going back on your word,” I said, and he smiled.
“Fine, fine. You’re fine. So let’s do what I want.” He surrendered and led me to the car.
He drove off to a shooting range. I have never shot anything before. I held the gun and began pulling the trigger like the novice that I was.
Dave taught me personally, his hands on me; he was so close to me that his warm breath fell on my skin, tingling me.
After that, we went to a game plaza and had fun.
By the time he took me home, it was already late.
Alison eyed me suspiciously when she saw us coming back.
“You aren’t coming back from work, right?” She asked immediately we stepped into the living room
“Momma,” Austin ran forward to greet me.
“How are you, my little man?” I asked, lifting him. He yelled excitedly as I turned him around.
“Good. How was work? Did you make a lot of money today?” He asked.
I placed him on the floor, bent to his level, and pinched his cheeks playfully.
“You bet. I made more than enough for one year.”
He ran to Dave next, and before I could wrap my head around what was going on between them, Dave had him over his shoulder and took him to his room.
“It seems you had dinner. So I guessed there’s no reason to set the table.” Alison said.
“Did Austin eat already?” I asked, my voice lower than it should be as I dropped on the couch close to her.
“He did.” She said she leaned closer to me.
“Tell me, girl. You went on a date with Dave.” Her voice may have been low, but she couldn’t hide her excitement.
“No,” I said bluntly. I wasn’t in the mood to talk about that. I had more important things to deal with, like for example, Alejandro being in the same city as me.
“But you’ve had dinner?” She asked. I nodded, sighed, and then leaned onto the chair.
“What’s wrong?” She asked, and she had finally noticed something was wrong with my expression right now
“I saw him today. You may not believe it cause I still can’t believe it, but we met today.’ I said, replaying our meeting in my head.
Alison’s full attention was on me now.
“You met who? Speak in clear words,” she probed. “Austin’s Dad. Alejandro.” I said. His name was heavy on my tongue.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had called his name.
“I met Alejandro today at a meeting.” It seemed that the information had registered now because her eyes widened immediately, and her lips parted slightly.
“You don’t mean it.” She disagreed.
“I wish I didn’t mean it either. ” Seeing that my expression didn’t change, she must have noticed I was serious and said, “Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness.” She stood and walked around the room, her eyes always moving to the hallway.
“Dave knows he was there too,” I said, and she sat down.
“Oh my lord, this is messed up. Why is he coming into your life again? And now, after all these years? You aren’t going back to him, are you?”
I was tempted to tell Alison that Alejandro doesn’t give a fuck about me. He would not try to reach out to me.
“I won’t go back to him,” I said.
“Better. If he tries to reach out to you or anything, be clear that you don’t want him in your life anymore.” She said through gritted teeth.
I didn’t tell her he tried to pull me back. Didn’t see the need to know.
She spent over thirty minutes telling me why I shouldn’t let this man back into my life.
The next day, I drove to work quite early. Harper was already seated before I got there.
“What happened to you yesterday, babe?” She asked. I placed my purse on the table and sat.
“How would I know? Must be one of the many signs to prove that I am a woman after all.” I said. She nodded her head in understanding. Mood swings weren’t uncommon among women.
As I settled into my chair, my phone rang, and an unsaved number appeared on the screen.
I allowed my phone to ring for a while before answering.
I waited for the person on the other end to speak, but no one did.
“Is anyone on the line? Hello!” I finally said, but when I didn’t get a response, I ended the call.
“Who was that?” “Someone that doesn’t have anything better to do,” I said. I had no strength to deal with anyone, so I just put my phone on silent and began my work for the day.
The day started as normal.
Halfway through my design, it hit me that I had forgotten a flash drive at home that contained the project I had been asked to work on.
I will be submitting it soon, so I’ll need it.
I had to get it, but there was no way I’d be going home, so I called Alison and asked her to bring the flash drive.
She arrived an hour later with Austin. Austin didn’t have school today.
She held Austin’s hand in hers when she stepped into the company.
I was already waiting for them. She handed it over to me, “What will I do without you?” I asked.
“You are such a darling,” I said.
“This isn’t for free. What do I get in return?” She asked, and I smiled before extending my arms, “How about a hug?” I asked and hugged her.
“Alright, I’ll get going.” She said.
“Okay, and Austin…” I turned to where he should be standing, only to find an empty spot.
“Don’t tell me he is off again.” I closed my eyes and breathed down in frustration.
Austin has been to the company a few times, and Dave would always take him to his office each time he came.
So now he goes to Dave’s office himself.
“I’ll go get him. You go submit this. You said it’s important.” She said.
“I’ll come to meet you there; he wouldn’t listen to you that easily,” I warned her.
I returned to my work area and submitted the project before heading to Dave’s office.
I stepped into the office and said, “Austin, if you keep doing this…” My words were stuck in the back of my throat.
“Momma,” Austin ran towards me and hugged me.
On one side was Alison, and on the other was the man I didn’t want to see, but somehow, he kept appearing in my life.
Alejandro.